After the photographs were taken and the wedding dinner and

toasts were complete, Rachel and Aaron enjoyed the first dance. They melted into one another’s arms before their parents were invited to join them on the dance floor.

There was a moment of nervousness amongst the guests when

Richard stood, alone, before walking over to Julia and asking if she would honor him by being his partner. She was stunned by his request, as she had assumed that he would choose an aging aunt or friend, but she accepted quickly. Ever the consummate gentleman, Richard held

Julia firmly but respectfully as he moved her across the dance floor.

“Your father seems to be enjoying himself.” He nodded at Tom,

who was standing with a drink in his hand and engaged in an ani-

mated conversation with one of the female professors from Susque-

hanna University.

“Thank you for inviting him,” she said shyly as they danced to

the strains of Etta James’s “At Last.”

“He’s an old friend and a good friend. Grace and I owe him a

great deal from when we were having trouble with Gabriel.”

369

Sylvain Reynard

Julia nodded and tried to concentrate on her feet, lest she stumble.

“Gabriel’s toast to Grace was very moving.”

Richard smiled. “He’s never called us Mom and Dad before. I’m sure that Grace is watching and that she’s very, very happy. I know that part of her happiness is seeing the transformation in our son.

You brought that about, Julia. Thank you.”

She smiled. “I can’t take credit for that. Some things are beyond

all of us.”

“I don’t disagree. But sometimes relationships can be conduits of

grace, and I know you’ve been one for my son. Thank you.

“It took a long time for Gabriel to forgive himself for what hap-

pened to Maia and for not being with Grace when she died. He’s a

very different man than he was a year ago. I hope that I’ll be able to dance with you at another wedding in the near future. One in which you and my son take center stage.”

An earnest expression came over her face. “We’re taking things

one day at a time, but I love him.”

“Don’t wait too long. Life takes unexpected turns, and we don’t

always have the time we think we have.” As the song ended, he kissed her hand and escorted her back to Gabriel.

Julia wiped away a tear as she sat down. Instantly, Gabriel’s lips were at her ear. “Is my father making you cry?”

“No. He’s just reminding me of what’s important.” She wound

their hands together and brought their connection to her mouth so

she could kiss his knuckles. “I love you.”

“And I love you, my sweet, sweet girl.” He leaned over to kiss her, and for a moment they forgot where they were as she reached up to

wind her arm around his neck and pull him closer.

As their lips met and their breath commingled, the noise of the

room slipped away. Gabriel pulled Julia so she was leaning across

his lap, clasping her to his heart as he kissed her passionately. When they came apart, they were both breathing heavily.

“I had no idea weddings brought out such reactions.” He smirked.

“Or I would have taken you to one sooner.”

After dancing several slow dances with Gabriel, Julia took a

turn with Scott and with Aaron, and finally, with her father. It was clear that Tom and Julia had a lot to say to one another, and their 370

Gabriel’s Rapture

expressions weren’t always happy ones. But by the end of the dance they seemed to have come to some sort of understanding, and Gabriel felt marginally relieved when she returned to him, wearing a smile.

Near the end of the evening, Aaron requested Marc Cohn’s “True

Companion” and dedicated it to Rachel. Immediately, a throng of

married couples scurried toward the dance floor. Tammy surprised

everyone by bringing little Quinn over to Julia and asking her to

hold him while she danced with Scott.

Julia was afraid that Quinn wouldn’t like her.

“He looks good on you,” Gabriel whispered as Quinn fell asleep

snuggled into her neck.

“I’m worried he’ll wake up.”

“He won’t.” Gabriel reached over to lightly stroke the fine hair

that decorated the boy’s head, smiling widely as he seemed to offer a contented sigh.

“Why do you want to get married and have children all of a

sudden?” Julia blurted.

He shrugged uncomfortably. “Things happened while we were

separated. I realized what was important — what I wanted for a happy life. And I went to an orphanage.”

“An orphanage? Why?”

“I volunteered with the Franciscans in Florence and they used to

bring candy and toys to the children at the orphanage. I went along.”

