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Usually, she went home in the wee hours of the morning so Caden wouldn’t catch them in bed together. Max hated sending her off alone into the cold darkness and made her text him when she got home.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m very sure that I want you here with me every night for the rest of my life. You’re welcome to officially move in with us whenever you’re ready to. I hope you know that.”
“I do. Thank you for understanding that I wanted to live on my own for a while, even if I spend most of my time here with you guys.”
“I understand that you’re making up for a lot of lost time, and I’m happy to support that in any way I can. But I don’t want you driving home in the middle of the night anymore. I hate that.”
“I know you do, and I’ve told you not to worry. I learned to drive on these roads, and I’m perfectly fine.”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You’re much safer here with me.”
“And happier. You’ve ruined me for sleeping alone.”
“Good, then my work here is finished.”
Lexi lifted her head off his chest and kissed him as she gazed into his eyes. “Max Abbott, your work here is just beginning.”
Epilogue
The following December…
Dear Cletus,
Another year has passed us by, and things are still trucking along here in Butler. But I sure do miss arguing with you and Percy. It was so good to talk to you on the phone the other week, but as you said, I can’t fit an update on my family into a twenty-minute call, so I’ll give you the highlights here.
My grandson Wade and his wife, Mia, welcomed their third child, a boy named Crosby, in August. Then Charley and Tyler finally tied the knot in a low-key ceremony at their house with the girls serving as their attendants. Charley always said she never wanted to get married, but she changed her mind at some point. They’re as happy as always, but even more so since the wedding, if you ask me.
Max and Lexi’s daughter, Alexandra, was born in early September, and they were married in late October in a joyful ceremony held in the backyard at the barn. Caden served as his father’s best man, with the entire family and extended family in attendance as the final Abbott took the plunge. Lexi’s parents and grandparents are so glad to be back home in Butler. They couldn’t contain their tears at the wedding.
What a truly wonderful day it was for all of us. Max was glowing with happiness as he married his first and only love with his two beautiful kids by his side and in his arms. Caden has stepped into his role as big brother with great aplomb and affection for his baby sister. She will have a fierce protector in him as she grows up. Caden is seeing quite a lot of his mom and her new husband, Ben. They come to his baseball and soccer games and attended the Christmas show at school. He spends an occasional weekend with them. They’re expecting their first baby in the spring, and Caden is excited about another baby sibling. He’s adjusted well to having her back in his life. We’re all happy for them.
Lexi is now halfway through her five-year wait to be declared cured of her cancer. We continue to pray every day for her continued recovery. If you ask me, that gal is the picture of robust health, and her days of fighting illness are long behind her now.
We took some amazing family photos at Max and Lexi’s wedding, and I’ve enclosed three of them. The first is all the Abbotts. The second is all the Colemans. And the third is the entire crew. A friend of Izzy’s helped her coordinate the group photos so Izzy could be in them, and they came out great. There I am, front and center in all of them, right where I want to be.
Ella and Gavin had their fourth child, a girl named Clara, in October, and my granddaughter Sarah got engaged to her boyfriend, Nathanial, in October. We like him a lot, and we’re excited for them. Sarah, Jackson and Henry are all planning weddings for next year, which will be the last of them for a while.
The store had another banner year, topping last year’s take by five million bucks. The kids have decided to start a foundation to share their good fortune with the community. They’re focused on providing food, clothing, shelter and other essential items like money for utility bills to those in need. I give them credit for putting up a website that provides a simple way to make money available quickly to those in crisis. They’ve named it the Stillman-Abbott Family Foundation. I’m deeply honored to be included in the name and proud of all they’ve accomplished with my parents’ humble little business. They would be so amazed and delighted!
In other news, our dear friend Bob Guthrie (Gavin’s dad) had his memoir published this fall, and it’s been very well received. The story of an army general who loses his precious son to war is a riveting and emotional read, and I highly recommend you get a copy of General. The Guthries recently welcomed their two hundredth guest to Guthrie House. The work they do there in Caleb’s name has made such a difference to so many.
Speaking of books, our own Megan Abbott (Hunter’s wife) has published the first in her Mountain Rescue Series, called Home to You, to great reviews and encouraging sales. She’s decided to independently publish because, as she says, she doesn’t have time to breathe with three kids, a diner to run and books to write. Deadlines would take all the fun out of it for her, so she’ll publish the second book in the series when it’s ready. We’re so proud of her!
After the holidays, Linc and Molly are leaving me to my own devices for a whole month while they tour France and Italy with his brothers and sister and their spouses. They’re so excited for the trip, and I’m planning a few keg parties while Mom and Dad are gone. Haha! In fact, they’re shipping me off to Ray and Hannah’s along with the dogs, so I won’t have to take care of myself. It’s funny how I did everything on my own for years after Sarah died, and now my Molly has turned me into a spoiled, kept man. I quite like that! Hannah has promised to continue the spoiling while I’m with them. In fact, I suggested she might try to outdo her sister, and her eyes lit up with glee when I said that.
Everyone here is healthy, happy, productive and looking ahead to another new year—number ninety-two for this old goat, but I’m still going strong. Even with all my grands happily settled, there’s still a lot of work left to be done around here with all the great-grands, and I love every minute with them. I still do my rounds, stopping to see the local kids just about every day. They’re always happy to see Grandpa-Great, as he usually comes bearing treats from the store. I even have something for Fred and Dexter when I get to Hannah’s, and of course I keep biscuits in the truck for all my fur pals! Life is good. I’m blessed beyond measure, and I know it.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season, and all the best to you and yours in the new year. Let’s talk again on the phone real soon.
Your friend,
Elmer
Well,that’s a wrap on the delightful Abbott-Coleman-Stillman family, which has been a big part of my life for the last ten years. Every minute I spent in Butler was a joyful pleasure, and I so appreciate the support of the readers who embraced these characters, the moose, the dogs and all the craziness.
I was halfway through the writing of this book when it occurred to me that maybe Molly was more involved in the matchmaking shenanigans than we thought, so that was fun to write! I also LOVED writing Max and Lexi’s second-chance romance and how thankful they were to have found each other twice in a lifetime.
I’m not making any promises, but I hope to someday revisit Butler for a catch-up.
