“Stop this. I am marrying Natalie.

I’m in love with her, Sam. She’s nothing like anyone from my past. You have got to knock the chip off your shoulder and move on. I have.”

He runs his hands through his hair and looks over at me, then turns his attention back to her. “If you don’t trust her, trust me. Give her a fighting chance. She hasn’t done anything to you.”

Sam shakes her head and closes her eyes, and she suddenly looks tired. “I can’t bear to see you hurt again.”

“You are hurting me, Sam.”

She gasps as though he’s hit her.

“What?”

“When you hurt her, you hurt me.

Stop. This is our home, and if you can’t respect her in it, you’re not welcome here.”

Holy shit. He’s defending me to his sister and I just want to wrap myself around him and kiss him, but I stay where I am, riveted.

I look around the room, at Lucy, Neil and Mark, and decide this has gone on long enough.

“I’m hungry.” My voice is calm and light. “Let’s have brunch. I think Mark’s about to eat all the bacon by himself.”

Lucy smiles at me and squeezes my hand as we head to the kitchen to place the food on the table. Mark and Neil help us get everything settled, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as Luke murmurs something to Sam. He hugs her gently and joins me in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry.” I hug him around his middle and breathe in his scent.

“Don’t be. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry for Sam.”

I shake my head. “Let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

We enjoy our delicious meal, and the mood lifts considerably. I’m relieved that the conversation isn’t forced or uncomfortable after my altercation with Sam. She continues to eye me speculatively from across the table, but she’s no longer glaring at me, so I figure we’ve leaped one hurdle.

“Natalie, let me see that ring.” Lucy leans toward me and I show off my beautiful ring, a silly grin plastered on my face.

Lucy smiles at her son. “I did such a good job raising you.”

Luke laughs and I nod. “That you did.

He has good taste.”

Luke kisses my hand and smiles at me, his eyes soft and loving.

After breakfast we clear the table.

Lucy, Sam and I clean up the mess and join the men in the living room with fresh coffee.

“Presents!” I jump up and down and clap my hands, excited to give Luke’s parents their gifts. Everyone laughs at me and I grin. “I love giving presents.”

“You didn’t have to get us anything at all.”

“You only celebrate your thirty-fifth anniversary once.” I decide to give this olive branch thing another try and turn to Sam. “Will you please help me bring their gift in from the other room?”

Her eyes widen in surprise, but then she shrugs good-naturedly. “Okay.”

I smile and lead her down to Luke’s office where the large box sits on his desk.

“Holy shit, that’s a big box.”

I laugh. “I know, I had a hell of a time wrapping this sucker. Here, you take that side and I’ll take this one.”

We lift it together, it’s really not that heavy, just awkward, and carry it out to the living room.

“What did you do, buy them furniture?” Mark asks dryly. I stick my tongue out at him and Sam and I set the box on the floor in front of Neil and Lucy.

“Open it.” I sit next to Luke on the couch and he drapes an arm around my shoulders.

They attack the box from opposite sides, tearing the paper and pulling the lid off.

“Oh my.” Lucy’s hand covers her mouth as she gazes at the contents. She begins pulling the black framed photos out of the box, one by one, and Neil takes them from her, arranging them on the floor. At the bottom of the box are the two larger frames of their wedding day and at my birthday party.

“These are wonderful.” They hold the image from the party in front of them and gaze at it. “Natalie, you’re very talented.”

I blush, delighted that they like their present. “Thank you.”

Luke kisses my hand. “There’s more.”

“What?” Neil frowns, not privy to this part of the present and I giggle.

“We’re sending you on a second honeymoon to the South of France. It’s all paid for, you can go whenever you like.”

Their mouths drop and Lucy looks back at their photos and starts to cry.

“Jeez, Mom, what’s wrong?” Mark awkwardly pats her back, clearly uncomfortable with a woman in tears.

“I’m a bit overwhelmed, I guess.

First last night’s party, then my son is giving me a beautiful daughter in law, and now we’re going to France. It’s a lot to take in in such a short time.”

Neil kisses her forehead and hands her a handkerchief. I didn’t know men still carried those.

I freshen everyone’s coffee, and we sit and chat about weddings for the better part of an hour.

“Have you set a date?” Lucy asks.

“No,” I chuckle and look at Luke.

“He asked me twelve hours ago.”

“Winter weddings are lovely.”

“I’m going to need help. Also,” I frown and peer at Luke and he runs his hand over my back.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want the paparazzi to get wind of it.”