The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(58)

“We don’t want privacy,” Owen said. “It’s a supervised visit. The lawyer will also be here. We’ll make sure she gets her time with Noah, but not be alone with him. If Noah’s mother didn’t trust her, neither should we.”

Sheila smiled. “Oh, my. The grandmother has no idea what she’s gotten herself into with you.”

“And that suits me fine,” Hannah said. “I can be very brave when I have to be but I’ll be the first to admit, I haven’t always been skeptical enough. I’m inclined to be too trusting. Not this time, though.”







We are all travelers in the wilderness
of this world, and the best we can find
in our travels is an honest friend.

—Robert Louis Stevenson



11


Victoria Addison arrived at Owen’s house at ten in the morning, looking fresh for a day at the lake. She wore denim capris, a sleeveless shirt with a sweater over her shoulders and a straw hat on her head. She carried a large canvas beach bag.

Hannah had been waiting on the porch with her gallery of friends—Owen, Cal, Sheila, Lucas, Jenny and Amber. Cal explained that for the visit to be useful, someone had to be with Noah and Victoria, listening to their conversation and observing their behavior. To that end, Hannah went down the porch stairs to meet her as she approached the house.

“Hello, Mrs. Addison,” Hannah said, sticking out her hand. In her head she was pretending Victoria was a difficult manager from the human resources department—that was the only way she could work it out in her mind. When someone from Human Resources visited you at work, they might be wearing a pleasant expression but something was up—like maybe you were getting fired. Or maybe just disciplined or warned of a complaint directed at one of your staff. On the other hand, they might be coming to tell you about a complimentary letter from a customer that would go in your file. “It’s nice of you to visit. This is Noah.”

“Oh, Noah!” Victoria said, a little surprise in her voice as she took in the crutches. “I’d know you anywhere,” she said, bending at the waist even though Noah was still on the porch.

“You would?” Noah asked. “I wouldn’t of knowed you.”

“Of course,” she said. “Your mother used to send me pictures.”

“She did? You never came to our house,” he said.

Hannah thought, I don’t even have to be sneaky. Noah didn’t even realize it but he was astute. Nothing got by him, including the lovely Mrs. Addison.

“Well, that’s a complicated story,” she said. “But I’m happy to be able to spend time with you now. I’ve brought some things for you.” She looked around with a slight frown. “Where shall we go to have our visit?”

Right at that moment Romeo loped down the steps to the yard and nosed right up against Victoria. She gasped and retreated, giving the big dog’s head a shove away from her. Romeo sat, looking dejected.

“This is Romeo, Mrs. Addison,” Hannah said. “He’s very sweet and friendly.”

“And awfully big!” she said.

“We don’t ever push him or hit him,” Noah said. “He’s a little clumsy but he doesn’t have a mean bone.”

“Of course he doesn’t,” she said, stretching out a hand to tentatively pat the big head. “He startled me, that’s all.”

“Wait till he knocks you in the lake,” Noah said. “Then you’ll be surprised for sure.”

Victoria laughed uncomfortably. “You have quite a gathering. Am I imposing? I could reschedule our meeting when there aren’t so many people.”

“You’re not imposing. These are our friends. You’ve already met Mr. Jones. Lucas is going to take the girls inside. The rest of us are going to play a game of cards at the table out here while you and Noah visit on this end of the porch. You have the chairs and the swing. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Soda?”

“Are we to get acquainted with an entire crowd observing us?” she asked as she came up the steps.

Cal stood. “Give it five minutes and you won’t feel awkward at all. The whole point is that you and Noah will be observed. I suggested your lawyer join us.”

“And I suggested he not,” she said. “I wasn’t prepared for this...this...gallery!”

“It’s a long porch,” Cal said. “We won’t interrupt you.”

Lucas hustled his girls into the house while Sheila and Owen walked to the table at the far end of the porch.

“This is the only option,” Hannah said. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to drink?”

Victoria ignored her and just put a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Let’s go sit on the swing and let me show you some of the things I brought. Can we do that? Is that all right?”

“I guess so,” he said.

“Come on, then. I’ve looked forward to this for a long time.”

Noah said nothing. He crutched his way to the porch swing.

Hannah felt as if her heart was being torn from her chest. She could feel the ache penetrating deep; her throat hurt from fighting the urge to cry. She was probably going to spend a long afternoon talking with Noah, trying to sort things out with him.