He was sweating beneath the uniform. Both fencers began removing their helmets to mop their faces in between points.
Finally, Michel reached fifteen points and the bout was over. Gabriel removed his helmet and shook hands with his coach, then shook hands with the acting referee.
“Your mind is elsewhere,” Michel scolded Gabriel in French.
Gabriel pressed his lips together. There was no point in denying it.
“A short break, then again.” Michel pointed to a nearby row of chairs and walked off to speak to another fencer.
Obediently, Gabriel sat and drank from his water bottle.
Julianne was his sun and his moon. Someone had treated her unfairly, driving her to tears.
He mopped his face with a towel and rested his arms on his knees. He did not want to go to Edinburgh alone.
Changing Cecilia’s mind was going to be difficult, if not impossible, especially since she seemed to have taken his own recent success as an indictment of her career. Gabriel wanted Julianne to stand up to her—to call her bluff. But Julia wanted to wait and to regroup.
Gabriel was not a man given to waiting. He’d never been so, even after his experience in St. Francis’s crypt. Gabriel was a fighter. He’d be damned if he’d spend one week away from his wife and child, let alone an entire year. And especially not because of some academic’s hurt pride.
Michel appeared in front of him and kicked his foot. “Let’s go. And this time, you need to focus. My grandmother could best you today. And she died thirty years ago.”
Gabriel lifted his head and cast his coach a look that would have frozen water.
Michel appeared amused. “Good afternoon, Gabriel. I was waiting for you to show up.”
With a laugh, Michel retrieved the referee.
Gabriel followed, exhaling fire.
Chapter Thirty
Halloween
October 31, 2012
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Julianne’s cell phone vibrated with a text.
She and Gabriel were trick-or-treating with Clare, while Rebecca remained at the house to hand out candy. Clare, who was not yet two months old, was dressed as a pumpkin. She wore a footed sleeper underneath an orange vest that featured a jack-o’-lantern’s eyes, nose, and mouth. And she wore an orange cap that had a stem attached to it.
Gabriel snapped an infinity of photographs of said pumpkin before they’d even left the house.
He’d balked at the notion of taking Clare trick-or-treating, given her tender age, but once Julia had dressed her in the costume, he changed his mind. The proud papa strutted with Clare in his arms, introducing her to the neighbors, some of whom remarked on the flamboyance of flamingos that had appeared on the Emersons’ lawn back in September. And the single sunglasses-wearing flamingo that still sat in the front yard, much to Gabriel’s embarrassment and Julia’s glee.
The text on Julia’s phone read,
Jules, where the hell are you?
I called the landline and got the machine.
Did you dress Clare for Halloween? I want to see!
Luv, R.
“Who’s that?” Gabriel peered nosily at Julia’s screen.
“Your sister.” Julia texted a response as they walked to the next house.
Hey, Rach.
Sorry about that.
We’re trick-or-treating.
Call me.
Luv, J.
“I haven’t heard from her since before we went to Scotland.” Gabriel adjusted Clare’s cap, for her stem had gone awry. She looked for her mother over his shoulder.
“I texted her about what happened with Cecilia.” At this Gabriel glowered. “We’ve been playing phone tag.”
A moment later, Julia’s phone rang. She hung back on the sidewalk while Gabriel carried Clare to their neighbor Leslie’s front door.
“Jules! What’s Clare wearing?” Rachel’s voice was exuberant, which made Julia relax. The last time they’d seen one another, Rachel had been very unhappy.
“She’s dressed as a pumpkin. We took a lot of pictures. I’ll email them to you.” Julia watched as Leslie opened her door and reacted with delight at the sight of Gabriel and his baby. Julia placed Rachel on speakerphone so she could discreetly take photos of her family.
“Good,” said Rachel. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t call you when you told me what went down with your supervisor. How are you feeling?”
Julia calculated her words carefully. She explained about Gabriel’s lectureship and their difference of opinion as to what to do about Cecilia.
Rachel was horrified. “I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t let that woman dictate my future. Students study abroad all the time.”
“Unfortunately, when you’re a graduate student, you’re under the patronage of your supervisor. If she drops me, and she can without having to justify her decision to anyone, then I’m stuck. I won’t have a supervisor, and that will set me back months if not a year.”
Rachel swore loudly. “What did Katherine say?”
“I haven’t told her.”
“You haven’t told her?” Rachel practically shouted. “Are you nuts? Katherine is like Wonder Woman in an age-appropriate pantsuit. She can fix anything.”
Julia stifled a laugh. “She’s at Oxford this year. There’s nothing she can do.”
“I thought she was switching to Harvard.”
“Not until next year.”
“Then work with her, instead.”
“It’s not that simple. I can’t work with her until after she arrives. And it will look bad if Cecilia refuses to be on my committee. Word will get out.”
“But Katherine is Wonder Woman. Why would you want to work with Black Widow, when you can work with Wonder Woman?”
“I thought black widows were spiders.”
“Stay current, Jules. Black Widow is an Avengers superhero. Do you want me to go talk to her?”
Julia made a strange gurgling sound in her throat. “Talk to Cecilia?”
“Yeah.”
