“I’ll be learning about the business, but do you guys need any help here?” He glanced at Brandon. Money was too tight and they couldn’t afford to hire any help.
“Maybe.” Brandon looked at his wife. “I’ll tell you about the thing we found later.”
Lara clapped her hands together. “Are you going to tell him about the—”
Before Lara could finish her sentence, the fly screen door slammed open and Georgie entered the room making a beeline for Matt. “Hey, everyone.”
Matt turned to her and they wrapped their arms around each other and kissed.
Lara made a face. “They do that all the time now.”
Sam laughed. Matt had given him the evils during most of his first trip up here because he’d flirted with Georgie. Harmless to Sam, but Matt hadn’t seen it that way. Sam was pleased to see the two of them together.
“Dinner’s ready,” Amy said as the oven timer rang. Lara rushed around setting the table while Amy placed a bowl of salad on it and then took a huge tray of lasagne out of the oven. Sam inhaled. It smelled divine. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he did like eating.
Dinner was a noisy affair as Darcy asked Lara about her day and everyone swapped news and gossip. Sam settled in, content to listen. They reminded him of his own family back in the days before his parents had divorced. Although now he thought about it, loud conversations at the dinner table had usually been arguments, not friendly banter. His three sisters had outdone him in voice and noise.
After dinner, he helped with the dishes while the girls got ready for their ride.
“Can’t I come?” Lara pleaded, hands together in prayer.
Darcy smiled. “It’s a school night, pumpkin. We might not be back until late.”
“That’s OK. I won’t be tired, I promise.”
“Not this time, but I’ll read you a chapter before we go.”
Lara pouted. “You go. I’ll get Sam to read to me.”
Darcy glanced at Sam. “He might want to spend time with Brandon.”
Lara turned to him with her eyes wide. Sam grinned as a warmth spread through him. “I’d rather read to Lara. What are we reading?”
She grinned. “It’s this cool fantasy series, with epic heroines who save the world.”
“Sounds like just my thing.”
Brandon smirked while Darcy kissed Lara goodnight. “I’ll be in the lounge when you’re done.”
Sam followed Lara into her bedroom, taking the book from the bedside table while she climbed into bed. The cover showed a girl wielding a bow and arrow.
Lara patted a spot on her bed. “Sit down.”
He did as asked and opened the book at the bookmarked page.
“Sam, do you have any brothers or sisters?” Lara asked.
“Three sisters.”
“Older or younger?”
“Younger.”
She pursed her lips. “Did you ever feel left out when they did girl stuff without you?”
Sam almost laughed, but Lara bit her lip, watching him. He sighed. “I didn’t really want to do what they wanted to.”
“Faith, Amy and Georgie are always doing things together, but they say I’m too young.”
