The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(65)

“Did you have a couple of nice visits with your grandson, Mrs. Addison?” he asked Victoria.

“I tried,” she said. “It was a little difficult being watched as if I’d steal something or beat my grandson.”

“I hope you’re satisfied that he’s happy, healthy and in good hands. Here’s where I’d like to leave the whole issue, unless your attorneys want to throw a lot of paper at me. Hannah Russell will retain sole custody, just as I told you would happen. Ms. Russell will provide her cell phone number to you and you may use it to inquire about Noah. Not to harass her but to politely inquire. Perhaps you’ll even want to say hello to him. Maybe you’d like to see him sometime in the future, but that is at the sole discretion of his guardian and under only the conditions in which she feels comfortable. Be sensitive, Mrs. Addison. Ms. Russell also needs time to bond with Noah.

“I’ve been in situations like this before, Mrs. Addison. Different details in the circumstances, of course, but similar in many ways. If you tread carefully and respect the boundaries Noah’s guardian has established, there may come a time you can see or talk to Noah more often and establish some rapport. Remember him at Christmas and on his birthday. Have you done that before?”

“Of course!” Victoria said. “But my daughter was angry with me and probably didn’t tell him I sent gifts.”

Judge Vincente frowned. “I see,” he said. “Well, that takes care of our business. Sole custody to Ms. Russell, supervised visitation upon approval by Ms. Russell. Have a good day, everyone.”

Hannah almost collapsed in relief.

It was no surprise that there were others waiting for the news. Cal had calls from Sully and Maggie; Hannah had turned off her phone during court, and when she turned it back on, there was a message from Leigh Shandon.

Noah had stayed at the Crossing with Sully and Helen, so by the time Hannah, Owen and Cal got there, an impromptu party was just getting started. Leigh and her baby showed up after her clinic hours were over. Cal called Maggie and she came with Elizabeth. Sierra came with her children, and Connie and a couple of firefighters came by. Owen drove around the lake to his house to fetch Romeo, the only guest who couldn’t get there on his own. Everyone gathered around the front porch of Sully’s house, leaving the porch at the store for the campers. The store was being tended by a couple of the Canaday kids who often worked there, with Sully popping over often to make sure they were doing all right.

Everyone decided simultaneously they could throw together dinner from what was on hand. Helen brought out some burgers and chicken breasts. Maggie and Hannah raided the garden and steamed vegetables and created an enormous salad.

“Is it really over?” Sierra asked Hannah.

“Cal said Victoria would have to have a profound reason to revisit the issue, like if Noah were being abused. Even if Victoria lied, Noah wouldn’t let her get away with it.” She shook her head and laughed. “I knew Noah was smart, but you have no idea how intuitive he is. He pretty much trapped her in lies during their first visit. It took me a second to realize he was actually testing her, asking her questions about his mother. She didn’t have the right answers and he was done.”

“How do you feel now?” Sierra asked.

“Like all my bones are made of tissue paper! Noah and I have been a team for five months now. I still miss Erin so much but every night I say a little prayer of thanks, hoping she’s on the party line and can hear me. I will fight for Noah to the death.”

“Welcome aboard, Hannah,” Sierra said. “You’re a mom.”

  After Noah went to bed that night, Hannah and Owen snuggled up on the couch and whispered about their relief.

“There’s really nowhere else for her to go to attempt getting custody. But we’re going to have to pay attention. Even if she does just want a chance to be a grandmother, I’m planning to give her a wide berth, I think,” Hannah said.

“She doesn’t look at all like what I was expecting,” Owen said. “I guess I’d built her into some kind of monster in my mind. She looks harmless. She’s attractive and well-spoken. She did some convincing crying in the courtroom during that first hearing.”

“I had a friend in high school who could do that,” Hannah said. “She could turn it on and off at will. I lost track of her. I bet she shows up on the Oscars someday.”

“I think you’re actually lighter,” he said, giving her a playful jostle. “Not a tense muscle in your body weighing you down.”

“I’m floating...”

“And by the way, it’s August. We have gotten through two custody scares and school starts in less than a month.”

She bit her lip and turned her head to look up at him. “I’m pretty nervous. Is it me or is it Noah? Because it’s understandable that you’d feel protective of a lost little boy after losing your own son.”

He bent to press a kiss on her lips. “I need to sharpen my skills if you think it’s only about Noah. Yeah, I already love the kid. Anyone who doesn’t should have his head examined. But I love you in an entirely different way. Level with me. Are you afraid to quit your job?”

“Oh, yeah. And move out of my house. And live off you. And all of it. The only thing that no longer scares me is the idea of being Noah’s mother. I could never go back. It’s what I want to be.”