Page 79 of Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno 4)

December 1, 2012

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Nothing fits.” Gabriel spoke into his cell phone. He was in the nursery with Clare and had just changed her. Now he was attempting to dress her for the day. A large pile of clothing was strewn around the changing table, all of it discarded.

He’d called Julianne on her cell phone because she was currently enjoying breakfast in bed and resting her ankle.

“Who is this?” Julia joked, suppressing laughter.

“I’ve tried everything—sleepers, dresses, et cetera. Everything is too small.”

“I think there’s some three-to-six-month-sized clothing in the top drawer of the dresser.”

Gabriel opened the drawer and pawed through it. “These are completely inadequate. They’re summer clothes. She’ll catch pneumonia.”

He withdrew a pink dress that had some embroidery on it and a pair of white things that looked like pants but had feet built in. “I found something that may work temporarily. But she’s going to need a sweater.” He placed Julia on speaker and put his cell phone aside.

“We have tons of sweaters and hoodies hanging in her closet. Let me see her when you’re done.”

“Only for a minute.” Gabriel heaved a deep breath as he placed one hand on the baby and with the other strained toward the closet. He grabbed a pink hoodie. “I’m taking her shopping.”

“You want to take Clare shopping?”

“She must have had a growth spurt. I’m telling you, there are only a few things left that will fit and most of them aren’t warm enough.” Painstakingly, he pulled on the white things and buttoned the dress in the back.

“Are you going to take Richard with you?”

“No. Rebecca asked for the day off. She and Richard are going on a walking tour of Beacon Hill this morning and then they’re going to a movie.”

“Huh,” said Julia.

Gabriel straightened, still speaking into the phone. “Maybe I shouldn’t leave you by yourself.”

“I’m fine. With the ankle brace, I can putter around. But I’ll probably just read all day. The list of books and articles Cecilia gave me is very long.”

“Okay.” Gabriel grabbed a soft plastic giraffe that Clare had recently begun chewing, and lifted her to his shoulder. “Come on, Principessa. Let’s go see Mommy, and then we’re going to find you a new wardrobe.”

He grabbed his cell phone and exited the nursery.

* * *

Gabriel enjoyed shopping at Copley Place. Although he didn’t enjoy the crowds, and shopping with an infant in a stroller was not ideal, he liked the array of shops and services that could all be found in a single location.

He made his way to Barneys and was quickly directed to the children’s section, where he was set upon by no less than three sales associates who resolved to outfit Clare in everything she needed.

Gabriel sat comfortably on a couch, with Clare in his arms happily gumming the giraffe, and sipped an espresso. On his approval, the associates assisted him in outfitting Clare for the next six months. And they furnished him with a far better bunny than the one that was currently residing next to her baby carrier.

Shopping is easy, he thought, as one of the salespeople placed a pair of soft pink leather ballet slippers on Clare’s feet.

“She will wear them home,” Gabriel directed with a smile.

(It should be noted that he resisted the urge to dispose of the bunny Paul Norris had given Clare, purely because she seemed to prefer that toy to the expensive one from Barneys. Gabriel sighed the sigh of a martyr upon that realization.)

He’d already returned to his SUV and buckled Clare into her car seat when his cell phone rang. It was Jack Mitchell.

Gabriel sat in the driver’s seat and locked the doors. “Jack.”

“I found your black Nissan. Registered to Pam Landry in Philadelphia.”