The cave was incredible. There was a large lake and a sandy beach on which they camped two nights, parts that were dark and narrow, a rain forest, an area that was so high a fifty-story building could fit under the dome. A Vietnamese guide who Owen was sure had never been to New York City said that a New York City block could fit inside the cave. The flora was magnificent; there were exotic birds sighted.

When Owen was asked about his life at home, he said that he had a woman and her little boy living with him and he assumed they would be together forever. “Marriage?” they asked.

“I will do anything to make her happy,” he said.

After emerging from the cave, he cleaned up in a visitor’s center, showering and changing clothes. He headed straight to the airport. He carried on his camera and computer equipment, checked his backpack full of mostly dirty clothes. He was exhausted. Ordinarily he would spend a couple of days resting, hydrating, sampling local cuisine and getting back to his fighting strength, but he had pared this trip to the bone, so ready to be with his woman again. His woman and his boy. He sat on the plane during the delayed departure and plugged one card after another into his tablet—not the best viewing medium—and was amazed by the beauty of the photos. He had been so unfocused, they shouldn’t be this good. He couldn’t wait to show Hannah.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Denver was over twenty hours. They touched down at ten at night. He didn’t text Hannah. He just got his backpack, his car, and headed home, knowing they would be asleep. But when he got to the house, all the lights were on even though it was midnight.

He went inside, dropped his duffel and backpack. “Honey, I’m home,” he said quietly.

Hannah unfolded from the couch and ran into his arms. Romeo nosed open Noah’s door and joined the party.

“Why are you up?” he asked, kissing her whole face.

“I was watching your flight online and knew you were on your way. Noah couldn’t make it. I carried him to bed a couple of hours ago.”

“You feel so good,” he said, his lips going to her neck.

“Did you have a wonderful time?” she asked.

“I’m having a wonderful time right now,” he said. Romeo was trying to edge between them, pushing until Owen gave him some attention. That done, he was kissing her again.

There was the sound of bump-shuffle-bump and they turned to see Noah coming toward them on his crutches. “Hey, buddy, did I wake you?” Owen asked, bending to pick him up. Noah dropped the crutches and looped his arms around Owen’s neck, hugging him tightly.

“It’s okay,” Noah said. “We got you some ice cream.”

“Would you like some?” Owen asked. “Ice cream at midnight?”

“I could do that,” Noah said.

Owen ruffled his hair. “I’m going to want something a little stronger. I’m not sure what day it is. I think it’s yesterday.” He maneuvered over to the couch, sitting with Noah on his lap. “My legs are about a foot too long for sleeping on airplanes, even in first class. Hannah, will you play waitress just this once?”

“Gotcha covered,” she said, heading for the kitchen.

“Was the cave good?” Noah asked. “Was it hard?”

“The guides and porters were outstanding but there were places we had to crawl or climb or even swim. It was like a difficult hike. One of the friends I made was a sixty-eight-year-old man from China and he was stronger and more able than I was.”

“I won’t ever be able to do that...”

“Actually, I think you will,” Owen said. “It’s going to take some more good muscle and training but you have time—that cave isn’t open to the public yet and they’re not letting kids go on that expedition. But you will do everything you want to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if you climb Mount Everest someday. The way you’re training and exercising now... Yes, sir, by the time you’re grown a little more...”

Hannah delivered a bowl of ice cream and a Crown Royal on ice. Then she curled up on the sofa against Owen and just listened to him talk about the cave. They were a big pile—Noah on Owen’s lap, Romeo’s head on Owen’s thigh, Hannah pressed against them.

“We’ll look at the pictures tomorrow,” Owen said. “And I think we’re all going to have to sleep in. Hear that, Romeo? That means you, too.”

“What was the best part of the cave?” Noah asked.

“There were lots of best parts. The cave is so big... There’s a lake and a sandy beach inside. We camped on the beach. We had cooks making our meals and night on the beach was so beautiful. There were passages so tight we had to crawl and places so wide-open you could build a house in there.”

“Did you have a boat on the lake?”

“No boat,” Owen said. “Maybe it was too hard to get it in the cave. Or maybe they didn’t want it in the cave. It was beautiful.”

