Now the conversation among the adults was quieter. Relaxed.

“I love this place so much,” Sheila said. “Owen, how do you get any work done?”

“Living like this is the only way to get anything done. There’s no unnecessary pressure, the weather cooperates more than not, it’s moderate year-round and there aren’t a lot of people to distract me.”

“And you enjoy your own company,” Sheila reflected.

“Lately I just put up with my own company. Hannah has been helping me mat pictures and frame and even do some photo editing and I’ve found working with someone is pretty great, too.”

“But how does Hannah like that?” Sheila asked, looking at Hannah.

“It’s fun,” she said. “It gives me something to do. I have to think about working again. I’ve been on family leave since March.”

“And what’s your line of work?” Sheila asked.

“Sales,” Hannah said, then went on to explain her product and territory. “I like sales and I’m good at it, but I’m a little bored with it after a dozen years. I’m a sales manager now so I’m not in the field as much. I manage sales reps.”

“What’s that like?”

“They’re all young men so it’s a little like herding cats. And a whole lot of paperwork,” Hannah said. “The upside is I don’t have to constantly worry about my commissions and sales figures, but the downside is I have to worry about the sales figures of the whole team. I make more money on a salary than I did as a sales rep. But I have to run herd on a bunch of men with a lot of personality.”

“Are they successful?” Lucas asked.

“They are,” Hannah said. “And also rambunctious. I feel like a housemother sometimes.”

Sheila laughed. “Great training for inheriting a son!”

“I guess so,” she said. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

* * *

They had three days of fun before Victoria’s visit. When the men had the kids in the lake, Hannah and Sheila went into town for a little tour and lunch. Hannah asked Sheila if she was up to company and Sheila said she was, so Hannah called Sierra and Leigh and they all met at the pub. When Sheila explained who she was and the reason for her visit, Sierra and Leigh were fascinated that exes could be so friendly.

The next day Hannah took Sheila on a hike and they visited Helen at the Crossing. Helen quizzed Sheila more about her work. The kids swam and caught fish, ran and played all day and ended each day with dinner cooked by Lucas and Owen, then a movie for the kids and a fire for the adults.

“And tomorrow is Victoria,” Hannah said. “Even though the judge promised her visit would have no impact on our custody arrangement, I’m nervous.”

“And I have some news,” Owen said. “My sister called and when I told her Sheila and family were here, she invoked sister rights. Mary is coming the day after tomorrow. Just for the day, with at least the kids and maybe her husband, too.”

“That will be wonderful,” Sheila said. “Have you met Owen’s sister yet? She’s fantastic!”

“This family,” Hannah said. “You are so remarkable! I have two half sisters I can’t even get along with and rarely even talk to. And the reason I have Noah is that Erin and her mother had been estranged for years. Yet you guys—after all you’ve been through...”

“We’re very lucky to be good friends,” Sheila said. “Maybe it’s because of losing Brayden. We couldn’t waste energy on divorce squabbles. It was like that was the least of our problems. We had more serious concerns. We had no idea what our lives would look like without being together, without Brayden. What will your life look like, Hannah?”

She closed her eyes to think. “I keep trying to see it and all I see is sunshine on the lake, snow on the mountains, deer in the yard.” She opened her eyes. “I can hear Noah and Owen laughing together so I know they’re part of my new life but I don’t know what work I’ll do or where I’ll find the instincts I’ll need to raise Noah, but he’s there in my future everywhere I look.

“When I think about Noah facing Victoria, I feel a lot of warrior tendencies.”

Sheila laughed. “That’s a good sign. For you, not necessarily for Victoria.”

“I can’t fail Noah now,” Hannah said.

“You won’t. Listen to that quiet inside voice and trust it. If you start to smell an ill wind, wrap your strong mother arms around him and keep him safe. When and if that time comes, you’ll make all the right choices.” She smiled and squeezed Hannah’s hand. “I’m so glad Owen found you. And I can’t wait to meet Victoria,” Sheila said. “Are you sure it’s all right that we’re here? We can take the kids on some outing for a while, just to give you privacy.”

“We don’t want privacy,” Owen said. “It’s a supervised visit. The lawyer will also be here. We’ll make sure she gets her time with Noah, but not be alone with him. If Noah’s mother didn’t trust her, neither should we.”