Julia’s jaw dropped. “You didn’t tell me about that.”

“It wasn’t a secret. I planned to stay in Assisi indefinitely, but I met an American family who were going to run a medical clinic for

the poor in Florence. I decided to join them.”

“Did you like it?”

“I wasn’t especially good at it. But I found my niche, eventually, telling stories about Dante in Italian.”

Julia grinned. “That’s a good job for a Dante specialist. What

about the orphanage?”

“The children were well looked after, but it was a sad place. They had babies there, some of whom had AIDS or fetal alcohol syndrome.

Then there were older children who would never be adopted. Most

adoptive parents want younger kids.”

371

Sylvain Reynard

Julia placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

Gabriel turned and gently touched the little boy’s head. “When

Grace found me, I was at an age that would have been considered

unadoptable. She wanted me anyway. I’ve been blessed.”

Julia heard his sudden vulnerability and was struck by how much

he’d changed. She couldn’t have imagined the old Professor Emerson talking about his blessings, or stroking a little boy’s head. Especially if the boy had ruined his new Armani suit.

Just before the last dance, Gabriel walked over to the DJ and

spoke to him in hushed tones. Then, with a wide smile, he returned to Julia and extended his hand.

They walked slowly onto the dance floor just as “Return to Me”

filled the air.

“I’m surprised you didn’t choose ‘Besame Mucho,’” she said.

Gabriel gazed into her eyes intensely. “I thought that we needed

a new song. A new song for a new chapter.”

“I liked the old one.”

“We don’t have to forget the past,” he whispered. “But we can

make the future better.”

She gave him a half-smile and changed the subject. “I remember

the first time we danced.”

“I was an ass that evening. When I think of how I behaved…”

His tone was remorseful. “I had a strong reaction to you but didn’t know how to act.”

“You know how to act around me now.” She touched his face

and pressed their lips together before tentatively fingering his black silk bow tie. “I remember admiring your ties when I was just your

student. You always dressed impeccably.”

Gabriel caught her hand in his and pressed his open mouth to

her palm. “Julianne, you were never just my student. You’re my soul mate. My bashert.”

He pulled her to his chest, and she hummed against his tuxedo.

And when Dean Martin switched to Italian, it was Gabriel’s voice

that sang in her ear.

P

372

Gabriel’s Rapture

As Gabriel stood outside of Julia’s hotel room in the wee hours of the morning, he looked at her appraisingly. Her long, curled hair, her beautiful skin and flushed cheeks, her eyes sparkling with champagne and happiness. The way her dark red strapless dress complemented

her figure. His brown-eyed angel still had the power to enchant him.

As he gently caressed her cheek, she gazed up into the hazy blue

eyes he was now hiding behind his glasses. He was so handsome in

his tuxedo. So very, very sexy.

Boldly, she reached out to pull the edge of his bow tie and felt

the silk come apart in her fingers. She wrapped the tie around her hand once to tug his lips to hers.

As they kissed, Julia suddenly realized how difficult it must have been at the beginning of their relationship for Gabriel to keep his hands off her. The boiling of blood and heating of flesh when one

knew what lay beyond kissing in the voluptuary dance that was

foreplay. She could barely contain her need for him.

“Please,” she whispered, straining on tiptoe to place tiny kisses

across his neck as she tugged on his tie once again.

He groaned. “Don’t tempt me.”

“I promise I’ll be gentle.”

Gabriel laughed gruffly. “This is a stunning reversal.”

“We’ve waited a respectable amount of time. I love you. And I

want you.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes,” she said breathlessly.

“Then marry me.”

“Gabriel, I — ”

He cut her off with his kiss, pulling her against his chest. Some-

how his hands were in her hair, clutching her tightly. And then as he gently slid his hands to caress her naked shoulders, he tentatively pressed into her mouth.

Julia released his bow tie to wrap her arms around his neck,

tugging him until their bodies were flush against one another. She nibbled his ful lower lip and moaned as his tongue slowly traced