This is the sequel to Julia and the Goths! I highly recommend you read that before you read this!
Introduction
"That doesn't look like me." Julia said teasingly, walking up behind her husband of three months. Julia hadn't known that he painted until he went out and bought an easel. "Next I want you to paint something for the baby."
"The bay is only this big." Mortimer said, turning around and putting his hands over his wife's slowly expanding stomach. Julia took his hands and pulled them further away.
"Soon the baby will be this big and I'll need to decide which room is going to be converted and I want you to paint something baby appropriate for me to put in mini Mortimer's bedro-" Julia stopped talking as the sound of glass breaking pierced the air.
"Soon the baby will be this big and I'll need to decide which room is going to be converted and I want you to paint something baby appropriate for me to put in mini Mortimer's bedro-" Julia stopped talking as the sound of glass breaking pierced the air.
Olivia was at it again. It had been quite the shock when Julia and Mortimer headed into their house on their wedding night to find Olivia upstairs drinking. They assumed she'd moved on with the others, but that was clearly not the case. Julia was not pleased.
"We need to send her to rehab or something." Julia said grumpily, crossing her arms under her chest.
"It's not like she can drink herself to death. I don't think we should worry about it too much." Mortimer replied. Julia stepped away from him.
"Says the one who doesn't have to sweep up broken glass on a regular basis. You really should put a password on the computer. You're just enabling her."
Olivia hated all technology except the computer. Julia refused to buy any booze for Olivia and Mortimer didn't have time, so Olivia discovered online shopping. All of her liquor was delivered. Julia wasn't sure how legal the whole thing was and she knew for sure that Olivia was using Mortimer's credit card. Mortimer didn't even try to put a stop to it, insisting it wasn't their business.
"It's not like she can drink herself to death. I don't think we should worry about it too much." Mortimer replied. Julia stepped away from him.
"Says the one who doesn't have to sweep up broken glass on a regular basis. You really should put a password on the computer. You're just enabling her."
Olivia hated all technology except the computer. Julia refused to buy any booze for Olivia and Mortimer didn't have time, so Olivia discovered online shopping. All of her liquor was delivered. Julia wasn't sure how legal the whole thing was and she knew for sure that Olivia was using Mortimer's credit card. Mortimer didn't even try to put a stop to it, insisting it wasn't their business.
Mortimer sighed and returned to his painting. Julia frowned and walked away. Mortimer had been distant lately. He went with her to doctor's appointments and read baby books when she asked him to, but he was on call even more than before now. Julia couldn't help but feel as though he was avoiding her.
She wasn't the only one. Olivia noticed it too. The ghost told herself she could care less about the human girl and her great nephew in law or whatever the hell he was, but it was a lie. She noticed lots of things. Olivia knew there were secrets Mortimer was keeping, secrets that could ruin what her husband had worked so hard to achieve.
Months passed. Julia was in her sixth month of pregnancy now.
Mortimer worked at ungodly hours. His painting was neglected, rather like his duties at home. He'd missed Julia's last ultrasound. Mortimer knew Julia couldn't set up a nursery by herself, but he still didn't make time to help her. As Julia's frustration grew her fights with Mortimer became more frequent, but nothing she said prompted Mortimer to change so she gave up. Pregnancy was taking its toll on the usually energetic Julia.
One night Mortimer came home after a long day at work. Julia was already in bed, so Mortimer ate what he could find in the fridge. She used to try to wait up for him, but she was sleeping more now and just didn't have it in her. Mortimer found himself going into the bar room where Olivia resided semi permanently. He flopped down on one of the stiff loveseats. "I need a drink," he muttered.
Olivia perched on the edge of the side table, staring at Mortimer. She used to love to meddle with people, but it wasn't like this. Mortimer was single handedly killing his marriage. Normally Olivia would be fine with that, but this was different. Samuel wanted this to work. Olivia just wanted to move on, to be with her husband again and out of this house. Maybe helping her husband's family would give her enough karma points to move on. Olivia took a deep breath before beginning to speak. "You should go to bed. Your wife needs you and you need sleep."
Mortimer stared at Olivia in disbelief. Was this the same ghost that had been here before? She was giving him advice that was in his best interest to take. "You know you can't keep secrets forever. She'll find out one way or another," Olivia added.
Mortimer stood up and started out of the window, letting out a long sigh. "I suppose you're right."
Mortimer walked into his bedroom to find his wife sprawled out on the bed. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him sleepily. She started to say something but Mortimer just shook his head. "Just go back to sleep. Mini Mortimer is wearing you out."
Julia nodded once and closed her eyes again.
Julia nodded once and closed her eyes again.
Mortimer joined his wife on the bed, resting one hand on her bulging stomach as he watched her sleep. Olivia was right. He would have to tell Julia his secrets sooner or later.