Page 70 of When Love Is Unexpected

"I called her this morning," says Sam. "I let her know I'll be at the reunion."

"Did you tell her you have a girlfriend?"

"I let her know I'll be bringing a date."

When I enter the room, they smile, and Sam walks over and reaches for my hand.

"Hi, Laila," says Amanda in passing. "I'm going to help Mom and Aunt Alice in the kitchen."

"That's where I know the name from!" I exclaim. "Duncan was the last name of the reunion organizer. Tricia Duncan.”

"Yeah," says Sam. "I spoke to her this morning.

"Any relation to your pastors?" I ask. "I met them this morning."

"Yes," he says. "They're her parents."

"So, you know her," I say.

"We went to the same schools growing up," he says.

"And the same church," I say.

"Yes, and the same church," he says, nodding. "Ready for lunch?"

This time, we sit at the dining table with Sam's parents and both sets of grandparents.

"Mr. Jameson," I say, addressing Sam's grandfather, "Sam reminds me a lot of you."

"All my grandkids call me Pops," he says, "so please call me Pops."

"Sam is very sweet," I say, smiling. "I've noticed you're the same way, especially with Janice."

"Robert and I started dating in high school," says Janice. "He's always been very loving."

Robert is looking at Janice the way Sam looks at me.

Martin and Ruth, Sam's maternal grandparents, are lovely people as well.

"I can see why Sam is such a loving, nurturing, caring, and honest human being," I say to everyone at the table. "He has an amazing family."

I remember what Mom told me last week, "Your dad wasn't wrong about Adam or Aaron. He's not wrong about Sam."

When Sam leans over and whispers, "I have something to tell you," I notice the pensive look on his face.

"What?" I ask, squeezing his hand.

The phone rings, interrupting us. I look at the caller ID and show it to Sam.

"I'll be right back," I tell him before I excuse myself to look for a quiet spot where I can take the call.

"Hi, Eric," I say, walking out the front door.

"Hi, Laila," he says. "Did I call you at a bad time?"

"I have a few minutes," I say, sitting on a bench at the far end of the porch. "How are you doing?"

"Well," he begins, "yesterday I got lectured up one side and down the other by all the men in your family. The only one missing was your little nephew, Jon. I have no doubt that if anyone ever tried to hurt you or your sisters, there would be hell to pay."

---