Page 85 of The Condemned (Echoes from the Past #6)
SEVENTY-TWO
London, England
Alex’s face looked peaceful and rosy in the warm glow of the nightlight.
He’d been asleep in her arms for nearly an hour but cried every time Quinn tried to put him down in his crib.
His hand was wrapped around her finger, as if to make sure she was still there, holding him close.
He’d reached for her the moment she came home and hadn’t let her go since, and Emma had been on her best behavior as well, filling Quinn in on everything she’d missed and asking endless questions.
“They missed you,” Gabe said when he came into the bedroom, having read Emma a bedtime story.
“I missed them too. I hate being away from them.”
“But this was important. How’s Jo settling in?” Gabe asked.
“She’s glad to be home. Seth was still with her when I left.
He’ll stay in London for as long as Jo needs him.
I’m so glad to see them getting on,” Quinn said.
“There were several times when I caught them wearing an identical expression. Funny how they’d never met until a few days ago, but they are so similar in some ways. ”
Gabe nodded. “I see Jenna in Emma when I least expect to. There are times when she’ll tilt her head a certain way or her eyes will flash with annoyance, and I get a sudden flashback of her mother.”
“I can’t wait to see what Alex will be like once he’s older. ”
“He’ll be an absolute rascal,” Gabe replied with a soft smile. “Try to put him down. I think he’s sleeping soundly now.”
Quinn nodded and lowered Alex into the crib.
He allowed her to put him down this time but retained his grip on her finger.
Quinn carefully unfolded his tiny fingers and covered him with his fluffy blanket.
Alex instantly raised both arms, assuming his favorite sleeping position that made him look as if he were surrendering.
Quinn and Gabe tiptoed from the bedroom and closed the door before settling together on the sofa. Quinn leaned against Gabe and rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. It was good to be home.
“Has Jo spoken to Sylvia?” Gabe asked.
“No. She’s not ready.”
“How much did you tell her?”
“I told her everything, including the bit about Rhys and the part he played in our family drama. Now it’s up to her to decide how she wants to proceed.
She was angry with Sylvia for a long time, and I’m not at all sure her feelings will ever change.
She blames her for everything. I do think it would be good for them to meet, even if they will never have any sort of relationship.
It would give Jo an opportunity to say her piece and maybe find some closure. ”
“Is she angry with Rhys? Discovering that he might have been her biological father must have tainted her rosy view of him.”
“I don’t think it has. What Rhys did when he was a misguided teenage boy cannot possibly tarnish what he’s done for her now.
He risked his life to find her and followed her to Germany, when he could have simply shared the information with me and Logan and returned to his cushy life.
Gabe, I think Rhys got badly hurt in Kabul, but he didn’t want to talk about it. ”
Gabe sighed. “I must admit that I was wrong about Rhys. I always thought of him as a selfish prig.”
“He feels guilty about the part he played in Sylvia’s life,” Quinn replied.
“He might have at first, but he’s no longer motivated by guilt. He cares for you, Quinn.”
“And he cares for Jo. I think Rhys is surprisingly sentimental beneath that crusty exterior. He and Jo recognized something in each other, something deeply personal.”
“And speaking of deeply personal matters, have you asked her? Does she share your psychic ability?” Gabe asked.
“I don’t know. I wanted to ask, but something held me back. It’s not easy to blurt out, ‘I see dead people. Do you?’ The foundation I lay with Jo now will influence our relationship for the rest of our lives. I don’t want her to think I’m a nutter.”
“Perhaps she is one too.”
“Not necessarily. Brett is psychic, but Seth isn’t. And I have no way of knowing how many people along my ancestral line were endowed with the same ability. I will ask her—soon.”
Gabe lifted Quinn’s face with his finger and brushed his lips against hers. “Tomorrow, you can find out if Jo has the gift, but tonight, I’d like to show you how much I missed you.”
“Not as much as I missed you,” Quinn replied as she wrapped her arms around Gabe’s neck and pulled him down on top of her.
She hadn’t told him about the pregnancy scare.
There was no point now that the danger had passed, but tomorrow, she’d make an appointment to see Dr. Malik.
She wasn’t ready for another baby, and she was fairly sure Gabe wasn’t ready either.
They had a perfect family, and she didn’t want to upset the balance by throwing an unplanned pregnancy into the mix.
There were ways to avoid that, and it was time she took care of business.