Chapter 36
SAM
It wasn’t the sheer volume of people heading toward the entrance that caught Sam off guard. No, Charlie had warned her about that—practically half of North Carolina had been invited.
It wasn’t merely the grand entrance that Sam could tell had been meticulously crafted for the event, though it was incredibly impressive. A rolling red carpet unfurled elegantly, stretching all the way to the front door, like a scene straight from Hollywood.
The plaza leading to the museum’s entrance had undergone a breathtaking transformation into a radiant red-carpet extravaganza.
The already picturesque landscape had been elevated to new heights, adorned with lush greenery meticulously arranged along a walled-off barrier, offering a sense of privacy for those already inside the venue.
A unique and welcomed feature, especially considering the museum’s expansive glass windows that wrapped around the entirety of the building.
In the days preceding the event, Charlie had told her about the venue and a few of the things she could expect.
So, she knew they were going to doll the place up to make it look even more grand and illustrious than it already was.
With the museum’s inherently sleek and contemporary design, Sam had figured that it wouldn’t have been hard to elevate it into a captivating spectacle, its already pristine features serving as the perfect canvas.
No, what Sam hadn’t anticipated were the relentless flashes of cameras, accompanied by the dull roar of photographer’s voices barking instructions.
They jostled amongst themselves, aiming for the perfect shot as patrons made their way along the carpet.
And it wasn’t just a couple of photographers to contend with either—there were scores of them lining the outer edge of the carpet.
Sam squeezed Charlie’s hand as they waited for their turn down the carpet. “Paparazzi? Really?”
Charlie chuckled and squeezed back. “Just part of the experience; they’re paid to take pictures of everyone coming in.”
“Impressive,” Sam murmured, the thought of the first pictures of the two of them as a couple igniting a flutter of excitement. “Do they give people the pictures afterwards?”
Charlie chuckled warmly, pulling her to him and pressing a kiss to her forehead before they were ushered along by a nearby attendant.
While this wasn’t Sam’s first time in front of cameras like this, it was certainly more than she had encountered previously.
There had been the promotional tours that she had been on for some of her previous books, which had provided a taste of this kind of spotlight, though definitely not to this scale.
Thankfully.
Charlie, on the other hand? He was a natural.
If he was nervous or anxious about it, it didn’t show.
His infectious smile, the one that accentuated the dimples pressed into his cheeks, never faltered.
He kept her securely by his side, their steps steady and sure as they made their way down the carpet.
It came as no shock that the photographers gravitated to him. Who could blame them? Charlie in normal clothing was already attractive, but put him in a suit? Absolutely lethal.
It was tailored to perfection, highlighting his muscular frame and showing off the quiet strength he had beneath.
His normally unkempt, tousled hair was combed back, save for a few rebellious strands left to frame his face.
His scruffy beard was groomed and trimmed carefully, accentuating his chiseled jawline while managing to preserve the almost rugged appeal she loved about his beard.
Sam audibly gasped when her vision cleared from the slew of camera flashes enough for her to make out the inside of the museum.
Whoever had done the decorating for tonight deserved an award.
The museum managed to retain its timeless allure, every bit as sleek and elegant as Sam recalled from her previous visits there over the years. A series of signs adorned the nearby walls, beckoning patrons to explore the available exhibits at their leisure.
A number of guests were already navigating the halls with eager curiosity.
The larger, more intricate sculptures that usually stood tall along the hallway appeared to have been relocated elsewhere to accommodate the influx of guests.
A move that seemed to have worked, but only marginally, as the crowded space only swelled with guests with each passing moment.
Music drifted from a band stationed deeper down the hall, their harmonies weaving through the thrum of the crowd.
The spacious layout had been sequestered off around the band, creating an inviting dance floor for interested partygoers.
As couples twirled and laughter filled the space, the music served as a vibrant backdrop for most.
Charlie leaned in close. “You want to dance?”
She playfully swatted at him, eyeing the crowd to locate a few familiar faces. “We have to greet your parents first!”
He nodded as if in agreement, though she noted the disappointed twinkle in his eyes as he took her hand in his.
Towering over the majority of those around them, Charlie was able to effortlessly zero in on his family in no time. With a subtle nod in their direction, he guided Sam through the sea of people, their hands laced together in a casual intimacy that made her heart flutter.
As they drew nearer, Sam spotted Charlie’s father amidst a small cluster of individuals, his infectious grin lighting up his face as he extended a welcoming handshake to another gentleman.
The Backman men were certainly easy to spot in a crowd.
While it had been a few years since Sam had last seen Charlie’s father, Richard, the family resemblance was unmistakable.
Richard’s once sandy-brown hair was now adorned with peppered flecks of grey and artfully combed back sleekly.
Even his beard, which Sam recalled having been much bushier and unkempt the last she had seen him, was now neatly trimmed back, lending to a softer expression in his eyes that somehow managed to also showcase the sharp slant of his jawline that he had definitely passed on to Charlie.
Richard spotted them approaching and waved them over enthusiastically.
Charlie’s mother, Amy, emerged beside her husband as they neared.
