Gabriel's Promise

She’s suffering and she won’t let me comfort her. I promised Julia I would be her mother. But she won’t let me.”

“She’ll come back to you when she’s ready.”

“You said that about Gabriel. He never comes home.”

Richard shifted uncomfortably. “He has come back to us. He’s clean, he has a good job, and if we’re lucky, he’ll meet a nice girl and she’ll straighten him out. You lit a candle for him. Why don’t you light a candle for Julia?”

Grace kissed her husband, but her sadness over her eldest son radiated through her touch.

“Things will work out, my love. I promise. We’ll find a way.” Richard softly kissed her.

And when their contact grew more heated, he looked down at her and traced the soft line of her earlobe, pausing to touch the sparkling diamond in her ear, a gift from long ago.

“You’re upset. You’re sad tonight. I don’t think that we should—”

“Making love with you comforts me, darling. Please.”

He had never denied her any good thing. He could not deny her this. He hovered over her, staring deeply into her eyes. There was no need for words; their gazes said it all.

It was a slow, easy rhythm, the effortless, intimate coupling of a man and a woman who knew each other. The kind of lovemaking that could last for hours or even a lifetime.

“I worship you,” he whispered against her neck, as she arched her back, her hands urging him deeper.

“I love you,” she whispered. “Always.”

The wave crashed over both of them, leaving them breathless and contented.

Grace’s last thought was a silent prayer that one day Julia and Gabriel would each find love.

And then she fell asleep wrapped up in the arms of her beloved husband. . . .

The scene takes place after Julia separates from her boyfriend, Simon, while studying at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Grace Clark sat at her dressing table in her bathrobe, brushing her long hair and thinking. She was upset. She was worried. But she didn’t know what to do.

“Come to bed, love.”

My love.” Richard grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. “Tell me what’s bothering you before I make you forget your troubles. You’re driving me crazy.”

Grace laughed. He knew her so well. She would absentmindedly glide gentle hands over his still muscular body in order to help her think better, but it had the opposite effect on him.

“Sorry, dear. I was thinking about Julia.”

Richard sighed and waited for her to elaborate, but he knew what was coming.

“She won’t return my calls. She won’t return Rachel’s calls. Tom says she’s holed up in a tiny apartment near campus and she’ll barely speak to him. I was thinking about driving up there to see her tomorrow and taking a care package.”

Richard was a thoughtful man, a quiet man. He gave his wife’s words his full consideration as she waited to hear his opinion. They were that attuned to one another. They were that much in love.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. If she’s retreating, it’s because she’s afraid. If you go to her home, you’ll be upsetting her in the one place in which she feels safe.”

Grace rested her hand on his heart. “You aren’t a psychiatrist.”

“That’s right. But we both know Julia is withdrawn and timid. If you threaten her security, you will be threatening her coping strategy. And then she’s going to have to find something else.”

“So what should I do?”

“Why don’t you write her a letter, expressing your concern? Give her some time to process things and respond. And then wait and see what happens.”

Grace rested her head on her husband’s shoulder. “I can do that, but I wish she’d talk to me—let me know what happened that made her want to hide from all of us. And then I could help her.”

“Rachel mentioned something about her boyfriend.”

Grace flinched. “I never liked the way he looked at her. He was proud of how she looked on his arm, but there was something in his eyes.” She reached over and planted a light kiss on her husband’s lips. “He never looked at her the way you look at me.”

Richard smiled at her and caressed the naked curve of her hip with his fingers. “No one looks at anyone the way I look at you because no one loves anyone the way I love you.”

Grace’s worries were momentarily interrupted by a passionate kiss and a pair of strong hands stroking her lower back.

“Julia would have been vulnerable when she started seeing him. Her mother had died, she was away from Selinsgrove. She likely tolerated whatever he was willing to give to her. And gladly.” Richard sighed deeply. “She’s a dreamy romantic, I think, not unlike her mother.”

