The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(49)

“For a few days, it was harrowing,” Cal said.

“I think Victoria is about sixty-five,” Hannah said. “I don’t know anything about her state of health or fitness but Noah isn’t very able. Owen had to install a shower bar for him and he still fell a couple of times. I’m strong and these arms have complained some at the weight when I’ve carried him from room to room but I’m getting stronger. If he’s not that easy for a young, fit woman to manage...”

“That’s what I mean,” Cal said. “Something more might be going on here.”

  Later that evening when all was quiet and Romeo had had his romp around the yard, Hannah pulled Noah onto her lap. “I have a question for you. Do you remember your grandma?”

“No, but I think I have one,” he said. “Do I have one?”

“Yes, you do. In Minneapolis. Your grandma and your mom didn’t agree on much. I think it’s safe to say they didn’t agree on how to take care of a little boy. That’s why your mom specifically asked me to be your guardian.”

“Okay, good,” he said.

“I’m pretty happy that I got to be the one,” Hannah said.

“Me, too. When is Owen coming home?”

“A few days. Are you excited?”

“I’m very excited,” he said, grinning. “Is he coming home late or early?”

“I think he’s coming late, like, after dinner. But he’ll call and let us know when to expect him.”

“Then I think we should wait for him to eat and make him something that’s his favorite, like ice cream. He loves ice cream.”

So much for the grandma subject. Noah thought he had one but hadn’t seen her. He wanted to be with Hannah. Wasn’t that good enough even though he was only five?

  Owen texted Hannah that his initial flight out of Ho Chi Minh City had been delayed but they’d be taking off at the soonest possible moment. He had given Hannah his flight information so she could follow his progress on the computer. She texted him back, Get sleep if you can, be safe, we’re waiting for you.

The whole way to Vietnam he kept thinking about canceling, going straight home. While preparing for the expedition into Hang Son Doong cave, he thought about changing his mind and leaving. Once he started into the cave, he made a pledge that he just wouldn’t do this anymore; no more long trips. He wanted his family—Hannah and Noah and Romeo. He missed them to distraction, finding it so hard to concentrate on his photography. He had to carry several extra battery packs for his cameras and tablet and was surprised at the end of each day to find some amazing shots. He couldn’t wait to show them to Hannah and Noah.

There were about twenty civilians on the expedition, plus five guides, two park rangers, two chefs and a bunch of porters. Owen was the only American. Though there was a slight language barrier, he made friends with a Brazilian couple and a Chinese man. There was an Australian woman who must be independently wealthy because she’d been traveling the world for a couple of years, particularly taken with biking tours, yet she was in her early sixties and fit as a boxer.

The trek through the cave was safe but challenging. It took two days of jungle hiking to get to the cave, five days to get through to the end, then a turn that took them to the second entrance. They camped at night. Seven straight days of hiking and camping. Food and water was either carried or had been delivered prior to them entering. The cave had its own ecosystem. The Vietnamese guides spoke Vietnamese, Cantonese, French and some pretty impressive English. Hang Son Doong wasn’t open to the public yet and it might be years before it would be, but these special expeditions, booked years in advance, were gaining in popularity.

The cave was incredible. There was a large lake and a sandy beach on which they camped two nights, parts that were dark and narrow, a rain forest, an area that was so high a fifty-story building could fit under the dome. A Vietnamese guide who Owen was sure had never been to New York City said that a New York City block could fit inside the cave. The flora was magnificent; there were exotic birds sighted.

When Owen was asked about his life at home, he said that he had a woman and her little boy living with him and he assumed they would be together forever. “Marriage?” they asked.

“I will do anything to make her happy,” he said.

After emerging from the cave, he cleaned up in a visitor’s center, showering and changing clothes. He headed straight to the airport. He carried on his camera and computer equipment, checked his backpack full of mostly dirty clothes. He was exhausted. Ordinarily he would spend a couple of days resting, hydrating, sampling local cuisine and getting back to his fighting strength, but he had pared this trip to the bone, so ready to be with his woman again. His woman and his boy. He sat on the plane during the delayed departure and plugged one card after another into his tablet—not the best viewing medium—and was amazed by the beauty of the photos. He had been so unfocused, they shouldn’t be this good. He couldn’t wait to show Hannah.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Denver was over twenty hours. They touched down at ten at night. He didn’t text Hannah. He just got his backpack, his car, and headed home, knowing they would be asleep. But when he got to the house, all the lights were on even though it was midnight.

He went inside, dropped his duffel and backpack. “Honey, I’m home,” he said quietly.