The Prodigal Heiress

by Vickey Rogers

  The hayride was one of the best parts of the entire day. Lexi and Houston sat together, and Evan sat on Houston’s lap. Lexi had an odd feeling of being a family. The feeling was pleasant but strange. She didn’t know how she felt about it. Her heart felt a tug when she looked at Evan perched proudly on Houston’s lap, but why should she feel this way? It bothered her more than she could admit. Then Evan pointed out birds and deer that were wandering the field, and Lexi forgot her apprehension and enjoyed the ride. They laughed at a deer who watched them intently until they got close and then easily sailed over a fence.

  Evan had a good eye and spotted a rabbit family close to the fence where the deer had jumped.

  “I’d love to have a baby bunny,” Evan exclaimed with a large smile on his face.

  “But those are wild, and they would be afraid to be away from their mother,” Houston said gently.

  “Yeah, the babies need to stay with the mommy. That’s how God wants it.”

  Lexi felt tears come to her eyes. Lexi thought about poor little Evan; losing his mother so young. It made her feel sad until Evan let out a big laugh that got her laughing also.

  “What’s so funny,” Lexi asked wanting to know what was amusing Evan so greatly.

  “Look over there,” said Houston pointing at a deer with a rabbit chasing it.

  The three of them laughed until their sides hurt. It was a fun day, and Lexi wanted it to last forever.

  When it was time to go, the children all gathered around Lexi. In one big voice, they shouted, “Thank you, Miss Lexi. We had lots of fun!”

  Lexi giggled at their happiness. It made her feel happier than she could remember.

  “You’re very welcome, children. I want to invite you all to the country club where I’m staying. They have a Halloween movie to play for you that I picked out myself. Also some hot apple cider with real cinnamon sticks.”

  Lexi laughed as the children all roared with happiness. Lexi caught a glimpse of Houston watching her with an odd look on his face. She caught up with him once the children were all on the bus.

  “I didn’t get to see much of you today,” she said a little sadly.

  “I saw a lot of you,” Houston answered with a small smile. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Lexi Hunter. I never saw anyone light up so much as you did today with the children. I also saw you talking to Evan. He sure is a special kid.”

  “Yeah, he really is, and so are all the kids. I guess I just saw how children really are for the first time. They’re so innocent really and full of mischief. I felt like a kid again. I hadn’t realized how old I’ve been feeling.”

  “I hear you. It was a lot of fun for me too, Lexi. I haven’t had much fun for many years. You brought it all back, and I want to thank you for that.” Houston said taking Lexi in his arms and kissing her softly.

  Lexi and Houston laughed as the children made noises when they saw the kiss.

  At the country club, after the children had all left, Lexi and Houston settled down in front of the fireplace. Miranda excused herself. She wanted to take a shower after the long but fun day with the children.

  “Lexi…”

  Houston hesitated so long Lexi knew he was having a hard time.

  “What is it, Houston? You can tell me anything.”

  “I know…I mean…I feel like I can, which is such a good feeling. It’s just…I want to say this the right way. I don’t want to mess it up.” Houston looked into Lexi’s eyes briefly, than stared at the floor. She could see his jaw working again as he ground his teeth.

  “Just say it. It’ll be all right.” Lexi smiled reassuringly at him when he glanced back up at her.

  “Lexi, I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for a very long time. I love being with you. The more we’re together the more I want to be with you.”

  Lexi looked at him intently. Her heart beat quickened as did her breath.

  “I guess I want to know how you feel…about me.”

  Lexi looked into the fire and thought for a moment.

  “I really wasn’t a hundred percent sure until I saw you with Evan today. I realized that I, too, am in love with you. I can’t imagine ever being without you. And the times that you’re not here with me I spend waiting for you to get here. I miss you when we aren’t together.” Lexi reached up and stroked Houston’s cheek lovingly.

