Butler, Vermont Series Boxed Set, Books 1-3

by Marie Force

  “She’s taking it all in,” the neonatal specialist said.

  “It’s okay that she didn’t cry?”

  “It’s fine, but she’s small. Just over four pounds, and she’ll need some time in the NICU for her lungs to develop further.”

  “Can I see her?” Hannah asked through tears that blinded her.

  “Just for a few minutes,” the neonatal doctor said. “These little ones lose their body heat very quickly, so we need to get her into the warmer.”

  He brought her to them, attached to oxygen and wrapped in a soft yellow blanket, and carefully placed her in Hannah’s arms. She’d never seen a smaller baby, and a pang of fear struck in the vicinity of her heart. “She’s going to be okay?” Hannah asked the specialist.

  “She should be fine in a few weeks, but we’ll know more after we’re able to fully evaluate her.”

  “Oh my God,” Nolan said. “Look at her. She’s so perfect.”

  Hannah had to agree that she’d never seen anything more perfect than the tiny baby with the big eyes and the dusting of dark hair. “Hi, baby girl.” She caressed the baby’s soft cheek with her fingertip.

  After some additional pressure when she delivered the placenta, Hannah was filled with new energy now that she had her baby in her arms. “I can’t believe she’s finally here.”

  “What’s her name?” one of the nurses asked.

  Hannah looked up at Nolan, who spoke for both of them. “Her name is Caleb Abbott Roberts after Hannah’s first husband and my close friend who died in Iraq. We’re going to call her Callie.”

  “That’s a beautiful, unique name for a beautiful, unique little girl,” the OB said. “And a very special tribute to a fallen hero.”

  Hannah had never loved Nolan more than when he’d suggested they name their baby after Caleb, whether they had a boy or a girl. They’d gone round and round about what they’d do if they had a daughter. Hannah wasn’t sure about naming a girl Caleb, but Nolan had insisted that calling her Callie would be perfect, and any daughter of Hannah’s would be strong enough to handle a different sort of name.

  “Thank you,” Nolan said to the doctor. “We think so, too.”

  “You want me to get your parents?” one of the nurses asked Hannah when the doctor had finished tending to her.

  “If you wouldn’t mind.”

  “Of course.”

  Hannah couldn’t take her eyes off the adorable little face and the eyes that seemed to take it all in, even though Hannah knew she couldn’t actually see much of anything yet. “She looks so wise, doesn’t she?”

  “I was thinking the same thing. She’s beautiful, like her mother.”

  “And her father.”

  “Thank you so much for her, Hannah. I’m so proud of you.”

  She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’m proud of us. We make a great team.”

  “We sure do.”

  “Thank you again for her name. I really love it, and I love you for suggesting it.”

  “In all these months, I never had another name in mind for our child.”

  A knock on the door preceded Molly and Lincoln into the room, both wearing huge smiles.

  “Come meet your new granddaughter,” Nolan said.

  “Oh, a girl,” Molly said, dabbing at her eyes.

  “Look at her,” Linc said gruffly. “She’s perfect.”

  “Her mom was a warrior,” Nolan said. “As always.”

  “I would expect nothing less from my daughter,” Linc said, leaning over to kiss Hannah and take a closer look at the baby. “What’s her name?”

  “Caleb Abbott Roberts,” Hannah said. “We’re going to call her Callie.”

  “What a perfect name.” Molly dealt with a new flood of tears. “Amelia and Bob will be so very touched,” she said of Caleb’s parents.

  “I’m so glad you agree,” Hannah said.

  “I love her name,” Linc said. “Callie. This is my granddaughter, Callie.”

  Hannah reluctantly handed over her precious package to the doctor and relaxed against Nolan, a feeling of peace coming over her now that the delivery was behind her and the baby had safely arrived. To Nolan, she said, “Will you call Amelia and Bob?” In another lifetime, they would’ve been there, awaiting the arrival of their grandchild. In this lifetime, they would be beloved extra grandparents to baby Callie.

  “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “You rest and don’t worry about anything.”

  Hannah closed her eyes, only for a minute, or so she told herself. She had a daughter to care for.

  Grayson woke to the sound of voices and bright sunshine beaming into the room where he’d fallen asleep despite his plans to relocate downstairs. At least he was alone in the bed where Emma had been sleeping.

  The voices, he realized, belonged to her and Simone. A glance at the monitor showed Emma in bed with her daughter, the two of them talking in low voices. He wanted to know what they were saying and how Simone was feeling, but he wasn’t sure if Emma would want him to reveal himself or the fact that he’d spent the night.

  His curiosity about Simone’s condition won out. He got up, made the bed and used the bathroom across the hall to clean up before he ducked his head into the room next door to check on them.

  “How’s the patient this morning?” he asked.

  “Grayson! What’re you doing here?” Simone asked.

  “I came to see how you were feeling. How’s your arm?”

  Emma smiled at him from her perch next to her daughter, nodding her head to invite him into the room.

  “It’s sore, but not like it was yesterday. I’m just sad that I can’t ski again today. I loved it.”

  Grayson sat on the foot of the bed. “I heard you were really good at it, too.”

