The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(26)

And he laughed. “Oh my God, I apologize. That wasn’t really funny. Was it?”

“It’s getting a little funnier as time passes. By the time Noah is older, I might tell the story at his wedding...”

“I hope I’m there,” Owen said. “That sounds like something in a sitcom.”

“I picked the lock on your closet door to get my phone and laptop,” she said. “The moderator took our devices away so we’d have to communicate the old-fashioned way. I should’ve picked the lock on the wine cellar...”

“Ah, but then you wouldn’t have caught the fiancé and the admin.”

They looked at each other and burst out laughing. They enjoyed another glass of wine. When they said good-night, Owen kissed her on the forehead. “This is a slow, safe place. If you think it would be good for you and Noah, you can stay longer.”

“You’re such a kind man.”

“Sometimes I’m a little bit selfish.”

  “Kate,” Hannah said into the phone. “Can your life change in two weeks? Completely? Can everything you once wanted become things you’d like to be free of and things you thought you’d never want mean everything?”

“Hannah, Hannah. That can happen in two minutes, haven’t we learned that much? Are you okay?”

“This place is like heaven and I dread going back to Minneapolis,” she said. “I’m afraid I’ll be so lonely. I’m afraid Noah will somehow slip through my fingers, that I won’t be able to do my job and keep tabs on him. What if I can’t find a good babysitter? What if I find out I got a bad—”

“You don’t have to rush back to work,” Kate said. “You can take all the time you need to make adjustments. Sharon and I will help you as much as we can. We’re pretty well connected in the kids’ arena. Experienced, too. We can help you find the right support system. But you don’t have to rush back if you don’t want to. It’s only been two weeks.”

“Owen offered me another two weeks, if I want it. He said that our being here is working for him, too.”

“Why don’t you take it?” Kate asked. “It’s not that long. You’ll still have the whole summer to settle in. Does Noah need any medical attention?”

“He seems to be fine. Improving, in fact. And I’ve gotten friendly with the town doctor—if I need anything, I’m sure she can direct me.”

“So, you and Noah are getting along?”

“Oh, yes, absolutely. I adore him and I think he’s growing to love me.”

“Then trust yourself. Take a little more time, then come home. We’ll have all summer to adjust and we’re here to help. It’s going to be all right.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I want to stay. Not just for Noah—I need this, too.”

“And you’re more than a little curious about the man,” Kate said. “Might as well see what you can learn about him.”

Hannah chuckled with a tiny spasm of embarrassment. “Yes, that, too.”

The next morning Hannah told Noah first. “I’ve decided we can take another two weeks, since Owen offered. But then we absolutely have to get back to Minneapolis. We have lots to do!”

“Yay!” he said. “What did Owen say?”

“I haven’t told him yet. Do you want to tell him?”

“I’ll tell him!” Noah said.

Noah got dressed and into his braces the fastest he ever had, and with the help of crutches he was practically running across the yard. He was careening like a drunken sailor and so cute. Hannah readied herself to run and pick him up, but he made it all the way without falling. From her place on the porch she could hear Noah yell, “We’re staying longer!” And she saw Owen pick Noah up and toss him into the air. One of Noah’s crutches hit Owen in the head. He winced and laughed.

For just a moment, she worried that by taking two more weeks she had worsened the problem, making leaving even harder.

Owen carried the boy across the yard, his crutches dangling from his arms. Romeo was prancing along behind, taking a detour for his morning constitutional. Owen’s smile was wider than she’d ever seen it.

“This was good news to wake up to,” he said.

“I hope this doesn’t make it worse, like if Noah and Romeo bond even more...”

“Don’t be silly,” Owen said. “They couldn’t possibly bond any more.”

“You do understand that’s all I have. Two more weeks. After that, I’m almost into my unpaid family leave.”

“I get it. And you’ll be leaving before summer really hits,” he said. “You’ll still have plenty of time to establish your routine.”

“That’s right,” she said. “So, now what?”

“We have many things to do—swimming, fishing, visiting neighbors, taking pictures and taking walks. Maybe we should take a road trip or two and visit some of the small towns around here, check out their pubs, diners, galleries, bookstores—everything. Don’t worry, I think we’ll be busy and have great fun, so let’s not burn daylight.”

  Owen was back to counting days. At first, with the gift of two more weeks, it seemed he would have forever with Hannah and Noah. The May wildflowers were popping up along mountain roads and around ranches and houses. They planned a full day every morning. They chose where they’d have their meals, some days staying home all day. No matter what they did during the day, each one ended on the porch, where Hannah and Owen talked and talked.