Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Apparently, he found the flow a lot easier to handle than she did. “Fine,” she said with forced brightness. “Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later, she was welcomed with open arms by Ella Marsden and the yipping dog jumping up and down on his hind legs at her feet.
“I’m so glad you could join us! Sunday family dinners are always more fun when we have company.” She enveloped Nicole in a warm, familiar-scented hug.
Nicole recognized the perfume because she’d complimented Lulu’s fragrance and learned the name. If it were her own mother, she’d be choking on Chanel. This scent warmed her all over.
“I brought you some meringue puffs,” Nicole said, handing Sam’s mother a white bakery box with their new Lulu and Nic’s logo emblazoned in what she hoped would become their royal blue and yellow branding.
“Thank you, that’s so sweet. I can’t wait to hear all about how everything’s going. I already stopped in, as you know.” Ella accepted the box.
“I do, and I appreciate your support.”
Ella smiled and turned to Sam, hugging him and kissing his cheek before letting him go.
“Hi, Mom. You look beautiful as usual.”
She waved off his compliment. “You just want me to send you home with extra meals you can freeze.” She laughed. “Come in. Everyone else is in the living room.”
Nicole joined Sam’s family and accepted their hellos and warm greetings. She was so grateful they welcomed her so easily, even Mike, who she knew had reservations in the beginning, and especially Erin and now Cole. Her heart had led her to this small town and these wonderful people. No matter what happened between her and Sam, she knew she’d made the right decision settling here.
But she couldn’t lie to herself. She didn’t just envy the tight family unit he had, she longed for the same thing for herself. Craved it, in fact. Being here today was like a big tease. A tiny sip of water in the middle of a parched desert, only to know it could be snatched away at any moment. She’d be devastated if she lost this personal connection to his family, she thought, pulling in a shaky breath she hoped no one noticed.
* * *
Sam had gotten to know Nicole pretty well, and although she said the right things, deep inside, something was brewing. He sensed her discomfort and he couldn’t understand why she wasn’t perfectly at ease and comfortable around his family. He thought she enjoyed them, aware the feeling was returned by everyone in this room.
“Are you okay?” Sam walked up and placed an arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his warm, hard body.
“I’m great. Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
“Do you want to leave as soon as Mike makes the announcement?” he asked quietly. “I can make an excuse, and we can go.”
She shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m really thrilled to be here.” She stroked his cheek with her hand, and in that instant, he wanted to make an excuse and disappear so they could be alone. “It’s just . . .”
“What? Tell me.”
“I’ve never experienced a real family celebration. One where everyone is truly happy for everyone else. No ulterior motives, no faking it for one reason or another. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s reactions.”
She looked up at him with blue eyes, so open and honest that she took his breath away. He didn’t know why she affected him so deeply, making him want to give her everything she’d missed out on in her life. “Okay, then. We stay.”
“We have an announcement to make,” Mike said, his voice a welcome intrusion into Sam’s musings.
Without thought, he reached out and clasped Nicole’s hand in his. Her warmth and presence grounded him.
“Michael? What’s going on?” Simon asked.
“It’s good news,” Cara jumped in, nudging her husband in the ribs.
“Well, come on, then,” Simon said, sounding relieved.
Sam stifled a chuckle. After the year of his father’s cancer, news and updates and problems, he understood why Simon reacted the way he had.
“Okay, grandpa times two,” Mike said, unable to contain his smile.
A grin split Simon’s face. “You’re having a baby!”
“I knew it!” Ella said, launching herself at Cara and pulling her into a hug. “Long bouts of nausea, unable to sit at the table and look at food. I was wondering when you would figure it out or at least fill us in.”
Cara hugged Ella back. Her relationship with her own mother was difficult because of the woman’s unwillingness to leave Cara’s abusive father, so Sam knew how much Ella’s love and support meant to her.
“I should have known you would figure it out before we did. There’s no keeping secrets from you, is there, Mom?” Mike asked, laughing.
Erin and Cole stepped up next for congratulations, then Sam, who, of course, already knew, and Nicole, who pretended it was her first time hearing the news.