Gabriel's Redemption (Gabriel's Inferno 3)

Tammy nodded. “We’d talked about having kids. We both wanted children. Then, all of a sudden, Eric decided he wasn’t ready. He thought I got pregnant to trap him.”

“As if you got pregnant all by yourself.” Diane waved her fork in the air.

Julia said nothing, ashamed of the fact that she sympathized with Eric’s lack of readiness, although she deplored his actions.

“Eric gave me an ultimatum—the baby or him. When I hesitated, he left.”

“Asshole,” muttered Rachel.

“I was devastated. I knew the pregnancy wasn’t my entire responsibility, but I felt like I should have been more careful. I considered an abortion, but Eric was already gone. And deep down, I was happy about being a mom.”

Once again, Julia squirmed, struck by the sincerity of Tammy’s tone.

“I couldn’t afford the rent on my own, so I moved back with my parents. I felt like such a failure—pregnant, single, living at home. I used to cry myself to sleep thinking that no man would ever want me.”

“I’m so sorry.” Julia’s eyes began to water.

Tammy reached over and hugged her.

“Things got better. But I’ll never forgive Eric for signing away his parental rights. Now Quinn will never know his father.”

“Sperm donors aren’t fathers,” Rachel interjected. “Richard didn’t contribute genetic material to Gabriel, but he’s his father.”

“I don’t know who contributed genetic material to Gabriel, but he must have been good looking because that boy is fine.” Diane gestured toward the living room. “Not as fine as my man, but then, no one is.”

Julia giggled uncomfortably as she contemplated the notion that someone found her dad to be “fine.”

Tammy continued. “I was lucky I had a job. I worked at the district attorney’s office with Scott. We went out a couple of times while I was pregnant. We were just friends, but he was so sweet to me. I thought that once I had the baby, I wouldn’t hear from him again. But he came to see me a few weeks after Quinn was born. He asked me out and I was smitten.”

“He was smitten with you too, as I recall.” Rachel grinned. “He was in deep smit.”

Tammy touched her engagement ring, moving the band back and forth on her finger. “I was breast-feeding the baby, so I had to pump before he picked me up. My parents babysat. But Scott never made me feel awkward or weird. He saw me as a person, a woman, instead of simply a mom. I guess he had a little crush on me when I was with Eric.” She looked at her friends and smiled.

“I was so nervous about meeting you all. I was worried about what you’d think. But you were so welcoming.” She glanced at Julia. “I didn’t meet Gabriel until later, but he was nice, too. Even when Quinn ruined his suit.”

“You should have seen him before he met Julia.” Rachel made a face. “He would have handed Quinn the dry cleaning bill.”

Julia was about to protest on Gabriel’s behalf, when Tammy spoke again. “I can’t imagine Gabriel doing that. He’s wonderful with Quinn. And Scott? Well, fatherhood does something to a man. To a good man,” she clarified. “Scott gets down on the floor and wrestles with Quinn. He’s playful and gentle. It’s a whole different side to him.”

Julia pondered Tammy’s remarks, wondering what Gabriel would be like as a father.

“I can’t wait to have a girl.” Tammy smiled to herself. “Scott will treat her like a princess.”

“You want more kids?” Rachel asked, her eyebrows lifting in surprise.

“Yes. I think two kids will be enough for us, but if I have another boy, I’d like to try for a girl.”

At that moment, Scott entered the kitchen, carrying a sleepy twenty-one-month-old boy. He nodded at the other women before walking over to Tammy. “I think it’s bedtime.”

Julia smiled at the contrast between Scott, who was six foot three and strongly built, and the small blond angel he cradled protectively.

“I’ll help you.” Tammy rose to her feet. She kissed her husband and they went upstairs.

Rachel looked at the stack of dessert plates and at the pies. “I guess I’d better take the men their dessert.” She cut two slices of pie, plated them, and carried them into the living room.

Diane looked at Julia and fidgeted with her cup.

“Can we talk for a minute, honey?”

“Of course.” Julia shifted her weight on the stool and turned to give Diane her full attention.

“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to say it. I’ve been spending a lot of time with your father.”

Julia gave Diane an easy smile. “I think that’s great.”

“He met my mama and the rest of my family. He’s even started coming to church with me on Sundays, to hear me sing in the choir.”

Julia hid her surprise at the thought of her father in a church.

“When Dad asked if he could bring you to my wedding, I knew things had to be serious.”

“I love him.”

Julia’s eyes widened. “Wow. Does he know that?”

“Of course. He loves me too.” Diane smiled tentatively. “We’ve been talking about the future. Making plans . . .”

“That’s great.”

“It is?” Diane’s dark eyes searched Julia’s.

“I’m happy he’s with someone who loves him. As much as I don’t want to bring Deb up, I’m sure you know they were together for a long time. Nothing seemed to come of it. And I really didn’t like them as a couple.”

Diane was quiet, as if she were mulling something over.

“Your dad and I are talking about making things permanent. I want you to know that when we do that, I won’t try to take the place of your mama.”

Julia stiffened. “Sharon was not my mama.”

Diane placed a comforting hand on Julia’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not sure what Dad has told you about her, but I’m guessing it isn’t much.”

“I’ve let sleeping dogs lie. When a man’s ready to talk, he’ll talk.”

Julia sipped her coffee in silence. She didn’t enjoy talking or thinking about her mother, who died during Julia’s senior year of high school. Sharon had been alcoholic and indifferent for most of Julia’s life. When she wasn’t indifferent, she’d been abusive.

“Grace was like a mother to me. I was closer to her than to Sharon.”