The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(23)

“Sounds great, Owen. Take care of yourself.”

“Absolutely.”

He had been getting some great pictures. Noah swimming beside Romeo. Hannah in the hammock with a book, one leg out to push her into a slight sway. Hannah with some hair blowing across her face. Hannah and Noah with ice-cream cones, laughing, ice cream on their noses. A selfie with Hannah and Noah. Noah pitching the ball to Romeo. Noah sleeping against Romeo’s belly.

He could tell Hannah didn’t know how beautiful she was. Her brown hair was so thick and soft it begged for a man’s touch. Her eyes were dark with small flecks of gold. She wasn’t very tall next to him; he towered over her. She was always concerned about other people—him, Noah, her friends back home, literally everyone she was in contact with. She was thoughtful and kind. And her humor snapped like a whip. She was so tender with Noah. He knew in one day Noah was in good hands with her.

Maybe you shouldn’t let them get away.







I love the man that can smile in trouble,
that can gather strength from distress,
and grow brave by reflection.

—Thomas Paine



5


Hannah was doing laundry when Owen found her. “Hannah, Helen Culver just called. She asked me to invite you to meet her for lunch at the pub. She would like you to meet her niece, Leigh.”

“The niece she raised?” Hannah asked.

“There’s only one,” Owen said. “I think you and Leigh are about the same age. Why don’t you go? Noah and I can stay out of trouble without your supervision.”

“Don’t you have work to do? I hate to impose. Helen probably wouldn’t mind if I brought him along.”

“I will always have work to do,” he said. “And I will always have great excuses to avoid it. I bet Noah would rather have PB&J with me than go to the pub with a bunch of women. But would you stop at the market? I have a short list.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. We’ll have some chicken and grilled veggies tonight. And if you think Noah would rather have something else, get it. Okay? Helen said to meet her at noon.”

“Should I call her back and accept?”

He grinned. “I already accepted.”

Her expression was momentarily shocked. She looked at her watch. “I have to shower! Where’s Noah?”

“He’s waiting for me on the porch,” Owen said. “I told Romeo not to let him off the porch till I get back.”

“Oh, you and that silly dog! Get back out there and make sure Noah’s safe,” she said, rushing off to the master bath.

“I won’t tell him you said that,” Owen said.

“Just be sure you watch Noah and aren’t just giving orders to Romeo!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

Hannah hurried to shower, change and spruce up a little, finding herself really looking forward to this lunch. It would be great to see the adult version of the little girl Helen had inherited. A doctor, no less. What if Noah wanted to be a doctor? How in the world would she manage that? Her salary was good right now but if she had to change jobs to travel less, that could mean earning less. There was a trust to help—Erin’s estate and insurance money. The more she used now, the less there would be for college. Hannah realized once again she was going to have to plan carefully.

When she got to the pub, she found that Helen and her niece were already there, seated in a roomy booth.

“I’m sorry if I’m a bit late,” she said. “I was in the middle of laundry and—”

“You’re not late,” Helen said. “Sit here beside me. This is my niece, Leigh, and she is holding my great-niece, Lily Culver Shandon.”

“Happy to meet you, Hannah. How do you like our little town?” Leigh asked.

“The whole area is wonderful. It’s been a perfect escape for me and Noah.”

“I told Leigh all about your situation. I hope you don’t mind,” Helen said. “It so closely resembles our own. Leigh’s mother was my sister, but she was ten years younger so we weren’t exactly best friends. But like you, I suddenly found myself a single mother.”

“And I nearly found myself in the same position,” Leigh said.

“How’s that?” Hannah asked.

“Well, I had barely started seeing Rob when I found myself pregnant.” She took a sip of her water. “It was a little ahead of the marriage. I was looking at being a single mom but fortunately he wore me down and I did marry the most wonderful man in the world. A man with two teenage boys and a business. And I’m the primary care physician at the local urgent care. My hours are not short and I’m afraid his are often worse. Keeping an eye on a business that’s open seven days a week is demanding.”

“How do you manage with a baby? Does Helen help out a lot?”

“No,” they both said in unison. Then they laughed.

“I help out a little bit, but I have a job,” Helen said. “I told Leigh to start interviewing babysitters.”

“Right now, while Lily is still so young, we’re shuffling her back and forth. She’s very portable. Rob is home in the mornings, she comes to the clinic with me some afternoons, and her brother Sean, a junior in high school, helps out when he can. Sean and his older brother, Finn, will not admit it but they’re putty in her little hands. When she’s moving around faster, we’re going to have to make adjustments.”