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Gabriel winced She hadn’t stayed with her father since before they were et there?”

She rolled her eyes

“Don’t worry, I won’t leave you without a car I’ll call a cab”

“There aren’t any cabs in town You’ll have to call one in Sunbury”

Julia glared “I know that, Gabriel I used to live here, remember? You must really think I’ the door behind her

Gabriel heard the lock click into place

He paused for aon the door “Rachel, Aaron, and Richard are arriving soon What will I tell them?”

“Tell them I’m an idiot Obviously”

“Julianne, just listen tofrom behind the door

“Fine!” He shouted “Avoid ht and you lock yourself in the God daainst the door

Abruptly, the water shut off

She raised her voice in order to be heard “My first public lecture and you tell ree with you and your own God daed The bedroo the hall She padded over to the staircase, listening

Satisfied that the house was empty, she walked to the study and closed the door Then she sat behind her desk, turned on soround noise, and returned to her paper

“Where’s Julia?” Rachel hugged her brother before rolling her s room Her tall and y form was clad in a pair of khaki pants and a V-necked white T-shirt Her long blond hair hung straight and perfect, pushed back frolasses She looked like she could have starred in a Gap ad

Gabriel’s expression tightened

“She’s working on her paper”

“Did you tell her we arrived?” Rachel moved to the foot of the stairs “Jules! Get your ass down here!”

“Rachel, please,” her father said reprovingly before greeting Gabriel with a hug

Richard stood an inch or two shorter than his son and had light hair and gray eyes He was quiet and serious, and his intelligence and kindness engendered respect in all who knew him

When there was no ray eyes narrowed

“Why is she hiding?”

Gabriel shook Aaron’s hand in greeting “She isn’t She probably didn’t hear you

“Your roouest bathroom Dad, you’re welcouest roo the stairs

“Are you and Julia fighting?” Rachel gave Gabriel a suspicious look

He pressed his lips together “You can say hello when you go upstairs Then we’llribs for dinner”

“Ribs? Fantastic” Aaron clapped an appreciative hand to Gabriel’s back “I was going to stop to pick up soht to the house I’ll be back in a few”

He picked up his car keys and was about to head to the door when his wife stopped hie between Rachel and Aaron and decided that was his opportunity to excuse himself

“See you on the patio in a few minutes” He walked toward the kitchen