Page 64 of When Love Is Unexpected

"This is my little cousin," says Sam. "He's four, the youngest member of the family, the baby. His mom, Amanda, is over there."

I look in the direction he's pointing and see a beautiful, tall woman with a curvy body and curly blond hair. She's waving at me from the kitchen.

I wave back, hoping I can remember these people and their names five minutes from now.

"Amanda is my first cousin," says Sam. "We're five months apart, and we grew up together, insisting we were siblings until we were six. Our moms are sisters."

I kneel on one knee and shake Paul's hand. He looks like Sam. He has dark, wavy blond hair, bright blue eyes, a perfect tan, and is tall for his age.

There are multiple tables set up inside the house and on the covered patio outside to accommodate the large group.

The house is spacious, with white walls, grey furnishings, and sea foam green accents throughout. The color reminds me of the sea glass on my nieces' barrettes.

When it's time to eat, our table out on the patio seats eight. Sam's maternal grandparents, Martin and Ruth, Amanda, her husband, Nick, and their sons, Nick Junior and Paul, sit with us.

"I see Dad finally got the studio apartment built over the garage," Sam says, pointing at the two-story building behind the house.

"That's where your grandma and I stay when we visit," says Martin.

"Not this week," says Amanda. "This week, you're staying with us, so you two can watch the boys while I help with the wedding."

"Yeah!" Nick and Paul exclaim.

"Your great grams and gramps must let you stay up late," says Nick. "You two get way too excited every time they watch you."

"We'll never tell," says Ruth, smiling and winking at the boys.

"While we're on the subject," Sam says, "I'll need my room this week so Laila can sleep there. Is it still intact, or has Mom turned it into a jewelry shop?

"No, your room is still there," says Amanda. "But Robert and Janice have already claimed it. The guest room is being used as an office, but we put an air mattress in there for Tiffany and Josh."

"Tiffany is my cousin," Sam says, "Amanda's sister, and Josh is her husband."

"Son," says Martin, "we had the studio professionally cleaned as soon as we heard you and Laila were coming."

"We put brand new bedding on the bed and new towels in the bathroom," says Ruth.

Martin digs in his pocket, pulls out a set of keys, and offers them to Sam.

"Grandpa, Laila, and I—" Sam begins, but I put my hand on his arm, and he stops talking.

"It's okay, Babe," I say. "The studio is perfect. Thank you both."

"Speaking of," says Amanda, as we watch a couple of teenagers open the sliding glass door and step outside carrying mine and Sam's luggage.

"Take those upstairs to the studio," says Martin, handing the keys to one of the teens.

Chapter 14

Sam

I glance at Laila, silently questioning what just happened. Our bags are literally making their way up to the tiny studio apartment, which I'm certain has only one bed.

"Babe," I say, but I stop when Laila squeezes my hand. She's trying to reassure me that everything's fine, but I'm not convinced.

"Where are the girls?" I ask, trying to calm my nerves.

"Emma's final dress-fitting was today," says Grandma. "They should be back soon."

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