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How could it be he was more handsome than the framed memory in my head? And did Sam think I wore blue, his favourite colour, for him? No, I didn’t. I knew Sam hadn’t responded to Zimmerman’s RSVP.
“Didn’t know you were back.” Of course, they’d be the only words that could slip off my tongue. Every word I had rehearsed in my head over and over to tell him were all forgotten the moment I saw him.
“I’ve been back for a while. You know me, not the long holiday kind of guy.”
“Figured you’d stay with your family for longer. You’ve been missing them.”
“I did.” Sam raised a small shoulder. “But the longer I stayed there, the more I missed here then.”
Here missed you too. I missed you too.
“Luckily for me, my family booked a return flight with me.” Sam peered back over his shoulder with the widest grin as he watched his twin daughters coming through the crowd.
Wow, so beautiful. We weren’t the only people looking at them. So was everyone else in the hall. The girls must know how stunning they were in their bright red dresses yet they strode in with such grace void of any conceit. Beautiful and humble.
“Your parents are here too? Oh, what a surprise.” Joe’s exhilarated voice alerted me to shift my gaze to the older man and woman beside the girls.
I recognized Sam’s parents from the photographs in his apartment. And the closer they came, the more I could see Sam’s facial features in his mum. Gosh, how was this woman in her sixties? She was so radiant. And look at his father. He looked the same as in the photograph except with whiter hair.
The excited twins almost jogged the last few steps to reach Sam. They took a spot on each side and kissed his cheek with so much affection. Sam was utterly smitten, enough to not care how many pairs of eyes were on him. I remember him saying how few people knew about his adoptive daughters and I could only guess even fewer ever saw them. Now, by goading in the twins’ public display of adoration, Sam had unveiled his daughters to the elite circle of his world.
As soon as Sam’s mum recognized Joe, her jaw dropped in wondrous awe. “Oh, my dear Joe.” Her arms flew around his neck. It was like the mother had reunited with a long-lost son. And in a way, it was the same for Joe. There were noticeable tears in the woman’s eyes as she scanned Joe’s face. “Boy, look at you. You grew up so much. Last time I’d seen you, you hadn’t even grew a full bread. I’m so happy to see you with my son again. You have no idea how furious we were with Sam when he told us you two had a fallout.”
“We’re all good now.”
“Promise me you’ll join us for dinner once a week. Like the old times.”
“Does that mean you’re moving back here for good?” Joe asked with delight.
“It’s about time our second honeymoon’s over, right?” She peered back at her husband with an adoring wink.
When Sam’s mum returned her focus on Joe, her gaze fell on my arm still entwined with his.
“Oh I’m sorry, my dear. Where are my manners? Here I am hugging your man and I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m Dora.” She extended her hand to me and I shook it politely.
So Sam’s mum thought I was Joe’s girl. How could she not when I was clinging to him like a jellyfish!
Joe sensed my awkwardness and answered on my behalf. “We’re just good friends, Dora. Her name is Lucy. She worked with Sam and me on this hotel’s project.”
“So you’re a friend of my Sammie Blue? Come here then.” That was when Dora pulled me in for a hug too. Was this what a mother’s hug felt like – warm and soothing and serene?
“Mama,” Sam almost scolded her with his tone. “Hold back the nicknames, will you? This is not the place.”
He probably meant not in front of me.
“But you love your nickname.” Dora pinched Sam’s cheeks as if he was a child.
“I did, mama, when I was twelve. Before I got you invites to this event to see my work because I’m a grown-up man with two teenage daughters now.”
Dora dismissed his complaint with a hand and turned to me again. “Kids, huh. You got any of your own?”
I shook my head negatively. What a way to impress. It was like I had lost my voice in front of this woman.
“Mama.” Sam voiced admonishingly to interrupt his mother’s conversation.
But Dora continued. “When you have kids, you’ll see. They all love nicknames. My son didn’t like me calling him Sammie Blue Eyes so I shortened it to Sammie Blue. I know, it was quite a mouthful to shout at a rambunctious little nugget while chasing him around the house.” She looked back at her son. “My Sammie Blue Eyes. He’s got the most beautiful eyes, doesn’t he?”
“Blue-grey, yes.”