  “You did? Did Colton say that?”

  “Yep,” Grayson said. “He told me you were great at it.”

  Simone beamed with pleasure at hearing that. “I want to do it again as soon as my arm is better.”

  “What do you ladies have planned for today?” he asked.

  “Not skiing,” Simone said glumly.

  “Taking it easy,” Emma said.

  “Which is no fun,” Simone replied.

  “I know something fun we can do,” Grayson said, deciding to go forward with his plan now that he knew Simone was feeling okay. “I’ll pick you up in two hours. Dress warm.”

  “What is it?” Simone asked.

  “You’ll see,” he said with a mysterious smile as he stood to leave the room. “See you soon.”

  “Grayson,” Simone said.

  Turning back, he said, “Yes?”

  “Thanks for coming over to check on me. That was really nice of you.”

  Touched by her sweetness, he said, “Of course. No problem.” He went downstairs to let the dogs out and was putting on his coat in the mudroom when Linc and Molly came in.

  “How’s Hannah?” Grayson asked.

  “She’s wonderful. We have a new granddaughter, Caleb Abbott Roberts, who will be known as Callie. She’s tiny, but a fighter. The doctors say she should be fine after a few weeks in the NICU to give her lungs time to develop some more.”

  “I’m so glad she’s okay,” Grayson said, profoundly moved by Hannah and Nolan’s tribute to Caleb. “And I love her name.”

  “We agree that it’s a very special name for a special little girl,” Linc said. “How’s Simone?”

  “She’s good. She slept through the night and is more bummed that she can’t ski again today than anything.”

  “That’s a relief. It was good of you to stay with them.”

  Grayson raised a brow. “Really?”

  “Were you expecting disapproval?” Molly asked, amused. “You’re thirty-six years old, Gray. We love Emma and Simone, and we love you and Emma as a couple.”

  “You do?”

  “We do. She’s lovely.”

  “She certainly is. It’s just… well… complicated.”

  Molly r
eached up to put her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Will when he was in this very same situation—if she means something to you, do something about it. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find a way.”

  “Is it possible to know if it’s meant to be in just a few days?”

  Molly glanced at her husband.

  “We knew the day we met that this was going to be something big and potentially life-changing,” Lincoln said, smiling at his wife.

  “A week ago, I would’ve said that’s not possible for me,” Grayson said. “Now…”

  “Oh, Gray,” Molly said, hugging him. “I’m so happy to hear you say that. I’ve so hoped you would find someone amazing. No one deserves it more than you do.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  She looked up at him with exasperation and amusement. “With everything you did for your mother and siblings, you really have to ask why I’d say that?”

  He shrugged off her praise. “I did what anyone would do in that situation.”

  “No,” Linc said, “you did more than any sixteen-year-old boy should ever have to do. And your aunt is right. No one I know deserves a happy ending more than you do.”

  “You flatter me. Both of you.”

  “We speak only the truth,” Molly said. “You want some coffee before you head out?”

  “I’ll grab some at Mom’s. I’ve got a surprise to set up for a very sweet little girl who hurt her arm.”

  “What’ve you got up your sleeve?” Linc asked.

  “You’ll see.” He kissed his aunt and shook his uncle’s hand. “Thanks for always being right there for me. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

  “We’re always here for you and your siblings,” Linc said. “That’ll never change.”

  “Means the world to us,” Grayson said. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

  “We’ll be the zombie grandparents asleep on the sofas,” Molly said.

  “We’re getting way too old for an all-nighter,” Linc added.

  “You guys are just getting started.”

  “If you say so,” Molly said, heading for the coffeepot.

  Chapter 12

  Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.

  —Pietro Aretino

  Grayson stepped out into air so cold, it seared his lungs the way it used to on the long-ago winter mornings of his youth. It got damned cold in Boston, but not as cold as up here. This was a whole other level of cold, and he wondered if the air would be too frigid for what he had in mind.

  Since he couldn’t disappoint Simone after promising her a surprise, he got in the car and drove to his mother’s house, where she was at the table with the morning paper and a cup of coffee.

  “Look at what the cat dragged in,” she said.

  “Morning.” He bent to kiss her cheek. “Did you hear we have a new baby in the family?”

  “I did. Molly called me earlier to share the happy news. Where’d you sleep last night?”

  “Aunt Molly’s sofa.”

  “You’re spending a lot of time over there this week.”

  “Yep.”

  “What’s going on, Gray?”

  “Why’re you asking me that when you already know what’s going on?”

  “You’re getting awfully involved with a woman who lives so far from where you do.”

  “I don’t actually live here yet.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means,” Grayson said, “that I’m keeping my options open.”

  “Since when? You left Boston intending to open a practice here, and now your options are open?”

  “That’s what I said.”

  “Grayson… How well can you possibly know her after only a couple of days?”

  “Better than I’ve ever known any woman.” As he said the words, he realized they were true. He’d shared more with her than he had with anyone he’d ever dated, and knew she’d done the same with him.

  His mother stared at him. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I hate to remind you that I’m thirty-six years old, and I certainly know the difference between something special and something not worth taking a chance on. This, with Emma and Simone, is something special.”

