Green Mountain Collection 2
Page 86
“Three oh three,” he said, drawing a smile from her as he picked up the pace, taking them both to the stars and then back to earth where he caught her, giving her a warm, soft, safe place to land.
EPILOGUE
Elmer Stillman laid the sheets of paper he’d brought with him flat on the table at the diner while he waited for his son-in-law to arrive for lunch. Tanned and rested after her honeymoon, his new granddaughter-in-law Megan glowed with happiness that made Elmer’s romantic heart sing with joy. Never in his life had he seen two people better suited for each other than Megan and his grandson Hunter.
While he took pride in all the matches each of his precious grandchildren had made in recent months, he was particularly proud of Hunter’s. For many years before Hunter worked up the nerve to actually ask out Megan, she’d held a special place in that romantic heart of Elmer’s. After losing her parents the way she had during her senior year of high school, the sweet girl greatly deserved the kind of happiness she had now with his beloved grandson.
She topped off his coffee cup. “What’re you up to today, Elmer?”
“Oh this. And that.”
“You’re looking awfully cagey.”
The thing about seeing someone every day for ten years, they got to know you quite well, and Megan knew him as well as anyone did.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, sweetheart. Tell me about your trip. How was Bermuda?”
“It was incredible. So beautiful.”
“You look rather well rested for a woman just back from her honeymoon.”
Megan laughed. “You’re not getting the details, so don’t even try it.”
“You used to be so nice to me before I fixed you up with my grandson,” Elmer said mournfully.
Megan leaned over to kiss his forehead. “I’m still nice to you, and you’re still not getting the dirt.”
“Oh well. You can’t blame an old man for trying.” Elmer loved her spunk and her spirit, but more than anything, he loved the way she loved Hunter, who also deserved nothing but the best life had to offer. Elmer took hold of her free hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you for making him so happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for him.”
Blinking furiously, she said, “Are you trying to make me cry?”
“Would I do that?”
“Yes, I believe you would, and P.S., it’s my pleasure to make him happy.” Smiling, she winked at him and moved on to tend to other customers.
Ah, yes, he’d chosen well for Hunter. Now where in the heck was Linc? He’d no sooner had the thought when his son-in-law came rushing into the diner. “So sorry I’m late.” Linc hung his coat on a hook and slid into the bench seat across from Elmer. “I got stuck on a phone call that I couldn’t get out of.”
“I can forgive that since you do such a great job of running the family business.”
“You think so? Really?”
Elmer stared across the table at the man who’d been family to him since the day he married Molly nearly forty years ago. “Have I never said so? Have I never told you how proud I am of what you’ve done with my parents’ little country store?”
“You have, but it’s still nice to hear you approve. Your voice is always in my head, no matter what we’re doing.”
“Ahhh, I like that,” Elmer said with a big grin. “It’s like I’m haunting you.”
Linc’s bark of laughter had others looking over to see what was so funny. “The meeting was about the catalog and distribution center. I’m gathering information before I go to the kids with it.”
“Keep me posted on that. You know you have my support. I think it’s a brilliant idea, and something we probably should’ve done a long time ago.”
“We agree on that.” Linc smiled up at Megan as she ran by, putting a glass of ice water on the table for him as she went. “What’s all that?” he asked of the papers spread out on the table.
“It’s an accounting of our efforts on behalf of the kids.”
Linc took a subtle look around to see where Megan was. “You’re sure it’s a good idea to do this here?”
“No one needs to know what we’re talking about.” He shuffled the papers around so Linc could see them. “Now that I’ve successfully got Charley about to move in with Tyler—”
“Wait just a minute. You’re taking credit for that one, too?”
“You bet I am. Whose idea was it to tell Charley about the running club?”
Linc glowered at him. “Yours,” he said begrudgingly.
“And what brought those two happy kids together? Oh wait, was it an accident while they were running together?” Elmer put his hand to his ear so he wouldn’t miss Linc’s reply.
“All right, all right.” Linc scowled, acknowledging he’d been bested yet again in their little competition.
The poor boy had no idea that he was up against the master.
“I took the liberty of making a list of who’s left and who’s available. I’m a little concerned about Wade, who seems to have his heart set on a woman he can’t have.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I’m not at liberty to reveal my sources.”
“You do know that Wade is my son, and as such, I have a right to know these things.”
