Page 47 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

Matthew was playing junior-varsity basketball tonight and Caleb had gone along to watch, so one of Matthew’s teammates’ parents would be driving them home after the game. Normally, Lex would have attended the game too, but Mom had asked if he could watch the twins tonight, because Dad had some work to catch up on for class and Izzy was doing some shopping because she was also leaving soon to enter the Air Force Academy.

Lex was worried about Mom and Dad being able to handle everything they were taking on, but Matthew and Caleb were starting to pick up the slack. In fact, Matthew seemed to be a natural at the winery. He had a knack for growing things and spent a lot of time at the greenhouse asking Gabe questions about grafting and selection.

Lex had kind of become a jack of all trades, so he’d always helped wherever he was needed. Hopefully, Caleb would be filling in for him there. Caleb was definitely undecided about what he wanted from life but seemed to be a pretty good student.

And then there was Amy. It was funny how she never really talked about anything she wanted. She was always just there, doing what she could, just like Lex.

A few minutes later, Lex saw some lights in the driveway. Matt and Caleb must have just arrived home. Dad was probably ready to get to work in his office since the boys were also there to help, so Lex and Brownie both made their way downstairs.

* * *

A few hours later, Lex was walking downstairs after tucking the twins into bed, when he heard the sound of Mom and Amy’s voice in the solarium.

Amy sounded unusually excited, so Lex smiled, wondering what was going on.

“Mom’s going to pick up the dress for me on Thursday when I’m at school, but I’m not going to show it to anyone until I’m ready for the dance on Saturday night,” she said.

Dance?What dance? Lex frowned, walking into the conservatory, where he suddenly got a good look at Amy.

At least he thought it was Amy. It was definitely her voice coming out of the beautiful girl’s mouth.

Lex stilled, staring at her face. Her long blond hair had been trimmed to touch her shoulders and frame her delicate face. Her big blue eyes looked bigger and bluer than he ever remembered them being.

That’s when he realized that he’d never even noticed her growing up. In his mind, she’d always been the ten-year-old girl who’d forced him into a promise to stay and had helped him learn to read.

He’d promised that he wouldn’t leave before Christmas. After that, Lex had never once considered leaving home again—until now.

But somehow, he knew, he would be returning home for good someday.

* * *

“What dance are you supposed to be going to?” Lex asked gruffly.

Amy blinked. So much for making Lex notice her as an adult. For some weird reason, Lex looked like he wasmadat her.

A little uncertain, she answered, “Homecoming on Saturday night.”

“Who are you going with?”

When Lex heard Mom bark out a laugh, he ignored her.

“Mike Siddall,” she answered.

Lex frowned. “He plays varsity football, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, but he’s only a sophomore,” she answered, still looking confused. “So, his Dad’s going to drive us there and I’m supposed to call Dad to come pick us up afterwards.”

Lex looked at Mom. “Will you be here all night with the kids on Saturday night, Mom?”

“I will,” she replied, smiling strangely.

“I’ll do the driving,” Lex said firmly. “I’ll take you there, Amy, and then I’ll hang around and get the two of you home after the dance.”

Amy’s jaw dropped open. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just don’t know this kid,” Lex replied, turning on his heel. “Be sure to let me know what time we’ll need to take off that night.”

Amy looked at Mom, who was watching Lex leave the room with definite amusement. “What do you suppose that’s all about?”

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