Let It Be (Butler, Vermont #6) - Marie Force Page 0,43
grappled with the nonstop parental guilt he’d learned was normal, even if it sucked. Did he spend enough time with his son? Was it right to ask his mother to watch him while he was working? Would he be better off in daycare with other kids his age?
Max tortured himself with those and a million other questions, thus his reliance on the parenting sites that were a wealth of information, as were his parents, who’d been there, done that, ten times over. Even though they hadn’t been single parents, they’d seen it all with him and his nine siblings and generally knew what he should do in any situation.
“I know you couldn’t understand the stuff your Gramps was saying today, buddy,” he said softly to Caden, who was on his way to sleep. “But you should know that I’d never make you choose between me and the one you love. I’d never, ever do that to you. All I want is for you to do whatever it takes to be happy. I want you to love and be loved and to find your place in this world, whether it’s here or somewhere far away. Although, I sure hope you end up close by, because I’d miss you something awful if you weren’t around every day. Didn’t my grandfather miss my dad after he kicked him out of the family? I hope he regretted what he did. I hope he regretted it every day.”
He continued to rock until Caden’s little body went slack, but he didn’t move to transfer him to the crib. Not yet. Tonight, he needed a little something extra from his son. He needed the comfort of knowing, no matter what happened, that he would love and support Caden in everything he did, even if he didn’t necessarily agree with his choices. As long as he was living a healthy, productive life, Max would have his back. It was really that simple.
While holding his son a little tighter, Max rubbed his tiny back and ran his lips over the soft silk of his blond hair. The two of them were a team and always would be, come what may.
From across the hall, he could hear his mother laughing, which happened a lot when his parents were together. They were #couplegoals to Max and his siblings, all of whom had found their perfect match. He hoped his was out there somewhere, waiting for him to find her. A year after his relationship with Caden’s mother had imploded, he was starting to feel ready to take a chance on something new. He’d hoped he’d hear more from Caroline, his sister-in-law Mia’s cousin, whom he’d met at Mia and Wade’s wedding in Boston and had one great night with. But after a few weeks of regular texts, they’d dropped off to once in a while as they both went on with their lives.
He’d really liked Caroline a lot and had enjoyed the night they’d spent together, but she lived in Boston. He was hours away in Vermont. Unless she relocated to Vermont, she wasn’t going to be the solution to his predicament.
After the holidays, he needed to get serious about dating again. As much as he loved being with his parents and appreciated their help, he didn’t want to live at home forever. He wanted his own home and family and was determined to make that happen. Somehow.
In the meantime, he’d do whatever he could to support his dad through the next few days the way Linc had supported him every minute of his life. That was how families were supposed to work, and Max couldn’t wait for his “grandfather” to see what a great father his son had turned out to be, no thanks to him.
Success was the best revenge, his other grandfather, Elmer, had reminded them earlier, and Linc had been a smashing success as a husband, father, grandfather and businessman.
Max and his siblings would do whatever it took to make sure Linc’s father saw that.
Elmer poured himself a glass of Bailey’s, tossed another log on the fire and sat to enjoy the snap, crackle and pop of the fire that cast a warm, cozy glow over his small home. In the corner stood the Christmas tree that Landon had brought from the farm, as he did every year.
Landon put the lights on for him, and then Ella and Charley decorated it with the ornaments he and Sarah had collected over a lifetime together. Some were from her family,