Work Text:
Julia had great plans for the morning as she came down for breakfast, but those were promptly thrown out of the window when she saw the stranger sitting beside mother at the table.
He was old and distinguished looking, with broad shoulders, tanned skin and warm, blue eyes. His thatch of greying hair did not detract from his appearance, and Julia instinctively knew that this man had been quite a looker back in the day.
Her mother smiled as she caught sight of her and waved her over to the table. Julia approached cautiously and moved over to the heated sideboard, which was piled high with eggs, coffee and sausages.
Her mother introduced their surprise guest as Colonel John Race, an old acquaintance of hers back from the war days when she'd worked in military intelligence. Julia raised an eyebrow at that, reassessing her posture and brushing her floppy fringe behind her ear. It wouldn't do to create a bad impression.
'It's good to see you, Julia.' The colonel smiled. 'Your mother only sent me a few pictures when you were little. I hear you've been involved in quite a few adventurous exploits recently?'
Julia blushed. 'Only one so far, Colonel.'
'Oh yes, the incident at Meadowbank. M. Poirot told me you were quite the resourceful young lady.'
'You know him as well?'
'I like to consider us good friends. We've bumped into each other a few times while investigating cases.'
Her mother seemed pleased by the quick camaraderie they'd developed and moved to clear the table.
'Why don't you accompany the Colonel to West Kensington today? I'm sure he'd be happy to tour the exhibit with you.'
'Really mother?'
'Hm. It looks as though you're bursting to exchange stories, and I won't be one to interrupt.'
Julia ran up to her room to get ready, looking right chummed at the thought.
***
Kathleen Upjohn turned to Colonel Race and smiled.
'She's just like you.'
The colonel glanced at her, seemingly in a daze.
'I wasn't expecting her to have grown so much.'
'She's not a child anymore.'
'Yes, I can see that now.'
It annoys her, you know. When people fuss and treat her like one.'
'Hm.'
'I know your propensity to worry, John.'
'It only seems like yesterday when she was just this small.'
'She can look after herself. She's got a good head on her shoulders. Sharp as a tack.'
'You don't know how afraid I was, when I heard about Meadowbank. All those murders and kidnappings, Julia right at the centre of it. After I heard from Hercule about the extent she'd been involved, I almost lost it.'
Kathleen smiled softly. 'Is that all you feel?'
The Colonel's face crumpled.
'Of course not.'
He glanced at the photograph he kept tucked into his breast pocket, now old and wrinkled at the edges. A little girl looked back with serious eyes, flaxen hair gleaming in the sun.
'I'm damned proud of her.'
***