The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(50)

Hannah unfolded from the couch and ran into his arms. Romeo nosed open Noah’s door and joined the party.

“Why are you up?” he asked, kissing her whole face.

“I was watching your flight online and knew you were on your way. Noah couldn’t make it. I carried him to bed a couple of hours ago.”

“You feel so good,” he said, his lips going to her neck.

“Did you have a wonderful time?” she asked.

“I’m having a wonderful time right now,” he said. Romeo was trying to edge between them, pushing until Owen gave him some attention. That done, he was kissing her again.

There was the sound of bump-shuffle-bump and they turned to see Noah coming toward them on his crutches. “Hey, buddy, did I wake you?” Owen asked, bending to pick him up. Noah dropped the crutches and looped his arms around Owen’s neck, hugging him tightly.

“It’s okay,” Noah said. “We got you some ice cream.”

“Would you like some?” Owen asked. “Ice cream at midnight?”

“I could do that,” Noah said.

Owen ruffled his hair. “I’m going to want something a little stronger. I’m not sure what day it is. I think it’s yesterday.” He maneuvered over to the couch, sitting with Noah on his lap. “My legs are about a foot too long for sleeping on airplanes, even in first class. Hannah, will you play waitress just this once?”

“Gotcha covered,” she said, heading for the kitchen.

“Was the cave good?” Noah asked. “Was it hard?”

“The guides and porters were outstanding but there were places we had to crawl or climb or even swim. It was like a difficult hike. One of the friends I made was a sixty-eight-year-old man from China and he was stronger and more able than I was.”

“I won’t ever be able to do that...”

“Actually, I think you will,” Owen said. “It’s going to take some more good muscle and training but you have time—that cave isn’t open to the public yet and they’re not letting kids go on that expedition. But you will do everything you want to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if you climb Mount Everest someday. The way you’re training and exercising now... Yes, sir, by the time you’re grown a little more...”

Hannah delivered a bowl of ice cream and a Crown Royal on ice. Then she curled up on the sofa against Owen and just listened to him talk about the cave. They were a big pile—Noah on Owen’s lap, Romeo’s head on Owen’s thigh, Hannah pressed against them.

“We’ll look at the pictures tomorrow,” Owen said. “And I think we’re all going to have to sleep in. Hear that, Romeo? That means you, too.”

“What was the best part of the cave?” Noah asked.

“There were lots of best parts. The cave is so big... There’s a lake and a sandy beach inside. We camped on the beach. We had cooks making our meals and night on the beach was so beautiful. There were passages so tight we had to crawl and places so wide-open you could build a house in there.”

“Did you have a boat on the lake?”

“No boat,” Owen said. “Maybe it was too hard to get it in the cave. Or maybe they didn’t want it in the cave. It was beautiful.”

Noah asked question after question while he ate his ice cream and Owen sipped his drink. It was about fifteen minutes before Owen took the empty bowl out of Noah’s hands and put it on the coffee table. Noah curled up, his head on Owen’s shoulder, and yawned hugely.

“Someone is very tired,” Owen said.

“It’s me,” Noah said, yawning again.

Owen shifted him a little bit, settling him against his chest, where he quickly fell asleep. He slid his other arm around Hannah, drawing her near. He proved very talented, holding Noah against his chest, his drink in that hand, his other arm embracing his woman. “Ah. It is so good to be home.”

When Hannah didn’t say anything, he just cuddled her closer. Then he heard a sound and looked down to see that her cheeks were wet. “Are you crying?” he whispered.

“I just wish it could be like this always,” she said with a sniff.

“If we want to, we can make it so,” he said, dropping a kiss on her brow.

She turned her dark, wet eyes up to his face. “Mrs. Addison,” she whispered. “She filed for custody. Here. She’s going to try.”

“You called Cal?” he asked softly.

She nodded. “I went to see him. We’re going to be gathering ammunition. Witnesses. There is going to be a hearing. He says a hearing is nothing to fear.”

“We’ll make this work,” Owen said. “We won’t let go. Don’t worry.”

She touched the angry muscle in his cheek with gentle fingers. “Owen, it’s not your fight. It’s mine.”

He was quiet for a moment. “You know better than that,” he said.

  Owen held them both through the night. Hannah could tell he didn’t sleep much. He was still but there was a tenseness in his body that revealed a carefully concealed restlessness. She woke a few times and looked at him and he looked right back at her. “It’s all right,” he said. “Just sleep.” Once she rose in the morning, he was up right behind her, but he tucked the covers around Noah before pulling on sweatpants and following her to the kitchen.