  Houston stood up and took Lexi’s hand. He led her to a stool next to the fireplace and sat her down. He got down on one knee. Lexi’s heart beat very fast. He reached into his pocket and produced a small, blue, velvet box with a ribbon on it. He handed it to Lexi.

  As she looked at the box, her eyes mysteriously filled with tears, making it hard to see. When she opened the box, Houston said clearly, “Be my wife, Lexi. I promise you I will do everything in my power to make every day a trip to the pumpkin patch.”

  Lexi laughed and said, “Yes! Oh, Houston, you have made me the happiest woman in the world.”

  Houston jumped up and grabbed Lexi. He easily picked her up and swung her around as he hugged her closely to him. He stopped turning, and they kissed a deep, loving kiss that made Lexi’s heart feel it would burst with all the love she felt for this man who was to be her husband.

  “You’re going to be my husband,” Lexi said in a tone of wonder.

  “Yes, that happens when you marry a guy,” Houston teased with a happy smile.

  “Oh, Houston, I don’t deserve all this happiness.”

  “Yes you do, Lexi. What you did for those kids today and what you’ve done for me…there are no words.” Houston’s eyes misted.

  “Houston, you deserve to be happy too. People make mistakes. You were a kid. You need to forgive yourself and know that God has forgiven you. I’m so happy right now. I never thought it was possible to be this happy. I thought millions of dollars and beautiful things would make me happy, but I ended up feeling so empty. It’s God and love that have brought me to this place in my life. But He has also blessed me with all this so that I can be a blessing to others,” Lexi said as she thought about all she had.

  “And you are,” Houston said smoothing her hair and then softly rubbing his thumb against her cheek.

  “I want to be more though, more of a blessing. I want to do something to help people, children. I know I need to help children. Just how I do it…that’s what I’m not sure of…”

  “Lexi, that’s awesome. I love kids,” Houston said, his face lighting with excitement.

  “Evan asked me if he could come and live with me,” Lexi said cautiously, uncertainty on her face.

  “You’re kidding. He asked me that too. Well, actually, he asked me if he could live with me and Miss Lexi,” Houston said with a grin. Lexi sighed with relief. She should have known Houston would like the idea.

  “Really? That little one is so smart.” Lexi shook her head and laughed.

  “Yeah, he knew we should be together. I didn’t tell him. He just knew. After we’re married, let’s talk about Evan. I really would love to have him be part of our family.”

  “Oh, Houston, I feel exactly the same way.”

  Lexi threw her arms around him, and they kissed deeply. She had come to the realization that Evan was meant to be with them. She no longer feared being a bad mother. She loved Houston, and she loved Evan. That was what mattered. Miranda was there to help her along the way. She would also pray about being a good mother, and she knew that trusting Jesus would be the entire backbone to her family’s happiness.

  Miranda cleared her throat as she walked back out into the living room where Lexi and Houston stood.

  “You two better cool it. Intruding company,” Miranda teased.

  “Mom, have we got news for you.”

  Lexi told her everything, and Miranda was so happy she cried happy tears. Twice in one day. It made everything perfect.

  Chapter 11

  Lexi and Houston decided to have the wedding between Christmas and New Years. They wanted a small wedding, and all the st
aff would be back the first week of November.

  They found out at their second visit with Appel that she would be out by then, and she was overjoyed to be asked to be Lexi’s maid of honor.

  The month of November was filled with planning the wedding and Thanksgiving, which would hole so much more meaning for Lexi this year. Never before had she felt thankful and now that she did, and realized how much God meant to her, she was going to make sure she let Him know how grateful she was.

  When everyone was back at Rivenwood, all refreshed from their vacations, Lexi called everyone into the great room and told them all the news. They were all very pleased and let Houston know he would be a very welcome addition to the household.

  Lexi asked Tabitha and Burdia to be her bridesmaids. They were all very excited, especially Burdia, who also, out of character, was very shy when asking if Lexi had a wedding planner.