“No. Thank you, but no, I don’t want you to talk to Cecilia.” Julia watched as Gabriel walked toward her with Clare, carrying a bag of candy. “I’m hoping Cecilia will change her mind before next summer, which is when I have to set things up with Edinburgh, if I’m going.”
“Academia is fucked up. Seriously. I thought Philadelphia mayoral politics were dysfunctional, but academia is a whole other level.”
“You aren’t wrong.”
“Speaking of black widows, what’s happening with Rebecca and my dad?” Rachel changed the subject.
Julia locked eyes with her husband, who had overheard Rachel’s question.
Gabriel gave Julia a quizzical look. “Why is she asking that?”
“Nothing is happening,” Julia replied. “Rebecca is here, with us. Richard is in Selinsgrove. Nothing has arrived from him in the mail.”
“They’re probably sexting.”
“Rachel!” Gabriel exclaimed, looking a little green.
“Tell my brother I’m kidding. Dad doesn’t even know how to text,” Rachel said gloomily. “Hey, I know. Why don’t we set Dad up with Katherine?”
Julia silently stared at her phone. “Do you know how old Katherine is?”
“No.”
“Well, she’s much older than Richard.”
“Yeah, well, Wonder Woman was much older than Steve Trevor. It worked for them.”
“Let me speak to her.” Gabriel exchanged Clare for Julia’s cell phone.
“It’s me,” he announced. “Why are you asking about Rebecca and Richard?”
“It was just a question,” Rachel backpedaled meekly. “I was wondering if things were . . . progressing.”
“They went to dinner.”
“So they went on a date a
fter Aaron and I left.”
Gabriel lifted his face to the sky, as if seeking divine intervention. “Although neither of them informed me as to the correct adjective to describe their dinner, I can tell you it wasn’t a date.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know Richard,” Gabriel sounded impatient. “Which raises the question, why are you asking me and not your father?”
Rachel was silent for a moment. “He’s your father, too.”
“I repeat the question.”
Julia tapped his arm and glared at him.
He shrugged and she gave him a scolding look in return.
Gabriel pursed his lips. “I don’t mean to be—unsympathetic.”
Julia widened her eyes.
“How are you feeling, Rachel?” He gave Julia a look as if to say See? I can be sensitive.
“I’m okay. I just don’t want to be blindsided, you know? In case Dad decides to invite Rebecca home for Thanksgiving.”
“That won’t happen,” Gabriel said firmly. “Rebecca has already booked her flight to Colorado to see her son. She’s spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with her children and never even mentioned the possibility of visiting Selinsgrove.”
“Okay.” Rachel sounded relieved.
“You need to talk to Richard.” Gabriel lowered his voice.
“All right. Aaron just got home. I have to go. Tell Jules and Clare I love them and send me pictures of her costume.”
Gabriel’s lips turned up. “I will. She looks great.”
“Bye, Gabriel.” Rachel ended the call.
Julia’s gaze met Gabriel’s. “What was that all about?”
“She’s jumping to conclusions because she’s too stubborn to speak to Richard directly.” Gabriel handed Julia the bag of candy they’d been collecting and took Clare into his arms. “Come on, pumpkin. There are more neighbors to meet.”
“If we’re going to keep walking, then I need a chocolate bar.” Julia perused the contents of the candy bag. She unwrapped some chocolate and took a large bite before feeding some to Gabriel. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with all this stuff. You know babies can’t eat candy.”
“Ah yes, I am aware of that.” Gabriel angled for another bite.
Julia fed him, and he licked the melting chocolate from her fingers.
She stared from her fingers to his mouth.
He gave his lower lip a sensual lick. “I’m sure we’ll find a use for it, Mrs. Emerson. Two more houses and then we can explore erotic uses of chocolate at home. Let’s go.” He began walking in the direction of the next house.
Julia gazed at her fingers and then hurried after him.
Chapter Thirty-One
Thanksgiving
November 2012
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
That’s a good-looking turkey.” Scott Clark, Gabriel and Rachel’s brother, gazed admiringly across the living room. Scott was six foot three and broad-shouldered, with blond hair and gray eyes, and was married to Tammy. He had adopted Tammy’s son, Quinn, when they married.
The turkey in question was Clare, who’d been dressed in a costume by her aunt Rachel. Quinn, who was three years old, was sitting next to the baby, who was lying on a blanket. He was trying to hand her toys, which elicited squeals of delight and laughter. Occasionally, he would pet her head.
“Thank you for noticing the costume.” Rachel dropped down onto the floor to play with the children. She was happy to be home, if a little nostalgic. And although she hadn’t mentioned it, she was relieved Rebecca was in Colorado for the holiday.
Her father hadn’t seen her since his visit in September, or so Julia had said. Rachel felt a twinge of guilt for feeling jealous of her father’s friendship with a woman his own age. It seemed her grief ran deeper than she realized.
She turned to gaze at the front windows. Julia had put battery-operated candles in each of them, a custom in Massachusetts. Rachel couldn’t help but remember her mother doing the same thing, but with a single lit candle that hoped for Gabriel’s return.
