Chapter 17
Seventeen
“Take these broken wings and learn to fly.”
—Paul McCartney
His sister led the way into the family room, which had been redone since Linc was last there. The fireplace and built-in bookshelves were as he remembered and still full of books. Both his parents had been big readers and had passed the hobby along to their children.
His family surrounded him, some sitting on sofas and chairs, and others standing behind him.
“I married Andy Higgins,” Char said.
“No way!” Andy had been one of Linc’s closest friends as a child. “When did that happen?”
“A few years after…”
After his banishment, she meant. “Kids?”
“Four,” Char said. “Two of each, including a son named Lincoln.”
“Oh,” Linc said, incredibly moved. “Well… That’s lovely.”
“We never forgot you either,” she said with a sigh. “I’m the executive director of a nonprofit that helps to place formerly homeless women in new careers.”
“I can see that for you,” Linc said. His sister had always been tuned in to the needs of those less fortunate than they had been.
“I’m a dentist,” Will said, “married to Kendall, and we have three daughters.”
“My wife, Courtney, and I have twin sons,” Max said. “I work for a tech company that supports cell phone networks.”
“Wow, three sets of twins between us,” Linc said to his brother. “I want to see pictures of my nieces and nephews.”
“We could use your services in Butler, Vermont,” Landon said to his uncle Max. “The place cell service went to die.”
“You don’t have cell service there?” Uncle Max asked, seeming stunned that anyone lived without such a modern luxury.
“Nope,” Linc said. “I’ve never owned a cell phone.”
“I can’t wrap my head around this,” Uncle Max said.
“You sound like my wife, Cameron,” Will said.
“And mine,” Colton added. “Cam and Lucy lived in New York City until they moved to Butler. It was a bit of an adjustment, to say the least.”
The conversation took off from there as his siblings shared photos of their families with him, and his kids conversed with their aunt and uncles, who’d apparently said enough to earn the forgiveness of his crew. That made Linc happy. He was ready to forgive and move on, even if he’d never forget.
A short time later, Linc looked over at his sister. “I suppose I should see Father.”
“I can take you up.”
“I want him to see Molly and the kids.” He borrowed Hunter’s words when he said, “I want him to see what came of the ultimatum he gave me.”
“I think he should see that, too. Let me take you to him.”
As they followed Char up the stairs, Molly took Linc’s hand and gave it a squeeze.
He glanced at her, and the warm smile she directed his way calmed and settled him.
No matter what happened in the next few minutes, when he went to bed tonight it would be with her, and forty years of sleeping next to her was worth any sacrifice he’d had to make.
More memories flooded his mind as he went up the familiar stairs to the second floor. At the landing, he looked to the closed door on the left that had been his bedroom. He wondered what they’d done with his things.
“Let me tell him you’re here,” Char said, stepping into the master bedroom at the end of the hallway.
From outside the door, Linc could hear his sister say, “Father, Lincoln is here. He’s come to see you.”
He couldn’t hear his father’s reply, but while he waited for his sister, he leaned his forehead against Molly’s.
“Right here with you, pal.”
From behind, someone squeezed his shoulder.
Ella curled her hands around his arm.
Surrounded by the ones he loved most, in the home where he’d grown up and later been banished from, he was struck with profound sadness at the futility of it all. His father had lost one son tragically and had exiled another—and for what? It had all been such a terrible waste of energy.
“Linc?” Char said. “He’ll see you now.”
“You want me to wait out here?” Molly asked.
He tightened his grip on her hand so she couldn’t get away. “Absolutely not.”
Linc and Molly went into the room together, while the others waited in the hallway.
Even though he’d known his once-robust father was seriously ill, seeing him sitting upright in a hospital bed, surrounded by oxygen tanks and beeping monitors, was still shocking.
His dark hair was gone, replaced by thin whisps of white hair, and his mouth and nose were covered by an oxygen mask.
His father’s eyes, however, were still sharp, even if they seemed sunken into his gaunt face. “Linc,” he said. “You came.”
“Hello, Father. You remember my wife, Molly?”
Carlton gave a nod to her before shifting his gaze back to Linc. “You look good.”
“Thank you.”
Carlton pulled at the oxygen mask.
Charlotte helped him remove it. “Just for a few minutes.”
“Thank you for coming,” he said to Linc, his voice soft and his breathing labored. “I wasn’t sure if you would.”
“I was raised to honor my father and mother.”
“Even when they don’t deserve it?”
“Even then.”
A faint smiled played at the older man’s lips. “I’m sorry. That’s all I can say.”
“Thank you for apologizing.”
“I wish… I wish it hadn’t happened.”
“I do, too.”
Char sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
“I brought some people I’d like you to meet,” Linc said.
“He has ten children, Father.”
Carlton’s eyes went wide. “Ten?”
“That’s right. Would you like to meet your grandchildren?”
“Yes, please. I’d like that very much.”
While Linc went to get the others, Char replaced the oxygen mask on his face.
He introduced them all and mentioned the grandchildren who weren’t with them.
Carlton pulled aside the mask. “You have a beautiful family.”
“Thank you.”
“Tell me…” Carlton took a breath. “Tell me about them.”
“They all work in one way or another for the family businesses. Hunter, who’s married to Megan, is the CFO of all our businesses, including the diner his wife, Megan, runs.
Megan is also an amazing writer who’s working on her first novel.
Hannah was married to Caleb, but we lost him in Iraq.
She’s remarried to Nolan, who owns the auto repair garage in our town, and she makes beautiful jewelry that we sell in the store.
Their daughter Callie’s full name is Caleb, and she’s going to be a big sister in the new year.
Will oversees our Vermont Made line and is married to Cameron.
Chase is his son. Ella is engaged to Gavin. ”
Gavin raised his hand to wave.
“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. ”