Julianne’s hand found Gabriel’s and squeezed. The two of them joined the congregation in reciting the Lord’s Prayer, adding their thanks for their family and Katherine, but especially for Clare.
Many thoughts and emotions cascaded through Gabriel’s mind, along with the resolution to stay close to his wife and child.
Chapter Nineteen
Later that afternoon, Gabriel made a telephone call to Julianne’s uncle Jack.
Jack Mitchell was a private investigator who had helped Gabriel on more than one occasion, particularly when Julianne’s ex-roommate had threatened to post compromising videos of her on the Internet.
Gabriel described the black car that he’d seen in the neighborhood and asked Jack to look into it. Jack grunted and agreed, complaining that Gabriel’s description wasn’t much to go on.
Now Gabriel approached the threshold of his bedroom, holding a pair of champagne flutes. From the doorway, he could hear Julianne softly singing.
He peered into the room and found her holding Clare against her shoulder and dancing.
Julianne was singing a nursery rhyme to Clare, who appeared to be dozing. The baby’s head was uncovered and her hair was damp from her bath.
Gabriel was surprised at how curly the baby’s hair was.
Her mother’s movements slowed as she came to the end of the song. She kissed Clare’s cheek and placed her on her back in the playpen.
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.”
Gabriel shook his head at her. “I have to admit, the sunglasses were a nice touch.”
“Thank you.” Julia bowed slightly. “Katherine’s gift to Clare is incredible. It’s interesting she went to the Cassirers in order to research the manuscript.”
“Yes. I haven’t spoken to Nicholas since I told him we were going to loan the Botticelli illustrations to the Uffizi. He joked about a family myth that said the illustrations must be kept secret.” Gabriel sipped his drink again. “Which reminds me, Dottor Vitali called the day before yesterday. He wanted to know if we would consider extending the exhibition.”
“What did you say?” Julia finished her ginger ale.
“I said I had to speak to you. I’m inclined to refuse.”
“Darling.” She put her glass aside. “What are a few more months?”
“They’ve had them long enough. They are precious to me.”
“Okay, Gollum.” Julia kissed him to soften her criticism.
Gabriel glared, his blue eyes razor sharp. “What if they get damaged? Or lost?”
“From the Uffizi?” Julia laughed. “They’re guarded day and night. They’re safer in the Uffizi than they are in your study.”
Gabriel rubbed his chin. “Vitali said that the exhibit was bringing in a great deal of revenue. It’s helping the gallery finance the restoration of Primavera.”
“See? It’s a great benefit. You know how I feel about that painting. Maybe we can see the restoration while it’s in progress.”
“Vitali won’t refuse you.” Gabriel sighed. “All right. I’ll tell him we will extend the loan until next summer.”
“The end of the summer,” Julia amended. “You know that the summer is their busiest time.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Humph.”
Julia laughed and kissed his frown. “Thank you.”
“The president of Boston University wrote to me, congratulating me on the Sage Lectures. He’s scheduling a reception after the gala in Edinburgh.”
“That’s great, sweetheart.”
“Edinburgh tells me I’ll be expected to say a few words after they announce me in October.” Gabriel’s eyes fixed on hers. “Will you come to my talk?”