Epilogue
Two days after Christmas, Linc slid into their regular booth at the diner, where his father-in-law was already nursing a cup of coffee. “Sorry I’m late.”
“Everything all right?”
“My sister called to tell me my father passed away overnight. She said his passing was peaceful, and they were all there with him.”
“I’m sorry for your loss, Linc.”
“Thank you, but it doesn’t really feel like my loss, you know?”
“I understand what you mean, but still… Give yourself a minute to feel it.”
Linc nodded and smiled when Megan came over with coffee. “Thanks, honey. How’re you doing?”
“I’m still recovering from Christmas.”
“Right there with you. Thanks for all you did to help make it happen.”
“It was fun and gave us something to do while you were gone.”
“You’re done after this week, right?” Elmer asked.
“Yes, sir. My temp replacement is due to start later this week so I can show her the ropes.”
“No one can replace you,” Elmer said.
“Aw, thanks. I’ll be around, and I’m sure I’ll be here every day with the baby. I won’t know what to do with myself.”
“Megan,” Butch called from the kitchen. “Order up.”
“Duty calls.”
The door jingled, and Linc’s nephew Grayson Coleman came in, smiling when he saw them.
After Grayson hung his coat on a hook by the door, Elmer moved over to make room for his grandson.
“What’re you two up to?” Gray asked. “Solving the world’s problems as usual?”
“Mostly still recovering from too much Christmas,” Elmer said.
“That was a throwdown and a half,” Gray said. “Thanks for including us and the rest of the Colemans.”
“Of course we included you,” Linc said. “And I hear there’s more partying in store on New Year’s Day at your mother’s.”
“That’s right. All the Colemans will be there, or so I’m told.”
“Did you ever hear from Noah the other day?”
“Nope, he was a no-show for Christmas and wasn’t answering his phone. I went by his place, and his truck was gone, but I saw it at the inn this morning. Wherever he went, he’s back to work today.”
“Our international man of mystery,” Elmer said.
Megan brought Grayson a mug that she filled after setting it on the table. “Breakfast?”
“Yes, please,” Gray said. “I’ll have the usual.”
“Coming right up.”
“How does she remember everyone’s ‘usual’?” Gray asked.
“It’s her special gift.”
“So I did hear one thing about Noah that you might find interesting,” Gray said.
“What’s that?” Elmer asked.
“One of the guys who works for him is a high school classmate of mine. I ran into him at the grocery store two days before Christmas. He told me that Noah and the architect that Mrs. Hendricks hired to redesign the inn have been locking horns big-time. Like full-on screaming matches right in front of everyone.”
“Is that right?”
“Yep, and… The architect is a woman named Brianna, and according to my friend, she’s, as he said, ‘a smoke show.’”
“Translation, please,” Elmer said.
“She’s hot.”
One of Elmer’s white eyebrows lifted toward his hairline. “Is that right.”
“That’s what he said.”
“Well, it might be time to stop over at the inn and ask my grandson to give me a tour of the progress.”
“I’d be happy to help you with that,” Linc said.
“Figured you might, but if this turns into something, it goes in my column.”
“Have you two stopped bothering to try to hide the fact that you’re minding everyone else’s business?” Grayson asked.
Elmer gave him a blank look. “We have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Grayson lost it laughing. “Whatever you say, Gramps.”
Thank you for reading Let It Be! I hope you enjoyed it. Turn the page to read The Long and Winding Road, also from the Butler, VT Series…
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