Elmer howled with laughter that drew more attention from other diners. This was too much fun. “You have a right. Whatever. As much as I’d like to say I know everything I need to know about the situation with Wade, I don’t. So I propose we both try to find out a little more about what’s going on there. I made lists for Lucas and Landon, but I think we’d both agree that they’re not ready to be set loose on the world quite yet.”
“Totally agree. They’re like a couple of untamed circus animals ninety percent of the time.”
Elmer chuckled at that description, but didn’t disagree. “They’re hilarious circus animals.”
“Granted, but they’re not ready for prime time. Not yet.”
“And Max . . . Our poor boy has been dealt a blow that he’s still reeling from. But between you and me, it’s sort of a relief to know that Caden will grow up here with us to help guide him—and his dad.”
“Totally agree, although I hate to think of Chloe not being in the baby’s life at all.”
“Maybe she’ll come around in time.”
“I hope so.”
“That leads me to Grayson.” Elmer pushed forward a sheet of paper that had Grayson’s name printed across the top of the page with just one name written below it—Emma Mulvaney. To emphasize his point, Elmer had put a series of stars before and after her name.
“Subtle,” Linc said.
“You saw it as much as I did over the holidays—there was a spark between those two, and I like that gal. She’s quieter than Lucy, but she’s every bit as strong and lovely. And that little girl of hers melts my heart.”
“Mine, too. Molly and I loved having them stay with us for Christmas. It was so nice to have a little one around on Christmas morning again.”
“They have something in common, too, although it’s an unfortunate thing. His father left. Simone’s father apparently isn’t in the picture from what Ray tells me.”
Linc hesitated before he said, “But once again we’re looking at significant geographical challenges with this pairing.”
“Did that stop us with Will and Cameron or Colton and Lucy? It did not.” Elmer loved to answer his own questions. “I see no reason whatsoever why we’d let it stop us this time.”
“So Grayson and Emma, huh?”
“That’s my proposal. Are you game?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Elmer leaned in closer so he couldn’t be overheard. “Here’s what I’m thinking.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for reading Ain’t She Sweet! I hope you loved Charley and Tyler’s story as much as I loved writing it. Charley was a tough nut to crack, as we knew she would be, but I like that she got her happy ending without sacrificing
the things that were important to her. Now I know you’re all going to say you’re dying to know what happened on Grayson and Emma’s first date. So am I! Their story, Every Little Thing, will be next up for the Green Mountain Series, coming in 2017.
Between now and then, I hope to write a novella featuring Patrick and Mary, because I’m also dying to know what’s up with those crazy kids. Join my newsletter mailing list at marieforce.com (left side where it asks for your name and e-mail) to hear more about plans for future books and novellas.
As always, a huge thanks to the incredible team that runs my business so I can do almost nothing but write: Julie Cupp, CMP, Lisa Cafferty, CPA, Holly Sullivan, Isabel Sullivan, Cheryl Serra, Nikki Colquhoun, Ashley Lopez and Courtney Lopes. What a blessing it is to have each of you in my life and part of this wild ride. It’s so much more fun to ride the roller coaster with friends and family holding my hand as I scream my head off. ☺ Major kudos to my husband, Dan, who keeps things relatively under control on the home front so I can write, and to my kids, Emily and Jake, who keep me humble with their sarcasm and wit. Love you guys so much!
Thanks go to my fabulous team at Penguin Random House and the Berkley Publishing Group, led by my friend and editor Kate Seaver. Kate, you’re the best. That’s all there is to it. Erin, Erica, Jeanne-Marie, Jessica (does your arm still hurt from the loud slap heard round New York last summer?) and everyone on the Berkley team—I appreciate your hard work so much. My agent, Kevan Lyon, has been with me for so long and has become such a great friend and supporter. Thank you for all you do, Kevan, and for being on that roller coaster right along with me. Special thanks to my beta readers, Anne Woodall, Ronlyn Howe and Kara Conrad, for all you do to help me.
To my readers—I say this all the time, but I never get tired of telling you how much I truly love you all and your amazing support of my books. I’m always happy to hear from you at marie@marieforce.com, and please make sure you join the Ain’t She Sweet Reader Group at facebook.com/groups/AintSheSweet6/ when you finish the book to dish about the details with spoilers allowed and encouraged. You also want to make sure you’re a member of the Green Mountain Reader Group at facebook.com/groups/GreenMountainSeries for updates about upcoming books and other series news.
Happy reading!
xoxo
Marie
Indulge in the heartwarming Green Mountain series
by beloved author Marie Force
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