Noah asked question after question while he ate his ice cream and Owen sipped his drink. It was about fifteen minutes before Owen took the empty bowl out of Noah’s hands and put it on the coffee table. Noah curled up, his head on Owen’s shoulder, and yawned hugely.

“Someone is very tired,” Owen said.

“It’s me,” Noah said, yawning again.

Owen shifted him a little bit, settling him against his chest, where he quickly fell asleep. He slid his other arm around Hannah, drawing her near. He proved very talented, holding Noah against his chest, his drink in that hand, his other arm embracing his woman. “Ah. It is so good to be home.”

When Hannah didn’t say anything, he just cuddled her closer. Then he heard a sound and looked down to see that her cheeks were wet. “Are you crying?” he whispered.

“I just wish it could be like this always,” she said with a sniff.

“If we want to, we can make it so,” he said, dropping a kiss on her brow.

She turned her dark, wet eyes up to his face. “Mrs. Addison,” she whispered. “She filed for custody. Here. She’s going to try.”

“You called Cal?” he asked softly.

She nodded. “I went to see him. We’re going to be gathering ammunition. Witnesses. There is going to be a hearing. He says a hearing is nothing to fear.”

“We’ll make this work,” Owen said. “We won’t let go. Don’t worry.”

She touched the angry muscle in his cheek with gentle fingers. “Owen, it’s not your fight. It’s mine.”

He was quiet for a moment. “You know better than that,” he said.

* * *

Owen held them both through the night. Hannah could tell he didn’t sleep much. He was still but there was a tenseness in his body that revealed a carefully concealed restlessness. She woke a few times and looked at him and he looked right back at her. “It’s all right,” he said. “Just sleep.” Once she rose in the morning, he was up right behind her, but he tucked the covers around Noah before pulling on sweatpants and following her to the kitchen.

They were quiet while Hannah made coffee. When two cups were brewed, Hannah sat down at the table with him. “I can’t lose him,” she said in a whisper.

“You won’t,” he said, covering her hand with his. “I don’t want to invade your territory but I want to help if I can. You have to speak up, Hannah. You have to tell me what you can allow me to do.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“Well, I’ve been away. This has happened in my absence. I’d like to talk to Cal, ask some questions, find out what his strategy is. But you’re the client. If you’d like me to do that, you’ll have to tell him so.”

“We can go see him together, if you want.”

“Do you want my help? Is it all right that I’m involved?”

She thought about what he’d been through, losing his own son as he had. Would he be traumatized? Could he be so overprotective that his rational thinking was slipping? Or would his own experience make him even more helpful? But the objective thinking was up to Cal, who had experience in this sort of thing.

“I would like your opinion but I don’t want to be a burden,” she said.

He shook his head. “You didn’t bring trouble to my door, Hannah. You came here with your boy, I love both of you and I want to be part of your lives. Just tell me if I’m too involved. Tell me if I need to back away.”

“I will,” she said. “Right now I really do need your support. I’m scared, Owen.”

“Is it all right to call Cal? I’d like to hear his ideas.”

She nodded. “He filed for a continuance to gather together the people who knew Erin and Noah and Erin’s plans for Noah. He said he also hoped to be talking to some people who know the Addisons. He should be in touch about the date of the hearing soon. Like within a day or two.”

Owen talked with Cal but had very little additional information to report to Hannah. The court date was set for just three days later. There was a rush to get plane tickets for their witnesses. Judd was able to put together a deposition from the babysitter, Linda. Kate was on her way but Sharon had to be excused, as her due date was upon her. Sharon was deposed at home. Kate was bringing clothes from Hannah’s house—business attire for her to wear to court.

Then there was Noah. Some kind of explanation had be made but she didn’t want him to be worried. While they were reading in the hammock, she broached the subject.

“Aunt Kate is coming tomorrow for a very short visit,” Hannah said. “I have to go to the court to wrap up a few loose ends about my legal guardianship of you. Just some minor legal details.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because you and Owen whisper a lot.”

Oh, he was so smart. “I’m not worried about anything, but I do have to go to court and you really can’t go. Court can be long and boring so Sully said you can spend the morning with him. And if it takes longer than the morning, he will bring you back over here to let Romeo out. We’ve been talking about going to court because Owen wants to go with me.”