Page 77 of Two Hearts' Christmas Homecoming

“You’d better take care of her,” he muttered softly.

“I will,” he answered. “It’s so great to see you again. Look who else showed up.”

“Zane,”Harry growled, definitely surprised. “How in the heck are you?”

They shook hands, before Harry gave him an elbow in the ribs. “I wish Izzy could have been here too.”

When Zane looked panicked, Lex rolled his eyes at Amy, who grinned. Lex and Amy were certain that something had happened between the two of them, and Zane was trying to avoid Izzy.

Although why, they couldn’t be sure.

After giving everyone else in the room a hug, Harry asked, “Where are Mom and Dad?”

“They’re wrapping a few more things upstairs. They’ll be down shortly,” Lex replied.

They spent the morning unwrapping gifts and eating, not necessarily in that order. Mom and Dad had been thrilled when’d they walked downstairs to find Harry. In fact, Mom began crying, something that they hadn’t seen often. Dad had spent several minutes holding her in his arms to comfort her before Harry had wrapped his arms around her too.

Afterwards, they spent a long time sitting at the table catching up. Mom offered to make lunch, but no one was particularly hungry after munching on all the snacks she’d left out after breakfast.

Finally, Lex looked at his watch and made an announcement. “Mom, Dad, Amy—I want the three of you in your rooms for the next hour and a half. Right now. You’ll know what to do when you get there. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting upstairs. Whatever you do,don’tcome downstairs until one of us tells you to. Alright?”

Lex looked at Arielle and Ash. “Kids? We need you to stay here with us for a while and give us some assistance. Caleb and Matt are going to help you straighten your toys. We’re going to be moving a few things around in here today.”

Mom and Dad were looking at Lex like he had two heads, but Amy shooed them from the room, making them go upstairs. “I promise you’ll like your surprise. I hope so anyway, because I’m not exactly sure what Lex has in mind either, although I’ve known for a few days that something was up. He’s been making an awful lot of secret phone calls.”

“Alright,” Dad muttered. “But this better be good. Especially if I have to spend the next hour and a half with,” he looked around with a furtive glance, “my mother-in-law.”

Mom laughed and gave Dad a quick elbow as they left the room. But they did as they were told.

After getting a reassuring hug from Lex, Amy followed them up the staircase a few minutes later.

Lex started ordering everyone around, and before long, Jake and Danielle showed up along with all the food and decorations.

“This is going to be so beautiful,” Danny said, giving Lex a hug. “You’d better let me take over since you’re going to need to get ready yourself soon.”

“I’d better take the dogs outside for a while,” Matt said. “They can hang out in Dad’s study afterwards.”

More guests began arriving around three-thirty, Lex noticed through the window when he was upstairs getting dressed. They’d kept it small but had invited all the relatives who lived nearby.

Wearing his uniform, Lex made his way downstairs at about a quarter till four.

“This room looksbeautiful,” Lex exclaimed, walking inside. “Amy and Mom are going to love it. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

A towering arbor stood near the center window, decorated with flowers and greens, while poinsettias lined the edges of the room. Two long rows of tables covered with formal tablecloths had been set up with chairs. Somehow, numerous flower arrangements with roses and lilies had mysteriously arrived and were centered on each table. Food was artfully arranged as a buffet on another large table placed against the wall near the hallway that led into the kitchen.

And there were lights and decorations everywhere, even hanging from the high ceilings. Fresh flowers and bows had been incorporated into their previously decorated Christmas tree to make it more festive for the wedding.

Danny winked at Lex. “I think we can bring down your mom and dad now. I’ll send Arielle to fetch your grandma and Amy.”

The kids were even dressed in their best clothes, while Matt and Caleb were wearing suits.

Strumming his lone guitar, Zane started playing some Christmas music.

Suddenly, all wearing red bows, Brownie, Millie, Lily and Peanuts came scrambling into the solarium. After Brownie greeted Lex and anyone else who was willing to give his head a rub, he led the other dogs into the corner, where they all settled on their bed.

Harry began laughing. “I guess they rebelled when Matt tried to leave them in the study.”

Mom appeared, her eyes filled with tears, staring in wonder around the room, while Dad even did a double take, grinning at Lex.

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