Page 42 of When Love Is Unexpected

"That was for winning the beauty challenge in the garage."

"How do you know I won?"

"Didn't you?" I ask, smiling.

"I did," he says, glancing at me. As soon as our eyes meet, I can tell he has something else on his mind.

"What's wrong?" I ask before he has the chance to start the car.

"I ran into Eric at the tailor's," he says.

"What?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says. "He was walking out of the bank. When he saw your car, he looked around to see if he could find you. He found me instead."

"So that's why he's been calling me," I say. "I've been letting it go to voicemail. "

"He's persistent," Sam says.

"What did he say to you?” I ask. "Was he rude?"

"I let him talk," he says. "In a nutshell, he wants you back and wants me gone."

"Well, you are leaving," I say.

"Yeah," says Sam. "But you're leaving with me."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him?" I ask.

"He's going to find out sooner or later," Sam says.

"Well, let's have it be as later as possible," I say, feeling guilty as soon as the words are out. "I know it sounds insensitive, but I don't know what else I can do for him."

"It's not your responsibility to help him sort out his feelings," he says.

Forty minutes later, we're back at the house with three large pizzas, a salad, and garlic bread. We also picked up something for Loren and her family to have for dinner later.

"We're back!" I exclaim when Katherine opens the door.

Everyone gathers around the pizza boxes and grabs lunch. As we sit at the table and get ready to eat, I can't help but feel a little sad. My family will soon be enjoying these times without me.

After lunch, Adam leaves to go to the office for a few hours while Aaron and Sam go into the garage to tackle the changing table.

"Do you want us to take Holly home with us?" Mom asks as she and Dad get ready to leave.

"Thanks for offering," says Loren. "But we'd like to spend our first night back here together."

"Mommy," says Holly, "can I go in the garage with Daddy?"

"Yes, if it's ok with him," says Loren. "Go ask him."

Holly hugs everyone goodbye before she skips away to find her dad. I can hear her little voice calling out for Aaron.

"Is it okay if I leave the truck here?" asks Dad.

"Of course," says Loren. "In fact, we have a few things we'd like to donate to the church thrift store, so can we borrow the truck?

"You got it," says Dad.

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