Alexis found her voice. "Hi, Dad."
"Your yacht must've sunk. Do you know you've washed up on Mangrove Island?" He examined her from head to toe. "You're too thin for a woman your age. Do they not let you stop working long enough to eat at that big law firm?"
"Depends on whether I've hit my billable hours that day."
Tilly brought his beer to the table and Greg moved to kiss his wife's cheek. He sat down at the head of the table while Tilly and Alexis brought over the food. His eyes still on his daughter, Greg gestured to a chair. "Well, sit down. You clearly need dinner."
Alexis sat down dutifully. Tilly removed her apron and joined them.
Tilly's brow wrinkled. "I should've called Betsy."
"I'm sure Alexis will make time to see her sister." Greg turned his attention to his daughter. "So why does work need you in Florida? Some big company coming to wipe out a mom-and-pop store?"
"I'm not here on business."
Although Greg didn't comment, Alexis could tell he was surprised.
"I just thought I would spend the holidays here," she continued.
Greg chuckled. "What are we, the Ghosts of Christmas Past?"
Tilly tapped her husband's leg under the table and he grunted in response. Alexis took it in stride. She hadn't expected a welcome mat.
Greg tried again. "Nice of them to unlock your chains for that long. Lucky you.
Must've made them a lot of money this year."
Alexis changed the subject. She didn't want to talk about her job. "I'd like to see these nephews of mine." She took a small portion of carrots without any pot roast and passed the serving dish back to her mother. The small act didn't escape Tilly's notice.
"I should think so," Greg said. "They won't even know you."
"Greg." Tilly used her warning tone that Alexis knew so well. "Alexis said she'd like to see them."
"That's one of the reasons I'm here," Alexis said carefully.
Her parents fought the urge to ask about the other reasons. They rightly sensed that Alexis wasn't ready to tell.
"Do you not like pot roast anymore?" Tilly asked, unable to hold her tongue.
"I never liked pot roast."
"Who doesn't like pot roast?" Greg thundered. "Too working class for you?"
"I don't eat red meat anymore," Alexis said.
"No cheeseburgers?" Tilly asked, her brown eyes wide.
"No. Can't say I miss them either."
Tilly scratched her head. "Well, that will make planning Christmas meals challenging."
"You eat cheeseburgers for Christmas now?"
"Well, no," Tilly admitted. "We do a nice roast beef. It's a wonderful recipe from one of my magazines."