Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(5)

Gabriel’s lips twitched. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

“I kind of like them.”

“I think you’re sleep-deprived.” He kissed her forehead.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I want to laugh about those silly flamingos and I want to cry because we have such a great family. And I’m hungry.”

“Dr. Rubio warned us your recovery would take longer because of the complications. You’ve been feeding the baby every two to three hours. Of course you’re hungry.”

“I want to put a flamingo in the nursery.”

Gabriel’s head jerked back.

A flamingo will ruin the aesthetic we’ve painstakingly created, he thought. It’s a crime against interior design.

He changed the subject. “Maybe you should take a nap and I’ll send everyone home?”

“That would be difficult. With the exception of Katherine, everyone is staying with us.”

“Right.”

“Now who’s sleep-deprived, Professor?” Julia grinned and took his hand.

Gabriel rubbed his forehead with his other hand. “I’ll book rooms at the Lenox. It’s a nice hotel.”

Julia looked up at his earnest blue eyes and worried expression. She squeezed his hand. “Don’t send them away. I’m fine. Really.”

Gabriel gave her a dubious look.

As she leaned against him, he was seized by the memory of her in the delivery room. She was lying on a gurney, pale and very still. The doctor had shouted at the nurses to escort him out of the room.

He’d thought she was dead.

He felt his heart stutter and placed his hand on his chest.

Julia peered up at him. “Gabriel, are you all right?”

He blinked.

“I’m perfectly well.” He covered up his agitation by kissing her firmly. “I’m concerned about you.”

Before Julia could respond, a throat cleared nearby.

They turned to find Rebecca, their housekeeper and friend, standing near the doorway. Rebecca was tall, with bobbed salt-and-pepper hair and large dark eyes.

She crossed over to the couple and gave Julia a concerned look. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Julia lifted her arms at her sides. “Just weepy.”

“Hormones.” Rebecca patted her on the shoulder. “It will take time for your body to get back to normal. You may find your feelings going up and down.”

“Oh.” Julia’s features relaxed, as if Rebecca’s words were a revelation.

“I had the same experience when my son was born. I was laughing one minute, crying the next. But it settles out. Don’t worry. Do you want to lie down? I can postpone lunch.”

Julia looked at Gabriel. He lifted his eyebrows.

“No, I want to see everyone. And I want to eat.” She looked longingly in the direction of the kitchen.

“Lunch is almost ready. Take your time.” Rebecca hugged Julia and exited the living room.

“I forgot about the hormone fluctuation.” Julia gazed up at Gabriel. “I feel lost.”

“You aren’t lost.” Gabriel’s tone was firm. He lifted Julia’s chin and took her lips in a slow, sweet kiss. “We will never be lost, so long as we have each other.”

Julia kissed him. “I’m so glad you’re here. I can’t imagine trying to navigate this by myself.”

Gabriel pressed his lips together. Once again, he remembered the important email but decided it was not the appropriate moment to mention it.

He gestured toward the window. “We have a thousand and one flamingos on our front lawn. You’re far from alone.”

Julia looked up into Gabriel’s very serious, slightly irritated face. And she burst out laughing.





Chapter Five


That afternoon, Gabriel glared at a myriad of metal attachments, screws, and plastic pieces, which were arranged with military precision atop the nursery carpet.

(It should be noted there were no flamingos in sight.)

He cast a baleful look at an empty box on which an infant swing was jauntily displayed and scowled again at the arranged pieces. “Son of a—”

A throat cleared behind him.

Gabriel turned to see Richard standing in the doorway, holding Clare.

The infant was fussing and Richard was doing his best to soothe her, holding her close and moving back and forth.

“Where’s Julianne?” Gabriel approached the doorway and lightly touched the baby’s head.

“Taking a well-earned nap. Clare is supposed to be napping as well, but she isn’t settling. I said I’d walk her around and see if she’d nod off.” Richard spoke in low, soothing tones while rubbing gentle circles on the infant’s back.

“I can take her.” Gabriel held out his arms.

“Oh, no. I’m eager to have as much time with my new granddaughter as possible. We’ll keep you company.” Richard stepped nimbly around the many metal pieces and went to stand by the window. “How’s it going?”

Gabriel gestured vaguely at the detritus on the carpet. “I’m wrestling a baby swing.”

Richard chuckled. “I’ve done that before. And put together bicycles and impossible-to-assemble toys on Christmas Eve. My advice is to ignore your instinct to figure it out yourself and follow the instructions.”