Ruby Red, The Sequel - The Romance Story Continues (Complete)

Chapter 12

"What are you two talking about?" Sam inquired as he put his hand on the small of Ali's back, a spot that always made him feel connected to her.

He was in such a good mood. Sam did not realize how much he missed his family until today. When his mother first suggested the idea of a family brunch to Sam, he had been hesitant. He was antsy as to how people would react to his rather sudden disappearance from the Harrington landscape and then his recent resurgence. But his mother and, to his surprise, his father pleaded their cases. Ultimately it came down to one thing. Sam was family and family always accepted their own, no matter what.

When he discussed it with Ali, she agreed with his parents, adding that maybe it would be better to get it all over within one grand gesture. Rip the band-aid off all at once so to speak. Besides, she naively stated, with so many people around, who would want to make a scene. Sam had chuckled at Ali's comment. She had not met his family yet.

The persona the Harrington's and various extended family were known by in the media was a very different thing when out of the public eye. There were disagreements, gossip, and on more than one occasion, fights. One of the only times Sam could ever remember seeing his father truly angry was when he punched his brother-in-law at a similar affair.

Sam couldn't remember the exact circumstances, he had been too young at the time, but he had a vivid picture of the moment. His mother was consoling her sister, who was crying. His uncle, red in the face, furiously yelling at his wife, telling her to stop sniveling. Christopher Harrington had stripped off his jacket and tie and lunged, hitting the insolent man with a right hook that toppled him. Then there had been a flurry of activity as people either held Sam's father back from a second punch or dragged his uncle from the floor and out of the room.

But today had been drama free so far. More so, everyone seemed genuinely happy to see him. No one questioned his absence and any inquiries about his current situation all came from a sincere interest in what he was doing. That lead to introductions to Ali. Sam enjoyed presenting his girlfriend to various members of his family, proud to be with such an amazing woman.

When Ali had suggested that he take a solo trip around the room to mingle a bit, Sam had resisted. He didn't want to miss out on the pleasure of watching the ones he loved getting to know Ali.  Ali persisted and practically pushed him away.

In the end, Sam was glad he went. It gave him a chance to catch up with his favourite cousin, Charlie. Of all his many, many relatives, Charlie was the one Sam missed the most when he left town. Although his cousin was a few years younger than Sam, they had always been close. They where both single and more often than not Sam was Charlie's wing man at the clubs.

To the outside world, Charlie was the perfect picture of a player. He had cartons of milk that lasted longer in his life than most of his girlfriends. Sam always suspected that Charlie's parent's very acrimonious divorce (occurring just after Sam's father punched Charlie's father) had affected his cousin's outlook on relationships. Because Sam was in on the secret that deep down, Charlie had the biggest heart of anyone he knew.

But Charlie hadn't changed. A senior in college now, he had Sam's cheeks hurting from laughter over the tales of what lengths girls would do for a date with the captain of the football team. He hadn't wanted to leave Charlie when his father interrupted and asked Sam to come over and meet some people. But Sam didn't want to disappoint the man.

Pressing palms, Sam had smiled and joked with the older men. When one of them insinuated Sam would now be making a bid for a political position that was rumoured to be opening up in New York, Sam's father had stepped in and changed the subject, telling them not to pressure the boy. Sam noticed that the senior Harrington didn't openly deny anything.