  “I believe so. I’m hoping that you will be my wedding planner.”

  Burdia’s eyes got as big as saucers, and they misted as her face broke into the widest smile Lexi had ever seen on her face.

  “Thank you, Mistress. I’ll make your day a dream come true.”

  “I know you will. That’s why I wouldn’t even dream of having anyone else take care of it,” Lexi said as she kissed Burdia’s cheek.

  With all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the wedding, time flew and it was almost Thanksgiving. Lexi had never dreamed there was so much to do. Burdia would appear when something needed to be done. Then she would be out of sight again. True to her word, Burdia was making the wedding a dream come true. She knew Lexi and Houston’s favorite colors and had used shades of silver and blue that looked beautiful together. She got Lexi’s approval on every little detail, but Lexi knew that Burdia had a gift for organizing and she also had the most wonderful taste. There was nothing that Burdia brought to Lexi and Houston that they did not love.

  Thanksgiving at Rivenwood Manor that year was so different from the two before. Everyone was involved in decorating the mansion in all kinds of festive autumn décor with life-sized pilgrim and Indian cutouts, tables filled with delicious food and fruit juice drink, and even some stuffed squirrel and chipmunk toys here and there to add to the fun.

  Everyone arose early Thanksgiving morning and went to church, each to their own. Lexi felt good to know that all the people she now had in her world were Christians.

  The service that Lexi, Houston, and Miranda attended was given by a new, young minister they had never seen before. The passion and confidence with which he spoke made the service one of the most inspiring Lexi had ever attended. They all shook hands with Pastor Kendal as they left and thanked him for such a wonderful service.

  They arrived home after the staff, as their church was farthest away. The smells that greeted them as they walked in the door made them instantly hungry. Lexi and Miranda went upstairs to change, and Houston sat in an overstuffed chair next to the fire in the great room.

  Tabitha’s sister, Abbey, had been moved into the main house and was given a suite on the second floor. She had gone into remission, and her prognosis was looking good. Doctors said it was the level of care she was getting that did it. Lexi felt sad that she wasn’t getting as good of care when she was on public insurance, but she knew that the ways of the world were usually painful and unjust. She felt happy that Abbey was improving. It did a lot for Demi’s spirits to be able to play with his mom again.

  This made Lexi think of poor little Evan. He was such a sweet, loving child. It broke her heart to think of him missing his mom and feeling out of place with his foster parents. The thought was interrupted by Miranda knocking on her door.

  “Well, dear, are you ready to stuff yourself?” she asked with a huge grin.

  “I don’t know if I’m ready, but I know I will do just that,” she said with a laugh.

  Lexi and Miranda made their way to the dining room.

  When the table was set for dinner and the food was prepared, Lexi summoned the staff to gather in the dining room.

  “Friends, I wish for you all to join us. This is a time of thanking our Lord for all He has given us, and I want us to all do that together. I am so thankful to have such wonderful people around me who cared for me even when what I deserved was a slap upside the head. I now consider you not only friends but family.”

  “That explains all the extra place settings,” Raymond mused out loud and Reeves chuckled.

  “You are spoilin’ us, Miss Lexi.” Tabitha giggled.

  “No, Tabby. I should have done this last year and the year before. As long as it’s not awkward for any of you, that is.”

  They all said it was not, and they sat down to a wonderful dinner. They took turns giving heartfelt thanks to God.

  Chris had outdone himself. He told them he had missed cooking and had put all his effort into the meal.

  “You truly succeeded with this meal. It’s the best I’ve ever had,” Lexi said and wondered how that statement could be true every time she said it, but it was.

  Chris’s face turned a dark red, but his eyes showed how happy her statement had made him. He had been hoping he did a good job.

  After dinner, they all played a few games and then retired to the great room, where the large stone fireplace was blazing and heating the room nicely.

