“We have some news.” Aaron changed the subject, putting his arm around his wife. “I was offered a job with Microsoft New England. And I took it.”
“What? Congratulations!” Scott reached across the table to shake Aaron’s hand. “I thought you already worked for Microsoft.”
“This is more research-oriented. I’ll be working with a team of programmers, right in Cambridge.” Aaron hugged Rachel’s shoulders. “I start in January.”
“You’ll be closer to Gabriel and Julia.” Richard smiled and continued carving the turkey as exuberant congratulations passed around the table.
Julia eyed Rachel cautiously.
“What about you, Rach?” Scott asked. “What about your job in the mayor’s office in Philadelphia?”
Everyone looked at her expectantly. She bounced Clare on her lap. “I turned in my notice because I found another job. I’ve been hired to be a public relations supervisor at Dunkin’ Donuts in Canton, just outside Boston. Dunkie’s is in the same company as Baskin-Robbins, which means I’ll get unlimited coffee, doughnuts, and ice cream.” Rachel blew a raspberry against Clare’s neck and the baby squealed.
“That’s a dream job,” Tammy observed. “I love Dunkie’s.”
“Exactly.” Rachel sat up a little straighter. “They have incredible brand recognition, and everyone loves them. Corporate headquarters is casual; I’ll be able to wear jeans to work. And they have lots of incentives and perks.” She exchanged a look with Aaron, who grinned.
“I’m so happy for you.” Julia hugged her friend. “You’ll be closer to us and you’ll be able to see more of Clare.”
“We’ve put our condo up for sale. Hopefully, we’ll close before we move. Now we’re looking for somewhere to live.” Rachel batted her eyelashes at her brother.
Gabriel exchanged a look with Julianne. “Where do you want to live? Canton? Back Bay?”
“We don’t know,” Aaron interjected. “We need to sell our place first and we need to consider Rachel’s commute time.”
“Driving out to Canton every day will get tiresome,” Gabriel announced. “You may want to live out on the south shore and have Aaron commute to Cambridge.”
“Who wants to live on the south shore? We want to be where the action is. And where the baby is.” Rachel bounced Clare on her lap.
Julianne opened her mouth, but before she could invite Rachel and Aaron to stay in Cambridge, Gabriel grasped her hand under the table. And squeezed.
“Let’s discuss it later,” he whispered in her ear.
“But whatever happens,” Rachel continued, “we will be around while you’re in Edinburgh, Gabriel. Which means we can help Julia while you’re gone.”
Gabriel started. Although his eyes stared straight into Rachel’s, his words were directed at his wife. “I’m not going without them.”
Rachel appeared confused. “I thought Jules said her director was demanding she stay at Harvard?”
“That’s what her director said.” Gabriel took a drink of water. “I refuse to take no for an answer.”
A long look passed between Julia and Gabriel. Her eyes darted to Rachel and back again. She lifted her eyebrows at her husband.
He pushed back his chair. “Let’s toast to Aaron and Rachel. Congratulations on your accomplishments. And good luck with this new chapter of your life.”
Everyone lifted their glass to toast the couple.
Richard finished carving and serving the turkey and finally sat down.
Julia sampled three or four bites of her dinner, and Clare began to cry.
“I’ll walk with her.” Rachel lifted the baby to her shoulder and stood.
But a few minutes later, when the baby didn’t settle, Julia intervened. “She’s probably hungry. I’ll take her upstairs to feed her and be right back. Excuse me, everyone.”
She kissed Clare on the cheek and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
* * *
“Is dinner over?” Julia asked Gabriel as he entered the master bedroom.
He shook his head. “We are going to wait to serve dessert until after you have dinner. Is she finished?”
“Just finished.” Julia handed him the baby and he put her over his shoulder.
After he’d burped and changed her, he picked up a stuffed rabbit toy and brought it close to her nose and then withdrew it. Clare grinned and waved her arms and legs. He repeated the movement. “Do you like the bunny, Clare? Do you like the bunny?”
He waggled the toy at Julia. “Did Rachel buy this?”
“No. Paul sent it.”
Gabriel dropped the bunny on top of the changing table. “Angelfucker.”
“Language,” Julia admonished him, trying to keep a straight face.
“We’ll have to destroy it. It’s clearly contaminated.” Gabriel regarded the toy with distaste.
“Don’t be ridiculous. About a week ago, Paul sent a very nice card, with the bunny and a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit. I thought it was kind.”
Gabriel sniffed. “He always had a rabbit fetish. In fact, he used to call you Rabbit.”
“He did.” Julia could only laugh at Gabriel’s indignation, which was rather amusing. “He doesn’t anymore. So when we see him at Professor Wodehouse’s workshop in April, you don’t need to worry.”
Gabriel growled. “So he’s going?”
“He said so in his card.”
“Which was addressed to you, I imagine?” Gabriel picked up the bunny with two fingers, examining it as if it held the secrets of the universe.
Clare tracked the movement and reacted by waving her arms enthusiastically.
“The package was addressed to Clare. But the card congratulated both of us.” Julia crossed to where Gabriel was standing and hugged him around the waist. “It’s time for you to let go of the past. You’ve held a grudge long enough.”
“I was nice to Paul the last time we met. We even shook hands.” Gabriel placed the bunny on Clare’s chest to see what she would do. The toy slid off to the side and she squawked a little.
“You’re still making him call you Professor Emerson.”
Gabriel drew himself up to his full height. “I am Professor Emerson.” He glanced over at the baby. His expression softened. “Since Clare has grown attached to the rabbit, I suppose she should keep it.”