Julia

by Marty Sorensen

  *

  The next morning when Julia awoke Hugh was gone again. She went out in her pajamas to the dining room but no one was there. The door to Hugh's office stood open and the room was empty. The same was true for the library. And the same was true for Elizabeth's room. Worse, the bed was made, the teddy bear was gone, and the closet door was open. I gaping hole showed that clothes had been removed.

  So they had done it. Without telling her. Naturally Hugh was gone so he didn't have to face his wife. She was alone. The house was dead quiet. Even the taxis outside refrained from using their horns.

  She went into the library to call Philadelphia and had the phone in her hand ready to dial when she realized she didn't know the number there. She had never wanted to. Not until now and now it was too late.

  She went to her workroom and picked up her valise and took three new brushes out of a paper bag but then she stood there unsure. How defiant did she want to become? She sat on a chair feeling empty. Instead of going to the Art Students League, she put the valise and the brushes back. She went for a long walk in Central Park.

  Late in the afternoon she returned to find the house still empty. She waited in the library for Hugh to return. When she heard his loud footsteps climbing the stairs she stood and walked over to open the door. When she put her hand on the knob she felt a strong pull and backed away. She walked to the center of the room and turned to face her husband.

  He smiled at her.

  "Where is Elizabeth?"

  "You know very well, Darling. She's with Mother, visiting our relatives in Philadelphia. You knew that. Why are you making a stink about it?"

  She stared at him waiting for an epiphany about how to proceed, but none came. "You kidnapped her."

  He laughed and put the newspaper down on the library table before speaking to her. "Well, that won't hold up in court will it? You knew all about it, in fact you agreed to it. So don't start acting like you've been kept in the dark."

  Julia's eyes narrowed and her lips formed a straight line, then she bit her lip, and then said, "You took her away from me this morning. Or last night for all I know."

  Hugh put his hands in his pocket and maintained his amused composure. "As a matter of fact it was last night. I thought it much better to avoid a scene with you this morning. Much better for Elizabeth."

  "Better for Elizabeth? To go away without saying goodbye to her mother?"

  Hugh shook his head. He turned and looked down at the headlines in the newspaper, thinking for a moment before responding. "It was for the best, Julia. And it's for only a short period of time. By the way," he said, turning back to her, "have you called to cancel your courses?"

  "I don't have to cancel the courses. I can do whatever I please."

  "Yes of course that's right, you can. You can just wait until they contact you and then we will see what happens."

  "For now," she said, "I'll do my work here."