Page 50 of The Butler

Linc pulled me close and wrapped me in his arms, whispering into my ear. “There are a lot of things you’ve taught me, Mr. Dalton. Least of which is being a better person to others. Brock is hurting and I get that. He needs a hand up and I can do that.”

Linc let me go and leaned against the countertop. “See what love can do?” I asked. He nodded and then shook his head side to side. “What?” I asked.

“I love you,” he said. “I love everything about you.” Paul walked into the kitchen and saw us and began backing out of the kitchen. “Hang on, Paul. Come here real quick,” Linc asked, holding his arm up for Paul to step into. Paul begrudgingly let Linc place his arms around his shoulders. “I know, Paul. You abhor touching but please come closer.”

Paul was his usual stiff self. “Very well, sir,” he agreed.

“What are you up to, Linc?” I asked, laughing at how uncomfortable Paul was. “Leave poor Paul alone.”

“Tell him, Paul,” Linc said, pulling him even closer against him and leaning his head onto his shoulder.

“Tell me what?” I asked.

“I want Paul to tell you who woke me up from my stupidity after I left the ship that day and insisted that I tell you how I truly felt about you.”

I stared at Paul in disbelief. “You did that, Paul?”

He nodded.

Linc tapped Paul’s chest with his free hand. “He sure did. He made me believe I should take a chance and that I was worth loving, didn’t you, buddy?” Linc teased, adjusting Paul’s tie and elbowing him gently. “What else did you agree with me about, Paul?” he continued.

I stepped toward Paul with tears in my eyes. I knew how difficult it had been for Linc to show up at the airport and reveal his love for me, and it seemed that Paul knew that too. Linc had spent the past two years since that day telling me what I meant to him. We’d known each other for such a short time then, yet we both knew we felt something big between us. An impossible opportunity with little to go on had worked out and we were solid, both of us having a confidence in love that neither had experienced before.

“Tell him, Paul,” Linc urged.

In typical dry Paul speak, and with zero fanfare, he spoke. “He wants to marry you, Mr. Dalton, and I happen to concur.”

My eyes darted between Linc and Paul before I reached for and held each of their hands, tears streaming down my face. This odd trio of men was my found family now. “On one condition, Paul,” I began, glancing at my man.

Linc’s eyes widened in anticipation.

Paul was as cool as a cucumber, of course.

“You stay on indefinitely with us, Paul,” I dared, “and if you agree to that, then I’ll marry your boy, Linc.”

Paul studied my face carefully, taking his time deciding on my request, perhaps truly understanding the message I was sending to him. “Congratulations, Mr. Dalton. I can do that.” Paul turned to the man he’d cared for since Linc was born. “I told you, sir. This boy is a keeper.”

THE END