“Bernie mentioned that, too. He told me that one look at the two of you together and he knew Sam had finally found the right woman. By the way, what is it about Sundays with you?”

“Sundays?”

“Yes. Sam phoned the other day and said the only time he can play poker from now on is Sunday afternoons.”

Marjorie set the tall glass aside. “I work weekends. Hopefully someday I’ll have Sundays free, but unfortunately, that probably won’t be for some time yet.”

Slowly Betty shook her head. “Believe me, when a man puts a woman before a long-standing poker game, he’s serious about her.”

Marjorie dropped her gaze and felt obliged to add, “We aren’t serious. There are…problems.”

“Wait and see, you’ll settle them,” Betty returned with unshakable confidence. “Sam’s never been more ready for a wife than he is now.”

Betty looked as if there was more she wanted to say, but before she could speak the sliding glass door opened, and the two men, plus Kevin, walked into the house.

“Have you shown Marjorie my deck yet?” Bernie asked, beaming proudly.

Betty tried not to smile and failed. “It was the first thing I mentioned.”

“I’ve been thinking that since this project went so well, I might try my hand at something a little more complicated.”

Betty eyed her husband speculatively. “Like what?”

“An addition to the house,” he said enthusiastically. “I could add on to the master bedroom. You’ve told me more than once that we need more closet space.”

“Men,” Betty said and groaned under her breath to Marjorie.

Sam walked over to Marjorie and sat beside her on the cushioned arm of the chair. He slipped his arm around her and cupped her shoulder.

A warm sensation filled her, and when she glanced up, she discovered Sam studying her. The love that filled her eyes was as unexpected as it was embarrassing.

His fingers bit into her shoulder as his gaze held hers. “I love you,” he whispered. “We’ll work this out.”

“But, Sam…”

He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Listen, we’ll adopt kids. Older kids. Okay?”

Biting her bottom lip, Marjorie nodded.

Sam reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together, as though bonding them. She loved this man more than she ever thought it was possible to care about another human being. Whatever problems they faced in the future could be conquered with Sam at her side. She was sure of it.

“When are we going to eat?” Kevin demanded, placing his hands on his hips. “I’m hungry.” The little boy still wouldn’t look directly at Marjorie, but that was an improvement from hiding his face in his mother’s shoulder.

“The barbecue’s already hot,” Bernie told his wife. “I’ll put the steaks on now, if everything else is ready.”

“I want a hamburger,” Kevin insisted.