“Don’t mention that woman to me. She nearly ruined that little girl. When I think of what she exposed her to and—”

He leaned over and kissed her again. “I know, my love. But there’s nothing we can do about it now.”

“I feel helpless,” Grace whispered

I especially want to thank you, readers, for your tremendous enthusiasm. This book was written for you, with my gratitude. While I was editing this novel, I learned that Tori, a longtime reader and supporter, had passed away. Tori was my first reader and she shared her affection for the Professor with her family and friends. She was kind and encouraging and is greatly missed.

“Where are we going? I’ve lost track of what we were doing.”

Julia took hold of the stroller. “We’re going to our rooms so I can call Greg Matthews. And then I’m going to take a video of Clare calling you Dada. We can save it for posterity and send it to our families.”

“Perfect.” Gabriel fell into step with Julia and the stroller, keeping a watchful eye on Clare.

In that moment, with his family, with the name his beloved daughter had blessed him with, and with the prospect of a new adventure in Scotland together, Gabriel had never been happier or more hopeful. No matter what challenges or dangers he and Julianne faced, they would do so as a family.

And that was Gabriel’s promise.

Fin.

“I’d like that.” Julia took hold of his arm. “But as we plan for Scotland, there’s still one more thing.”

“Anything.”

Julia smiled sadly. “The memento mori. Before we invite Aaron and Rachel to house-sit, shouldn’t we be sure the thief won’t come back?”

Gabriel looked down at Clare, who looked up at him. She smiled, exposing her gums.

Gabriel grinned back.

When he turned to Julia, he was somber. “We still have the object. We still have a sketch of the intruder. As far as the Cambridge police are concerned, it’s an open investigation. I won’t give up making inquiries, but so far, I’ve found nothing. I’m inclined to think that the thief would have returned to the house by now. Either he couldn’t find a collector for the artwork we have or he’s been deterred by the security system.”

“So Rachel and Aaron will be safe?”

“By the time they arrive, it will be September. The break-in was back in December. The chances of the thief returning would be very small indeed.”

“Good.” Julia touched his biceps. “Maybe we should keep the memento mori, just for a while. Then donate it anonymously to Palazzo Riccardi. I’m sure they’d be happy to have it.”

“Yes, they would.” Gabriel began pushing the stroller, with Julianne at his side.

Clare turned around in her seat and pointed a chubby finger at Gabriel. “Dadadadada.”

Gabriel practically tripped over himself, he stopped so fast. He came around to the front of the stroller and crouched in front of Clare.

“Dada.” He pointed to himself. “Dada.”

“Dada.” Clare repeated. She moved her head back and forth. “Dadadada.”

“That’s right, Principessa.” He pointed to himself once again. “Dada.”

“Dadadada,” Clare repeated. She clapped her hands and grabbed her bunny and began to chew on it.

“Dada,” Gabriel whispered. It was more of a prayer than a name.

“I’ve been trying to get her to say Mama first.” Julia touched Gabriel’s shoulder. “Of course Clare, like her father, has her own ideas.”

“I think Clare, like her mother, has her own ideas.” He ruffled Clare’s hair and straightened.

“What about our house in Cambridge?” Julia asked, when her feet were finally on the floor. “What about Rebecca?”

“I’m hoping Rebecca will come with us because we’ll need the help,” Gabriel said firmly. “What would you think about having Rachel and Aaron house-sit while we’re away? They can keep an eye on the house and it will save them rent.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” Julia closed her eyes, momentarily distracted by all the things she was going to have to do in order to prepare to move to Scotland.

Gabriel caught her hand once again. He thumbed her wedding band. “I’m so grateful we will embark on this journey together. I know we’ll be busy and I know it will be an adjustment. But I think living in Edinburgh will be an adventure.

He picked her up and lifted her toward the ceiling.

“Put me down!” Julia shrieked, clutching his shoulders. “Professor Wodehouse will see us and kick us out.”

