"Susan, there's a young woman named Nina in the lounge. She wants to talk to you," said Nate from the back door.

Susan looked up, her face brighter than Nate had ever seen. "Would you be able to finish up here for me?"

"Of course."

"Thank you Nate." Susan headed back inside, finding Nina on the couch. Her grin widened upon seeing her young friend. "Nina?"

"Hi Susan." Nina looked over and stood, going to hug her former principal and teacher.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were meant to be with Jack in Florence?"

"I met up with him and we finally got our boat ride down the Arno River. But we both had things to do back home, and then I decided I needed a longer break and I wanted to meet my step sister, so Lou offered to help with that."

"Lauren is going to love you, I know she is."

"I hope so. Anyway, enough about me, tell me what I've missed. I heard that Daniel was found."

"Yes. Turns out, Imogen was trying to stop him from missing the wedding and they ended up falling into an old, abandoned well. But everything's much better now. The girls are friends again. Daniel and Amber are talking again, though she and Josh are trying to get back together now that she has given birth to his child."

"I'm so happy for her. She's going to be a great mother." Nina found herself smiling.

"How are you and Jack doing?"

"We're good. We haven't gotten back together yet, but we are discussing it."

"I'm glad. I know that you two are meant to be together, it just takes time. Trust me, I know."

"Talking about yourself and Karl?"

"Maybe," said Susan with a hint of a smile. "So, are you staying for dinner?"

"No. Sorry. I'm having dinner with Lou tonight. I told Karl that I can come tomorrow though."

"Perfect. I'm making dinner and you are coming over."

Nina laughed. "Thank you Susan." She hugged her before they got to chatting for the next hour.

At ten to six, Nina said goodbye to Susan and her new friend, Nate, and left, heading for number thirty-two. She knocked on the door, holding her breath and hoping that Lou had told Lauren she was coming. She was getting nervous and was about to leave when the door opened, and the woman that she had spoken to at Harold's Store back in March came into view.

"Hi," she said with a smile. "Nina, right?"

"Yeah. Did Lou tell you I was coming?"

"He did. Come in, dinner just finished cooking. You can meet everyone when we sit down."

Nina smiled. "I'd like that."

"So, tell me, why did you decide you wanted to meet us?" It wasn't mean, just curious.

"I always wanted to meet my family. When I was here in March, and I saw you at the shop, I didn't know who you were. If I had, I would have said something. But Lou has been really great about organising for me to meet everyone."

"I'm glad. I knew I had a step sister, not that it ever occurred to me that my step sister named Nina was Nina Tucker."

"I doubt that it would occur to be honest."

"Well, either way, we now get to meet. I made a stuffed chicken. It's my daughter's favourite and since she's visiting this week, I figured she'd like it. Dad told me you're allergic to nuts, so it's stuffed with the normal things, except nuts. I hope that's alright?"

"Of course it is. Really, it's not a problem. Whatever you've made is fine." At least I'm not the only nervous one, she thought to herself. "This place is really nice."

"Thank you." Lauren gave a genuine smile to that. She led Nina to the kitchen, where Lou had already gotten Amber and Paige to set the table. He was standing there, holding his great granddaughter.

"Hey sweetheart," said Lou, coming over to Nina to give her a hug.

"Hi Lou. Who's this gorgeous girl?" Nina reached out to touch the baby's hand, and she closed her fingers around Nina's index finger.

"Her name is Matilda," said Amber from behind Nina.

"She's so sweet. I'm guessing you must be Amber?"

"How did you know?"

"Matilda looks like you. She has the same facial features."

"You really think so?" Amber sounded delighted.

"I do. You are really lucky."

"Do you have children?"

"Amber!" Lauren shouted. "That is not nice."

"It's okay Lauren," said Nina quickly before turning back to Amber. "No, not yet. One day, I hope to have a couple, but not now."

"It's totally worth it. All the pain, the sleepless nights, everything." She took the baby from Lou, holding her close. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Me? Uh, maybe a little later. I think your mum is waiting for us."

Amber turned around. "Right. Sorry mum." She put the baby down in the cot near the table, where she was visible and close by if the baby needed anything.

A few minutes later, everyone was seated at the table. "Nina, this is Paige. She's my oldest child," said Lauren.

Paige smiled. "I can't believe that Nina Tucker is our aunty."

"Paige, be a little more subtle," Lou stated, even though his grin said otherwise.

"Step aunty, actually. Lauren and I are step-sisters."

"Big deal. Paige and I are step-sisters, but we call each other our sister. There's nothing 'step' about it," Amber said.

"You have a good point. I don't see any reason why we can't just call each other our sister and be done with it," said Lauren to Nina. "What do you think?"

"I'd love that. It would mean the world to me."

"Then it's settled. You and I are sisters. The girls are your nieces. And that makes Matilda your niece too, I guess."

Nina couldn't help the smile that lit her face up. She loved these people already and she had only just met them.