Gabriel's Redemption (Gabriel's Inferno #3)(94)

“Hello, Jules. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“Hi, Deb. How are you?”

“Just fine. Natalie is home for the weekend and we’ve been doing some shopping.” Deb lifted the numerous bags that she was carrying.

Julia’s gaze moved nervously from the tall blond woman to her daughter, who was standing some feet away with a sour expression on her face. Both women were dressed in expensive clothing and obviously designer sandals. Both women clutched large Louis Vuitton handbags.

Natalie was an attractive young woman, with red hair and green eyes. She and Julia had been roommates at Saint Joseph’s University. They’d even been friends. But that was before Natalie decided to sleep with Julia’s then-boyfriend, Simon, and invite her to join them in a threesome.

“Natalie was supposed to be in the Hamptons this weekend with her boyfriend. You remember him, don’t you? Simon Talbot, the senator’s son?”

“I know who he is.” Julia resisted the urge to comment further. Deb knew exactly who Simon was to Julia and that he’d been arrested for assaulting her two years previous. Sadly, the arrest had yielded only a plea agreement and community service.

Ignoring Julia’s obvious discomfort, Deb prattled on.

“Mrs. Talbot became ill and so their trip to the Hamptons was canceled. But I’m glad Natalie was able to come home. We see so little of her now that she’s working for the senator’s presidential campaign. She has a very important job.”

“Congratulations,” said Julia, trying to keep the contempt out of her voice.

Natalie ignored Julia and turned to her mother. “We need to go.”

Julia watched her former roommate curiously. The last time they’d seen one another was in this very restaurant. Natalie had cornered her and shown her a clip from a video that Simon had made. A video that showed Julia in a compromising position. Natalie had threatened to post the video on the Internet if Julia didn’t withdraw the assault charges against Simon.

In a surprising turn of events, Julia had stood her ground. She even threatened to go to The Washington Post and tell them that Simon had sent his new girlfriend to blackmail her. The senator would not have been pleased.

At the time, Natalie seemed skeptical that Julia would carry through on her threat. But she must have changed her mind. There was no evidence that the video had been shared or posted anywhere. It was as if they’d given up.

Julia wondered occasionally why she hadn’t heard from them. But she decided to count herself lucky and simply accept her good fortune.

Seeing Natalie now, Julia expected her to be rude or aggressive. She expected Natalie to offer veiled threats or innuendo. Instead, she appeared agitated, shifting her weight back and forth and glancing at the door. It was as if she were afraid of something.

Julia didn’t see any intimidating people in the restaurant or outside on the sidewalk. She wondered what was bothering Natalie. And why her smugness and superiority had been magically eliminated.

Deb gestured to her daughter to wait.

“It was good seeing you, Jules. I hear your dad is getting married again.”

“Tomorrow, yes.”

“Never thought he was the marrying kind. I guess old age will do that to you.”

Julia lifted an eyebrow. Deb was at least as old as her father, if not a year or two older. But she had no wish to be drawn into a confrontation.

“Let’s go.” Natalie tugged on her mother’s arm, and the two women walked toward the door.

Julia watched their departing backs with the distinct sense that she was missing something. Something important.

“Aren’t you exhausted?” Rachel leaned over the kitchen island two days later and rested her head on her outstretched arm. “We were out late the night of the rehearsal dinner, and out late last night at the wedding. I need more sleep.”

Julia laughed as she shucked corn for dinner. “I guess it’s a good thing I had a nap this afternoon.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Sure you did. Gabriel said he napped this afternoon, too, but he’s never napped a day in his life. I doubt he naps when you’re in bed with him.”

The color rose in Julia’s cheeks, and she focused intently on the corn as she changed the subject. “The wedding was beautiful. I can’t believe I got to dance with my dad at his wedding.”

“I don’t think I have the energy to celebrate your birthday tonight, Jules. I’m sorry I’m a bad friend.” Rachel’s voice was muffled by a yawn.

“Why don’t you go and take a nap?”

“I tried. Like you, my husband followed me. Ergo, no nap but lots of babymaking.”

Julia snickered. “How is that coming along?”

Rachel slumped forward dramatically. “I need a vacation.”

“From babymaking?”

She groaned, eyes shut.

“Yes, damn it. We’re having sex all the time but I’m not getting pregnant. It’s depressing.” She opened her eyes and rested her head on an upturned hand. “I need a break. Let me come and visit for a few days. I won’t be a bother, I promise.”

“I thought you wanted a baby.”

“I do, but at what cost? I never thought I’d say this, but we’re having too much sex. I’m beginning to feel like a machine.”