Just as Alex had assured her on the plane, Diane Lane received a genuinely warm welcome at the Hayes farm. John Hayes, with his quiet intensity, offered a firm handshake and a kind word. Martha enveloped her in an immediate, motherly hug, making her feel instantly at ease. Even baby Sofia, now a busy toddler just over two years old, seemed to accept Diane quickly, especially when Diane showed interest in her toys. Martha's parents, down-to-earth and friendly, completed the welcoming committee.
While some of John's old Navy buddies passed through Eagle Lake around the holiday, Nancy Jones and her family (Edward, Janet, and Nancy's parents) were spending the entire holiday period with Edward's family in New York.
In the days leading up to Christmas Eve, the group settled into a relaxed rhythm. One afternoon, Alex took Diane horseback riding across the sprawling property. The family owned several sturdy Quarter Horses, perfect for navigating the 300 acres Alex had helped his father acquire. He pointed out areas dedicated to farming and the large pastures used for growing specific grasses sold locally for cattle feed, sharing a part of his life far removed from Hollywood sets. Riding beside him under the wide Texas sky, Diane felt a sense of uncomplicated peace.
A shopping trip into Houston was planned and executed before Christmas Eve. The main mission: securing the hottest toy of the 1983 season, a Cabbage Patch Kids doll, for Sofia. The toddler, now two-and-a-half, was starting to string together two-word sentences, her speech understandable about half the time, and she'd become fixated on the unique-looking dolls after seeing them advertised. Finding one amidst the nationwide craze, with stories of empty shelves and frantic parents, seemed impossible. After several fruitless stops, Alex, recognized by a helpful store manager, managed to use his star status discreetly to acquire one of the dolls the store had kept aside. The mission was accomplished before the main holiday festivities began.
On Christmas Eve, after the successful procurement of the doll, the smaller family group gathered for dinner. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed, filled with laughter and stories. Surrounded by the genuine kindness of the Hayes family, the peacefulness of the farm, and the easy affection between her and Alex, Diane felt truly welcomed and grateful to be sharing their Texas Christmas.
Christmas morning dawned bright and clear at the Hayes farm. The highlight, undoubtedly, was Sofia discovering the Cabbage Patch Kids doll Santa had seemingly delivered. Her eyes went wide, and she let out a delighted squeal, immediately grabbing the much-coveted toy. Her attempts to thank everyone involved were a happy, mostly unintelligible babble, but her joy was unmistakable.
Later that morning, the family attended Christmas service at the local church. Eagle Lake was a small town, and while everyone certainly knew who Alex Hayes was, there was a refreshing lack of overt fanfare. People didn't rush him for autographs or photos. Instead, neighbours and acquaintances offered warm smiles, greeted him with a simple "Merry Christmas, Alex," and perhaps asked a polite question or two about Hollywood news or his latest film before respectfully giving the family their space. Diane noted the difference from the intensity of LA; here, Alex was still John Hayes's boy, home for the holidays.
As evening settled over the farm, casting long shadows across the fields, Alex and Diane went for a quiet walk outside the house, bundled against the cool air. The sky was clear, dotted with stars. They walked in comfortable silence for a while before Diane spoke softly. "I really liked your family, Alex. Martha, your dad, her parents... they were all so welcoming."
Alex smiled, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "They liked you too, Diane. A lot. Martha cornered me this afternoon to tell me so."
Diane leaned against him. "It's nice," she murmured wistfully. "I wish... I wish sometimes I had that kind of family."
Alex didn't reply immediately, sensing the complicated emotions beneath her words. He simply held her a bit tighter. After a moment, Diane sighed softly and said, "Anyway... thanks for inviting me. This was... really nice."
Alex stopped walking, turning her gently towards him. He pulled her into a hug, resting his cheek against her hair for a moment. Then, he tilted her head up by the chin, his eyes meeting hers in the soft twilight. He leaned down and kissed her softly, a kiss filled with affection rather than the fierce passion. Pulling back just slightly, he whispered, "Merry Christmas, Diane."
Diane leaned into his embrace, feeling the simple warmth of the moment under the vast Texas sky. Whatever the future held for them, she knew with certainty, she would always remember this Christmas.
*****
Christmas 1983 faded into the past, and the calendar turned over to a promising 1984. As January settled in, the impact of the holiday movie season became clearer. John Hughes's 'Sixteen Candles' had benefited significantly from the holiday boost, continuing to draw audiences well into the new year. Though its peak earning weeks were behind it, the film was still running in theaters and its successful run affirmed its status as another hit; its domestic gross would reached $61.32 million, significantly boosted by its performance over the holiday period.
Now all eyes in the industry, particularly at Paramount Pictures, turned towards Alex's next starring vehicle: 'Footloose'. The studio, buoyed by the extremely positive reactions from test audiences who loved the music, the dancing, and the performances, decided on an aggressive launch strategy.
'Footloose' was officially scheduled for release on February 10th, 1984. Furthermore, Paramount planned to open it wide in 1734 theaters across North America – the largest release of Alex Hayes's career thus far. This wide rollout signaled Paramount's immense confidence in the film and its young star. They believed Alex's proven drawing power combined with the film's infectious energy could deliver a massive hit, and they were positioning it to do exactly that. The studio wasn't just hoping for a hit; they wanted to make 'Footloose' a major event.
As the February 10th, 1984 release date for 'Footloose' approached, Paramount Pictures kicked the promotional campaign into high gear. A key element of their strategy, designed to build massive anticipation, was releasing the film's dynamic soundtrack well in advance. On January 20th, 1984, the official 'Footloose' soundtrack hit record stores.
The nine-track album was packed with potential hits, blending rock anthems, power ballads, and dance-pop tunes. Reflecting the deal struck months earlier, and representing a significant marketing angle, Alex Hayes himself was featured as the lead vocalist on four key songs:
"Footloose": The infectious title track, co-written by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford.
"I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)": Another high-energy anthem, also written by Loggins and Pitchford.
"Almost Paradise... Love Theme from Footloose": The film's soaring power ballad, performed as a duet between Alex Hayes and Ann Wilson of Heart, written by Eric Carmen and Dean Pitchford.
"The Girl Gets Around": A driving rock track co-written by Sammy Hagar and Dean Pitchford, showcasing a grittier vocal from Alex.
This put Alex's voice – already familiar to millions but perhaps not primarily as a singer – front and center on nearly half the album. It was understood that Kenny Loggins and Sammy Hagar, established rock stars who co-wrote two of the tracks Alex performed, would release their own versions of "Footloose," "I'm Free," and "The Girl Gets Around" after the movie's release, but Paramount and the record label banked on Alex's star power driving initial album sales and generating buzz for both the soundtrack and the upcoming film. Releasing the soundtrack three weeks before the movie was a calculated move to get the songs onto the radio and into the public consciousness, ensuring audiences were primed for a musical and cinematic event.