Page 73 of Things We Do for Love and Science
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Meet Maria Kirwan.”Jem, bathed in the glow of new fatherhood, cradled his daughter, and glanced at Gabriel. “Do you want to hold her?”
“I’d love to.” Gabriel approached, and his cousin carefully transferred the newborn from one pair of arms to the other. “She’s such a beauty,” Gabriel cooed. He caught little Maria’s milky-sweet scent, and his heart contracted. Soon, he would have a child of his own.
“She sure is.” Jem beamed proudly at Maria. At this very moment, she pouted her lips and looked even more adorable. “Let’s sit.” He waved toward the sofa.
Jem and Suzette’s house had been taken over by baby paraphernalia, and the living room was at the epi-center of mayhem. A half-empty baby bottle stood on the coffee table, evidence of a recent feed. Bibs, some clean, some less so, dotted its wooden surface.
Onesies, sleepsuits, and muslin cloths were drying on a rack in the far corner of the room, and the floor was strewn with cuddly toys of every color and description.
“Hello you.” Gabriel rocked the infant in his arms, and she gave a satisfied gurgle.
Jem placed a white cloth over Gabriel’s shoulder. “Here, in case she throws up.”
“Thanks.” He adjusted the fabric.
“Always good to be prepared for milky puke on your clothes.” Jem grinned. “We’ll have you trained in no time, so you’ll be able to babysit for us as promised.”
“I’d better get all the practice I can, not just for babysitting,” Gabriel said, mesmerized by Maria’s tiny fingers clutching his thumb.
Jem narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Gabriel cursed internally; he hadn’t meant to let slip that he was on the road to fatherhood himself, but his cousin knew him too well. No use trying to hide what was on his mind. “I told you about my plans with Delia...”
“I thought that was off since she reacted badly when she found out you had feelings for her.”
“Well...” Gabriel focused on Maria to avoid Jem’s eyes. “We met one more time after our falling out, and that was enough to, ah, get Delia pregnant.”
Jem scrutinized him. “That was before Vanessa came back?”
“Yes, naturally. What do you take me for?” Gabriel’s tone startled the baby, and she began to fuss.
“Come here, give her to me.” Jem took his daughter and held her against his chest to settle her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up my drama. I don’t want to spoil this joyful time.”
“Nonsense, Gabe, we’re family. I’m concerned about you.”
“I know, and I appreciate it.” Gabriel cast his gaze toward the exit.
He didn’t belong in this blissful atmosphere since he’d made such a mess of his personal life. His dark mood was dragging Jem down. Suzette, thankfully, was asleep. One person less to witness his discomfort.
“I don’t want you to worry, I’m fine, everything will fall into place. Vanessa and I are working on re-establishing a relationship. She’s happy enough to form a patchwork family with me, Delia, and our child.”
Jem pressed his lips together and knitted his brow. “You do know there are more than two women on planet Earth who you could be with. It doesn’t necessarily have to be one who dumped you at some stage in the past. Give yourself enough time to get over Delia before getting serious with someone else, even if that somebody is a woman you know well. There’s no shortcut through heartache.”
Gabriel flinched. “You sound very smug and married right now.”
