Page 62 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

Lex was puzzled. “Matt—is something wrong?”

“Oh, I guess I’m feeling a little stressed, and you can probably tell. We had a rough couple years in the vineyard. There was an early frost last year, and the year before we lost some of our best crops due to fungus because there was so much rain. We’ve been finding ways to work around it, but I don’t think the winery has been bringing in as much as it was.”

“I suppose they finished the renovation work on the house before all the problems with the vineyard came up?”

“Yes. I wish I could figure out more to do to help. They refuse to take any of the salary that they pay me. I mean I live here rent free. I should be doing something more than I already am.”

“I hear you.” Lex squeezed Matt’s shoulder. “I’ve hinted around about sending some of my salary for maintenance, but I think they look at it as an insult, so I haven’t taken it any farther.”

“But it’s our home too. Caleb is worried about having Mom and Dad pay his way through college beginning next year, even though they’re insisting he goes.”

“Let me think on it. Amy might be able to help me come up with some ideas.”

“That’s why she doesn’t want to go for her master’s degree. She thinks she should get a job as soon as she finishes junior college.”

“So, that’s why she wouldn’t give me a firm answer about continuing her education when we talked about it today,” Lex said. “Okay. Now that I know what’s going on, I’ll see if I can come up with some ideas to get around Mom and Dad’s stubbornness.”

Matt grinned. “If anyone can think of something, it would probably be you.”

“I’ll see you shortly,” Lex said, turning and heading towards his room as Matt continued up the staircase.

When Lex came downstairs an hour later, everyone of course was waiting on Mom, Amy, and Arielle.

That was always the way it had been, except for Izzy, who had been such a tomboy, she hadn’t cared too much about clothes and makeup.

“How about a beer while we’re waiting?” Dad asked. “I just let out the dogs for a few minutes, so Brownie should be barking at the back door shortly. He takes good care of his family.”

“He sure missed Lex when he was gone,” Mom said, finally walking into the solarium, where everyone was patiently waiting.

Dad blinked. “You look beautiful, Luce.”

Mom had gone all out tonight, wearing a mid-length sweater dress in red along with high heeled boots and the diamond necklace that Lex remembered Dad giving her for one of their anniversaries.

When Brownie barked, Lex stood and opened the door. Millie, Lily, and Peanuts came scrambling in ahead of Brownie, who took a moment to greet Lex, before heading to the corner near the fireplace and settling on the dog bed with the others.

Finally, Arielle stepped into the room. Also dressed in red, she sure reminded him of Mom, but she was a little bit taller, like Mom’s sister Kate.

“You look good, sis.”

And then Amy walked into the room, looking chic wearing a v-neck dress with a wide belted waist in blue. As usual, Lex’s heart flipped over in his chest when he saw her.

“Oh, Amy. I knew that cream colored dress would look great with your hair and figure,” Mom observed. “You kind of remind me of a blond Audrey Hepburn.”

“Who’s Audrey Hepburn?” Ashton asked.

“Puh—leez,” Amy replied, glancing at Lex and grinning.

Lex noticed that she was still wearing her necklace. It looked great with her dress.

“I can’t believe you’ve never heard of Audrey Hepburn.” When Arielle huffed out a breath, rolling her eyes at Ashton, everyone began laughing.

Since both of them weren’t even ten years old, Lex was surprised that Arielle knew who Audrey Hepburn was. He wouldn’t have even known himself except for the fact that Mom and Dad had occasionally liked to watch old movies together, which meant that all the kids would be stuck watching them too.

“You know, when Arielle does that thing with her eyes, Luce, she looks so much like your youngest sister, Kelly,” Dad said.

“She does, doesn’t she?” Mom agreed. “We used to call her a fashionista, even when she was younger than Arielle.”

Arielle batted her lashes, grinning.

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