Page 45 of Gabriel's Angel

Ten minutes later, Laura came down to find Gabe cornered in the living room, scowling into a glass of club soda.

“Then it’s all settled.” Amanda fluffed a hand through her hair, well satisfied. “Laura. Good. Are you ready?”

“Ready?”

“Yes. I’ve explained to Gabe that we’re going shopping. He’s absolutely delighted with the reception I’ve planned for the two of you next week.” The reception she’d only begun to plan on her way downstairs.

“Resigned,” he corrected, but he had to smile at his mother. The smile faded when he glanced over at Laura. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” It had been foolish to think that a quick wash and fresh makeup could hide anything from him. “Your mother and I were getting sentimental over Michael.”

“What your wife needs is an afternoon out.” Amanda rose, then leaned over to kiss Gabe. “I’d scold you for keeping her locked up this way, but I love you too much.”

“I never—”

“Never once nudged her out of the house,” his mother finished for him. “So it’s up to me. Get your purse, dear. We have to find you something wonderful for the reception. Gabe, I imagine Laura needs your credit cards.”

“My— Oh.” Feeling like a tree blowing in a strong wind, he reached for his wallet.

“These should do.” Amanda plucked two of them and handed them to Laura. “Ready?”

“Well, I... Yes,” she said on impulse. “Michael’s just been fed and changed. You shouldn’t have any trouble.”

“I can handle things,” he told her, feeling more than a little put out. In the first place, he’d have taken her shopping himself if she’d asked. And in the second, though he didn’t want to admit it, he wasn’t totally sure of himself alone with the baby.

Reading her son perfectly, Amanda kissed him again. “Behave and we may bring you back a present.”

He couldn’t suppress the grin. “Out,” he ordered. Then he caught Laura in turn and kissed her with the same light affection. It surprised him when she returned the embrace so ardently.

“Don’t let her talk you into anything with bows,” he murmured. “They wouldn’t suit you. You should try to find something to match your eyes.”

“If you don’t let the girl go, we won’t buy anything at all,” Amanda said dryly, but she was pleased and a bit misty-eyed to see that her son was indeed in love with his wife.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault that Michael chose that particular afternoon to demand all the time and attention an infant could possibly demand. Gabe walked, rocked, changed, coddled and all but stood on his head. For his part, Michael gurgled, stared owlishly—and wept piteously whenever he was set down. He did everything but sleep.

In the end, Gabe gave up any idea of working for the rest of the day and carted Michael around with him. With the baby nestled in the crook of his arm, he ate a chicken leg and scanned the newspaper. Since no one was around to chuckle at him behind their hands, he discussed world politics and the major-league box scores with Michael while the baby shook a rattle and blew bubbles.

They took a walk in the garden once Gabe located one of the small knit hats Laura had bought to protect Michael from spring breezes. It gave him enormous pleasure to watch the baby’s cheeks turn pink and his eyes look around, alert and interested.

He had Laura’s eyes, Gabe thought as he studied them. The same shape, the same color, but without the shadows that made hers both sad and fascinating. Michael’s eyes were clear and innocent of sorrow.

Michael whimpered at first, then decided to accept his fate, when Gabe slipped him into the little baby swing. After tucking his blankets in around him, Gabe sat cross-legged in front of him and began to stretch.

The daffodils were up in a glory of white and yellow trumpets. Baby irises poked through, purple and exotic. Lilacs, though still shy of their full bloom, offered their scent. For the first time since his own tragedy, Gabe felt at peace. In the mountains, all through the winter, he’d begun to heal. But here, at home, with spring all around, he could finally see and accept that life did go on.

The baby continued to rock, pink-cheeked and bright-eyed, his hands lifting and falling to the rhythm. His little face was already filling out, taking on his own personal look and shape. Gone was the terrifying fragility of the newborn. He was, Gabe supposed, already growing up.

“I love you, Michael.”

And when he spoke he spoke both to the one who was gone and to the one who rocked contentedly in front of him.

***

She hadn’t meant to be gone so long, but the chaotic few hours breezing through the shops had brought back the way she had felt during that brief period when she’d been on her own and eager to test life.

There had been a moment or two of guilt over using Gabe’s credit cards so freely. Then it had been almost too easy, with Amanda lending support, to justify the purchases. She was Laura Bradley now.

She had an eye for color and line that came naturally and had been sharpened by her time as a model, so what she had chosen was neither extravagant nor fussy. It had given Laura a great deal of satisfaction to see Amanda nod with approval over her selections.

---