Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5)(59)

She had more she was going to say, but he put the laptop on the coffee table and lunged for her. She squirmed to get away, knowing he was going to tickle her. The kittens, who had been crawling along the back of the sofa, joined in the game, jumping on her shoulder and his back. Needle claws dug in.

Gabriel straightened and gingerly pulled the kitten from his back. He held it up in the air.

“Watch it,” he said, his voice softer than his words. The kitten swiped at him with one paw, then relaxed in his arms when he rolled it onto its back and began rubbing its tummy.

“Giving an ebook isn’t the same,” he grumbled. “How do I wrap that?”

“I’ll admit the wrapping is a problem.” She shifted her kitten to her lap and scratched the side of its face. “You could get him a car.”

“He’s thirteen.”

“Yes, but he keeps telling his father it’s never too early to learn to drive.”

Gabriel shifted so he was facing front, then pulled her against him. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. His kitten started climbing his chest.

“No car,” he said. “I’ll keep looking. I have gifts for everyone else.”

Gifts he’d ordered online in the past couple of days, she thought. They were being delivered here. He’d already told her he would need help wrapping.

“How long has it been since you’ve spent the holidays with your family?” she asked.

“Years. It was back in college, I think. When I was in medical school, I couldn’t always get away. I needed the time to study.”

“Or so you told them.”

“Yeah, that, too.”

She looked up at him. “Let me guess. In the army you always volunteered to work on Christmas, claiming that it was so the others could be with their families. But in truth it was so you didn’t have to deal with going home yourself.”

“You think you’re pretty smart.”

“I have the LSATs to prove it.”

He smiled at her. “It wasn’t about not going home. By then my parents’ house wasn’t home. But you’re right. I didn’t want to deal with them. I felt bad for my mom, but I mostly couldn’t deal with my dad.”

“He didn’t like that you were different. He didn’t understand you.”

“He still doesn’t.”

“Men want their sons to be like them. It’s difficult to let that go.”

“Now you sound like Felicia,” he said.

She chuckled. “Wow, that’s an amazing compliment. But you know I’m right. Your dad was raised to believe in honor and service. He’s old-fashioned. If it’s not his way, it’s wrong.”

He nodded as he leaned back against the sofa. The kitten had curled up on his chest and fallen asleep. He folded his arm across his chest to hold it in place.

“He needs to get over that,” Gabriel told her. “And before you tell me he’s probably not going to, I already figured that out. I guess...” He paused. “I guess I don’t like knowing how much I disappoint him. Rather than deal with that, I stay away.”

“You’re a doctor,” she said, thinking Norm had to reconsider his standards.

“I’m not a soldier.”

“Well, he’s stupid.” She snuggled closer. “I’m sorry your dad makes it hard for you to be with your family.”

“I’m going to stay in touch with Gideon more. He’s made a life for himself here. Carter’s great and who wouldn’t love Felicia? In a brotherly way, of course.”

“You’d better add that,” she teased. “Otherwise, your brother will snap you into teeny, tiny pieces.”

“I know. Good for him.”

There was something in Gabriel’s voice, she thought. Was he wistful? Was he wishing he could find what his brother had? Love? A place to belong?

All questions designed to make her crazy, she reminded herself. Gabriel was leaving. Even if he was staying, she didn’t think he was the least bit interested in getting involved on a permanent basis. He’d made that clear, and she would be wise to listen when he—

Her cell phone rang.

She stood and crossed to the foyer table, where she’d left it. She set down her kitten before answering.

“Hello?”

“Noelle? This is Police Chief Barns. We have a situation up on the mountain. There’s been an avalanche. It’s a big one and there were a lot of people skiing and snowboarding. There are going to be injuries. I’m calling to find out if you know where Gabriel Boylan is. Mayor Marsha says he’s a trauma specialist. We’re going to need that.”

The police chief spoke so calmly, Noelle almost didn’t take in the meaning of her words. Then reality slammed into her and for a second, she thought she was going to faint or maybe throw up.

“He’s here,” she said, turning to walk back to the sofa. But Gabriel was already at her side.

“What is it?” he asked.

She handed him the phone.

He took it and listened. While she had a feeling she’d gone pale, he stayed calm. After asking a couple of questions, he got the location and said he would be right there. He was already moving before he’d hung up.

“Stay here,” he told her. “I know you want to help but you’ll get in the way on the mountain. Organize in town. People will need help. Not just those hurt, but family members.”