The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(44)

“My mom,” he said. “I think she’s happy. I think Romeo is happy.”

“I know I’m happy,” Hannah said. “I miss your mom very much, but I’m still happy. Because of you, I think. You make every day special.”

“And Owen?” he asked.

“I’m sure Owen is happy. You can ask him, though,” she said.

“No, you,” he emphasized. “Are you happy with Owen? Because you guys kiss a lot.”

She laughed. “I guess it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? I’m so happy with Owen. He’s a very good man.”

“And a very good boyfriend?” Noah asked.

“He’s an excellent boyfriend,” she assured him.

“But, Hannah? Sometimes I want her to be here so much I can’t even talk,” he said.

“That’s okay, buddy. That happens to me all the time, too. And sometimes I just talk to her anyway, like she’s right next to me.”

“Out loud?” he asked. “Right out loud?”

“Uh-huh. And sometimes right in my head. I think she is listening either way.”

“I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head. “She doesn’t talk back. She did that one time, but only that one time.”

Hannah was taken by surprise momentarily but hoped it didn’t show. “And when was that, honey?”

“Oh, it was... I was taking a nap with Romeo but I didn’t get all the way asleep and she was sitting right on the bed, petting his head. And she said, ‘I like this dog, Noah. I’m glad you’re friends. Be very brave and remember to always be kind.’ And then she said, ‘I love you, close your eyes.’ So I did and when I woke up, she was back in heaven. Is that okay, Hannah? That she was right on my bed?”

She fought tears. “I think that’s wonderful,” she said in a choked whisper. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Maybe she’ll come to your bed,” Noah said.

A huff of laughter came through her tears. Wouldn’t that surprise Owen, she thought. Or maybe it would surprise Erin? “I’ll be sure to tell you if I see her or dream of her. I promise. And I have an idea! We should make some cobbler for dessert one of these days, just like your mom used to do. Mine might not be as good as hers, but I’ll try. Would that be nice?”

“Peach?” he asked.

“I’ll have to find peaches. It might be a little early for them, but I’ll look.”

“That would be good.”

Late that night while they hovered under the covers, Hannah shared that conversation with Owen. He drew back and chuckled. “Maybe I should put my pants on?” he asked.

“Erin is very discreet,” Hannah said. “She’d never peek.”

  A few days later they had Cal and his family over. They didn’t talk about the custody issue during dinner but when Noah and Elizabeth, watched over by Romeo, were settled with a movie and they moved their party onto the porch with nightcaps, Hannah asked if he had heard anything.

“I haven’t been holding out on you,” Cal said. “Late this afternoon the judge in the Minneapolis family court threw out the custody case, dismissed it for lack of standing. What that means is he wasn’t going to overrule another court, especially since you and Noah weren’t present. That’s done. This issue might not be completely resolved. Mrs. Addison asked how she was to go about finding out where her grandson was. The judge said her lawyer could walk her through that process. We’ll face that if we have to. Meanwhile, do you know Roger Addison or his mother?”

“I met Erin’s mother once, very briefly, years ago. I’ve never met Roger. And Erin’s stepfather is deceased. Why?”

“I’ve been looking into Roger Addison’s criminal history and it’s ugly, starting when he was a minor. He is a serial felon and has served time for battery, fraud, felony drug possession and theft. But his arrest record is worse—those are crimes he was indicted for but not convicted of. Armed robbery, more battery, rape, more theft. Young Mr. Addison, a mere thirty years old, is a criminal. And not a very good one. From the time he was fourteen till the age of twenty-six. He hasn’t had any run-ins with the police in the last few years. He’s either getting better at his crimes or has cleaned up his act. He’s been steadily employed, though in a number of different jobs, and no recent arrests.

“I checked Mrs. Addison’s background and she appears to have a clean record. That doesn’t mean she’s a good person, but if she has committed crimes, she hasn’t been caught. And yes, she’s been very supportive of her son, paying bail money, drug treatment, et cetera.”

Hannah looked over her shoulder, making sure the kids weren’t in the doorway. “She’s not a good person,” Hannah said. “She hasn’t even asked about Noah. None of us have heard from her. I don’t know how anyone can think she has Noah’s best interests at heart. But it’s Roger who scares me and I don’t even know him. He’s the main reason Erin moved to Madison—she was done putting up with him taking advantage of anyone when he was in trouble. She and her mother would fight when Erin refused to help him. It was a complicated family. Their last blowout was before Noah was born. Which is why Erin has always been so adamant about how Noah should live. And with whom.”