Page 63 of Gabriel's Angel

He would have scaled mountains for her. Until now, somehow, the full extent of his feelings for her had escaped him. He’d recognized the need first, the love later, but now he understood the devotion. She was his in a way no other woman could ever be. For the first time in his life, he wanted to be a hero.

When they came together, full light was pouring over the bed. Later, still entwined, they slept.

***

“I know I’m doing the right thing.” Still, Laura hesitated when they stepped off the elevator in Lorraine’s hotel. “And, no matter what happens, I’m not going to back down.” She caught Gabe’s hand in hers and held it tight. Lack of sleep had left her feeling light-headed and primed for action. “I’m awfully glad you’re here.”

“I told you before, I don’t like the idea of you having to see her again, to deal with her on any level. I can easily handle this on my own.”

“I know you could. But I told you, I need to. Gabe...”

“What?”

“Please don’t lose your temper.” She laughed a little at the way his brows rose. The tension rising inside her eased. “There’s no need to look like that. I’m only trying to say that shouting at Lorraine won’t accomplish anything.”

“I never shout. I do occasionally raise my voice to get a point across.”

“Since we’ve gotten that straightened out, I guess the only thing left to do is knock.” She felt the familiar flutter of panic and fought it back as she knocked on the door. Lorraine answered, looking regal and poised in a navy suit.

“Laura.” After the briefest of nods, she turned to Gabe. “Mr. Bradley. It’s nice to meet you. Laura didn’t mention that you were coming with her this afternoon.”

“Everything that concerns Laura and Michael concerns me, Mrs. Eagleton.” He entered, as Laura could never have done, without an invitation.

“I’m sure that’s very conscientious of you.” Lorraine closed the door with a quick click. “However, some of the things Laura and I may discuss are private family matters. I’m sure you understand.”

“I understand perfectly.” He met her level gaze with one of his own. “My wife and son are my family.”

The war of wills was silent and unpleasant. Lorraine ended it with another nod. “If you insist. Please, sit. I’ll order coffee. The service here is tolerable.”

“Don’t bother on our account.” Laura spoke with only the slightest trace of nerves as she chose a seat. “I don’t think this should take very long.”

“As you like.” Lorraine sat across from them. “My husband would have been here, but business prevented him from making the trip. I do, however, speak for both of us.” That said, she laid her hands on the arms of her chair. “I’ll simply repeat what has already been discussed. I intend to take Tony’s son back to Boston and raise him properly.”

“And I’ll repeat, you can’t have him.” She would try reason one last time, Laura thought, leaning forward. “He’s a baby, not an heirloom, Mrs. Eagleton. He has a good home and two parents who love him. He’s a healthy, beautiful child. You should be grateful for that. If you want to discuss reasonable visitation rights—”

“We’ll discuss visitation rights,” Lorraine said, interrupting her. “Yours. And if I have anything to say about it, they will be short and spare. Mr. Bradley,” she continued, turning away from Laura. “Surely you don’t want to raise another man’s child as your own. He hasn’t your blood, and he only has your name because, for whatever reason, you married his mother.”

Gabe drew out a cigarette and lit it slowly. Laura had asked him not to lose his temper. Though he wouldn’t be able to accommodate her, it wouldn’t do to let it snap so quickly. “You’re very wrong,” was all he said.

She sighed, almost indulgently. “I understand you have feelings for Laura. My son had them, too.”

The first chain on his temper broke clean in half. The rage could be seen in his eyes and heard in each precise, bitten-off word. “Don’t you ever compare my feelings for Laura with your son’s.”

Lorraine paled a little, but went on evenly. “I have no idea what she may have been telling you—”

“I told him the truth.” Before Gabe could speak, or move, Laura put a hand on his arm. “I told him what you know is the truth, that Tony was ill, emotionally unstable.”

Now it was Lorraine who moved, rising deliberately from her chair. Her face was flushed and pinched, but her voice was held at the same even pitch. “I will not sit here and listen to you defame my son.”

“You will listen.” Laura’s fingers dug hard into Gabe’s arm, but she didn’t give way. “You’ll listen now the way you never listened when I was desperate for help. The way you never listened when Tony was screaming for it in the only way he knew. He was an alcoholic, an emotional wreck who abused someone weaker than he. You knew he hurt me, you saw the marks and ignored them or made excuses. You knew there were other women. By your silence, you gave him approval.”

“What was between you and Tony was none of my concern.”

“That’s for you to live with. But I warn you, Lorraine, if you open the lid, you won’t be able to handle what comes out.”

Lorraine sat again, if for no other reason than the tone of Laura’s voice and the fact that for the first time Laura had called her by her first name. That one change made them equals. This wasn’t the same frightened, easily pressured woman she had known only a year before.

“Threats from someone like you don’t worry me. The courts will decide if some loose-moraled young tramp will have custody of an Eagleton or if he’ll be placed with those who can give him the proper upbringing.”

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