Gabriel entered the room carrying an enormous turkey on a platter and set it in the middle of the dining room table. “Dinner is served.”
The family found their chairs. Scott put Quinn in a high chair between Tammy and himself. Rachel insisted on holding Clare while Julia ate, choosing to eat later. And as ever, Richard sat at the head of the table, smiling proudly at his children and their spouses.
“Let’s pray,” he announced. Everyone held hands.
“Our Father, we thank you for this day and for the many blessings you have given to us. Thank you for Grace and for our children. Thank you for their wives and husband and for their children. Thank you for the addition of little Clare, who is such a joy. May you keep us safe. May you show us your light. Bless this food and the hands that prepared it. Amen.”
Rachel said Amen, but she hadn’t closed her eyes. Still, in the midst of his prayer she felt a comforting presence. She wished the presence were that of her mother.
As Richard carved the turkey, he addressed Julia, who sat at his right. “When are Tom and his family coming over?”
“They were supposed to come tomorrow, but Tommy was running a fever this morning and so they’re at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Diane says Tommy will be fine, but they’re admitting him for observation.” Julia helped Richard serve the turkey and began passing serving dishes piled with vegetables.
“I’m sorry, Jules.” Scott’s voice was gentle. He gave her a sympathetic look.
“Tommy has already had two major heart operations, and he’s supposed to have another soon. My dad and Diane send their best to everyone.” Julia gave Scott a strained smile.
“What’s wrong with your brother?” Tammy asked quietly.
“He was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means the left side of his heart was undeveloped,” Julia explained. “But the Children’s Hospital has treated a number of infants with the same condition. So he’s in good hands.”
“Where’s Rebecca? Gabriel said she made the pies and the rolls.” Scott began cramming one of said rolls into his mouth, absolutely ignoring the death glare he was getting from his sister.
“Her son lives in Colorado and she’s spending the holiday with him.” Julia glanced at Rachel out of the corner of her eye and busied herself with putting food on her plate.
“How do you feel about Rebecca, Dad?” Scott continued. “She’s a nice lady. Hell of a cook.”
Richard froze, suspending the carving knife and fork in midair.
“Seriously, Scott. Is there a land mine you haven’t stepped on?” Rachel snapped. “Oh, wait. I’ve got one. Everyone has experienced a visitation from Mom, except me.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Scott. “What visitation?”
Rachel stared at her brother for a beat. “Well, at least I’m not the only one.”
“Not the only one what?” Scott’s eyebrows shot up.
“Rachel.” Richard gave his daughter a pained look.
She turned her face away.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
“We have some news.” Aaron changed the subject, putting his arm around his wife. “I was offered a job with Microsoft New England. And I took it.”
“What? Congratulations!” Scott reached across the table to shake Aaron’s hand. “I thought you already worked for Microsoft.”
“This is more research-oriented. I’ll be working with a team of programmers, right in Cambridge.” Aaron hugged Rachel’s shoulders. “I start in January.”
“You’ll be closer to Gabriel and Julia.” Richard smiled and continued carving the turkey as exuberant congratulations passed around the table.
Julia eyed Rachel cautiously.
“What about you, Rach
?” Scott asked. “What about your job in the mayor’s office in Philadelphia?”
Everyone looked at her expectantly. She bounced Clare on her lap. “I turned in my notice because I found another job. I’ve been hired to be a public relations supervisor at Dunkin’ Donuts in Canton, just outside Boston. Dunkie’s is in the same company as Baskin-Robbins, which means I’ll get unlimited coffee, doughnuts, and ice cream.” Rachel blew a raspberry against Clare’s neck and the baby squealed.
“That’s a dream job,” Tammy observed. “I love Dunkie’s.”
“Exactly.” Rachel sat up a little straighter. “They have incredible brand recognition, and everyone loves them. Corporate headquarters is casual; I’ll be able to wear jeans to work. And they have lots of incentives and perks.” She exchanged a look with Aaron, who grinned.
“I’m so happy for you.” Julia hugged her friend. “You’ll be closer to us and you’ll be able to see more of Clare.”
“We’ve put our condo up for sale. Hopefully, we’ll close before we move. Now we’re looking for somewhere to live.” Rachel batted her eyelashes at her brother.
Gabriel exchanged a look with Julianne. “Where do you want to live? Canton? Back Bay?”
“We don’t know,” Aaron interjected. “We need to sell our place first and we need to consider Rachel’s commute time.”
“Driving out to Canton every day will get tiresome,” Gabriel announced. “You may want to live out on the south shore and have Aaron commute to Cambridge.”
“Who wants to live on the south shore? We want to be where the action is. And where the baby is.” Rachel bounced Clare on her lap.
Julianne opened her mouth, but before she could invite Rachel and Aaron to stay in Cambridge, Gabriel grasped her hand under the table. And squeezed.
“Let’s discuss it later,” he whispered in her ear.
“But whatever happens,” Rachel continued, “we will be around while you’re in Edinburgh, Gabriel. Which means we can help Julia while you’re gone.”
Gabriel started. Although his eyes stared straight into Rachel’s, his words were directed at his wife. “I’m not going without them.”
Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno) Page 14