Lots of passersby stopped to say hello to Romeo and he thanked many of them with a face wash using his oversize tongue. Owen opened the back door of his car and asked the dog to get in, but he stood by the car waiting for Hannah.

Then he saw her on the other side of the parking lot. Victoria. She stood outside her car, hands clasped in front of her. She lifted one hand in a brief wave. Owen didn’t return the wave. He watched while Victoria slowly got in her car to leave. He watched her drive away.

That was intimidation, plain and simple. He knew she had called Hannah, asked to see Noah, and Hannah told her they had too much going on.

Damn, he hated to do this to Hannah, give her any more cause for worry than she already had after dropping Noah off for the first time. When Hannah finally arrived at the car, she was wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Is he okay?” Owen asked.

“He’s fine! He made friends instantly! The boy sitting next to him wanted to try his crutches.”

Owen smiled. “I’m afraid there’s a small complication. We’re going to have to take Romeo home and come back. It’s too hot to leave him in the car. Maybe things will quiet down by then.”

“Why?”

“Victoria was standing on the other side of the parking lot watching.”

“Why would she do that? I told her it wasn’t convenient to see Noah right now. I didn’t make plans with her for another time.”

“She knows what you want,” Owen said. “I don’t know what she’s trying to do. Wear you down? Show how determined she is? It doesn’t matter. We need to have a talk with the principal and let her know we have a custody issue with his biological grandmother. Even though we were very specific about who he could be released to, we didn’t tell the principal there’s one person who might be a danger to Noah.”

“A danger?” Hannah asked. “What in the world...”

She got in and Owen started the car. “Anyone who tries to spend time with Noah without your consent is suspicious and could be dangerous. Would she try to check him out of school and take him? I can’t answer that.”

“Stop! Stop the car!” She jumped out and ran over to Rafe Vadas, who was just leaving the building. Then both of them came back to the car together. “Go ahead and park. Rafe said he has time to stay with Romeo while we talk with the principal. I’m not leaving Noah here without doing that.”

“Everything all right?” Rafe asked. “Is Noah okay?”

“Oh, yes, he’s fine. But there’s a grandmother who met Noah for the first time a few weeks ago and she tried to get custody. She’s been granted supervised visitation at my discretion, and the last time she asked I told her we were too busy. She doesn’t know him, he barely knows her, and Owen saw her standing in the parking lot, watching the children go into school. We really should tell the principal.”

“You really should,” Rafe said.

“This is so uncomfortable,” she said, waiting for Owen. “She’s probably harmless, but I’m not willing to take any chances.”

“Hey, don’t let that worry you,” Rafe said. “I’m sure they hear about these issues with noncustodial family members all the time.”

* * *

By ten in the morning, Hannah was stir-crazy and bound to drive Owen crazy, as well. She finally decided to go see Helen and Sully. Helen was so calming, so worldly.

Labor Day having passed, the campgrounds at the Crossing didn’t seem to be very busy. The weather was still warm and a couple of campers were sitting on Sully’s dock, soaking up the sun. Helen’s laptop was open on the table on Sully’s porch, so Hannah went to the store first.

Sully was putting up stock, wiping the shelf clean of dust as he went.

“Hey, Sully,” she said.

“Hey, girl! I haven’t seen you in about two days.”

“Today is the first day of school. We dropped Noah off and he made a friend before I even left the classroom.”

“And now, doesn’t that make you happy?” he asked.

“Sure, I’m just so nervous. Do you think I’d be a huge pain in the butt if I interrupted Helen?”

“Might cost me the Pulitzer,” Helen said from the doorway. “Come over and I’ll put on some water for tea. It’s just finally cooling off enough.”

“I promise not to stay forever,” Hannah said.

Helen slipped her arm through Hannah’s. “Stay long enough for me to get an idea, will you please? It’s been sheer drudgery this morning. It feels like I have a rock in my head, not a brain.”

“I don’t know how you do it in the first place,” Hannah said.

Once they were seated at Helen’s table on the porch and her laptop was closed, tea in front of them, Helen pulled the trigger. “Something’s bothering you.”

