The Jazz Club

Chapter Five

unedited
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22nd August 1920.

"Happy birthday to you" The candle flickered in front of her as it was the only thing to illuminate Irene's picture. She let out a sigh as a tear fell from her eye. "Happy Birthday Irene"

Blowing out the candle left her alone in the darkness.

It was unusually loud when Julia entered the bar that day. The upbeat music of the Charleston mixed with the laughter of the people Julia had become close with.

"Jules!" Henry cried, a smile forming over his face. He brushed his longer than normal brown hair back before putting his hand out for Julia to take. She hesitated for a moment before Henry rolled his eye and took her hand in his and pulled her close. "Dance!"

"Everyone's so lively today" Julia giggled. Henry responded with a wink.

"Well that, my dear Jules, is because the spawn of Satan Albert isn't here today" Julia let out a sigh of relief, a smile covering her face.

"I think that's the best news I've had in months" Julia looked down at her feet as they continued to dance. The happy laughter of her workmates was like music to her ears. They didn't even hear the doors open and close until they heard the cheeky voice they knew so well.

"So what's going on here then?" Evelyn stood there, her bag over her shoulder and a cheeky smile playing at her lips. She placed her hands on her lips as she looked at everyone closely. "Let me guess," Evelyn laughed. "The spawn of Satan isn't here today"

Henry clapped his hands as he laughed.

"That's what I said!"

"Well, what are you just standing around for then?! Continue!" Evelyn cried, clapping her hands together. "But remember to also get your work done!" Everyone cheered as they went back to dancing, but as Henry turned to Julia, Evelyn beat him to it. "Sorry Henry, but I need to have a word with Julia here"

Julia rose an eyebrow as she looked at the older female. She returned that look with a small smile before Henry sighed.

"Okay fine," He looked at Julia. "But you owe me another dance later"

She rolled her eyes playfully as she nodded her head.

"Okay sure, I owe you a dance"

"Well Miss Evelyn, it looks like she's all yours"

Evelyn laughed sending a smile to Henry.

"Well thank you, Henry, how kind of you"

Julia just laughed, leaving the two alone as they playfully bid over the girl. Making her way to Evelyn's little office, it was long before she heard the door close behind her and it wasn't a second late before Evelyn wrapper her arms around her in a hug.

"I know what day it is today, you didn't need to come in" Evelyn spoke quickly.

Julia turned the best she could with Evelyn's arms around her and returned the hug. She kept quiet for a moment or two, the thoughts pilling up in her head.

"It's okay," Julia finally started to speak. "I needed to get out anyway, if I stayed in I might have gone crazy"

"But that doesn't mean you had to come here, you could have gone somewhere else"

Julia raised an eyebrow and sent Evelyn a look.

"What don't you want me here?" Evelyn rolled her eyes.