Lydia and I had discussed plans for my house plans over the past week and came up with a solution.
“I’m going to keep it for a while,” I answered. “I’ll probably rent it out to vacationers occasionally and use it as a holiday home. Lydia likes it, she just doesn’t want to live there permanently.”
Hailey cleared her throat. “Does that mean your awesome sister and her husband can stay there whenever we want?”
Laughing, I sat down on the couch. “Be my guest. I don’t mind at all.”
She squealed. “You’re the best brother ever.”
“Yes, I am. And don’t forget it.”
I could hear a car coming down the driveway, so I peered out the window to see Lydia in her blue Honda Pilot.
“Lydia’s here,” I told Hailey. “I’m going to let you go. We’ll see you tonight at the party.”
We hung up and I opened the door as Lydia walked up the porch stairs. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
Lydia shook her head and laughed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
The second she stepped through the door, I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am. You’re so beautiful.”
She pointed at her messy bun and the curly pieces of hair that framed her face. “I look like a hot mess.”
I twirled one of her curly strands around my finger and smiled. “Not to me. I’m sorry I didn’t get to go with you to visit Nana. The delivery I’ve been waiting on hasn’t arrived yet.”
She winked. “It’s okay. She gets to see you tomorrow in your ugly sweater.”
“Joy,” I grumbled playfully.
It was fun making them with Violet and Ben last night and starting a new tradition. If it made Lydia happy for me to wear an ugly Christmas sweater, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Lydia smacked my arm. “Hey, you know I love you. You’ll look great in your Grinch sweater.”
It was hideous, but that was the whole point.
“So, I talked to Hailey while you were gone. She asked me about the house and what I was going to do with it.”
Lydia set her purse on the kitchen table and faced me. “Does she think we’re crazy staying here instead of there?”
“No,” I replied with a shake of my head. “She understands why we want to live here. This place has a ton of memories, even for me. But she did ask if her and Oliver could vacation at the house from time to time.”
Lydia threw her head back and laughed. “Of course she did. I’m all for that, too. The house is gorgeous. It’s just if we’re going to have a family one day, I’d like to raise them here.”
It was the first time she’d mentioned having kids together, and I had to admit, I loved hearing it.
“Are you saying you want kids with me?”
She smiled that sweet grin of hers and flung her arms around my neck. “Would that be okay? We could have a little boy to follow in your footsteps and become a famous golfer.”
I shrugged. “Or girl. You never know.”
She kissed me and winked. “We’ll just have to see.”
A rumble echoed outside, and I turned to see the UPS truck pulling into the driveway. Lydia gasped and rushed to the window. “Is this what you were waiting on?”
“It is,” I said, opening the door. “I’ll be right back.”
I went outside and met the UPS guy at the bottom of the stairs so he wouldn’t have to carry the box onto the porch. Lydia rushed out and bounced on her feet.
