“Not long.” He placed the glass in her hand and collapsed in the rocking chair. “You’re supposed to drink a large glass of water every time you feed her.”
“I know.” Julia drank the water gratefully.
Gabriel yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You were tired.”
“So are you, darling.” Gabriel lifted a child-sized wooden stool and placed it in front of Julia. He perched precariously atop it, his legs so long that his knees huddled awkwardly against his chest. “I just received another email from Edinburgh.”
“They’re up early.”
“Indeed. They want to schedule the announcement and gala as soon as possible.”
“Would you go by yourself?”
Gabriel breathed deeply. He touched the calf of her left leg. “No. I want you and Clare to come with me.”
He slid his hand down to her foot and lifted it with both hands. Then he began to rub the sole of her foot.
“I’m not supposed to fly until six weeks after my c-section. I don’t think Clare should be exposed to an airplane full of germs before some of her vaccinations, either.”
“But you’d come with me if we waited until the twenty-first of October?” Gabriel’s voice was low, cautious.
Julia thought for a moment. “Yes. I probably won’t be able to go to the gala or any events, unless Rebecca comes with us. But we could try to make it work. Do you think Edinburgh would be okay with me joining you?”
“They’d better be.” Gabriel’s expression grew dangerous.
Here was the Professor in his natural state, fierce and protective, proud and determined, like a dragon defending his gold.
Julia decided to lighten the mood. “I’m sure the female population of greater urban Edinburgh will be delighted to see Professor Emerson walking the streets of the city pushing a stroller. In a kilt.”
Gabriel scowled. “Nonsense. No one wants to see me in a kilt.”
Julia smothered a smile. “You’d be surprised.”
He gazed into her eyes, his blue irises piercing through her façade. “Is that worrying you? The female population?”
Julia wanted to lie. She desperately, desperately wanted to lie. “A little.”
“I’m with you—in Cambridge, Edinburgh, everywhere.” Gabriel’s thumb traced a meridian down the center of Julia’s sole. His eyes focused on hers.
“I don’t want to commute,” Julia said in a small voice. Her eyes grew watery.
“I was going to say the same thing.” Gabriel met her gaze, blinking rapidly. He tried to switch his attention to her right leg, but she waved him off.
“Clare is just finishing.” Julia turned off the breastfeeding app.
Gabriel stood and lifted the baby into his arms, kissing her cheek. He retrieved a cloth from the changing table and placed it on his shoulder. He patted the baby’s back and swayed on his bare feet, waiting for her to burp.
Julia’s heart skipped a beat.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.
Gabriel gave her a questioning look.
“Being appointed the Sage Lecturer,” she explained. “As well as being a good father and a good husband.”
“I’m far from good,” Gabriel murmured. He averted his eyes, almost as if her praise embarrassed him. “Mostly I’m selfish. I’m selfish about you and I’m selfish about Clare.”
“I wonder what the University of Edinburgh will think of having a father in residence.”
“If they say anything, I’ll sue them for discrimination.” Gabriel’s face indicated he wasn’t kidding.
Julia adjusted her nightgown and stood on her left leg, taking great care to hide her physical trouble from her husband. Her right leg still felt numb.
Gabriel bent down and kissed her. “Why don’t you go to bed? I’ll rock Clare back to sleep. She likes to hear me sing.”
Julia laughed. “Who doesn’t?”
She placed their foreheads together. Then she returned to their bedroom, limping as soon as she was out of Gabriel’s sight.
Chapter Eighteen
A few days later
On the day of the baptism, Rachel and Aaron stood next to their car in the driveway, speaking with Gabriel.
“Just follow us into the parking garage and we’ll walk to the chapel together.”
“We’ll keep up.” Rachel glanced in the direction of the front lawn. “Looks like the flamingo company came to take them away. Except for one.”
“What’s that?” Gabriel moved so he could see the flower beds in the front yard. Next to a large hydrangea stood a pink plastic flamingo, wearing a pair of black sunglasses.
He turned accusatory eyes on his sister. “Did you do that?”
“I deny everything.” Rachel pushed past Aaron to open the car door.
“Will it be here when we get back?” Gabriel lifted his voice.
“Of course. And if it finds a girlfriend while we’re gone, you may have little ones all over your lawn. Again.” Rachel laughed loudly as she got into the car.
Gabriel muttered a curse as he gazed out at his beautiful front lawn. He was just about to return to his SUV when he turned his head, facing toward the street that ran perpendicular to Foster Place. A black Nissan with tinted windows was idling just beyond the intersection.
Gabriel approached the sidewalk and began walking in the direction of the car.
The driver placed the car in reverse just as Gabriel began to approach it. Breaking into a jog, he reached the intersection in time to see the car speed off.
He was not able to get the license plate number.
* * *
“What name do you give your child?” Father Fortin addressed Gabriel and Julia.
They stood at the front of St. Francis’s Chapel with Katherine Picton. Gabriel held Clare in his arms.
This was the Emersons’ parish. They could have attended church closer to their home in Cambridge, but there was something about the chapel and the Oblates of the Virgin Mary who served it that made Gabriel and Julia feel at home.
He and Julianne replied to the priest in unison, “Clare Grace Hope Rachel.”
A murmur lifted from the pews, as Gabriel and Julia’s family reacted. Richard, who sat near the front row, could barely contain his emotion, while Rachel’s solemn expression morphed into a grin.