She’d expected more enthusiasm from her cousin. Obviously she had a knack for decorating, and she must enjoy it to have tackled enormous projects like Aunt Abigail’s house and the summer kitchen. Maybe she just didn’t like being with Anna—Grace. The last three nights of sharing a room hadn’t brought them any closer together despite her best efforts. If they couldn’t bond over choosing paint colors, something Aunt Abigail said Alexa loved to do, then it might be a lost cause. The thought made Anna—Grace sad. But she pasted a smile on her face and drew Alexa to the center of the front room. “Steven! Alexa and I are here!” He appeared at the head of the hallway. He moved directly to Anna—Grace and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he turned to Alexa. “Did you bring your measuring tape?” She patted her jacket pocket. “Got it.” She looked around, shaking her head in wonder. “Wow. You’ve really been working hard. How many layers of wallpaper did you have to strip before you got to the plaster?”
