Sammy. Surrounded by friends with the woman you love at your side.” His meaty hands clasped either side of Sam’s jaw. “I’m so proud of you, son. You’re not a loner anymore. I thought my mistakes had cost you a chance at a real life. But you’re making it happen.”
“Dad, enough.” Sam pulled Joe’s hands away. “Not the time or the place.”
“There’s always time to say ‘I love you.’”
Sam met Julia’s gaze over his father’s shoulders. His eyes screamed “help me,” and as fascinating as everyone seemed to find the father-son interaction, she intervened.
“Joe, I’d like you to meet my family.”
He turned, his smile a mile wide.
“This is my sister, Lainey, and her husband, Ethan Daniels.”
Joe pumped their hands enthusiastically. “Pleasure to meet you both. I’m Joe Callahan.”
“Are you in town for long, Mr. Callahan?” Lainey asked.
“As long as it takes,” Joe said with a wink at Sam.
A muscle in Sam’s jaw ticked and his eyes drifted shut as he muttered to himself. They flew open a moment later when Ethan added, “You, Sammy and I should do some fishing once the weather warms up.”
“Don’t call me Sammy.”
“I’d love to.”
Vera cleared her throat.
“Sorry. This is my mother, Vera Morgan. And you’ve met Charlie.”
Joe’s eyes widened as he looked at Vera. “Well, I certainly see where you two girls get your beauty. Ms. Morgan, you are a sight to behold.”
Vera held out her hand like the Southern belle she’d once been. Joe bent over her fingers and kissed them lightly. “Why, Mr. Callahan,” she said, her accent getting thicker with every syllable. “You are a silver-tongued devil, I believe.”
“Shoot me now,” Sam muttered.
Julia’s eyes rolled. She was used to this routine with her mother. Vera had been a devoted wife to her late husband, but since his death, she’d reinvented herself not only as an animal-rescue expert but as a woman with a long list of admirers. Unlike Julia, her mother always made sure the men with whom she was acquainted treated her like a lady, fawning around her until Vera moved on to the next one in line.
“Here she goes,” Lainey whispered, as Vera tucked her chin and fluttered her eyelashes. Charlie watched the two for a moment then reached for Sam.
“Can-ee,” the boy demanded, and Joe took the cotton candy from Sam.
“Come here, Charlie,” Joe said and lifted him from Vera’s arms. At this rate, Charlie would be held by more people than the Stanley Cup.
“Why don’t I take him,” Julia suggested.
“Joe and I will take him to the carnival games,” Vera said.
“That’s right,” Joe told them with a wink. “You young folks can head to the dance floor or grab a drink.”
Before she could argue, Joe and Vera disappeared into the sea of people, Charlie waving over Joe’s shoulder.
“I’m up for a beer.” Ethan looked at Sam. “How about you, Sammy boy?”
“Don’t go there,” Sam warned.
“Stop—you’re going to make me cry.” Ethan laughed until Lainey socked him in the gut. “Hey,” he said on a cough.
“I thought Sam’s dad was sweet.” Lainey grinned at Sam. “He obviously loves you.” Her gaze switched to Julia. “You and Charlie, too. Mom’s going to eat him up with a spoon.”
“A terrifying thought.” Julia’d known this night was a bad idea.
“Come on,” Lainey said to all three of them. “Let’s get something to eat. They had a pasta booth in the corner.”
Ethan wrapped one long arm around Lainey and kissed the top of her head. “Yeah, like a double date.”
Julia couldn’t help it—she burst out laughing. “This is going to be great. We’ll be besties.” Who would have thought that she’d be double-dating with her first boyfriend and her sister? It was too crazy to imagine.
She looked at Sam, expecting him to be laughing right along with her. Instead, his brows were drawn low over his vivid blue eyes.
“Fine by me.” He took her hand to follow Lainey and Ethan toward the back of the gym.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered, pulling him to slow down so they were out of hearing range. “Is it my mom and Joe? She’s harmless, I promise. Her former admirers still adore her. Whatever happens, she won’t hurt your dad.”
Sam’s arm was solid as a rock as his muscles tensed. “Does it seem strange to be so chummy with your ex-boyfriend?”
Julia thought about Jeff, then realized that was not who Sam meant. “Ethan’s married to my sister. We’ve been over more than a decade. He’s so much like my brother, I barely remember he’s seen me naked.”
Sam stopped on a dime, causing her to bump into the length of him. “Is that a joke?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I thought it was funny.”
“It’s not.”
“Come on, Sam. You see how he looks at Lainey. He never once looked at me in that way. He’s different with her, and I couldn’t be happier. For both of them. It’s old news, even around Brevia. That’s an accomplishment, given how gossip takes on a life of its own in this town.” She flashed him a sassy grin. “Chief Callahan, is it possible you’re jealous?”
“I don’t want to look like a fool. I’ve been down the road of public humiliation and the scenery sucks. Why would I be jealous? You said yourself Ethan’s like your brother.”
Julia studied him then placed a soft kiss on his mouth. “I’d never do something to make you look like a fool. Scout’s honor.”
“I can’t imagine you as a Girl Scout.” Sam forced his lips to curve into a smile, wondering at his odd reaction. He wasn’t the jealous type, and he knew how happy Ethan and Lainey were together. “Let’s find them.” He took Julia’s hand again.
A number of people waved or stopped to say hello as they made their way through the crowd. At first, Julia tensed at every new greeting. Eventually he felt her relax, but she never loosened her death grip on his hand. He wanted to protect her, he realized, and also to show her she could belong to this community again. The people of Brevia had welcomed him, and if Julia gave them a chance, he was sure they’d accept her.
They caught up with Ethan and Lainey and grabbed a table near the makeshift dance floor. The sisters bantered back and forth, making Sam wish for a better relationship with his own brother.
