Page 65 of When Love Is Unexpected

"There they are," I say when I see Abby open the sliding glass door.

"Sam!" she exclaims as I get up to greet them. Emma is behind Abby, carrying two plates topped with steak, roasted vegetables, and salad.

I hug each of them before making room for them at the table. I pull up two extra chairs and scoot closer to Laila to give them extra elbow room.

Once they're seated, I introduce Laila. "Girls, this is my girlfriend, Laila."

They both hug Laila and sit next to her.

I take a deep breath and squeeze Laila's hand in preparation for the onslaught of questions I'm sure is coming.

For the next hour, we all watch in awe as my sisters hurl a volley of questions at Laila. The exchange is extraordinary, and neither side trips up. Questions range from "How did you two meet?" to "Are you in love with our brother?" I try answering the last question with, "That's none of your business," but Laila answers it without skipping a beat and without a hint of a lie in her response. "I love your brother," she says. "He's my best friend. He makes me laugh, and I can't imagine my life without him."

In the end, my sisters look at each other, look at us, and together say, "Welcome to the family." This must mean we have their blessing. Grandma and Grandpa shake their heads before getting up from the table. Grandma says, "You two are brutal," addressing my sisters and laughing before giving them each a hug. She also hugs me, and when she hugs Laila, she whispers something in her ear. Laila smiles and glances at me. I'll have to ask her about it later.

"Would you like to go up to the deck with me?" I ask Laila, reaching for her hand.

"There's a deck?" she asks.

"Yes," I say. "It has an ocean view. Let me show you."

I take her hand, and we excuse ourselves from the table. When we’re gone, I'm sure my family will compare notes and decide they all love Laila.

Once inside, we make several stops to make small talk with various family members. Laila is witty, funny, and intelligent. She can hold her own in any conversation. My parents, in particular, want to hear all about her career in pediatric medicine. When they ask her what inspired her to be a doctor, Laila signals me to tell the story about her favorite television show, ER, and how she watched it with her parents when she was little.

"It was the only day of the week I was allowed to stay up past my bedtime," she says.

Mom's eyes light up because ER was also one of her favorite shows.

"Doug Ross or John Carter?" she asks Laila. "John Carter!" they both say at once, excitedly grabbing each other's hands like the best of friends.

When we finally reach the deck, the sky is clear and starlit.

Laila is smiling and looking up at the sky.

"It's beautiful up here," she says. "You must've spent a lot of time up here when you were younger. How many girlfriends did you bring up here?"

Only one, but I don't say it.

When she looks at me appraisingly, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her close.

"I told you they were going to love you," I say.

"It did go well, didn't it?" she asks.

"It was perfect. You impressed my sisters."

"I just want them to like me."

"What's not to like?" I say. "Laila, you are pretty special."

When she looks at me, I lean down and kiss her. Her lips are soft and sweet. When she wraps her arms around my neck, I pull her closer and deepen the kiss. The world around us seems to disappear when we're together like this. I waited two years to be here, holding her, kissing her, loving her.

"Hey, you two!" Amanda's voice calls out. "Get a room."

We end the kiss, but I keep my hand on the small of her back and pull her close to my side.

"What's up, Amanda?" I ask. "Your timing sucks."

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