It was her plan to seek custody and with that, gain at least a large share of whatever inheritance belonged to Noah.

But then she discovered Owen. Not only was he clearly well-to-do, he was fond of the boy. She researched him and learned he had lost his own son years before, a fact that would make him much more vulnerable. Hopefully he would be very helpful in making Victoria go away. All it would take was money.

Of course Victoria would have to have some leverage. She was pondering which of her many talents she would employ.

She had one more supervised visit with the boy. After that the judge would rule on what kind of relationship she would be allowed to have with him.

Love is composed of a single

soul inhabiting two bodies.

—Aristotle

12

The first week in August brought the second visit from Victoria. It was not as tense as the first, though Hannah, Owen and Cal were all on hand. Noah made it two whole hours before complaining, but he did ask Owen if they could show Victoria the dock so she could see the fish swimming and jumping.

Victoria was full of questions for Noah: What was his favorite thing to watch on TV? What was his favorite thing to do in school? What did he want to be when he grew up? What did he read? Were there any sports he could play even though he was using crutches and braces? “Sometimes I pole vault,” he said.

When Victoria said, “Really?” Owen snorted a laugh.

Hannah was not going to relax until their next visit with the judge was over, even though Cal continuously tried to reassure her that her guardianship was not in jeopardy. But this time the judge wanted to meet Noah prior to their hearing. The attorneys were present for the ten-minute meeting.

“What did he ask you, Noah?” Hannah asked when he returned to her. “Was it okay? Were you scared?”

“No, I wasn’t scared. He’s old like Sully. He has pictures of kids all over his office and he said he has about a million grandkids. He asked me if I enjoyed seeing my grandma and I said it was okay. I told him I used good manners.”

“You were exceptional,” Hannah agreed. “Anything else?”

“He asked me if I’d like to see her again and I said...” He stopped and hung his head. “I said it wasn’t that much fun. But he laughed so I think we’re okay. Then he said it was very nice to meet me and asked, ‘Was I looking forward to school?’ and I said I didn’t know because it would be a new school. Have you decided yet, Hannah? Because I know what I want to do.”

She laughed. “I know what you want to do, too,” she said. “Don’t put pressure on me yet—it’s a hard decision.”

So the day came that they went back to court. There were only the original complaints—the suit for custody and motion to dismiss. Judge Vincente’s courtroom was pretty low-key and casual.

“Did you have a couple of nice visits with your grandson, Mrs. Addison?” he asked Victoria.

“I tried,” she said. “It was a little difficult being watched as if I’d steal something or beat my grandson.”

“I hope you’re satisfied that he’s happy, healthy and in good hands. Here’s where I’d like to leave the whole issue, unless your attorneys want to throw a lot of paper at me. Hannah Russell will retain sole custody, just as I told you would happen. Ms. Russell will provide her cell phone number to you and you may use it to inquire about Noah. Not to harass her but to politely inquire. Perhaps you’ll even want to say hello to him. Maybe you’d like to see him sometime in the future, but that is at the sole discretion of his guardian and under only the conditions in which she feels comfortable. Be sensitive, Mrs. Addison. Ms. Russell also needs time to bond with Noah.

“I’ve been in situations like this before, Mrs. Addison. Different details in the circumstances, of course, but similar in many ways. If you tread carefully and respect the boundaries Noah’s guardian has established, there may come a time you can see or talk to Noah more often and establish some rapport. Remember him at Christmas and on his birthday. Have you done that before?”

“Of course!” Victoria said. “But my daughter was angry with me and probably didn’t tell him I sent gifts.”

Judge Vincente frowned. “I see,” he said. “Well, that takes care of our business. Sole custody to Ms. Russell, supervised visitation upon approval by Ms. Russell. Have a good day, everyone.”

Hannah almost collapsed in relief.

It was no surprise that there were others waiting for the news. Cal had calls from Sully and Maggie; Hannah had turned off her phone during court, and when she turned it back on, there was a message from Leigh Shandon.

Noah had stayed at the Crossing with Sully and Helen, so by the time Hannah, Owen and Cal got there, an impromptu party was just getting started. Leigh and her baby showed up after her clinic hours were over. Cal called Maggie and she came with Elizabeth. Sierra came with her children, and Connie and a couple of firefighters came by. Owen drove around the lake to his house to fetch Romeo, the only guest who couldn’t get there on his own. Everyone gathered around the front porch of Sully’s house, leaving the porch at the store for the campers. The store was being tended by a couple of the Canaday kids who often worked there, with Sully popping over often to make sure they were doing all right.