  It was the best Thanksgiving Lexi had since she was a child with her mother and father at home. She felt a pang of intense grief as she thought about how very much she wished her dad was there with them; Aunt Cami as well. She hadn’t known her very well, but Aunt Cami had brought all this happiness to Lexi. She also had been able to read Lexi well enough to know that one day she would do the right thing with all her blessings.

  Lexi sat by the fire on a small pillow next to Abbey.

  “Yer the kindest person I’ve ever known,” Abbey said with gratitude.

  “Well, Abbey, I can’t take the credit. God opened my eyes a few months ago. And when I saw what I’d become, I couldn’t stomach it. I was so ashamed of myself. And then He taught me how to not only feel better about myself in spite of the things I had done in the past but also how to spread the blessing He had given me around. I remember seeing a saying once about how you can’t receive more blessings from God if you don’t share the ones He’s already given you, like, if your hands are full; you have no room to accept more. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now I know exactly what it meant. And it isn’t that I want more blessings for myself but that I want more to share with others. That’s the best part of it all. I want to help others. I want to be a part of making other’s lives easier and happier. It feels so good. It’s the most amazing feeling I’ve ever felt.”

  “Yes,” Abbey said with an excited nod. “I remember sharing a small turkey with our postal man a few years ago. He had nowhere to go and we didn’t have much, but it somehow was enough. And it was so much fun. I guess that no matter what we have, how much or how little, we can always share our blessings and God provides enough.”

  “You’re so right about that.” Lexi smiled and gave Abbey a quick hug. She liked Abbey very much. Abbey had strength in her that Lexi admired.

  Houston sat down next to Lexi.

  “Can I intrude on your conversation,” he asked with a friendly grin.

  “Course… I’m really sleepy after that large meal. Think I will take my leave,” Abbey said with a smile and large yawn.

  “Sounds good… Have a good nap,” Lexi said as Abbey got to her feet and walked out of the great room.

  “She sure is something, so strong,” Lexi said as she watched Abbey leave the room.

  “I know another who’s as strong.” Houston kissed her cheek and rubbed her back softly.

  “Me? No. I don’t think I could go through what she has and survive,” Lexi said shaking her head and looking at the floor.

  “Yes, you could. I know you. You have that inner strength,” Houston said as he gently lifted Lexi’s chin so that her eyes met his.
/>
  Lexi stroked his cheek, then leaned in and gave him a soft kiss.

  “You know, I guess you’re right because that inner strength comes from faith. I never thought I would be talking and believing the way I do now. It all really comes together once you take it all seriously,” Lexi said looking around the room at all the wonderful people in her life. She smiled warmly.

  “Yes. I know if I hadn’t had my faith I wouldn’t have survived after the accident. It kept me going when no one wanted me around. I knew that Jesus still cared, He still loved me even when the world seemed to turn its back on me,” Houston said pushing a lock of hair away from Lexi’s face. Lexi looked into his eyes.

  “How did you know? I mean, I know what you’re saying is true. I’m just curious,” Lexi asked with her head tilted slightly.

  Houston looked up toward the ceiling in thought. After a moment he looked back at Lexi. She saw tears in his eye but his face was full of peace.

  “I could feel Him like I never have before. He even gave me a vision of my house in heaven. I know it might sound silly, but He did. I just closed my eyes and saw it. And I felt so at peace. Since then, I’ve done my best to please Him. Not because I’m trying to earn my place in heaven. That would be impossible. But I want to please Him for all He’s done for me. You know?”

  Lexi nodded with a lopsided grin.

  “I do know. That’s part of the reason it’s driving me crazy to know exactly what He wants me to do with all this money He’s given me. I want to please Him with what I do. I don’t want to let Him down.”

  Houston laughed lightly.

  “He’ll let you know when the time’s right.”

  “I know. I just hope I’m smart enough to understand what He’s saying to me,” Lexi said folding her arms over her chest and making a goofy frown.

  “My little Lexi, you’ll know. You’ll know,” Houston said as he cradled Lexi in his arms.