Julia laughed and wrapped an arm around his waist. “I think I’d be missing out if I didn’t take part of a maternity leave. Who knows what kind of mischief you and the baby will get into?”
“Oh, you can be sure we will get into all kinds of mischief.” He winked. “And there is a strong possibility that shenanigans and hijinks of various sorts will also occur, with regularity.”
“Perhaps you and the baby will need me.” Julia glanced at him.
Gabriel’s eyes locked on hers.
“Of course we’ll need you. But I’ll make it work if you can’t be here.” He brought the backs of his fingers to her face and gently stroked her cheek. “If you take maternity leave, we could spend part of the year in Umbria.”
“Really?”
“Or Oxford, or Paris, or Barcelona. You name it.”
“Selinsgrove?”
Gabriel pulled back. “Of all the cities in the world, you want to go there?”
“That’s where your family home is. That’s where my family is. It might be nice to be close to Diane. She could give me advice and we could schedule play dates.”
“We can talk to her on FaceTime from Europe.”
“The orchard is there.”
Gabriel traced his thumb across Julia’s lower lip and sighed. “Yes, the orchard is there.”
“I’ll look into registering for the fall and if I can’t go back after the baby is born, I’ll drop the classes. Then I’ll go on maternity leave for the winter semester and start studying for my general exams.”
“That sounds like a good plan. Katherine will be here by the following September.”
“We can have the baby at Mount Auburn Hospital, and decide from there where we want to go. I’m not sure about taking a newborn on a transatlantic flight.”
“Hmm. I hadn’t thought about that.”
Julia wrapped her arms around his waist. “We haven’t thought of a lot of things.”
“Ah, but I have a book.” Gabriel reached over to pick up a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting that was sitting nearby.
“Make sure to mark the place where it talks about transatlantic flights and the likelihood of writing a book on Dante’s concept of Hell while caring for a baby. I’d be interested in reading those sections.”
He tossed the book aside. “Very funny, Mrs. Emerson.”
She pressed herself against him. “If we go to Europe, we’ll be able to visit some museums.”
“That we will.”
“We’ll be able to tango against the wall.”
“We’ll have to bring Rebecca with us if we ever want to have a tango in a museum again.” He pressed an openmouthed kiss to her neck.
“Museums aren’t as accommodating as they used to be.”
His eyes shone.
“Except for our last visit to the Uffizi.”
Now she was blushing.
“That’s what I want for our next anniversary.”
“What? A museum?” He smirked.
“No. Another tango against a wall.”
“Shall we try the Louvre next time?”
Julia felt her insides flame. “That sounds promising.”
He kissed her neck, fluttering his lips against her skin. “We have a lot of good things to look forward to, Mrs. Emerson. But I think we both need to read that book.”
Chapter Seventy-five
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
You’re what?”
A pile of silverware slid from Rachel’s fingers, clattering onto the kitchen island. She stared openmouthed at her best friend.
Gabriel had his arm around Julia as they stood in the kitchen of the Clark family home. Scott, Tammy, and Quinn sat on stools nearby, while Richard and Aaron were deep in conversation near the stove.
“I’m pregnant,” Julia repeated, her eyes searching Rachel’s face.
The room fell silent.
“But, but, I didn’t know you were trying. I thought you were going to wait,” Rachel sputtered.
“The news was unexpected but not unwelcome.” Gabriel pressed his lips to Julia’s temple.
“That’s great news, Julia. When are you due?” Tammy interjected.
“September.” Julia’s hand curved over her slightly protruding abdomen. “We told Dad, Diane, and my uncle Jack last night.”
“I think this calls for cigars. I’m very proud of you both.” Richard shook Gabriel’s hand and clapped him on the back before kissing Julia’s cheek. “It will be nice to have another baby around. Quinn and Tommy will have a new playmate.”
“Exactly.” Tammy followed, hugging Julia, and so did Scott.
Julia looked over at her best friend apprehensively. “Rach?”
“I—” Rachel suddenly closed her mouth. She looked as if she were about to burst into tears.
Aaron wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He murmured something in her ear.
“I’m happy for you,” Rachel managed. After a moment, she embraced Julia and Gabriel together. “I am. I’m happy for you both.”
Julia’s eyes began to water.
“I think we should give the girls a minute. Isn’t there a game on?” Aaron jerked his thumb toward the living room, where the wide-screen television was located.
Tammy, Quinn, and the men quickly retreated, leaving the best friends alone.