Chapter Julia
James leaned on the breakfast bar as Julia, who still had bed head and was wearing her Christmas pajamas, ate her cereal.
“Today Daddy’s friend is going to be coming over to have dinner and watch a movie with us,” James said.
“Okay.” Julia yawned, her eyes half closed.
James knew that some of it had got across to her. He smiled and moved beside her, patting her shoulder and kissing her head.
“What are you doing today, Miss Sleepyhead?”
“Not sleepy.” Julia scowled and looked up at her dad severely. “I’ve got paintings to do!”
“Not sketches?” James asked.
“I’ll do those later.” Julia waved her hand, imitating an adult’s air of authority.
James smiled. Creases appeared beside his eyes as he moved for the fridge to get water. “What will you paint today?”
“Santa!” Julia said excitedly.
“You already sent Santa your gift list,” James said.
“I know, but when he comes for treats, I want to give him a picture!”
“He only comes when you’re asleep, though,” James coaxed, drinking his water.
“I can leave it with his treats!” Julia bounced happily, coming awake.
“Oh, and how do you know what Santa looks like?” James asked.
“I know,” Julia said in a low voice, leaning forward as she glowered at her father.
James nodded. “Right.”
“Right!” Julia said, taking on the aura of an expert as she continued to eat her cereal with her princess spoon.
James smiled behind his water as he shook his head internally. His smile widened as his cell phone vibrated in his pocket.
***
Daphne looked around the street and saw the simple house that overlooked Lake Ontario. She checked her GPS before she turned onto the driveway. It turned behind trees, revealing the full house and giving the owners greater privacy.
Daphne parked her car and turned off the engine. She stared at the steering wheel. It was a big step, meeting the child of the man she was dating.
Before the emotions could get to her, she stepped out of the car and headed for the front door. She rang the doorbell, hearing running feet.
“I’ve got it!” A little girl’s voice sounded out.
The door unlocked as Daphne was greeted by an earnest-looking Julia.
“Da-ad!” Julia yelled.
“Julia, say hello to Daphne and invite her inside.” James entered the entrance hall behind Julia.
“I’m Julia, come in!” Julia bounced, her eyes shining as she looked at Daphne.
“Thank you. I’m Daphne. It’s nice to meet you.” Daphne entered as Julia closed the door behind her. Daphne took off her knee-high boots.
Julia was still hanging around, looking over Daphne. “You’re pretty.”
“Thank you,” Daphne said, a little shocked by Julia’s sudden outburst. “You’re really pretty too.”
“I wish I had makeup like you, but my dad won’t let me get any,” Julia said, her hands behind her back as she turned side to side.
“Nice try, rug rat.” James mussed up her hair.
“Dad!” Julia said in alarm, working to fix her hair.
“Need help?” James asked with an evil-looking expression as he wiggled his fingers, moving them toward Julia’s head.
“Nooo!” Julia screeched, running away to escape her dad.
She ran off through the house as Daphne stood back up.
“Jacket?” James asked.
“Thanks,” Daphne said as James took her jacket and put it up on a hanger. “What smells good?”
“Lasagna. I hope you brought your appetite!” James indicated for her to follow him. They walked deeper into the house, coming into an open-plan kitchen with an attached dining room and living room. A big pane window spread across the back of the house, giving a view of the entire lake.
A Christmas tree stood in the living room. Julia peeked in the room. She was like a deer in the headlights as she saw Daphne looking over at her. Her eyes went big as she ran off again.
Daphne couldn’t help but laugh at the kid’s antics.
“Dinner in thirty minutes, Julia!” James said. It seemed he noticed her too. “Want a drink?” he asked Daphne.
“No, I’m good. This is a really nice house you have here.”
“Thanks. It’s a good place to get away from everything. It’s better in the summer.” James smiled as Daphne took a seat at the breakfast bar. “I think Julia is interested in you.”
“Oh?” Daphne was confused. She didn’t know what gave James that impression.
“Just call it a father’s intuition.” James grinned, moving closer to her for a kiss.
***
James was surprised that when he called Julia, she appeared without needing a second reminder.
She started to show Daphne her different sketches and paintings before talking about makeup.
He didn’t even try to understand what they were talking about with eyeliner, contouring, pencils, and blush. In fact, a cold sweat broke out at the way both Daphne and Julia’s eyes lit up.
Still, he didn’t think it was bad that Julia was taken with Daphne. Daphne looked to him for advice a few times but he just let her be. Daphne was fine; she just needed time before she was talking to Julia easily and James was cleaning up the dishes left from dinner.
He put a movie on and grabbed blankets for them all. The girls got cozy as Julia explained about the movie. James grabbed popcorn as both Julia and Daphne quieted as the movie played.
