Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(3)

“I guess we found the culprit of kitsch.” Gabriel shook his head.

Julia touched his shoulder. “It was kind of her to do this. She’s been going back and forth between here and the hospital, helping out.”

Gabriel frowned. “I know.”

“Even though you think the flamingos are tacky, you need to be appreciative.”

He lifted his chin primly. “I can be appreciative.”

“I mean appreciative in a believable way,” Julia clarified.

When Gabriel’s frown deepened, she unbuckled her seat belt and moved forward, pressing her lips to his cheek. “I love you. You’re a wonderful husband and an incredible father.”

Gabriel lowered his gaze and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel.

Julia tousled his dark hair. “Maybe we should keep a few of the flamingos? For the garden?”

Gabriel speared her with a glare.

“I’m kidding.” She held up her hands in surrender. “Try to look happier than that, okay?”

“Fine.” Gabriel exhaled beleagueredly. He turned off the car and climbed out.

“What took you so long?” Rachel gave her brother a perfunctory hug and opened the SUV’s rear door. “We’ve been waiting all morning.”

Gabriel leaned over the open door, watching as Rachel climbed into the back seat. “They had to check Julianne and Clare before discharging them. And they inspected the baby’s carrier and car seat before we left.”

“Well, that’s good,” Rachel replied. “But it shouldn’t have taken three hours. How slowly did you drive?”

Gabriel brushed imaginary lint from his sport coat. Then he took a closer look at the back seat.

“Just a minute, Rachel,” he cautioned. “I need to unfasten the baby carrier from the base.”

“Hurry up. But go over to Julia’s side because I’m not moving.” Rachel leaned over her sleeping niece and her grin widened. “Hi, Clare.”

Julia reached across the baby to touch her friend’s arm. “I love the flamingos.”

“I knew you’d appreciate them.” Rachel beamed. “Dad was hesitant, but I thought they were hilarious. Even Scott chipped in.”

“We need to take a picture of Gabriel with the flamingos and send it to Scott.”

Rachel laughed. “Absolutely. He’ll blow it up into a poster and hang it on his wall.”

Julia removed the baby’s knitted cap to expose the shock of dark hair. She pointed to the pink barrette she’d carefully fastened. “Clare is wearing the gift you brought us yesterday.”

“It matches her pink sleepers.” Rachel gently touched the baby’s head. Her expression shifted minutely.

Julia studied her friend. A trace of sadness was present in Rachel’s eyes, but only for a moment.

Rachel smiled at her sleeping niece. “I bought a few more hair accessories last night. Since she has so much hair, we’ll have to style it.”

Julia nodded. “Gabriel will have to carry her. I’m not supposed to lift anything over nine pounds because of the stitches.”

Rachel glanced at Julia’s middle. “That bites.”

“No biting.” Gabriel winked at his sister before helping Julia out of the car. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“So am I.” Rachel watched as he carefully removed the baby carrier and turned toward the house.

“Not so fast.” She followed him. “I want to carry her.”

With eyes twinkling, Gabriel handed over the carrier, but not before instructing her to be careful. He greeted Richard, their father, and the two men stood next to the door, holding it open.

Julia accompanied Rachel into the house. “Thanks for staying. I know it was a bit longer than you’d planned.”

Rachel held the baby carrier with both hands as they approached the kitchen. “I wasn’t going to leave before you came home. Aaron had to work, otherwise he’d be here, too.”

“It means a lot. I know you’ve been fielding phone calls and deliveries and everything else.”

Rachel shrugged. “That’s what families do, Jules. They take care of each other. I’m just lucky I had some vacation days left. Rebecca has been spoiling us with her cooking. You should see what she made for lunch.”

“Good. I’m starving.” Julia’s stomach was already rumbling. She stepped into the kitchen.

The kitchen table was set with the Emersons’ best china, silverware, and crystal. Pink helium-filled balloons were tied to Julia’s chair at the foot of the table, and a huge arrangement of pink and white roses formed a centerpiece. Almost every surface of the kitchen was covered with food, flowers, or brightly wrapped presents.

“Surprise!” An older woman with short white hair and gray-blue eyes stepped forward.

“Katherine?” Julia fanned a hand over her mouth.

“I thought you were in Oxford.” Gabriel shook off his surprise and greeted his former colleague with a kiss on the cheek.

“I was. I came to Cambridge to meet my goddaughter.” Professor Picton embraced Julia and stepped back, her eyes sparkling. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course.” Gabriel removed Clare from her baby carrier, pressing a kiss to her head before transferring her to Katherine’s arms.