Chapter Fifty Five

Breakfast had been a raucous affair, both men had showered in the room adjacent to the pool, then joined them at the table quickly, devouring with ease what had seemed like a mountain of food. All the while there was a friendly banter between the two men, teasing, joking. Adele joined in when it was aimed at her husband and Julia could only sit back and absorb what was a truly happy friendship.

Aaron must have sensed the distance, how she didn't "fit it" and sidled his chair closer to his, planting a hand on her thigh. Every now and again, he'd squeeze her thigh, glancing at her and smiling.

"So, Julia...." Tom finally dragged her into the conversation. "You have to tell us if this man really does enjoy his life outside of work, because I see very little evidence of it."

She smiled at Tom, then turned to Aaron who was watching her quizzically. He was the most fun she'd known....not that she had the highest bench mark, but he had taken her to the beach, chased her on the sand, played cards, walked the dogs, cooked for her, albeit badly. Then there was all that had happened behind closed doors. More than fun.

She gave what she hoed was a sultry smile, "well, I haven't laughed as much as I have the last few months, in years. Except for cooking....that's not fun."

Aaron actually blushed as Tom burst out laughing, the tightness in his hand on her though accompanied by a wicked look in his eyes, as he leaned forward and whispered, "you'll pay for that, young lady."

Excitement coursed through her veins at the thought of a battle with him, because she loved that he pushed her, challenged her, whilst still stepping back and not stressing her. It was a fine and very taught line that he walked, and one that she knew no one else would be bothered to take that time, make that effort. Her heart swelled, she'd miss him so much when she went back.

The thought hit her like a sledge hammer, home. She would have to return. This trip would come to an end....what the hell would she do then?

The drive back to the City was a lot quieter than the route out. Julia was deep within her own thoughts, and she could tell that he was just as engrossed. Somehow the step this weekend had proved to be, had changed the framing of whatever it was that was between them.

The basement garage was deserted as he swung into his reserved space. They'd not spoken more than a few words on the way home, instead Julia had flicked between radio channels, humming along to the odd song, until Aaron's hand had darted out and captured her fingers, holding onto them for a large part of the journey.

Now, as they both got out of the car, he smiled at her, "you OK?"

She gave a half shrug, "tired."

He nodded, "me too. Come on, I'll order us pizza, then we can have an early night?"

That made her smile, that was just what she needed, as he headed for the lift, she called out his name. When he turned, she spluttered, "I go home in six weeks."

Aaron visibly paled, and it was a long moment before he offered a tight smile, "I know. And we need to talk...but not when we're tired, not like this. OK?"

Julia tipped her head subtly, she was worried about everything, suddenly her future seemed so undecided, but the thought of him helping her work things out, that made her happy.

In their home, she had loaded their weekend clothing in to the washing machine as the door bell rang, she looked up as Aaron appeared from upstairs, his hair wet wearing just a pair of football shorts, his chest and arms still damp from his shower. He laughed when he spotted her checking him out.

"You stay there gawping, I'll get the door!"

She laughed as he buzzed the delivery man up, then handed him a few notes as he took the box and placed it on the dining table.

Washer on, Julia was grabbing plates and napkins when she felt his warm body press up against her. His lips pressed to her neck as he trapped her against the cupboard door, "what's that for?"

He chuckled against her skin, "dunno, maybe you checking me out made me a bit horny?"

She twisted to meet his eyes, "you're like a frisky teenager!"

Her voice was warm, pleasure filled, despite her words, she really liked the playful side of him, and chats with Adele over the weekend made her aware that it was a rarely seen side of him, she wanted to bring that out in him, wanted to see it more.

He responded with a devilish wink that made her insides melt, and for a long moment she forgot about the pizza, instead focussing on the hardness pressing into her back, and what she knew it was capable of doing. With a sigh of resignation, or maybe pleasure, it seemed like such a fine line, his lips fell to her shoulders, his teeth sinking gently into her flesh. Then it was her turn to moan.

A shrill ring disturbed them, just as she was about to turn his arms, move things on. He groaned against her lips, trying to ignore it.

"You should hgt it, it could be important."

He sighed, "nooo."

But she nudged him away from her, and he reached for his phone on the table beside the pizza, as he looked at it, he visibly paled, then crossed the room, the phone at his ear.

Julia reached for the glass of juice she'd just poured and watched him as his shoulders hunched and his head dropped.

When he hung up, he stood in that position for a few too many seconds.

"Aaron?"

When he finally turned he looked devastated, his eyes welling with unshed tears, she'd never seen him look so broken.

"What is it?" She rushed over to him.

His eyes finally met hers, "Kitty...."

Her heart pained for him, the old lady was a good friend to him, he thought of her as a grandmother, more than just an old neighbour.

"Shit."

He nodded, "she had a stroke about an hour ago. She's in the General Hospital in Providence....they don't give her long."

"You have to go...." he nodded an answer, so she added, "do you want me to come with you?"

He shook his head, "You've got work, you can't miss it, aren't you meeting some VIPs tomorrow?"

She shrugged, "you don't look fit to drive."

"I'll call Patrick..., he'll drive me....I can collect the dogs from Carrie..." he was thinking as he started to move across the room. "I'll call you as soon as I get there..."

"Go get dressed, I'll wrap up some of that pizza for you."

Four and a half hours later, Aaron found the ICU ward that was the last place for poor Kitty. The doctors allowed the dogs in, and he was grateful. Even if she wasn't aware of him, she'd sense them, she was sure.

"Hey Kitty," he sat beside her, took her hand. She was attached to machines and even his limited medical experience told him that they were barely registering her vital signs. A nurse approached.