Sheila smiled. “Oh, my. The grandmother has no idea what she’s gotten herself into with you.”

“And that suits me fine,” Hannah said. “I can be very brave when I have to be but I’ll be the first to admit, I haven’t always been skeptical enough. I’m inclined to be too trusting. Not this time, though.”

We are all travelers in the wilderness

of this world, and the best we can find

in our travels is an honest friend.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

11

Victoria Addison arrived at Owen’s house at ten in the morning, looking fresh for a day at the lake. She wore denim capris, a sleeveless shirt with a sweater over her shoulders and a straw hat on her head. She carried a large canvas beach bag.

Hannah had been waiting on the porch with her gallery of friends—Owen, Cal, Sheila, Lucas, Jenny and Amber. Cal explained that for the visit to be useful, someone had to be with Noah and Victoria, listening to their conversation and observing their behavior. To that end, Hannah went down the porch stairs to meet her as she approached the house.

“Hello, Mrs. Addison,” Hannah said, sticking out her hand. In her head she was pretending Victoria was a difficult manager from the human resources department—that was the only way she could work it out in her mind. When someone from Human Resources visited you at work, they might be wearing a pleasant expression but something was up—like maybe you were getting fired. Or maybe just disciplined or warned of a complaint directed at one of your staff. On the other hand, they might be coming to tell you about a complimentary letter from a customer that would go in your file. “It’s nice of you to visit. This is Noah.”

“Oh, Noah!” Victoria said, a little surprise in her voice as she took in the crutches. “I’d know you anywhere,” she said, bending at the waist even though Noah was still on the porch.

“You would?” Noah asked. “I wouldn’t of knowed you.”

“Of course,” she said. “Your mother used to send me pictures.”

“She did? You never came to our house,” he said.

Hannah thought, I don’t even have to be sneaky. Noah didn’t even realize it but he was astute. Nothing got by him, including the lovely Mrs. Addison.

“Well, that’s a complicated story,” she said. “But I’m happy to be able to spend time with you now. I’ve brought some things for you.” She looked around with a slight frown. “Where shall we go to have our visit?”

Right at that moment Romeo loped down the steps to the yard and nosed right up against Victoria. She gasped and retreated, giving the big dog’s head a shove away from her. Romeo sat, looking dejected.

“This is Romeo, Mrs. Addison,” Hannah said. “He’s very sweet and friendly.”

“And awfully big!” she said.

“We don’t ever push him or hit him,” Noah said. “He’s a little clumsy but he doesn’t have a mean bone.”

“Of course he doesn’t,” she said, stretching out a hand to tentatively pat the big head. “He startled me, that’s all.”

“Wait till he knocks you in the lake,” Noah said. “Then you’ll be surprised for sure.”

Victoria laughed uncomfortably. “You have quite a gathering. Am I imposing? I could reschedule our meeting when there aren’t so many people.”

“You’re not imposing. These are our friends. You’ve already met Mr. Jones. Lucas is going to take the girls inside. The rest of us are going to play a game of cards at the table out here while you and Noah visit on this end of the porch. You have the chairs and the swing. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Soda?”

“Are we to get acquainted with an entire crowd observing us?” she asked as she came up the steps.

Cal stood. “Give it five minutes and you won’t feel awkward at all. The whole point is that you and Noah will be observed. I suggested your lawyer join us.”

“And I suggested he not,” she said. “I wasn’t prepared for this...this...gallery!”

“It’s a long porch,” Cal said. “We won’t interrupt you.”

Lucas hustled his girls into the house while Sheila and Owen walked to the table at the far end of the porch.

“This is the only option,” Hannah said. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to drink?”

Victoria ignored her and just put a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Let’s go sit on the swing and let me show you some of the things I brought. Can we do that? Is that all right?”

“I guess so,” he said.

“Come on, then. I’ve looked forward to this for a long time.”

Noah said nothing. He crutched his way to the porch swing.

Hannah felt as if her heart was being torn from her chest. She could feel the ache penetrating deep; her throat hurt from fighting the urge to cry. She was probably going to spend a long afternoon talking with Noah, trying to sort things out with him.