Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

Gabriel watched as Julianne retrieved a stuffed lamb from a nearby chair and pressed a button on its back. The muffled sound of a human heartbeat lifted from the toy.

Gabriel craned his neck and saw her put the toy in a corner of the playpen.

He entered the bedroom and placed the champagne flutes on a nearby table before closing the door.

Julia lifted her head and smiled. “Hi.”

“How was the bath?” Gabriel handed her some ginger ale.

Julia took the glass eagerly. “Good. It amazes me how her hair curls when it’s wet. You and I don’t really have curly hair.”

Gabriel chuckled and clicked his glass of ginger ale against hers. “To Clare Grace Hope Rachel Emerson.”

“To Clare Grace Hope Rachel Emerson.”

Julia sipped her drink and sighed happily.

He took her hand and led her to a large, leather club chair that sat near the window. She put their drinks on the side table and sat on his lap.

“It was a long day.” He positioned her so her side nestled into his shoulder.

Julia winced as her right leg ached.

“Is something wrong?” Gabriel’s blue eyes examined her.

“Just stiff,” she lied. She retrieved their glasses.

He fastened his arm around her. “How are your feet?”

She wiggled her left foot. “They’re fine. I knew we’d be standing a lot today, so I didn’t wear heels.”

“Ah.” Gabriel resisted the urge to complain. He opened his mouth in order to suggest a private viewing, but Julia spoke first.

“Rachel is very happy we added her name to Clare’s.”

“Yes.” Gabriel frowned, thinking of his sister and her woes. “I tried to talk to her today but she wouldn’t engage.”

“She was probably worried about spoiling the party.”

“Hmmm.” Gabriel did not sound convinced.

“Everyone around her has a baby, when she’s the one who really wanted to be a mother. She needs time to grieve.”

“Humph.” He sipped his drink.

Julia tapped the slight divot in his chin. “Don’t humph me, Professor. Grieving is a process.”

“You are not wrong.” Gabriel kissed her nose. “But I was trying to help by speaking to her today and she shut me out.”

“She needs time to process what has happened.”

“I suppose so.” Gabriel changed the subject. “Let’s talk about the abomination that’s now standing in our front garden.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” Julia hid her face behind her champagne flute.

“You know exactly what I mean, Mrs. Emerson. We can’t have kitsch in the front yard.”

“I think it’s funny.”