“I doubt it. I’m sure Don has twirled pretty girls in the Cloisters a time or two in his past.” Gabriel’s laughter matched her own.

Gabriel focused on his wife. “What is happening with Cecilia?”

Julia scratched the back of her neck. “I went to see Cecilia a little while ago. I ran into Paul after I left her office.”

Gabriel pulled Julia’s hand away from her neck and held it. “What did she say?”

“She said what she said before—she won’t approve a semester abroad.”

Gabriel pressed his lips together. “And what did you say?”

“You’d be proud of me. I told her I was switching supervisors.”

“I am always proud of you.” Gabriel’s eyes met hers. “But are you sure you want to do that?”

“Absolutely.” Julia leaned closer. “She was spiteful. Spiteful and vindictive. I wasn’t even going to tell her who I was going to work with. I simply thanked her and tried to leave, but she pressed me for details. When I told her I was going to work with Katherine, she said she wouldn’t serve as a reader on my dissertation committee. And she said she wouldn’t write a letter for me for the job market.”

“That’s absurd!” Gabriel sputtered. “You’ve been working with her for over two years. She should give you a letter on those grounds alone.”

“She won’t.” Julia’s spine straightened and her eyes flashed. “That’s when I knew I was making the right choice, not just for you and me, but for my career. I don’t want to work with someone like that. I don’t want to have to walk on eggshells for fear she’ll drop me at any moment. Katherine would never do that.”

Gabriel tugged Julia into his arms, burying his face in his neck. “So you’re coming with me to Edinburgh?”

“Yes. I need to call Greg Matthews and explain the situation to him. I’ll update Katherine over dinner.”

Gabriel’s arms tensed around Julia’s back. “I’m furious with Cecilia. Are you sure you don’t want me to talk to her?”

“No, I handled it. Even if Cecilia hadn’t been spiteful, I wasn’t going to allow her to keep us apart. I just wanted to give her a chance to do the right thing.”

“Patience is one of your greatest faults.”

“I thought patience was a virtue.”

He pulled back to make eye contact. “In my case, definitely. In your case, not even close.”

Julia laughed.

“The University of Edinburgh has offered us a row house on Drummond Street, near Old College,” Gabriel announced enthusiastically. “There’s a brilliant coffee shop on the corner, and good sidewalks for the stroller.”

“We’ll have to childproof it. Clare will be walking by then.”

“Really?” Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair. “So soon? That’s marvelous. We’ll be able to explore the city together and the rest of Scotland as well.”

“I think you’re going to be busy being the lecturer in residence. And I’ll be taking courses, and serving as Graham Todd’s teaching assistant, if he’ll still have me.”

“He’d be fortunate to have you.

“Sometimes.” Paul put his phone back into his pocket. “Are you happy? With your life, I mean?”

“You’ve caught me at a bad moment, but in general, yes. I’ve
come to the conclusion that falling in love is easy; it’s life that’s complicated. But I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s, even though it hasn’t always turned out the way I hoped.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.” Paul looked down at his shoes. “You deserve to be happy, Rabbit.”

“Thank you. You’ve always been a great friend.” Impulsively, Julia leaned against his shoulder.

In return, he took her hand and squeezed it.

It was an intimate exchange, to be sure, but one born of true affection and friendship. Paul knew in that moment that Julia loved him. And although her love for him was not romantic, it was affectionate and it was deep. And it was the kind of love he hoped would continue through their lives, even as he pursued a different love with someone else.

They moved apart at the same moment, smiling shyly down at their shoes.

Footsteps sounded from nearby, and Julia saw Gabriel striding toward them, pushing Clare in her stroller. She was barefoot and kicking her feet happily, a toy bunny hugged to her chest.

Paul leaned toward Julia and whispered conspiratorially. “I see my rabbit was a hit.”

“Don’t mention it in front of Gabriel, but it’s her favorite toy,” Julia whispered back. “She won’t go anywhere without it.”