A remarkable contrast in height, easily several heads shorter than her husband and sons, she turned in their direction, and an even wider grin broke out across her face.
While Charlie undoubtedly bore a stronger resemblance to his father, it was clear who he had gotten those stunning blue eyes from. The deep, ocean-blue hue shimmered in excitement as Amy reached her arms up for her son.
“You came!” she exclaimed excitedly, giving a little hop as Charlie lowered himself to give his mother a hug.
Lost in the sea of taller figures without her husband’s assistance, Charlie’s mother barely reached Sam’s shoulder, easily making her the shortest member of the family.
It made Sam briefly wonder how this poor woman managed to survive giving birth to three large Backman boys.
“Of course I did, Mom. I promised,” Charlie said, lowering her back so she was no longer on her tiptoes.
The pale-gray chiffon gown that Amy had on swished around her feet.
The material, which had pooled around them previously, lifted to showcase the black stiletto heels she sported, still not adding enough height for her head to reach her husband’s shoulder.
Richard took Charlie’s hand and pulled him in for a quick embrace, patting his back heartily before releasing him.
At the same time, Amy turned and held her arms out, inviting Sam in for a hug. “It’s so wonderful to see you here, Sammy dear! It’s been a while since we’ve seen you in town!”
Sam gave her a quick squeeze, feeling the familiar warmth she always felt when she was around Charlie’s mother. “It’s wonderful seeing you as well, Mrs. Backman.”
“Oh, sweetheart, please call me Amy. I think we’re past all that by now,” she replied with a wink, looping her arms around one of Sam’s to hug her to her side. It was such a familiar gesture yet so foreign after all these years.
There had been a time many years ago when, after another inevitable falling out with her aunt or uncle, such a gesture was everything she ever needed. The feeling of a comforting and loving parental figure who didn’t stake their entire relationship on what she could do for them.
With everything that had been going on, Sam hadn’t been able to reach out as much as she used to. It had been a while since they’d last spoken on the phone outside of the occasional text exchange.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” another familiar voice asked, pulling Sam from her memories. She turned, smiling when Angel and Peter strutted up next to them.
Sam wasn’t sure that enough compliments in the world would be able to adequately suffice how amazing Angel looked in that dress—with the delicate black fabric kissed with lace accents that perfectly matched the color of Angel’s hair, which she had done up into an intricate updo, pinned down with gorgeous little gold-and-crystal clips.
The perfect picture of elegance and class.
Peter bent to give his mother a hug, though not having to stoop nearly as much as Charlie had.
As he did, Tyler, the more elusive of the Backman brothers, emerged from the crowd and flanked Charlie on the opposite side.
He swiftly reached out to grab Sam’s hand, pressing a kiss to it before Charlie could protest. “Nice to see you, Sam. It’s been a while.”
Those Backman dimples creased into Tyler’s smile, the one feature all three of them shared.
Standing together, the three brothers were practically mirror images of their father, with only a few features distinguishing them as their own.
The three women—her, Angel, and Amy—stood back and giggled amongst themselves as the boys all exchanged greetings with one another, commenting on the similarities like a bunch of gossiping schoolgirls.
Charlie, the tallest among them, had at least a few inches on Peter, the oldest but second tallest amongst the brothers. However, unlike Charlie, Peter’s ashy blonde hair was clearly the gift his mother had passed onto him, giving him a more youthful look.
Tyler, on the other hand, was the only brother to distinguish himself with a pair of thick-rimmed black glasses.
If Sam didn’t know him better, it would have added an air of intelligence and charm that made him appear like he was a more regular fixture of events such as this.
Knowing how much of a stubborn, grumpy smart-ass he could be, it was an interesting combination.
Angel shook her head with a smile, nudging Amy with her hip. “You really made some hot kids, Mrs. Backman.”
Amy laughed—the sound so familiar and warm that it was hard not to join her—and looped her other arm with Angel, the three of them forming a line.
“I’ll take your word for it, but they certainly are some handsome boys for sure. I think they have their father to thank for that more than myself.”
Angel shook her head more definitively. “Nope, Peter should send you a basket of fruit every year on his birthday for that ass. He clearly got that from you.”
Definitely no filter on Angel tonight.
Amy beamed proudly. “Thank God one of them got it at least. Can both of you please just marry those two boys of mine and keep them out of trouble?”
Angel shrugged casually. “I think I’m further from that than Sam is.”
Sam wanted to reach across and smack the smug smile Angel threw at her, but Amy lit up further.
“Did Charlie finally ask you out?”
Sam blinked at Amy a few times. “You knew he liked me?”
Amy tsked and rolled her eyes. “Honey, he wore his feelings like it was tattooed on his arm. I didn’t want him to pursue you when you were both kids because of what happened with your parents, but he finally asked you out, I presume?”
She felt a bit embarrassed at the directness of it, still reeling from Peter and Angel finding out earlier that evening and not prepared in the least to tell anyone else for a while. But seeing the hopeful gleam in Amy’s eyes, Sam couldn’t help but laugh and nod.
Amy’s arm tightened around hers. “At least one of my sons has some balls, then.”