Hannah took a sip of her tea. “Today is Noah’s first day of school. He was so scared to go but he sucked it up and off he went. By the time I left him, he’d already made a friend, and the teacher is a dream. But I’m a wreck. I realized that Noah hasn’t been away from me unless he’s been with you and Sully, Owen or one of my two best friends, who have known him since he was a baby. I thought you, being a teacher, could talk me through it.”

“Oh, my. I remember being a little distracted when Leigh started school, but I was much too busy to let it bother me. How’s Owen holding up?”

“Very well for someone who should be paranoid. Do you know about Owen’s son?”

“I didn’t know Owen had a son,” Helen said.

“He died twelve years ago. He was only seven.” Then Hannah proceeded to tell Helen the story. By the time she got to the end, Helen was wiping away tears. Hannah, already in a sentimental and emotional mood, shed a couple herself. “Owen admits he doesn’t talk about it. I can’t blame him for that. It’s not a secret, though. I was researching Owen when I first met him and I found only one brief mention that he’d lost a son but I didn’t see many details. However, if you were to look up Sheila Abrams, his ex-wife, you’ll see that she has been an advocate and activist for over ten years. And she’s the most wonderful woman.”

“She must be! And I already know Owen is an amazing man. I can’t imagine one ever gets over something like that.”

“I’m sure he’ll never be over it,” Hannah said. “But you know what’s so powerful about Owen? His understanding! I’m sure the temptation to hover over Noah is there but he said, ‘Why should I make Noah’s life difficult because I’m a little crippled?’ He encourages Noah’s independence, though that must come at a price. I think if it hadn’t been for Noah getting Owen’s attention, he’d never have noticed me.”

“Oh, now, I’ve seen the way Owen looks at you, Hannah. I guarantee it isn’t because of Noah. Even though Noah is irresistible. I’m sure if I were in his position, I’d be volunteering at the school every day.”

Hannah tilted her head. “There’s a thought. Do you think they’d let me?”

“Now, you don’t want to be that mother,” Helen said. “I’ll see if Sully will do it.”

Hannah laughed in spite of herself. “I know Sully is great with kids, but I doubt he’s going to fall for that one. He has too much to do and too many little ones in the family.”

“I don’t usually advocate for hiding your feelings from your children—they always figure you out anyway. But in this case I think it’s admirable to encourage Noah’s independence. Teach him safety but push him to rely on himself. It’s essential for every child, but more so for Noah. He’ll need the confidence going forward if he’s to overcome his limitations.”

“I know. That’s what keeps me from running back to the school and guarding him. It doesn’t help that even though Victoria has been told she can’t see him right now, she turns up in the parking lot, lurking, watching the kids. I don’t know what’s going on with that woman but she sure knows how to make me uncomfortable.”

“Wait... What?”

“I said, she really knows how to make me un—”

“Not that! You say she was lurking in the school parking lot?”

Hannah just nodded.

“That’s creepy and suspicious,” Helen said. “I heard the judge’s instructions to her and Victoria isn’t stupid. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did that deliberately to make you uncomfortable!”

“Owen said something to that effect,” Hannah said. “It’s so frustrating—I keep fluctuating between feeling sorry for her, deprived of her only grandchild, and angry with her for the confusion she’s creating. If Erin hadn’t been so adamant, I might be more flexible, but... Oh, Helen, why do I feel guilty?”

“You can stop that right now. I don’t know why Victoria and her daughter were at odds, but Victoria had plenty of time to make amends. Five years since Noah was born and quite a few years before that!”

“What do you suppose she wants?” Hannah asked.

“I don’t know, but I’d be wary, too. Humph, loitering around an elementary school, snooping. How inappropriate! You’d better tell Cal about that. Cal might want to tell the judge.”

“Owen said he was going to call Cal while I was over here.”

“Good. She’s a grown woman and Noah is a little boy who lost his mother! She should be ashamed of herself, making his life complicated just because she wants something!”

“What do you suppose she’s up to?”

“I don’t know but I bet we find out. Watch your back. Maybe talk to Noah. Just tell him that the rule is Victoria can’t visit with him unless she has permission and you and Owen are present. That way if she shows up at school or something, he can tell her that’s not allowed. And don’t worry too much as long as he’s in school. The Timberlake schools are wonderful. I’ve met a few of the teachers around town. And having been a teacher, I can assure you, they’ve come up against custody issues before. They know what to do.”