“It’s right here.” She pointed at the nightstand.
Gabriel walked around the bed and retrieved a couple of pills from the bottle, handing them to her. Then he gave her a glass of water.
She swallowed the pills with the water.
“Anything else health-related?” he prompted, getting back into bed. He pulled her slowly so as not to disturb her ankle and helped her rest against his chest.
“I have fibroids, but Dr. Rubio said they shrank while I was pregnant. I had been taking an iron supplement but I don’t think I need it anymore. I’m supposed to go back for a checkup next September. Dr. Rubio will probably order an ultrasound.”
“Anything else?”
“No. You?”
“I’m in recovery for chemical dependency. I have anger management issues, concerns about the safety of my family, and one Italian endowed chair at Harvard whom I’d like to confront. There’s a driver of a black Nissan I’d like to punch.”
Julia winced. “Anything else?”
“I’ll sleep better when I know who has been stalking us.”
Julia buried her face against his shoulder. “Part of me doesn’t want to know about stuff like that. But it’s important you share this information so I don’t do something that would put us in jeopardy. I took Clare out in the stroller without you a few times. What if the car had followed us?”
“You’re right. It isn’t fair for me to be cross with you for keeping secrets when I’ve been doing the same thing.” He kissed her hair.
“So you aren’t cross with me?”
“I’m furious. It scared the hell out of me when the nurse told me you were seeing a neurologist. All kinds of scenarios went through my head—cancer, stroke, multiple sclerosis.” Gabriel cursed. “We are a family, you and I. Family is everything.”
“Okay.” Julia didn’t sound okay. “I want to say something. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I am hopeful that once Cecilia gets over her jealousy, she’ll sign off on me spending the fall semester in Edinburgh.”
“That’s a risky decision. I’d rather we confront her immediately.”
“Maybe when she’s around Graham Todd at the workshop in Oxford, she’ll change her mind.”
“That’s months away!” Gabriel sputtered. “If she doesn’t relent by then, it will be too late.”
“I want to try. I want you to let me try.”
“Fine.” Gabriel sounded exasperated. “If Cecilia refuses to help, I’m getting involved.”
“Gabriel, you know—”
“I’m giving your method a chance, but I want the option of using my method.”
“Your method is to intimidate her.”
“Nonsense.”
“You promise?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” Julia kissed him firmly and relaxed against his chest. Soon she fell asleep.
Gabriel lay awake for several hours, exploring scenarios that involved civil discourse and persuasion. But when his thoughts turned to the driver of the black Nissan, he contemplated radically different alternatives.
Chapter Forty-One
December 1, 2012
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Nothing fits.” Gabriel spoke into his cell phone. He was in the nursery with Clare and had just changed her. Now he was attempting to dress her for the day. A large pile of clothing was strewn around the changing table, all of it discarded.
He’d called Julianne on her cell phone because she was currently enjoying breakfast in bed and resting her ankle.
“Who is this?” Julia joked, suppressing laughter.
“I’ve tried everything—sleepers, dresses, et cetera. Everything is too small.”
“I think there’s some three-to-six-month-sized clothing in the top drawer of the dresser.”
Gabriel opened the drawer and pawed through it. “These are completely inadequate. They’re summer clothes. She’ll catch pneumonia.”
He withdrew a pink dress that had some embroidery on it and a pair of white things that looked like pants but had feet built in. “I found something that may work temporarily. But she’s going to need a sweater.” He placed Julia on speaker and put his cell phone aside.
“We have tons of sweaters and hoodies hanging in her closet. Let me see her when you’re done.”
“Only for a minute.” Gabriel heaved a deep breath as he placed one hand on the baby and with the other strained toward the closet. He grabbed a pink hoodie. “I’m taking her shopping.”
“You want to take Clare shopping?”
“She must have had a growth spurt. I’m telling you, there are only a few things left that will fit and most of them aren’t warm enough.” Painstakingly, he pulled on the white things and buttoned the dress in the back.
“Are you going to take Richard with you?”
“No. Rebecca asked for the day off. She and Richard are going on a walking tour of Beacon Hill this morning and then they’re going to a movie.”
“Huh,” said Julia.
Gabriel straightened, still speaking into the phone. “Maybe I shouldn’t leave you by yourself.”
“I’m fine. With the ankle brace, I can putter around. But I’ll probably just read all day. The list of books and articles Cecilia gave me is very long.”
“Okay.” Gabriel grabbed a soft plastic giraffe that Clare had recently begun chewing, and lifted her to his shoulder. “Come on, Principessa. Let’s go see Mommy, and then we’re going to find you a new wardrobe.”
He grabbed his cell phone and exited the nursery.
* * *
Gabriel enjoyed shopping at Copley Place. Although he didn’t enjoy the crowds, and shopping with an infant in a stroller was not ideal, he liked the array of shops and services that could all be found in a single location.
He made his way to Barneys and was quickly directed to the children’s section, where he was set upon by no less than three sales associates who resolved to outfit Clare in everything she needed.
Gabriel sat comfortably on a couch, with Clare in his arms happily gumming the giraffe, and sipped an espresso. On his approval, the associates assisted him in outfitting Clare for the next six months. And they furnished him with a far better bunny than the one that was currently residing next to her baby carrier.