The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(56)

“That’s great, Owen. I’ll welcome the distraction, won’t you?”

“I won’t let it distract me,” he said.

“This is new territory for me,” she said. “I’ve never met an ex-wife before.”

“No? Well, there’s a chance you’re going to like her more than you like me,” Owen said.

“I promise I won’t,” she said.

But as the visit approached she found herself feverish with excitement. When they pulled up to the house, Owen and Noah were on the dock. Owen secured their lines and poles and followed Noah safely off the dock. Romeo was barking at the car and dancing around in excitement because he believed anyone who was coming to the house was coming to see him.

It was Sheila who jumped out of the car first and ran to Owen, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him closely. She was so beautiful. Hannah wasn’t surprised by her appearance—she’d googled the heck out of Sheila Abrams and had watched a couple of YouTube videos of her on talk shows so she already knew she was breathtaking and extremely well-spoken. The sight of her in the flesh did bring a few surprises—like her height. She was probably six feet tall. Her hair was strawberry blond, her skin pale and freckled, and even from a distance Hannah could see Sheila’s green eyes dance. Owen whirled her around, apparently not the least intimidated by Sheila’s husband getting out of the car. Nor by Hannah standing nearby.

Then Sheila looked him over. She put her hands on his trim waist, measuring. She said something that made him roar with laughter. Then she bent at the waist to look at Noah.

“Well, hello there,” she said. “You must be Noah.”

“I am. Owen said it’s okay to call you Sheila.”

“Indeed it is, that’s my name. And may I call you just Noah? Or should it be Mr. Noah? Or Sir Noah?”

He giggled. “Just Noah. I haven’t been knighted yet.”

“A real smarty-pants, aren’t you?” she said. “I’m sure if being a knight is your goal, you will have no trouble achieving it. And where’s Hannah?”

“I’m right here,” Hannah said, coming up behind her. “It’s so nice to meet you, Sheila.”

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s so nice to meet you!” And she opened her arms and enfolded Hannah in an embrace. Even though Sheila was tall and slim, her embrace was warm, soft and filled with affection. Hannah didn’t want her to let go. It was hard to reconcile, this brilliant attorney who could live in the cold world of fighting human trafficking and yet be so gentle and filled with love.

“Well, old man, looks like you’re surviving,” Lucas said, stretching out a hand to Owen.

Hannah peeked to find Owen and Lucas were shaking hands and grinning like old friends. They each clapped the other’s upper arm, making it almost a man hug. She realized she’d never seen any pictures of Lucas. He was Latino with thick black hair and the slightest touch of gray over his ears. His complexion was tan and showed the evidence of earlier acne, yet he was ferociously handsome. Unlike the slim Owen and Sheila, he was a man with muscles—broad across his chest, strong in the shoulders, legs like tree trunks and big hands.

“And you’re Hannah,” he said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.

“Oh! You must have sisters!” Hannah exclaimed, letting him hold on to her hand. His handshake was firm but gentle.

“Four,” he said, grinning. He had a lot of large straight white teeth. “They made sure I was educated in how to never crush a woman’s hand!”

The little girls, occupied with Romeo, slowly made their way over. Introductions were made. Jenny was six and Amber was seven and both of them had their father’s dark good looks and black hair. After having seen pictures of Brayden, it was obvious that he had inherited a lot of his mother’s fairness. But these girls favored their father. They had an exotic beauty.

There were suddenly a million things Hannah wanted to know about these people. How had they managed to keep their relationships in the right spaces and remain close after all they’d endured? How had this couple managed to divorce and recouple on such lovely terms? They carried on without jealousy or misery, without longing or anger, yet they’d been through so much hardship. Hannah had never seen the like.

“How about something to eat? To drink?” Owen offered.

“We stopped for snacks for the girls and they’ve been eating nonstop since we left the airport, but I will arm wrestle you for a cold beer.”

“No need to get physical, Lucas. I’m all stocked up. And, madam?”

“Any cold and very expensive woody chardonnay will keep me from complaining,” Sheila said.

“She’s always had expensive taste,” Owen told Hannah.

“I hope you’re prepared,” Hannah said, looping an arm around his waist.

“I have a wine cellar!”

“I hope it’s full!” Sheila said. “I’m on vacation.”

“Let’s get your stuff,” Owen said. “Work before pleasure.”

  It was as though they’d all known each other for years, Hannah thought. Well, in fact they had, except for Hannah and Noah, who were newcomers. Sheila and Lucas put their things in their room and then, while the adults settled on the porch, the kids were all over the place. Noah was keeping up, though he used his crutches. They were inside, outside, they even tried going onto the dock until the adult voices yelled, “Hey! Off the dock!”