Saturday, August 10, 2013

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 58

Just before sunrise, Julia awoke with a start.Her handsome husband was by her side, his face boyish in sleep. It was the face of the young man she met on Grace’s back porch. She traced his eyebrows and the stubble on his chin, a tremendous feeling of love flowing through her. A tremendous feeling of contentment and joy.Not wanting to disturb him, she...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 57

Without breaking the kiss, he picked her up and carried her back inside the house and up the stairs to the master bedroom. He twirled her around, admiring the way the full skirt of her purple dress flared out as she spun.“I believe I owe you something.”“And what’s that?” Julia laughed as Gabriel pressed himself up against her back.He reached over her...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 56

Later that evening, they changed into their honeymoon clothes, a dark suit for Gabriel and a purple dress for Julia, and sat side by side in a chauffeured car that he’d hired.Soon the car was pulling up the drive that led to a villa near Todi. The very same villa that Gabriel had rented when they visited Italy the year before.“Our house,” she whispered,...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 54

Despite the fact that Tom gave his blessing to Julia and Gabriel (albeit begrudgingly), conflict ensued when the happy couple announced the destination of their wedding.While the Clarks were only too glad to spend a week in Italy during the winter, Tom, who had never traveled outside of North America, was less than enthused. As the father of the bride,...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 55

On January twenty-first, Tom paced nervously at the entrance to the Basilica in Assisi. He was nervous. And the fact that Julia and her bridesmaids were late didn’t help matters. He tugged at his bow tie as he waited. Then, a vision in white velvet over organza floated through the front doors like a luminescent cloud.He was speechless.“Dad,” Julia...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 53

A few days later, Paul received an email from Julia announcingher engagement. It made him ill. Reading and re-reading her words didn’t ameliorate his situation. Not one bit. But he did so anyway, if not to torture himself then to have her new status indelibly impressed on his mind.Dear Paul,I hope this email finds you well. I’m sorry it took me so...

Gabriel's Rapture - Chapter 52

After dinner, Tammy and Scott cleaned up while Rachel and Aaronpracticed their parenting skills with Quinn. On the back porch, Richard and Tom smoked cigars and drank Scotch, while watching old Mr. Bancroft carry things from the garage into the woods. Richard gave Tom a knowing look, and the two men clinked glasses.Inside the house, Gabriel took Julia’s...