Finding Sam (Featured)

Chapter 20 - Following His Lead

"We're not dating, you know," I said.

She raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You're not?"

I shook my head. "No, I mean, not really. I mean, is that what he told you, that we were?"

She smiled. "It's alright, Sam. You don't owe me any explanations at all. He may be my brother but he's quite private about his life. He didn't say anything to me about you two. I only put two and two together when he spent the night here last week."

"I just sketched him really," I said. "And he fell asleep."

I told her that I had been catching up with some social networking accounts, lying that I'd be back to Erik's house to paint even though I wondered if she already knew that I'd given back the keys to the studio. Surely Erik must have told her, I thought, and if he had, then Olivia did a great job in making it appear that she really didn't know.

Part of me dreaded Friday, but another part of me, a big part of me, looked forward to it. Much like Rosie and Chuck, Olivia was my connection to having a family. I'd even grown attached to her in-laws, no matter how boisterous they seemed with their Italian ways and unabashed exhibits of affection, and their never-ending trays of food that they often snuck into my studio.

By the time Friday came, I was a nervous wreck, though I couldn't understand why since Erik was not going to be there till after six. I almost cancelled when Michael had a tantrum over a specific Thomas tank engine train that I couldn't find at first. It took me half an hour but I found it, tucked between his bed and the wall, and as soon as I gave it to him, he calmed down.

I had knitted Bella a simple sweater from an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern, wrapping it in previously used tissue paper and gift bag, hoping Olivia wouldn't mind. Dressed in a simple A-line blue dress with light yellow flowers along the hem, it wasn't too dressy. Nor was it too casual either. With ballet flats, it was perfect for a girl's first birthday party.

Olivia had invited a few mothers and their children from the library where she often took Bella for story time. Julie was there, too, and she brought her son. With the in-laws, who went simply by Zia or Zio, Italian for aunt and uncle, it was literally a madhouse. I knew their names but they amused themselves by switching them, especially to the new guests. There was Alfredo, Francesca's husband, and then her sisters, Marcella, Sofia, and her husband, Giuseppe, or Gio.

With the children to one side, either in playpens because they were now tired from all the playing out on the beach at first, then on the perfectly trimmed grass in the garden between the houses, the celebration spilled over into Erik's patio, though he wasn't home. His house, however, remained locked though Olivia said she could have opened the doors if she wanted to.

Yet it was difficult for me not to keep an eye on the door leading to Erik's house. I didn't know how I'd react if I'd see him again. I had imagined so many scenarios of seeing him again since Sunday. Since reading his note that the mere thought of him now made my stomach do somersaults.

But after three hours of eating, laughing, and talking about children, food and in the absence of significant others, I soon forgot about Erik. We played a competitive game of bocce ball, with the in-laws versus all of us. We played miserably against the Italians, of course, but we didn't care. We were simply enjoying ourselves.

When I needed to use the bathroom, I saw Erik's pastel sketch, framed, hanging from the hallway of Olivia's house. I recognized the frame immediately - it was one of Reggie's.

At 4:15, I tried to leave after Michael began to get cranky and difficult to handle. But Olivia and the in-laws wouldn't hear of it. We had all retreated into the living room - at least whoever was left - for some of the women had gone home when their children started getting irritable. Other than Julie and her son, I was the only guest left. Alfredo offered to hold Michael, singing an Italian lullaby till Michael, Bella and Julie's son, James, were soon fast asleep on the carpet. One by one, we moved the playpens into the nursery and let the children sleep while we returned to the living room.