“He’s Caleb’s brother and owns a logging outfit in our area. Ella oversees the sales team in the store, among many other things. Charley, who lives with Tyler, is in charge of the inventory systems and all things technical, and Tyler is a very successful day trader and investor. Wade is our fitness and health guru. He oversees our wellness line, and his wife, Mia, works at the warehouse overseeing shipping and fulfillment. Colton manages our maple syrup operation with Max’s help. Colton’s wife, Lucy, is our webmaster along with Will’s wife, Cameron.”
Carlton seemed to be committing each detail to memory as Lincoln filled him in.
“Lucas and Landon are both lieutenants in the Butler Volunteer Fire Department. Lucas, who’s engaged to Dani, is a master woodworker, and he sells his creations in the store. Dani, who’s Savannah’s mom, runs our warehouse. Landon is in charge of the family Christmas tree farm with Max’s help. Landon is engaged to Amanda, who’s Stella’s mom. Amanda is in charge of our new catalog. Max is our youngest, but he was the first to make us grandparents with Caden, who turned one in November. He’s an awesome single dad to his son, and we’re super proud of him. We’re proud of all of them.” Linc gestured to Elmer to come closer. “This is my father-in-law, Elmer Stillman. His parents founded the business he entrusted to me when he retired.”
Elmer looked directly at Carlton when he said, “Your son is an incredible businessman and an even more incredible husband, father, grandfather and uncle. I’m proud to call him my son-in-law and one of my closest friends.”
Elmer’s sweet words brought Linc’s emotions surging to the surface.
“Thank you all for coming,” Carlton said in a gruff whisper. “Thank you so much.”
“We’ll leave you to visit with your father, Dad,” Hunter said, ushering the others out of the room.
“Impressive family,” Carlton said.
“Thank you.”
“The two boys… They’re twins?”
“Yes, Lucas and Landon are identical twins. Hunter and Hannah, our eldest two, are also twins.”
His father’s eyes filled with tears. “Wish I had known them, that your mother had...”
“I wish that, too.”
“Sorry, Lincoln,” Carlton said as his eyes filled again. “So sorry.”
“I have a question I need to ask, and it may not be the right time…”
His father waved his hand. “You can ask. There’s not much time left.”
“Why, Father? Why did you force me to choose between you and the woman I loved?”
Carlton closed his eyes, and when he did, tears leaked from the corners. “When your brother died…” He opened his eyes and seemed to struggle for air. “That broke something in me. I was so angry at God and the world for taking him. He and I… We had a plan, and when he died…” He looked up at Linc. “I shouldn’t have tried to force you to take his place. That wasn’t fair to you.”
“No one could replace him,” Linc said softly.
“No, and I only compounded the tragedy by forcing you into an impossible position. I’m sorry for that and for keeping you from the others.” He gave himself a minute to breathe. “I was just so damned angry for years after Hunter died, and by the time I snapped out of it… Well, the damage had certainly been done.” He took a labored deep breath and looked up at Linc. “I wouldn’t dare ask you to forgive me, but I hope, maybe, as a father yourself that you can understand what losing him did to me.”
“I can’t imagine losing a child, and I hope I never find out what that’s like. I do forgive you, Father. It was a very long time ago, and I’ve moved on.”
“That’s generous of you. I hope you and the others can…”
“Already done.” Lincoln looked across the bed at Charlotte. “We’ll never be out of touch with each other again. I promise you that.”
“That gives me peace, Linc. You’ve given me peace by coming all this way to see me.” Carlton raised his hand.
Linc took his father’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Tell me more about your life in Vermont.”
For the next hour, Lincoln and Molly told him about the run-down barn they’d renovated into a showplace, about the store that had been at the center of their lives and the town moose named Fred, who was such a big part of the Butler, Vermont, community.
Carlton laughed at the story of Fred strolling through the tent at Will and Cameron’s wedding and then coming “home” with baby Dex.
“He’s basically living in Hannah and Nolan’s house,” Molly said.
“She has an actual moose living in her house?”
“You’d have to know Hannah to fully understand why that’s not even surprising,” Linc said. “Her husband, Nolan, is a saint.”
Carlton’s eyes filled again. “I’m so sorry I don’t know her. That I won’t know her or the others. Tell me more about each of them.”
Once again, Lincoln went through the list of his kids, filling his dad in on things about them that a grandparent would normally know by heart—awards, degrees, sports played and victories achieved. “Will was a champion-level skier. We thought he might make the Olympic team until he blew out his knee and ended his career. He went through a tough time after that, redefining himself, but he’s bounced back and has found a wonderful life with Cameron and baby Chase.”
Carlton hung on Lincoln’s every word until a coughing fit seemed to deplete the last of his strength.
“Rest,” Char said, patting their father’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Lincoln,” Carlton said without opening his eyes. “And Molly. Thank you both for coming and for bringing your beautiful family.”
Lincoln leaned over and kissed his father’s forehead. “Rest easy, Father.”
Blinking back tears, he followed Char and Molly from the room. For a full minute, they only stood together, each of them seeming to process what’d just transpired. And then Charlotte broke the silence. “You truly gave him peace just now, Lincoln. Even if he didn’t deserve it—”
“Everyone deserves peace in their final hours. I’m glad I was able to do that for him and that I could reconnect with you, Max and Will. That’s what matters now. Where we go from here.”
She nodded. “Yes, all we have is right now, and I want you back in my life. I want to know your children and have you know mine.”
Linc stepped forward to hug his sister. “We’ll make that happen.”
A shout from downstairs had them breaking apart and heading for the stairs.
Colton was on his way up. “Ella’s water broke.”
Sarah Stillman Guthrie was born in Philadelphia at three o’clock the next morning. Her exhausted grandparents and great-grandfather were on hand to help her elated parents welcome her into the world.
Elmer cried when he heard the baby’s name. “Thank you for honoring my Sarah this way, sweetheart,” he said as he kissed his granddaughter’s forehead.
“She was one of my favorite people in the whole world,” Ella said.