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look even brighter and his big blue eyes, framed by blond lashes, brighter still.
    Not traditionally handsome, but certainly attractive. Very attractive. Carmen would go crazy over those blue eyes. Not me, of course. I am not even thinking about boys, not getting involved. Ever. But I can admire some nice eyes every once in a while. For Carmen’s sake.
    “Natalia, this is Brian Younger the younger.” Jack laughed and Brian rolled his eyes.
    “That joke never gets old, does it, Jack?”
    “Never!” Jack smiled and slapped Brian on the back.
    “Little Brian Younger?” Maureen gasped, eyes wide. “But you were always such a tiny thing. When did you get so tall? How did you get so tall?”
    Natalia was so happy to see Maureen distracted she almost missed the young man’s answer.
    “Good to see you too, Miss Maureen.” He laughed, wrapping Natalia’s stepmother in a hug, the older woman’s head buried in Brian’s chest. “I hit a growth spurt between mysophomore and junior years in high school. Eight inches in one summer.”
    Maureen stepped back to survey him. “Eight inches! I don’t even think I would have recognized you. And how are your parents?”
    “Doing great.” An older gentleman walked in and squeezed Brian’s shoulder.
    “Brian Younger the older!” Jack bellowed.
    “Pastor Brian, I have missed you.”
    Pastor Brian walked toward Maureen and hugged her, whispering into her ear. When he pulled away, Maureen excused herself, dabbing at the tears in her eyes. The pastor looked apologetically at Jack.
    “It takes time.” Jack sighed. “This hasn’t been easy.” He gazed over at Natalia. “But this beautiful young woman has certainly made it easier. This is my stepniece, Natalia. Natalia, these are the Brian Youngers. The old guy is our pastor and the young guy is trouble.”
    She wasn’t sure what to make of that comment, and, thankfully, she didn’t have time to respond. The younger of the Youngers came and hugged Natalia in the same warm embrace he had given Maureen, bending down to be closer to eye level. Instinctively, Natalia kissed his right cheek and moved to kiss the other.
    “Oh, I forgot! Americans don’t greet like we do. I’m sorry.”
    “You can kiss me anytime you want to.” The younger man laughed, his face turning an adorable shade of pink. Natalia felt her stomach jump. No, Natalia. Do not even think about him like that. No boys, remember?
    “Excuse my son. Obviously, he’s starved for attention.Growing up in a pastor’s home can do that to you. It’s nice to meet you, though. Jack and Carol have told us what a blessing you’ve been to our Maureen. To leave your family and your home to come be with your stepmother . . .” The pastor’s voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “Well, you’re already an example to us. We can’t wait to get to know you better.”
    Maureen walked in, her eyes red. She smiled at the men and walked over to Natalia. “She is special.”
    The room was silent for a moment, then Brian Younger the younger spoke up, breaking the ice. “Since you asked, I am eighteen and about to begin my senior year. My birthday is in May, and my parents decided to wait until I was six to start kindergarten because I was so little.”
    Pastor Brian shook his head. “Always have to bring that up, don’t you, son?”
    Brian smiled at his father. “I am currently working demolition, running the ESL program at church, and planning to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica in September. In general, I have turned out fantastically well—despite my upbringing.” He winked at his father. “And I’m sure I owe most of it to my elementary Sunday school teacher.”
    Shaking her head, Maureen laughed softly. “I’m glad you didn’t lose any of that humility I so admired, Brian.”
    “Enough chitchat.” Jack rubbed his hands together. “I brought these men along to work. Pastor Brian only works one day a week, you know, so I figured he was