Julia was inclined to let sleeping dogs lie.
A shadow fell over her legs and she looked through her sunglasses to see him standing over her. He was clad only in black swimming trunks and was carrying a towel.
His muscled chest and arms rippled as he moved, kissing her before placing the towel on a chair and diving into the pool. The water was warm and a welcome respite from the bright Umbrian sun.
Gabriel swam laps, losing himself in the almost-silence of the water. Back and forth and back and forth. During physical exercise, as during sex, he could relieve his mind of all worry and stress, focusing only on his movements.
He actively suppressed all thought or reflection on his nightmare. An intuition had taken hold that told him that the dream was a memory. No amount of reasoning had been able to persuade him otherwise. So he simply turned his attention to something else—the feel of the sun and the water against his flesh, the sound of splashing in his ears, the taste of chlorine, the glorious burn in his muscles as he pushed himself to swim faster.
He was counting laps, flip turn upon flip turn, when the peacefulness of his morning swim was broken by a sudden cry.
He surfaced immediately, his eyes searching for Julia. She was still in her chair, but she’d swung her legs over the side of the lounge and was holding her iPhone to her ear.
“She’s what?” Julia’s voice was unusually shrill.
Gabriel wiped his eyes so he could see her better.
“You’re kidding.” She paused, mouth gaping. “When is she due?”
Gabriel swam to the ladder and climbed out of the pool. He picked up his towel and began to dry off, his eyes fixed on her.
“No, I’m happy. I’m happy for you both. I just can’t believe it.” Her tone was sincere, if not surprised, but her body language was notably tense.
Gabriel waved a hand in front of her face. “Who is it?” He pointed at the phone.
My dad, she mouthed.
Now it was Gabriel’s turn to gape. If her words meant what he thought they meant, then . . .
“So when is the wedding?” Julia peered up at Gabriel, lifting her eyebrows.
“I don’t know. I’ll check with him and get back to you. Wow, Dad. This is really sudden.”
She laughed. “Yes, for you too. Obviously.”
Gabriel reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. She covered his hand with her own.
“Yes, of course. Put her on.” Julia paused. “Hi, Diane. Congratulations.”
Gabriel wiped his face with the towel a second time and moved to sit on the lounge next to Julia.
“Of course we’ll be there. We just need to sort out the date.
“That’s right.
“Of course. Congratulations again. Bye.
“Hi, Dad. I’m happy for you both.
“Yes, of course. Bye.”
Julia disconnected the phone and slumped in her seat. “Holy shit.”
“What is it?”
“My dad is getting married.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched. “I gathered that. They spoke to you about it in Selinsgrove.”
“Yes, but they want to get married immediately because Diane is pregnant.”
Gabriel stifled a grin.
“Hmmm.” He stroked the stubble on his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “A shotgun wedding for Tom, who is probably the only person I know who actually owns a shotgun. I’d label the situation as ironic, except I know better.” He winked.
Julia adjusted her sunglasses. “Yes, literature professors have an annoying habit of actually using words correctly. It takes all the fun out of a good neologism.”
Gabriel laughed.
“And that remark there”—he paused to kiss her mouth—“is precisely why I love you, Mrs. Emerson.”
“I thought you loved me for my br**sts.”
“I am equally partial to all of your assets.” He slid his hand down to the edge of her bikini bottom, giving it a playful tug.
“You are entirely too charming for your own good, Professor.”
“So I’m told. When’s the baby due?”
“End of December.”
“Are you upset?” He removed her hat and her sunglasses, so he could see her eyes.
“No, I’m in shock. My dad is having a baby. We didn’t light a candle for him in Assisi.”
“That’s probably a good thing, or God would have sent him twins.”
“God help us.”
“I’m sure it was a shock for your father. How’s he taking it?”
“He sounded excited. I get the impression they were surprised, but I didn’t want to ask too many questions.”
“That’s probably wise. At least I know what to buy him for Christmas.”
“What?”
Gabriel’s mouth widened into a slow, satisfied smile.
“Condoms.”
Julia rolled her eyes.
“So when are they getting married?”
Julia gestured between them. “That depends on us. They want us to be there, so as soon as we can get back.”
Gabriel frowned. “I’m not cutting short our vacation for their wedding.”
“Easy, tiger. They’re asking us to fly to Selinsgrove for a weekend when we get back. They want us to give them some dates and then they’ll talk to Diane’s family.”