Let It Be (Butler, Vermont #6) - Marie Force Page 0,26

when they were outside in the cool autumn air. “You can’t leave it like this. You have to talk to him some more.”

“It’s not going to matter. His mind is made up, and he isn’t going to change it. He forced me to choose, and I choose you. I choose you today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life.”

“I… I just don’t feel right about this. I don’t want to be the reason for a rift in your family.”

“You’re not the reason, sweetheart.” They stood next to Molly’s old Toyota. “Why do you think I waited so long to come here? I knew how it would go. I didn’t expect him to tell me I’d never see him again if I chose you and Vermont over him, but I knew he’d blow his top. I didn’t want to deal with that, so I put it off. My only regret is that I brought you with me. I should’ve come alone so he couldn't treat you that way. I’m sorry for that.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, but really, Linc… You should go back in there by yourself and try to work this out.”

“It won’t matter. He’s made up his mind, and I’ve made up mine. Let’s go home.”

“Wait.”

He stopped, turned to her and looked down at her sweet face as she took a minute to decide what she wanted to say.

“I love you, Linc. You know I do. And I love the way you’ve changed your entire plan to make your life fit with mine, but this…” She glanced at the imposing red brick house with the black shutters and white pillars where he’d spent his childhood. “This is too much. You shouldn’t have to give up everyone else you love to be with me.”

Linc framed her face with his hands, compelling her to look at him with eyes that swam with tears he deeply resented. His father had made her cry. He’d never forgive him for that. “I need you to really hear me when I tell you there is nothing or no one that I want or need more than I want and need you. If I have you, I’ll have everything. He forced me to choose, but there was never any choice to make. I choose you. Every day for the rest of my life. I choose you, Molly.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t want you to resent me for all the things you had to give up to have me.”

“I never will. I swear to you, I’ll never have a second of regret.”

He put his arms around her and held her close, fully aware they were probably being watched from inside the house. Good, he thought. Let them see how much I love her. “Let’s go home, sweetheart.”

Chapter Eight

“The more I see, the less I know for sure.”

—John Lennon

“And you never spoke to any of them ever again?” Hunter asked, incredulous.

“Nope,” Linc said. “You have to remember those were different times. There were no cell phones or email or social media. I wrote to my mother and siblings every month, but they never once replied to me. I found out my mother died a few years ago when I got a letter from my father’s attorney.”

“Daddy,” Ella said, tearful as she moved to hug him. “I’m so sorry they did that to you.”

He held her close. “Thank you, love, but I’ve never been sorry that I chose your mom and our life here. Like I told Mom that day, I haven’t had a single second of regret, even if I missed them. Of course I did.”

“Have you tried to contact your siblings separate of your parents?” Will asked.

“I have,” Linc said as he released Ella. “And never heard back. Until today.”

“What happened today?” Hannah asked.

Linc could see from the haunted way his children looked at him that his story had touched them deeply, which didn’t surprise him. They couldn’t imagine losing each other the way he’d lost his family. “My sister, Charlotte, called to tell me my father is dying and wants to see me.”

“No way,” Colton said fiercely. “No fucking way are you doing that.”

His son’s strong reaction didn't surprise Linc. He felt the same way himself. To a point. “I understand why you’d say that, son, but I haven’t decided either way yet. I wanted to talk to you kids about it before I made up my mind.”

“How do you feel, Dad?” Hannah gave Colton a quelling look. “What