The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(10)

“I’ve been up awhile. How do you take it?”

“Black. Thanks. That’s very neighborly of you. Especially since you weren’t expecting me to be hanging around.”

“That dog is going to save my life,” she said. Romeo came up on the porch and nudged her. “Yes, you are a handsome dude.” Then she went inside to fetch the coffee.

“I take it Noah is sleeping in,” Owen said, accepting the cup.

“He had a restless night and now he’s fallen back to sleep. Sometimes there are things like muscle spasms or contractures—tightening. Sometimes his legs hurt and jerk. A little massage helps.” She sipped her coffee. “It helped more when his mom did it but he’s stuck with me.”

“This must be such a hard transition. For both of you.”

“It’s going to take a lot of getting used to. But he’s so brave and good-natured. If I toss and turn I wake up mean as a bear.”

Owen grinned. “Were you ever married?” he asked. “No, wait, that was personal. I apologize.”

“You’re okay. No. I was engaged. Twice. I’m glad I discovered it wasn’t a good idea before the vows. You?”

“I went through a divorce ten years ago, but I’m still on friendly terms with my ex, though she remarried.”

“That must be a little awkward...”

“Nah, it’s okay. We didn’t want any of the same things but she’s a very good person. A good friend. We rarely see each other but she checks in sometimes, asks me where I’ve been lately. I check on her sometimes, less often. I’m not as outgoing or social as she is. She married a man who loves being around lots of people and I live on a lake in the mountains and travel alone.”

“You’re not that antisocial,” she said. “You’re sitting on the porch with me and it’s not even seven. We’re having a coffee klatch.” She pulled her feet up and held her cup with both hands. “And while you didn’t intend to impose, I’m very happy for the company.”

“If you ever need space, just say so,” he said.

“Oh, I will. I’m not some withering flower. But honestly, with the situation as it is right now, having another adult to talk to is... I don’t know... Fortifying. A little later today I’m going to run over to the Crossing and say hello. As I was leaving your place last time I stopped there for coffee and met the owner and his wife. Nice people.”

“Helen and Sully are a couple but not married. Wonderful folks. You said something last night about your girlfriends? About Noah and your girlfriends? I’m not sure I got that reference right...”

“We went to college together, four of us. Me, Erin—that’s Noah’s mom—Sharon and Kate. We met freshman year and hit it off. We were actually a few of the poor kids—we couldn’t afford to live on campus or join sororities. We all had jobs and as many credits as we could carry, not to mention loans. By our second year we could afford to share a crappy off-campus duplex because none of us could stand living at home another minute. We helped each other study, find jobs and boyfriends, became each other’s therapists and confidantes, and I swear, without each other, we would not have gotten degrees. Sharon and Kate are both married with kids and Erin and I were in their weddings. Erin never did get married. And I had to call off two weddings. I am not planning a third.”

“But Noah...?”

“Suffice it to say, there was no man in the picture.” And she closed the door on that topic.

But Owen was stubborn. “Where’s his male influence? Grandpa? Uncle?”

“Erin had many good friends and if you’d known her you wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that there were even a couple of really nice ex-boyfriends at her memorial. She was close with a lot of people from work, from her neighborhood. She was active in the community. She was involved with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and a couple of other support groups. Noah had been with the same babysitter for a long time and she has a lovely husband and a few kids. Saying goodbye to her was almost as hard as saying goodbye to his mom. But at least we can Skype and visit Linda and her family.” She glanced over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Noah’s grandpa is dead and his uncle is a bad person. Erin was very clear in her will and to her friends, her half brother is not to be part of Noah’s life. Erin and her mother have been estranged for years. That’s all I have to say about that.”

“I didn’t mean to pry,” he said uncomfortably.

She lifted one corner of her mouth in a sly smile. “I wouldn’t want you to think I kidnapped him.”

“I’m sure you didn’t,” he said. Then he grinned. And he could see in her eyes that she knew he had probably checked her out as much as possible.

“Good for you,” she said. A bit of a ruckus behind her caused her to turn and see Noah struggling out the door, using his crutches. “Good morning, cowboy,” she said, getting up. “Oh, good for you, using just the crutches. You feeling kind of strong today?” She looked at Owen. “The braces give him more independence and freedom but the crutches help him with the balance. He’s building muscle strength in his legs. It’s taxing, though.”

Noah completely ignored her as he went straight for the dog. Romeo sat up and gave Noah a good-morning kiss.