He sat down with Daphne between him and Julia.
Daphne was idly playing with Julia’s hair as they watched the movie.
“We should watch Ant and Iris! You’d like it. Iris is a hedgehog that is lost from his home and Ant is a dog who helps him home!” Julia continued to extol the movie’s virtues and James could only give in under Julia’s look and Daphne’s slight smile.
After some time, he looked over at the two girls.
Julia had fallen asleep on the couch, curling up to Daphne, who had fallen asleep with her arm resting on Julia.
James turned down the volume on the television and shifted from his position, startling Daphne awake.
She looked around, bleary-eyed, as James moved to gather Julia.
Daphne slowly removed her arm, stretching and moving.
Julia squirmed, complaining about being moved. James picked her up like a baby, holding her back as he walked her upstairs and put her to bed. He walked back down to find Daphne trying to wake herself up and looking groggy.
“Do you want to stay here?” James asked.
“I should be getting back,” Daphne said.
“You’ve got to put your boots on, then your jacket, then get in your cold car and drive an hour home, or you can stay here. I have a spare toothbrush—it’s probably a kid’s one, though.” James grinned.
Daphne lazily hit him in the shoulder, her fist holding no power. Her protest didn’t last long. “Fine, you win. Do you have a spare set of boxers and t-shirt?”
“I would hope so.” James laughed and led her upstairs. He quickly grabbed clothes for her to sleep in and passed them to her. She went off into the bathroom and James stripped down into his boxers, getting into bed.
Daphne came back from the washroom as James was already feeling his eyes grow tired.
She got under the sheets and snuggled in close with him, curling around him.
James squeezed her in a hug. Her smell filled his nose as he relaxed, falling asleep with a smile on his face.
***
“Dad.” Julia walked into James’s room, yawning as she did so and rubbing her eyes.
Daphne shifted, trying to go back to sleep as James seemed to be turning conscious. Daphne felt a weight on the sheets and then a small leg on her calf before another on her side. She looked up to see Julia dropping on her father like an amateur wrestler.
James let out a gust of air as she landed on his gut.
“Dad, why aren’t you awake,” Julia complained.
“Julia, no jumping,” James said.
Julia seemed to notice Daphne was there.
What the hell do I do? Daphne realized how she was still curled up around James.
“Hi, Daphne.” Julia yawned. She didn’t seem fazed by the fact there was a woman in James’s bed.
“Go and wash up. I’ll make some crepes,” James said, still sounding half asleep.
“Pancakes! Woo-hoo!” Julia bounced on James’s chest, making him expel air with each bounce.
“Will, you, stop, that?”
“Pancakes!” Julia jumped off the bed and rushed off.
Daphne looked up at James.
“A Julia Waters’s good morning,” he said, as if it were a matter of course. “I know how you like to lie in. I’ll get Julia sorted. Come down when you want to. There’s a bathrobe in the bathroom if you want.” James kissed her quickly before he got up and pulled on sweatpants and a sweater.
Daphne made a pleased noise. James’s bed was really comfortable. She felt his leftover warmth and dozed off again.
She woke up some time later. Stretching, she got out of bed and grabbed the oversized bathrobe. She pulled it around herself and headed downstairs.
She found that Julia was eating her way through a pile of crepes while her dad was pouring himself coffee.
“Morning.” James smiled. “Want a coffee?”
“Mmm,” Daphne said.
“Hi, Daphne!” Julia said, so awake for the hour.
“Morning, Julia.” Daphne sat down at the counter.
Julia looked as though she were deep in thought as James gave Daphne a coffee, remembering her preferences.
Daphne took in a deep breath and then sipped the coffee, feeling better already.
“There’s lots of people around but I don’t think Dad has ever had a girl stay in his room before,” Julia said, looking thoughtful.
James nearly inhaled his coffee and started to cough.
Daphne smiled behind her own cup. “I’m your dad’s special friend. We’re dating,” Daphne said, leaving nothing behind.
Julia nodded, turning to Daphne fully. “Then will you be my new mom?”
“Ummm…” Daphne looked to James with wide eyes.
“If she’s lucky enough.” James looked to Daphne.
See if I don’t get you back for that one. Daphne narrowed her eyes as she sipped her coffee.
***
Daphne hung around until after lunch. James and Julia saw her off as she climbed into her car and left them behind.
As she drove, she couldn’t help but think of James, her relationship with him and also Julia.
If she wanted to pursue this relationship, then Julia would be a part of it. Julia was a sweet girl, though that was a lot of responsibility. She wasn’t sure she was ready for it.
She took a deep breath and smiled to herself. She said that she wouldn’t run away and she wouldn’t. The future was unknown but she knew she liked James and Julia.
She just hoped that Julia liked her back.