“We seem to have cops here every Thanksgiving.” Scott crossed his arms over his chest.
Gabriel stopped in front of him. “Julianne’s ex-boyfriend attacked her in her own home three years ago. A strange car sat outside our house in Cambridge on two separate occasions and then miraculously shows up in this neighborhood, on Thanksgiving. What do you want to say to me, Scott?”
Scott uncrossed his arms. “Was it Simon?”
“I don’t know.” Gabriel clenched his jaw.
A long look passed between the two brothers. Scott gestured to the door. “I’ll take a look around with Aaron. If we see anything, we’ll call you.”
“What about the baby?” Julia managed to say, wincing in pain.
Gabriel was still for a moment. “Rachel?”
Rachel pushed past Scott. “I’ll get the diaper bag. Tammy, can you put Clare in her baby carrier? We don’t know how long Julia will be at the hospital and the baby will need to be fed.”
“Thank you.” Gabriel turned and carried Julianne out to the car.
A few minutes later Richard followed, carrying Clare.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Later that evening
Sunbury, Pennsylvania
Gabriel approached Richard, who was rocking Clare in her car seat in the waiting room of the hospital.
Richard stood, his gaze focusing on his son. “What did the doctor say?”
“She thinks Julianne’s ankle is broken. They’re sending her for X-rays. I was not allowed to accompany her.” Gabriel sounded bitter.
Richard continued rocking the baby, who, on hearing her father’s voice, turned her head in order to look at him. “Emergency room physicians have to investigate all options when it comes to a suspicious injury.”
“Suspicious?” Gabriel’s dark brows knitted together. “What are you talking about?”
“A new mother comes to the ER and claims to have fallen. She is accompanied by an agitated husband who doesn’t want his wife to be alone with the physician on call.”
“That’s preposterous.” Gabriel swore. “I simply wanted to help. Julia has a medical chart at this hospital, because she’s been here before. We’ve all been to this hospital. Grace used to volunteer here.”
“I know,” Richard said softly, a faraway expression on his face. “This is where Grace found you.”
Gabriel hid his reaction by removing Clare from her baby carrier and cuddling her against his shoulder.
“You and I were here with Julia once before. Think about the circumstances surrounding that visit.” Richard gave Gabriel a meaningful look.
A flash of recognition passed across Gabriel’s features.
Richard continued. “A good physician would review Julia’s chart and see that the last time she was here, she was treated for injuries related to a physical assault. Now she appears with a baby, having fallen during a walk through the woods. At night. With her husband, who appears agitated. Wouldn’t you be suspicious?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Let the doctors do their job.” Richard rubbed his chin. “Did you speak with the police?”
“No, but Scott called. He and Aaron combed the woods with flashlights. They didn’t see anything. But I think we’re going to take another look in daylight.” Gabriel kissed the side of Clare’s head. “I called Jack Mitchell.”
“And?”
“I gave Jack the description of the car and asked him to find it. Tonight is an escalation . . .” Gabriel shook his head.
“Tell me what you think is happening.”
“It can’t be a coincidence that the same car is driving by our house in Cambridge and then shows up in Selinsgrove. A casual acquaintance or student wouldn’t know about your house. We have different names. Only someone connected with either me or Julianne or both would know we would be here. The only person in that category who would want to harm us is Simon Talbot, Julianne’s ex-boyfriend.”
“Has she heard from him?”
“No. I haven’t asked anyone to keep tabs because I thought we were rid of him. Jack said he’d look into it.”
“But you didn’t tell her about the suspicious car while you were in Cambridge.”
Gabriel stiffened. “No.”
Richard touched his son’s shoulder. “I know you need to relocate to Edinburgh for your lectureship, and that Julia may have to stay at Harvard. I will move to Cambridge to stay with your family while you’re gone, if my presence would be helpful.”
Gabriel’s gaze slid to his adoptive father. “You’d give up your teaching at Susquehanna? You’d leave the house?”
“I’m emeritus. I can take a year off and go back the following year. I could try to get a visiting research appointment in Boston or Cambridge. And I’ll tell Grace where I’m going so she can find me in your guest room.” Richard’s tone was light.
“Thank you.”
Richard retrieved a toy rabbit from the baby carrier. Clare made a noise and reached for the rabbit.
“Of course, it sounds like your sister and Aaron would like to move in with you, at least until they find a house.”
“I haven’t had the chance to discuss that with Julianne. But I have no intention of leaving my family behind when I go to Scotland.” Gabriel’s tone was firm.
Richard nodded, electing not to press his son on how, exactly, he was going to carry out his intention.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
What’s taking so long?” Gabriel jostled a crying Clare but she would not be soothed. “We’ve been here for hours.”
Richard stood. “I can ask at the front desk.”
“No, I’ll go.” Gabriel brought Clare to the desk and explained that he needed to locate Julianne as soon as possible. A few minutes later, a nurse emerged from the hallway and ushered Gabriel and Clare to one of the examination rooms.
“The neurologist is just finishing.” The nurse knocked on the door.
Before Gabriel could ask why Julianne was seeing a neurologist, the door swung inward. Julianne sat in a chair, her left ankle wrapped in a tensor bandage. A pair of crutches stood next to her chair.
A short doctor, who had dark hair and dark eyes, stood at the door. “Come in,” he greeted Gabriel.
“Are you all right?” Gabriel stared at Julianne with concern.
She gestured for Clare and he placed her in Julia’s arms. He put the diaper bag at her feet.