Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(43)

The referee shouted and the bout resumed.

Both Gabriel and Michel wore conductive uniforms that were connected via long cables to an electronic box. The cables themselves were retractable, so as not to constrict movement. When a valid part of the body was hit, the box would record a point. However, it was the referee’s job to determine the right of way; only fencers with right of way could score a point.

Gabriel knew he could have worked out his aggression by pounding the heavy bag at the gym. But fencing channeled his anger and dampened it. In order to fence, he had to force himself to remain calm and to concentrate.

Michel capitalized on any and all weaknesses and was especially gifted at circular parries and ripostes. Gabriel was younger and faster. He deflected an aggression and launched a counterattack, hitting Michel’s helmet, which was a valid target.

The fencers battled, back and forth and back and forth, in short, controlled attacks. Michel’s score began to climb and Gabriel struggled to catch up.

He was sweating beneath the uniform. Both fencers began removing their helmets to mop their faces in between points.

Finally, Michel reached fifteen points and the bout was over. Gabriel removed his helmet and shook hands with his coach, then shook hands with the acting referee.

“Your mind is elsewhere,” Michel scolded Gabriel in French.

Gabriel pressed his lips together. There was no point in denying it.

“A short break, then again.” Michel pointed to a nearby row of chairs and walked off to speak to another fencer.

Obediently, Gabriel sat and drank from his water bottle.

Julianne was his sun and his moon. Someone had treated her unfairly, driving her to tears.

He mopped his face with a towel and rested his arms on his knees. He did not want to go to Edinburgh alone.

Changing Cecilia’s mind was going to be difficult, if not impossible, especially since she seemed to have taken his own recent success as an indictment of her career. Gabriel wanted Julianne to stand up to her—to call her bluff. But Julia wanted to wait and to regroup.

Gabriel was not a man given to waiting. He’d never been so, even after his experience in St. Francis’s crypt. Gabriel was a fighter. He’d be damned if he’d spend one week away from his wife and child, let alone an entire year. And especially not because of some academic’s hurt pride.

Michel appeared in front of him and kicked his foot. “Let’s go. And this time, you need to focus. My grandmother could best you today. And she died thirty years ago.”

Gabriel lifted his head and cast his coach a look that would have frozen water.

Michel appeared amused. “Good afternoon, Gabriel. I was waiting for you to show up.”

With a laugh, Michel retrieved the referee.

Gabriel followed, exhaling fire.





Chapter Thirty


Halloween

October 31, 2012

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Julianne’s cell phone vibrated with a text.

She and Gabriel were trick-or-treating with Clare, while Rebecca remained at the house to hand out candy. Clare, who was not yet two months old, was dressed as a pumpkin. She wore a footed sleeper underneath an orange vest that featured a jack-o’-lantern’s eyes, nose, and mouth. And she wore an orange cap that had a stem attached to it.

Gabriel snapped an infinity of photographs of said pumpkin before they’d even left the house.

He’d balked at the notion of taking Clare trick-or-treating, given her tender age, but once Julia had dressed her in the costume, he changed his mind. The proud papa strutted with Clare in his arms, introducing her to the neighbors, some of whom remarked on the flamboyance of flamingos that had appeared on the Emersons’ lawn back in September. And the single sunglasses-wearing flamingo that still sat in the front yard, much to Gabriel’s embarrassment and Julia’s glee.

The text on Julia’s phone read,


Jules, where the hell are you?

I called the landline and got the machine.

Did you dress Clare for Halloween? I want to see!

Luv, R.



“Who’s that?” Gabriel peered nosily at Julia’s screen.

“Your sister.” Julia texted a response as they walked to the next house.


Hey, Rach.

Sorry about that.

We’re trick-or-treating.

Call me.

Luv, J.



“I haven’t heard from her since before we went to Scotland.” Gabriel adjusted Clare’s cap, for her stem had gone awry. She looked for her mother over his shoulder.

“I texted her about what happened with Cecilia.” At this Gabriel glowered. “We’ve been playing phone tag.”

A moment later, Julia’s phone rang. She hung back on the sidewalk while Gabriel carried Clare to their neighbor Leslie’s front door.

“Jules! What’s Clare wearing?” Rachel’s voice was exuberant, which made Julia relax. The last time they’d seen one another, Rachel had been very unhappy.

“She’s dressed as a pumpkin. We took a lot of pictures. I’ll email them to you.” Julia watched as Leslie opened her door and reacted with delight at the sight of Gabriel and his baby. Julia placed Rachel on speakerphone so she could discreetly take photos of her family.

“Good,” said Rachel. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t call you when you told me what went down with your supervisor. How are you feeling?”