She poured her cider while she spoke. “I’m volunteering at a charity in Bristol.”
“Yeah? You like it?” Nick asked, genuinely interested.
Douglas watched, now captivated, as Nick’s simple question turned on a switch in Julia and she lit up. Forgetting to be stiff and aloof, she started to talk.
“I was a little worried, starting something new. I was at my old job in The States for over a decade, but it’s better than I expected, far better…” Her eyes were alight, passion in her words as she carried on.
Douglas sat back and watched her silently while she poured out information that normally would have had Nick nodding in his chair. Instead, her fervour was catching and even Nick found himself making up questions to keep her talking.
And Douglas was struck by two things. First, she was very clever, knowledgeable and accomplished and second, her work wasn’t just work, it was a calling and she loved it. There was something extraordinary in that, he’d never met anyone who had truly found their passion.
She seemed to realise she was monopolising the conversation and her eyes slid to her empty cider glass. “I’ll shut up now. I’ve got to be boring you.”
“Not at all,” Douglas assured her quietly, her gaze flew to him and he had the unflattering impression that she’d forgotten he was even there.
“Okay,” she whispered, making a decision and rising. “I’ve got to get the kids to bed. It’s past Ruby’s bedtime and she’s a bear in the morning if she doesn’t have her full night’s sleep. Nick, lovely of you to stay.” She nodded to a smiling Nick and then she quickly exited the room.
Again, both Nick and Douglas watched her leave and, finally, Nick asked, “Once I’m in your Gate House, can I come to dinner every night?”
Douglas turned to his friend. “No.”
Nick chuckled, taking no offense. “Didn’t ‘spect so. Wouldn’t want to share her myself.”
Nick left shortly after and Douglas went in search of Julia. She was in the lounge, drawing the draperies.
He stood watching her, liking the way she took care of his home, liking more the way she took care of his friend and even more the way she took care of the children but mostly the way, last night, she took care of him.
When she turned and saw him, she jumped.
“Don’t do that,” she snapped, but her voice was breathy.
“What?” he asked.
“Sneak up on me,” she explained.
“I didn’t sneak up on you,” he told her truthfully.
“You glide around like a cat, it’s bizarre. No man of your size should be so quiet.” She walked from the room, sliding by him, giving him as wide a berth as possible and went into the dining room.
Douglas followed her.
“We need to talk,” he told her as she gathered all the glasses from the table and turned to go to the kitchen.
“It’s late, you need your rest.” She walked away, thinking that was that and leaving him where he was. He heard distant rumbles in the kitchen as she tidied.
He thought of his options, made a quick assessment of them and then walked to her room. He turned on the lights and eased himself into the chair in the turret. He was shattered but determined to have this talk, even if Julia was just as determined to avoid it.
She came in not five minutes later and jumped again when she saw him.
“What are you doing here?” Again the breathy snap, this time with wide eyes.
“As I said, we need to talk.”
She studied him.
He waited.
“Douglas,” she finally said, her tone now beyond weary, “I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m exhausted, you need to recuperate, let’s talk later, okay?”