  “And you already know that for sure.”

  “I do.”

  She shook her head. “I thought you were smarter than that.”

  “It’s not fair for you to project your disappointments onto me or anyone else, for that matter. Just because it didn’t work out for you doesn’t mean anyone who takes a chance on love is a fool.”

  “Wow. How long have you wanted to say that to me?”

  “Only since you inferred that I’m a fool for knowing something special and different when I encounter it.”

  “It’s your life. I can’t and won’t tell you how to live it.”

  “That’s good to know, but I’d like to think I’d have your support in whatever I choose to do with my life.”

  “You always have.” She got up to refill her coffee cup. “I’m sorry if you feel that I’m not being supportive. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  “I know that, but I refuse to live my life in fear of what might happen.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “Emma thinks you don’t like her.”

  His mother turned to face him. “I don’t dislike her. I barely know her.”

  “Give her a chance. For my sake. Please make her feel welcome in our family.”

  “Of course I will, if she’s what you want.”

  “I think she might be.”

  “Just be careful not to risk more than you can afford to lose. I wouldn’t wish that kind of heartbreak on anyone, especially you.”

  “I hear you. Do you have Lucas’s phone number handy?”

  “Yeah, it’s in the book by the phone.”

  “Great, thanks.”

  “By the way, Noah called earlier, looking for you. He said he needs to talk to you about something.”

  “He didn’t say what?”

  “Not to me.”

  “Okay, I’ll run by his house when I leave here.” Grayson placed the call to his cousin Lucas, asking for his help in securing the surprise for Simone.

  “You’ve come to the right place,” Lucas said. “Meet me at the Christmas tree farm in an hour. I’ll set you up.”

  “You’re the best. Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  Grayson went upstairs to shower and shave. In the bottom drawer of the dresser that’d been his until he left for college, he uncovered an old set of thermal underwear and put that on under his clothes.

  In the downstairs closet, he found a wool blanket and the parka he kept at his mother’s for skiing and other winter activities in Vermont.

  “I made muffins earlier if you want to take some,” his mother said when he returned to the kitchen.

  “Chocolate chip?”

  “Is there any other kind?”

  “Not in this house. I’d love to take a few.”

  She packed them up for him and handed him a bag.

  Grayson kissed her forehead. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Have a nice time.”

  “I will. See you later.” He went out to his SUV and stashed the blanket and muffins in the backseat and then drove down the street to Noah’s house, parking behind the big truck his brother used for work.

  Noah met him at the door, wearing his usual winter uniform of plaid flannel and jeans. His dark blond hair was wet from a recent shower and his face freshly shaven, but as usual since his divorce, his gray eyes were wary and an aura of bitterness surrounded him that reminded Gray of their mother. “Come in,” he said to Grayson. “You want coffee?”

  “I wouldn’t mind one more cup.”

  Noah poured the coffee and put it on the kitchen table along with a container of half-and-half. “You want sugar?”

  “Nah, the cream is fine. Mom said you wanted to see me?”

  Noah leaned back
against the counter and took a sip of his own coffee. “I saw Dad.”

  Shocked, Grayson said, “Where?”

  “I was up in Westmore for a job. Ran into him at a lunch place there.”

  “He’s living in freaking Westmore?” Could he really be that close to the family he’d abandoned?

  “Apparently, he’s been there all along. He said he tried to reach you through your office in Boston.”

  Grayson tried to wrap his brain around that info. “No, he didn’t. They would’ve told me if anyone tried to reach me.”

  “He didn’t leave a message.”

  “What’d he want?”

  “To tell us he’s sick. He has leukemia.”

  “Oh.” Grayson had no idea how he was supposed to feel about that.

  “And he wanted to know if we’d consider being tested for a potential bone marrow transplant.”

  Grayson heard the words his brother said, but his brain refused to process them. His dad needed a bone marrow transplant, and he wanted the children he’d abandoned twenty years ago to be tested.

  “Gray?”

  He looked at his brother. “What about his siblings?”

  “None of them were a match.”

  “What did you say when he asked you?”

  “Nothing, really. He gave me his number and told me to call him if anyone would be willing.”

  “I can’t even believe he’d have the nerve to ask us.”

  “I suppose nerve doesn’t factor in when facing a possibly terminal illness.”

  “I won’t do it. I wouldn’t cross the street to talk to him let alone give him my fucking bone marrow.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “What does that mean? You’re going to do it?”

  “Haven’t decided yet. We need to tell the others. Everyone can make up their own minds.”

  “I’ll let you spread the word. I want nothing to do with it.”

  “Okay.”

  Grayson drained his coffee cup and got up to put it in the sink. “Thanks for the coffee.”

  “Any time.”

  He couldn’t get out of there fast enough and took greedy deep breaths of the cold air, wishing he could pretend the last ten minutes had never happened. He was far better off not knowing where his father was or anything else for that matter. And for Mike Coleman to expect his children to step up for him when he’d abandoned them… The very thought of it sparked the kind of red-hot rage he hadn’t felt in years and would be happy to never experience again.