Let It Be (Butler, Vermont #6) - Marie Force Page 0,52
By then, I knew for certain you were what she wanted, and you’d shown me at work that you weren’t faking your interest in her family business. And when I heard your father had given you that awful ultimatum and you’d walked away from everything else that mattered to you so you could marry my Molly…” He shrugged. “Suffice to say I was honored to preside over both your weddings.”
“Wait,” Megan said as she came from the kitchen with Linc’s breakfast. “You had two weddings?”
Elmer grimaced at Linc. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. The only reason we never talked about the first one with the kids was that we’d have to tell them what else had happened that day, and I didn’t want them to know.”
Megan put the plate in front of Linc and automatically put a bottle of the hot sauce he sometimes liked on eggs on the counter. He loved how she did those things without even thinking, tending to the likes and dislikes of her many customers automatically.
“Thank you, honey. And yes, Molly and I had two weddings, but no one really knows that except the two of us and her parents.”
“Oh,” she said with a gleeful grin, “so I know something none of the kids know?”
“Yes, you do,” Linc said, amused by her delight in having a scoop. “The day my father issued the ultimatum?”
Megan nodded.
“We came home to Vermont, and Molly asked her dad to marry us right away. It was like she knew I needed that after what’d occurred earlier. She was amazing that night. So determined to do whatever she could to show me I still had a family.”
“I love that,” Megan said, sighing. “So romantic.”
“It was pretty awesome,” Linc said, smiling as he remembered that night and the incident with the air mattress. That was something that belonged only to him and Molly.
“Will you tell the others about that now that they know the rest?”
“I suppose maybe we should so they can hear just how incredible their mom was and is.”
“They already know that,” Megan said. “This’ll just elevate her to cult status.”
“Where she belongs,” Elmer said.
Linc nodded. “Couldn’t agree more.” When he stood to leave the diner a short time later, Megan came around the counter to hug him.
“I hope it goes as well as possible, and please know that those of us who aren’t there will be back here wishing you the best. We all love you, Linc.”
Linc returned her hug. “Thank you, honey. Love you, too. Hold down the fort for us around here while we’re gone.”
“Will do.”
“And don’t tell Butch I said so, but your eggs are better than his.”
“Oh my God! I’m so telling him that!”
Laughing, Linc left the diner, crossed the street and headed up the stairs to the office, where Emma greeted him with a worried look. “Morning, and yes, I’m okay.”
“Glad to hear it. I was sorry to hear what you’re going through, but I’m glad your family has rallied around you, not that it surprises me.”
“I’m a very lucky man, and nothing that happens in the next twenty-four hours can change that.”
“I wish you the best of luck on the trip. I hope you know that.”
“I do, and I appreciate it very much. I’m going to see if I can get something done before we leave.”
“Sounds good.”
Seeing that none of the kids were in yet, Linc went into his office and shut the door, wanting to make a call before everyone else arrived. No doubt they’d be sticking close to him that day, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
As he dialed the numbers, he was angry with himself for being nervous, but it was only the second time in forty years he’d called his sister. It was only natural to be nervous. The phone rang three times before a man’s voice answered.
“Hello, this is Lincoln Abbott calling for Charlotte. Is she available?”
After a long pause, the man said, “One moment, please.” In the background, he heard the man say, “Char, for you. Your brother. Lincoln.”
Char. Hearing the familiar nickname gave him a pang. That’s what he’d called her growing up.
“Lincoln? Are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“I’m so glad you called. I was hoping you would.”
“I wanted to let you know I’ll be there to see Father tomorrow morning around ten, if that’s all right.”
“That should be fine. He’s better in the mornings.”
“Will I see you, too?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Safe travels, Linc.”
He put down the phone and sat for a long time,