Page 120 of Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

After that, Paul had written to her saying he didn’t want contact. Julia could still feel the sting of her friend’s rejection, almost two years later.

“Jules!” Paul raced toward her and picked her up in a bear hug. “How are you? It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too.” She laughed and begged him to put her down.

“Uh-oh. Is the Professor around?” He looked over her shoulder.

“No, he’s in London until Thursday.”

“Good. He won’t punch me for hugging you.” Paul embraced her once again before taking a large step back. “How was your trip?”

“It was good. Clare stayed awake almost the entire flight, but we kept her entertained. I’m still jet-lagged.” Julia smoothed her hair behind her ears. “How about you?”

“Oh, fine. I arrived yesterday. Professor Picton met me at the train station. We had dinner last night.”

“That’s great. How are your parents?”

Paul jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “They’re fine. Dad is doing less and less on the farm, because of his heart. I help out when I can. You look good. How’s the baby?”

Julia retrieved her cell phone from her messenger bag. “Can I bore you with a picture?”

“It won’t bore me. I’d like to see her.” Paul peered down at the screen. “She’s getting so big. And look at all the hair.”

“She was born with hair. I’ve been styling it.” Julia showed him a few more pictures, including a photo of Gabriel holding Clare and smiling.

“That’s the happiest I’ve ever seen the Professor.” Paul marveled at the sight. “Clare has her father’s eyes.”

“She does. I thought they would change color and match mine, but they’re as blue as his.” Julia touched the screen absently and put the phone away.

“Listen, before everyone else gets here, I’m sorry about that email I sent. I was a jerk.”

Julia lifted her head. “I’m sorry things were so weird.”

Paul flexed his arms self-consciously. “I take it back, okay? I want us to be friends, if we can.”

“Of course we can.” A feeling of lightness settled over Julia’s body. “I’ve missed you, Paul. I don’t have many friends.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true.” Paul changed the subject. “Gabriel must be pretty excited about the Sage Lectures, huh? Are you going with him?”

Now Julia looked over her shoulder. “I want to, but Professor Marinelli hasn’t signed off on it. I’m going to ask her again sometime this week.”

“What’s her beef?”

Julia slung her messenger bag to the floor. “I’m still in coursework at Harvard and she doesn’t want to accept transfer credits from Edinburgh.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Why are grad students always at the mercy of their professors?”

“Because we like pain.” Julia sighed the sigh of the underdog.

“Do you remember her? Professor Pain?”

“Yes. I’d like to forget her.” Julia looked around the seminar room. “Can you believe it was almost four years ago that we were in Gabriel’s seminar in Toronto?”

“No, I can’t.” Paul appeared as if he were going to say more but lifted his chin toward the entrance. “Here come the others. Do you have plans for lunch?”