“Ms. Russell,” the judge summoned, “does Mrs. Addison’s story match what you’ve understood to be true?”

“Not exactly, no,” Hannah said. “Erin didn’t describe it as one falling-out that caused them to be estranged. Erin told us her mother was emotionally abusive and her brother was sometimes physically abusive. Before her death, even before her will was written, she was adamant that she would never be in the same town much less same house as her mother and brother. That’s the main reason she made her home in Madison and not Minneapolis, where we all grew up. And it wasn’t as though Roger was in a little trouble—he’s been arrested and convicted on felonies and imprisoned multiple times. He’s scary and dangerous. Erin didn’t trust her mother to keep Noah safe.”

“We?” the judge asked. “You said where ‘we’ all grew up.”

“Yes, sir. There were four of us from Minneapolis in college together. Best friends and confidantes. We were very close. We all shared stories of our growing-up years. Erin’s sounded especially hard.” She took a breath. “We’ve been best friends for seventeen years, Your Honor. Our friend Kate came to Colorado to help with this hearing if she could, but Sharon is about to have a baby and can’t be here. I believe you have her deposition. We were all together a lot. I’ve been close to Noah since the day he was born.”

“You know Mrs. Addison, then?” the judge asked.

“No, sir. I think I met her once in college but since I don’t recognize her now, I’m not sure I remember accurately. Even if we did meet once, I can’t say I know anything but what Erin told us. She didn’t come to the funeral.”

“And you, young woman—Kate. Did you know Mrs. Addison?”

“I met her once when we were in college,” Kate said. “We were all at the funeral, of course. We were pretty disappointed that Mrs. Addison didn’t even come.”

The judge frowned and looked at Mrs. Addison.

“I wasn’t even informed until the day before the event. I was completely devastated, Your Honor,” the woman said. “I couldn’t get out of bed for days.”

“My deepest sympathy, ma’am,” he said. Then he looked at Hannah. “Since her next of kin didn’t even attend, who made the arrangements? You?”

“Of course,” she said. “We—the three of us—planned it according to Erin’s wishes, took care of the details and took care of Noah. Your Honor, Noah is doing well. He’s in physical therapy for his cerebral palsy and in grief counseling and he misses his mother but he’s coping very well. We’re managing better every day. He didn’t even know he had a grandmother.”

“Oh, Your Honor, I would give anything for a second chance,” Victoria Addison said tearfully. “Any kind of second chance! Please!”

“Mrs. Addison, it doesn’t comfort me much to know you were so distraught over your daughter’s death that you couldn’t even attend her funeral. I would be concerned about a child in your care if your constitution is fragile.”

“I was afraid to go,” she whimpered. “They all hate me! My daughter told her friends that I was a horrible mother and I couldn’t face them in a public setting. I admit, I made mistakes, but I loved my daughter. You can’t imagine the pain of not having made amends and getting to know Noah before she was gone!”

“I’m sure you have many regrets,” he said. “I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I couldn’t bear it if they weren’t in my life.” He looked at Hannah. “Family is important. It’s also complicated and sometimes difficult. I’ve seen some impossible situations in this court. Since none of you actually witnessed firsthand the relationship Ms. Waters had with her mother, my scope is limited. Would you consider visitation? Let little Noah have a chance to meet and visit with his maternal grandmother?”

Hannah shook her head and said, “No, Your Honor. Erin was explicit. She didn’t want her son mixed up with her family. She didn’t trust her mother or half brother.”

“That’s understandable, given the experience she described,” the judge said. “She wrote a very detailed account of the difficulties she had with her mother and half brother. But I would suggest a couple of supervised visits. I can assure you, neither his safety nor custody are at risk, but he should meet his grandmother and she should meet her grandson. For all we know, that could be the end of it. Or they could form some kind of bond of friendship. Maybe something more positive than what we have.”

“Oh, Your Honor!” Victoria said, clasping her hands in front of her. “Oh God!”

“The court can arrange for someone from Social Services to supervise, or if you have family or friends who—”

“I’d be happy to supervise,” Cal said. “Mr. Renwick is welcome to join us if he’d like.”

“Mrs. Addison, I’m going out on a limb here. I’m not sure exactly what kind of relationship you’ve had with your kids but it sounds as if it has been very troubled. I think everyone deserves a chance, however. A very limited chance. Not a reversal of verdicts, but a chance to get acquainted. Briefly acquainted...”

“Your Honor, I was praying for at least joint custody,” Victoria blurted.

