Page 33 of When Love Is Unexpected

"Wow!" Holly exclaims when he puts the barrette in her hand.

"This is for me?" she asks.

"Yes," Sam says. "It's yours."

"I love it, Uncle Sammy. Thank you."

"Do you want me to put it on you?" I ask Holly.

"Yes, please," she says.

Her hair has gotten blonder in the two years she's been gone. She's graduated from the baby girl stage and is now a tall, slim little girl with long, wavy hair and bright blue eyes.

"You look beautiful," I say.

"Thank you, Auntie Laila. You're pretty, too."

"Ah, thank you," I say.

"I agree with her," says Sam, smiling.

I smile and nudge his side with my elbow before addressing Loren.

"What are you doing later today?" I ask. "Do you need help at the house?"

"No," she says. "Lisa took care of everything. The house is spotless, and the refrigerator and pantry are stocked."

"Did you see the nursery?" Katherine asks.

"Yes," Loren says. "Thank you so much. It looks beautiful. The colors are perfect. Once the baby's here, we can add more color depending on what we have."

"That's what we thought, too," says Katherine. "Laura picked all the furnishings, and it was her idea to include the creams as an accent color. She said cream goes with everything."

"Speaking of furniture," says Christina, "remind Aaron that he needs to come by and pick up his changing table."

"I spoke to Aaron this morning," says Dad. "I'll stop by in the morning to pick it up."

"You still have Aaron's changing table?" I ask.

"Yes," she says, "It's beautiful. It's solid wood with a removable changing table and pad on top and a chest of drawers on the bottom."

"I have the perfect spot for it in the room," says Loren. "You won't mind if we paint it?"

"Oh, of course not," says Christina. "It's old but solid. It'll look beautiful in white."

"Thank you," says Loren. "It'll look perfect in the room. Oh, and before I forget, who painted Holly's room?"

"I did," Adam says. "Aaron told me her favorite color is now aqua, so I hope you don't mind."

"No," says Loren. "Of course not. Thank you for doing that. She's going to love it."

"I'm going to love it, Uncle Adam," says Holly.

Turning to Loren, Holly asks, "Mommy, will I be sleeping in my room tonight?"

"Yes, Princess, you'll be back in your old room tonight."

"Thank you, Uncle Adam," Holly says. "I can't wait to see it."

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