Everyone decided simultaneously they could throw together dinner from what was on hand. Helen brought out some burgers and chicken breasts. Maggie and Hannah raided the garden and steamed vegetables and created an enormous salad.

“Is it really over?” Sierra asked Hannah.

“Cal said Victoria would have to have a profound reason to revisit the issue, like if Noah were being abused. Even if Victoria lied, Noah wouldn’t let her get away with it.” She shook her head and laughed. “I knew Noah was smart, but you have no idea how intuitive he is. He pretty much trapped her in lies during their first visit. It took me a second to realize he was actually testing her, asking her questions about his mother. She didn’t have the right answers and he was done.”

“How do you feel now?” Sierra asked.

“Like all my bones are made of tissue paper! Noah and I have been a team for five months now. I still miss Erin so much but every night I say a little prayer of thanks, hoping she’s on the party line and can hear me. I will fight for Noah to the death.”

“Welcome aboard, Hannah,” Sierra said. “You’re a mom.”

* * *

After Noah went to bed that night, Hannah and Owen snuggled up on the couch and whispered about their relief.

“There’s really nowhere else for her to go to attempt getting custody. But we’re going to have to pay attention. Even if she does just want a chance to be a grandmother, I’m planning to give her a wide berth, I think,” Hannah said.

“She doesn’t look at all like what I was expecting,” Owen said. “I guess I’d built her into some kind of monster in my mind. She looks harmless. She’s attractive and well-spoken. She did some convincing crying in the courtroom during that first hearing.”

“I had a friend in high school who could do that,” Hannah said. “She could turn it on and off at will. I lost track of her. I bet she shows up on the Oscars someday.”

“I think you’re actually lighter,” he said, giving her a playful jostle. “Not a tense muscle in your body weighing you down.”

“I’m floating...”

“And by the way, it’s August. We have gotten through two custody scares and school starts in less than a month.”

She bit her lip and turned her head to look up at him. “I’m pretty nervous. Is it me or is it Noah? Because it’s understandable that you’d feel protective of a lost little boy after losing your own son.”

He bent to press a kiss on her lips. “I need to sharpen my skills if you think it’s only about Noah. Yeah, I already love the kid. Anyone who doesn’t should have his head examined. But I love you in an entirely different way. Level with me. Are you afraid to quit your job?”

“Oh, yeah. And move out of my house. And live off you. And all of it. The only thing that no longer scares me is the idea of being Noah’s mother. I could never go back. It’s what I want to be.”

“Can you ask for an extended leave of absence?”

“To keep a job but not to keep my position. I’ve used up almost all my leave, remember.”

“Can we take small steps that might turn into bigger steps? For you. I understand your uncertainty and I also understand that I don’t have to quit a job or move, so I’m not risking as much.”

“What kind of small steps?” she asked.

“Rent out your house. Ask for an extended leave even though it won’t secure your position but it would ensure you a place of employment in a company you understand. It’s a little safety net. It won’t come to that, I bet. But one step at a time.”

“I have a lot of stuff in that house...”

“Let’s go empty it out. Bring what you want here, store the rest.”

“It should be painted. Carpets cleaned. Repairs made. I’ve had a neighborhood kid cutting the grass but everything else is a mess...”

Owen laughed. “Everything except the sorting can be done by phone. Since you’re not living in the neighborhood, you’ll need a property manager. They get about ten to twenty percent. You’ll pay the mortgage with the rent money. Maybe you’ll like having a rental. Hannah, Noah has to go to school somewhere. You don’t have much time to decide exactly where.”

“This is such a small town,” she said. “It’s not like Minneapolis, where I can find so many specialists...”

“And yet we’re friends with a semifamous criminal defense attorney and a well-known neurosurgeon. I think Noah will get what he needs. I think you know I would move heaven and earth to help you do that for him.”

“He wants to stay here...”

“I want him to make friends his age here, and for that he needs school,” Owen said. “I’d love to spend every second with him but that’s selfish. He needs to be with kids. He can’t spend his whole life with some guy and his dog. Have you seen him lately, the way he runs? With those crutches that he can manhandle? He’s like a pony, loping across the yard. I don’t think he even needs them anymore but he uses them so he doesn’t have to contort his body to walk. Yeah, he needs more time with kids his own age.”