Page 5 (1/2)

Gabriel had changed in myriad ways since Julianne was his student But he had yet to abandon his belief that he was not worthy of sustained happiness As his therapist had warned, Gabriel had a pattern of self-sabotage

His adoptive mother, Grace, had died of cancer almost two years previous Her untimely death symbolized the shortness and uncertainty of life If he were to lose Julianne

If you had a child with her, you’d never lose her

A still, small voice spoke in his ear

Gabriel quickened his pace The voice was right, but it didn’t express his pri a baby with Julianne He wanted a fahter and the knowledge that he could right the wrongs done by his own parents

He’d kept his internal struggles from his wife She was burdened with her own concerns and he was loath to add to them She’d worry about his addictions and his fears, and he’d already given her too ed the faan to wonder why she’d been so dispirited this ether, celebrating their love in the orchard and later, in bed He racked his brain, trying to figure out if he’d done so had been, as usual, both passionate and tender

There was at least one other possibility, and Gabriel cursed hiht of it sooner Julianne always carried with her a degree of anxiety about being back in Selinsgrove A year and a half ago, her ex-boyfriend, Simon, had broken into her father’s hoirlfriend, Natalie, had confronted Julia at a local diner, threatening to release lewd pictures of her if she didn’t withdraw her assault complaint

Julianne had convinced Natalie that it was not in her interest to release the pictures, since they’d implicate Si for president, and Natalie orking for his can

At the time, Gabriel kept his doubts about Julia’s success to himself He knew that once a person acquired a taste for black to draw fro at a punishing rate of speed He’d never told Julia what he’d done He didn’t want to do so now But if she orrying about Simon and Natalie, then perhaps it was time to tell her the truth

When Gabriel returned fro that her bare feet were sticking out frorew hot and so she’d bare the over, he tucked the covers around her feet and walked to the shower After he dressed he checked on her, but she was still asleep He hurried down the stairs, grabbing her lists froe Rover With any luck, he’d be able to co and secure a , Julia finally descended the stairs fro roo on a footstool, his eyes reeted her with a s?”

He showed her the cover The Way of a Pilgrier’s Franny and Zooey?”

“A long tio Why?”

“Franny reads this book and it troubles her That’s where I first heard about it”

“What’s it about?” She picked up the book, glancing at the back cover

“It’s about a Russian Orthodox ”

Julia arched an eyebrow “And?”

“And I’ for soood ood husband, and, soood father”