The Country Guesthouse (Sullivan's Crossing #5)(77)

Victoria glowered at her.

“What an oaf I am! I’m so sorry! You’re all right, aren’t you?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Do I know you?”

“I’m sorry, it’s Helen Culver. I’m a friend of Owen Abrams and I was in court the day you argued for time with your grandson. Oh, I wanted to reach out to you just then, but you seemed so upset. I’m so sorry that didn’t work out better. I’m a grandmother myself. Well, not technically—it’s my niece, who I raised, who just had a baby. And I know only too well how difficult it can be, wanting more time with your grandchild.”

“Do you now?” Victoria asked, clearly cynical.

“Well, let me rephrase. My niece would have me take care of the baby full-time if she could, but that wasn’t exactly on my agenda. But if anything happened to my niece, I can assure you, I wouldn’t want my great-niece given to another family. Are you doing all right, Mrs. Addison?”

“I’ve been better,” she said. “What did you say your name was?”

“Helen,” she said. “I know Owen because he’s a neighbor. I live on that same lake.” She looked at her watch. “You know what we should do? Maybe get a coffee. Or better still—a glass of wine! I hardly ever meet women in my same generation.”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I just—”

“I have to grab some broccoli and onions for dinner, then I’m free for a couple of hours. I’m taking the afternoon off from work and I admit—I wouldn’t mind a little gossip time with a woman. What do you say? Coffee or wine?”

“I suppose. But I don’t have much time.”

“Let’s finish up here and meet at that little pub across the street. How’s that?”

“All right.”

Helen quickly tossed some broccoli and onions into her cart. She was momentarily at a disadvantage—she had expected Victoria to know who she was. Helen was not universally well-known, but in some circles she was a bit impossibly well-known. At book fairs, conferences and conventions, people sometimes stared and were afraid to approach her. When someone knew she was a moderately famous author, they were anxious to talk about themselves.

Oh, well, she’d have to prime Victoria a bit. All she really hoped to get out of this meeting was a clue as to who this woman really was and what motivated her. It was impossible for her to believe that all Victoria’s maternal feelings suddenly bubbled to the surface a few months ago. Even more important, Helen wanted to know what kind of mother Victoria had been. Things must have been quite awful for Erin to go to such lengths to be sure her child wasn’t raised by his grandmother.

Victoria was already settled into a booth in the pub when Helen walked in. Helen slid in opposite her.

“Just what I need,” she said.

“Me, too,” Victoria said. “I’m sorry if it sounded like I wasn’t very grateful for the invitation. I’m in a mood. I’ve just come from coffee with Hannah. A meeting, if you please. Where she dressed me down and told me what my boundaries had better be if I hope to ever see Noah again.”

“Hannah? She doesn’t seem like the sort,” Helen said. “What’s that all about?”

“I’m not sure,” Victoria said.

The waitress was at their table and they each ordered a glass of wine.

“You were saying,” Helen urged.

“That’s all there is to tell,” Victoria said. “I’ve been asking permission to see him for an hour here or there and so far, the answer is no. Today she told me it’s going to be no for some time and suggested I just go back to Minneapolis and wait to be summoned.” She laughed hollowly. “I was laid off last year and haven’t worked in a good while. I don’t have money to fly back and forth. I wonder if it’s worth it to stay on here if Hannah is just going to prevent me from seeing my grandson.”

“Oh, Victoria, I had no idea...”

“Well, it’s something I’m going to have to think through, make a decision. I suppose I should accept the inevitable. I thought she would be more understanding...”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what in the world happened between you and your daughter?”

“Well, it’s not easy for me... Erin was a vicious daughter. I couldn’t please her no matter how I tried. She had a falling-out with her brother, moved away and stopped talking to both of us. Roger is no angel—I’ll be the first to admit that—but he tried. Tried and failed. But for Erin to stop talking to me, for her to make me out to be some kind of monster...”

The wine arrived and Victoria took a sip.

“I was so shocked and ashamed by the things she said about me in some letter her lawyer produced. She called me abusive, claimed that I never protected her, that I allowed her brother to physically abuse her, that I was cruel. I don’t know where that came from. I didn’t have an easy life and I did my best to be a good mother.”

“Of course you did,” Helen said.

“And I’d do my best to be a good grandmother. But Hannah has hooked herself up to a rich man and she won’t budge. She isn’t going to give me a chance and her rich boyfriend is going to back her up no matter the legal cost.”

“Owen?” Helen asked. “Oh, Victoria, I’m sure Owen isn’t rich.”