The moment I knew: He was five hours late to Christmas lunch – then I realised why

Samantha Ross was suspicious about Adam’s sweet disposition. Then a surprising act of kindness brought her guard down Find more stories from the moment I knew series It was the year 2000 and my belief in love was crushed. I’d been in a five-year relationship, only to find out my ex had cheated the entire time. In some small part, I saw it as my own fault – I’d always been attracted to proverbial bad boys. Adding to the angst of being betrayed, I’d been writing novels – mysteries set in the Australian wilderness – that kept being rejected. I was not in a sunny place. And then I met Adam. We were randomly seated together at a dinner party and I was unable to resist his warmth. His smile was luminous, he looked like Christmas. He was one of those rare people who listened to others with dedicated focus, making me feel like the only person at the table. And as I talked about what an awful place the world could be, Adam gently stressed the merit and beauty it possessed too, as though he intuited I needed to be reminded of the good. I was instantly attracted. My faith had been battered and I couldn’t help but keep my guard up, but I accepted when Adam invited me out for pi