"She hasn't got long. Are you her only family?"

He shook his head, "I'm her Power of Attorney and official next of kin, her family are in the Maldives." He didn't add that it was on Kitty's money, he hated her family so much. "They are on their way back."

"She isn't going to last."

He nodded, "they are aware....they're not close."

That made the other male frown, "families, hey?"

Aaron nodded, "that's why I brought her dogs."

"Normally they're not allowed."

Aaron smiled sadly, "but I have donated a large sum to the hospital..." That made them both laugh, and he lifted Cliffy and Coco up to the bed.

The dogs knew, both froze on the bed, then nestled against her neck, either side. Aaron swore that her hand moved, that Kitty responded to their presence. But either way, the dogs were curled up fast asleep when Kitty took her final breath, and the tears flew down his face.

He'd spoken to Julia around midnight, he knew he'd woken her, and felt awful, so there was no way he could call her now at three am. But he wanted to, so badly.

There were a lot of arrangements to make, Tom had been her legal advisor and had details of her will, but at their last meeting a few weeks earlier, she had handed him her funeral details. She'd already organised it all. A small chapel back in Brooklyn and drinks and buffalo wings in the closest bar to their apartment block. He had laughed at the time, knowing how angry it would all make her family. So he passed those details to the doctor in charge and the funeral home were on their way to collect her when he finally left the hospital as the sun rose.

Patrick had been at a hotel, for the night and was waiting at the door at his request. Aaron was so emotionally exhausted that he couldn't even comment on the fact that Carrie was sat up front beside him, they'd obviously stayed together, and he would have teased her. Instead he smiled gratefully when she took the dogs through the window, leaving him alone in the back seat of the car, a screen separating him from them.

Still early, he sent a message to Julia.

She's gone. About half past three. I'm on my way home. Will probably work from home. Will I see you tonight?

The phone rang immediately, he wanted to smile at Julia's name, but he was too tired.

"Hey, I checked my phone all night. How are you feeling?"

He sighed, "shit. Bless her, none of them made it, Jules, not one family member. But the boys cuddled up to her, either side of her neck....and she knew they were there."

He felt a tear roll down his cheek, as she murmured, "they're good boys. I'm glad they were there, and that she was at peace. Come home safely, OK?"

Sighing, he agreed, she knew that he wasn't ready to talk any further than that. And so he slumped against the seat, his eyes fixed on the horizon at the sun in it's earliest stages, and he must've fallen asleep.

Julia had come to work reluctantly, but Aaron was right, she had a big day ahead. Before she got on the underground train, she called Carrie, who told her that she was in the car with Aaron and they were approaching the city in horrendous traffic. She was relieved to hear that Aaron was sleeping. She emailed him a quick 'how are you?' in the hope that it wouldn't wake him like a text message would, then headed off to her big presentation for a team from the Smithsonian in DC. The only people who could quash her knowledge in a heartbeat.

Taylor patted her on the back as they left the specialist conference room, one of the walls was a fantastic interactive screen and since she'd been in New York it had become her mission to conquer the technology. The smiles and positive responses told her she'd absolutely killed it, and it felt amazing.

"We have GOT to celebrate, Julia. Come on, the guys are waiting in the usual place." That being a small bar that was tucked away in a side-street a few blocks from the museum. She wanted to go home, she needed to see Aaron, he hadn't contacted more than a quick message to say he was home sometime mid morning. But Taylor's face was lit up, she was beaming.

It wasn't wasted on Julia that Jerome was one of those waiting, Taylor had that 'head-over-heels' vibe about her and she was happy for her, they were a perfect match.

"Just one, I've got to get back," she offered, but that was met with an eye roll from Taylor.

"Yada yada yada," she chuckled as she dragged Julia along the road.

Cheers and catcalls erupted as they walked into the bar, a dozen colleagues gathered around a table and stared at them as they came in. Jerome jumped up and gave Taylor a kiss, which was met by another round of wolf whistles, Alex, her teams' rather evasive boss was sat at the head of the table, and lifted his phone in the air.

"You were a hit, Julia. That calls for champagne!"

A few bottles appeared as she was ushered to a seat at the end of the table. The Smithsonian was the greatest institute in terms of history, and an endorsement from them was a huge windfall. Taylor had talked about hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment. She was glad to be part of that, she loved the museum. It was already a second home to her. If she could help them improve, solidify futures for her new friends, then that was a bonus.

By the time she glanced at her phone, it was early evening. She hadn't been there for Aaron, and she felt bad. Slipping out to the bathroom, she called him, but the basement room had poor reception, so she ended up balancing on the toilet seat, no mean feat after a few glasses of champagne.

"Aaron?" she knew she was shouting, but the small window opened on to ground level of the rear alley and there was some sort of delivery happening and she could barely hear the other end of the call.

"Julia."

Her name seemed a breath, and whilst she could barely hear it, it was loud enough to set her body off into goosebumps.

"Sorry, I wanted to be there...."

"You're celebrating? It went well?"

He was so perceptive, it made her smile, "yep. But that's incidental. How you doing?"

"I'm OK. I was just tired earlier..."

Suddenly she was alert, "don't. Don't play it down. It must be hell seeing a stranger slip away, but you loved Kitty, she was like family. I'd be concerned if you weren't upset."

\He huffed then, a long slow exhale, "honestly, I'm fine. You enjoy your night, tell me all about it tomorrow."

"I'm coming home soon."

He sighed again, "I'm going into the office for a few hours, things I can't put off. I swear, stay, have fun. Celebrate."

She felt awful and was about to protest when he ended the call with a brief, "bye."