“Madam, I would appreciate it if you would not interrupt. There is one thing I will insist upon—this brief visitation is only for you. Your son isn’t invited, is that clear? Your daughter was afraid of him and it sounds like she had good reason. He is not accorded visitation and you are not allowed to take the minor child out of this county. In fact, you can’t take him anywhere without Ms. Russell’s and my permission. You can visit with him at a location chosen by his guardian and her attorney. Let’s say two visits, not to exceed two hours each. Then we’ll meet again.”

“But, Your Honor, I live in Minneapolis! And Noah is here at some rented lake house with Hannah!”

“Very well,” he said. “No visitation it is.” He raised his gavel.

“No!” she said. “I’ll stay. I’ll stay as long as I can at least see Noah.”

“There you go,” the judge said. “Wasn’t that easy?”

* * *

It didn’t feel easy to Hannah. It was not her desired outcome. She wanted Mrs. Addison and her son to just go away and leave them alone.

The judge picked a date in two weeks and a second date in three weeks, a next court date in a month. Mrs. Addison tried to convince him to get it all done in a week and Judge Vincente said that wouldn’t work for him. He stuck stubbornly to his dates. And he was firm.

Cal suggested a cup of coffee before everyone headed home. He whispered to Hannah that she could have anyone she felt comfortable discussing the court appearance with to join them. Hannah invited Helen and, of course, Owen and Kate were there, as well. Cal directed them into a coffee shop on the main street.

“Kate, I’m so sorry,” Hannah said. “You came all this way for a hearing and it might’ve been a waste of your time. You were barely allowed to speak.”

“I didn’t have much to offer, but I think it’s clear to the judge that we were all very close for years, that Erin’s wishes are being followed and that Erin knew her son would be safe with you.”

“But why did he order visitation?” she said.

“Two supervised visits,” Cal said. “I don’t have the court order yet—I’ll pick it up on Monday. But it’s a couple of short visits. Do you think a woman who couldn’t even be bothered to go to her own daughter’s funeral is going to hang around in a town where she has no job and no friends to have a few hours of supervised visits with the grandson she’s never known? Judge Vincente might be making the idea of having a second chance with her grandson so difficult that she gives up. He was very straightforward—it will be brief, it will be supervised and it will not change the custody arrangement. On the other hand, he might be testing her—maybe she’s seen the light and just wants a relationship with the boy and will make personal sacrifices to have that. The judge is crafty—I wouldn’t underestimate him. I’m telling you, this judge’s decisions stand. He might look like a sweet little old grandpa but he’s tough. Respected. Beloved.”

“Do you think it’s possible Victoria really does have regrets?” Hannah asked. “What if she has turned herself around and has become loving?”

“Leigh and I are best friends and we are devoted to each other,” Helen said. “But we’ve had a standoff or two. If I’d lost my niece before I had a chance to work things out with her, I’d be devastated. But that being said, it would never have taken me five years to work through a problem. Even if Victoria has somehow become a sweet and caring grandmother, you will still be Noah’s guardian. I’m afraid the woman has given up her rights by staying away too long.”

“That’s right,” Cal said. “You’re a good parent and this arrangement was decided by Erin. It’s very cooperative of you to put up with Victoria’s visit, giving her a chance to know Noah. But that’s all. We won’t let you be coerced or bullied. You’re going to be surrounded by people, including me, who watch every second of the visit. And I’m going to deepen my background check on her. Something is missing.”

“She’s a little too slick,” Helen said, stirring cream into her coffee. “She doesn’t have the look of a woman who wants to be a cuddly grandmother.”

“She looks so young and beautiful,” Kate said.

“That’s not the look I’m referring to. Beautiful and youthful women can be loving and devoted grandmothers, fun grandmothers. I didn’t buy the tears or the pleas of regret and I absolutely don’t believe she was afraid to come to the funeral because she had a notion everyone hated her. Where would she get an idea like that? She didn’t know you. You weren’t in touch with her at all. If she wanted to know her grandson, why didn’t she show up the moment she heard of her daughter’s death and beg for a chance to see him, get to know him? She should have been at her daughter’s house before the funeral. I would have been in the car and driving inside thirty minutes! What’s the drive? Four hours or less? Yet she wasn’t even heard from. I’ll tell you why—because Erin’s death was completely unexpected and I’d bet my next royalty check that when she heard Erin had died she was terrified she’d get stuck with a kid and that’s why she hid out. A kid on crutches, yet. I bet she was worried about what Erin’s death might’ve cost her. Then something changed. Could she have found out there was an inheritance?”