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“Sure. Worst she can do is say no. I wonder if Erin and Ryan have anything planned?”
“You thinking a big group of people without other family?” He raised a brow.
“Yep. I can’t imagine Erin is going to spend any time with her mother.” Dad echoed his shudder. “Sam’s family is here, but I think they get on her nerves after a while, and Deb’s the same. Might be others. How about Christmas dinner or maybe day after, so they can get away from the comfort and joy for a bit?” Tom chuckled.
“Maybe we ask Wiz to host. Her place is a lot better for something like that.”
Tom pointed at Dad. “You ask. She’ll do it for you.”
“You don’t think she’d do that for you?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe she would, but I think it would be better if you asked.”
“Sure, I’ll ask her next time we go ridin’. Now, what are we gonna get her?” Dad’s quizzical look made him laugh.
“I have no earthly idea, but we’ll think of something.” Tom prayed for divine intervention because that’s what it would take.
“Yup, we’ll think of something.”
On Christmas Eve, Tom’s hands flexed on the steering wheel and his dress shirt dampened. Nerves were bad because, just like a horse, Wiz was likely to pick it up and echo it back, and she was surely nervous enough already. As her gates opened, he let the Volvo roll through. He pulled under the portico and got out of the car. Wiz walked out the front door.
“Hello, Tom.” She nodded. She wore a long, dark trench coat but no hat. And while her hair was still in a braid, she’d actually left it down and a little loose, rather than snugged tight against her head so no one could grab it.
He’d love to undo that braid and run his fingers through her thick, heavy hair. Come on, idiot, get it together. Treat her like the little sister she isn’t. “Merry Christmas. Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She walked to the back door of the car, which he opened for her. As she got in, black clothing flashed, but the pants and boots looked more fashionable than functional. Surprising. She exchanged greetings with Dad.
He got back in the driver’s seat, and drove up the long drive, the gates opening and closing behind him. “I still can’t believe you can do all that on your phone. What if your battery goes dead?”
“There’s a panel by each gate. That’s what I use when I’m on foot.”
“And what if the power goes out?” Dad turned slightly toward her.
“Didn’t I show you the battery banks and generator?”
“No, or if you did, I was too overwhelmed to remember them.”
“Oh, I have solar and wind power and an automatic backup generator.”
“Of course you do. The solar’s on the roof?”
“Yes, south side of the second and third floor. They supply most of my electric needs in the summer. I have to supplement from the grid in the winter. I could design a system for your place if you’d like.”
Dad laughed. “Oh, maybe sometime in the future. When I have to replace the roof.”
“Sure, Pete. Just let me know. Although, we’d have to have someone check and make sure your house could support the load.”
Dad scoffed. “Oh, that wouldn’t be a problem. You should see the beams they used back then. Tom can take you down to the cellar next time you’re over.”
“We could put the system on the barn instead. That way you wouldn’t have solar panels all over your house.”
Tom nodded. “Good idea. Although I’m not sure the barn is oriented for that.” The roof was placed to provide the least resistance to the constant winds.
“Not ideally, but it could be done. We could also mount them on the ground.”
Dad shook his head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. Too many animals to crash into them. Or use them as scratching posts.”
“Excellent point.”
