Prologue #2
Lucy and Colton installed indoor plumbing and added on to their cabin up on the mountain shortly after the arrival of Christian, 5.
They’re also the parents to twin boys, Camden and Cooper, age 3.
All three boys are just like their father, much to Lucy’s dismay.
They prefer to be naked, and she’s constantly chasing them around to put clothes on them, even in the dead of winter.
The rest of us think it’s hysterical, but she’s not as amused!
She’s a good sport to put up with Colton and his “feral spawn,” as she refers to her offspring.
Colton is still running the sugaring facility on the mountain with Max’s help, and they broke all our previous records for ounces of maple syrup bottled this season.
Lucas and Dani have Savannah, now 7, as well as Sawyer, 4, and Sienna, 2.
Dani is still running our warehouse and juggling work and family with aplomb, while Lucas has risen to the rank of captain at the fire department and continues his woodworking business when he has time.
They opened a storefront in town for the furniture he makes as well as the pieces she enjoys rehabbing into works of art.
They’ve done very well with the new venture.
Landon has broken the record for the most kids in their family with Stella, age 17, as well as Sloane, 5, Sarah, 3, and Stefan, 2.
Amanda works from home running the catalog division, while Landon is also a captain in the fire department and still managing the Christmas Tree Farm with lots of help from Max.
Speaking of Max, his son, Caden, is about to turn 7, which is so hard to believe.
He’s in the first grade and doing wonderfully.
Reading like a champ and writing paragraphs.
They moved into my place when I came to the barn—Max and I joke that we traded bedrooms. I gave him permission to make the house where I was so happy with my Sarah his own, and he’s done a marvelous job updating it and turning it into a wonderful home for him and Caden.
I continue to hold out hope that he’s going to find someone to love and who loves him the way he deserves, but so far, it hasn’t happened—not for lack of trying on the part of his father and grandfather.
We tell ourselves he’s still only 28 and has all the time in the world, but you and I know how fast the years go by without us even realizing it.
Now for Hannah and her family… She’s happily remarried to Ray Mulvaney for four and a half years now, which makes Lucy and Colton’s kids Hannah’s grandchildren, too, since Ray is Lucy’s dad.
Lucy’s sister, Emma, is married to Grayson, Hannah’s eldest, and they have Simone, 16, as well as Hannah, 4, Finley, 3, and Rowan, 1, all girls.
Grayson has his hands full with five ladies bossing him around, but he loves every minute of it.
Emma still works in the office at the store and is, according to Hunter and the others, the nerve center of the whole place, keeping everything running smoothly.
Grayson practices law from home and is Mr. Mom to the little ones.
Times sure have changed from our day, haven’t they?
Sarah wouldn’t have dared put me in charge of our kids—haha!
Noah and Brianna have his son Elliott, 8, as well as Ethan, 4, and Elias, 2.
Their construction-and-renovation business is busier than ever, and the two of them work so well together after their inauspicious start while rebuilding the Butler Inn after the fire.
I told you how they fought nonstop until they realized all the fighting was actually attraction, right?
We’ll always be thankful to Brianna for bringing our Noah back to us and making him so happy. All he does is smile these days.
Izzy and Cabot got married just about five years ago now.
He’s so thrilled to be living near his daughter, Mia, who’s married to Wade.
Izzy and Cabot also have twins, Miles and Madelyn, 4, who are just the cutest kids.
Cabot is over the moon with them and fully experiencing every moment of his second chance at fatherhood.
We’re so happy for them. Izzy is a wonderful mother, but I always knew she would be.
Cabot is getting to do fatherhood and grandfatherhood at the same time, and he’s content as he can be surrounded by kiddos.
He works a little here and there but is mostly retired now.
Vanessa married Troy Kennedy, close friend to Cameron, Lucy and Emma, about four years ago.
They live in New York City with three kids, Declan, 3, Bennett, 2, and Alice, six months.
Vanessa is a full-time mom, but she helps with Troy’s law practice.
He does some incredible work in the social justice field and has a thriving business.
They get home quite often, which makes her mother—and her grandfather—happy.
Our Alli surprised us when she decided not to wait around for Mr. Right, as she put it, and had two boys on her own, Kingston, 4, and Axel, 2.
She still works in marketing in Boston and has a wonderful live-in nanny who helps with the boys while she’s working.
She seems very happy and settled with her kids.
And though she still dates from time to time, she’ll tell you it’s not a priority.
I told you about Jackson, Henry and Sarah above, so that about sums things up for all the grandkids.
It took me three days to type all this, so you’d better write back and tell me what’s going on with you and your family.
I sure do miss the old days of sitting around drinking coffee and playing checkers with you and Percy at the store and arguing about everything.
I miss you and good old Percy since he left us.
Do come visit sometime. I’d love to see you.
Sincerely,
Your friend Elmer