“Noah! Honey, don’t touch that,” she said, noticing Noah’s hands curiously checking out some big lenses.
“You’re okay, Noah. That’s a telescope. One night when we have a clear sky we’ll get it out and look at the moon and stars.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Really. How’d you like to take some pictures?”
“Huh? Can I?”
“Sure. Let’s find a camera more your size.”
And the hours were eaten up by browsing through pictures, both printed and matted in oversize file drawers and on his monitors, and with Owen showing Noah how to point, focus and snap pictures. Noah’s favorite model was Romeo, big surprise. Then Noah asked if Owen had any peanut butter and jelly.
“Oh, Noah, it’s after four!” Hannah said. She’d been sitting on the floor near the bookcase, paging through some of Owen’s books—his and those of other photographers. “Good thing you had two breakfasts! We missed lunch. Oh, I’m a terrible mother! Come on, let’s go over to the big house and I’ll make you something.”
“I have a better idea,” Owen said. “Let’s all go and throw together some dinner. I think it’s almost wine time.”
“What can I make?” she asked, trying to think of what she had.
“Let’s have a look through your refrigerator and see what’s there. I’ll cook,” Owen said.
It turned out a little help was needed from Owen’s kitchen in the barn. He concocted some chicken and pasta dish with a creamy pesto sauce, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms. Hannah was nearly drooling but she was sure she’d have to make Noah a grilled cheese.
But, of course, Noah loved it because Owen made it. And he told them, “My mom used to put spinach and other vegetables in everything. This is so good. It’s reminding me of her.”
After dinner Noah played with Romeo in the yard while the May sun hovered just above the Rockies. Owen and Hannah sat on the porch, trying to digest another wonderful meal. Then Noah came up on the porch and slumped against Hannah, yawning.
“Oh, no, you don’t, young man! You’re not falling asleep without a bath again. Let’s get you cleaned up, teeth brushed and in your pajamas...”
“I can’t,” he said with a whine.
“We’re getting it done even if I have to hold the toothbrush!” she said, lifting him. “You gained weight today!”
“I’ll clean up the kitchen while you get bedtime rolling,” Owen said.
Noah was so tired Hannah had to practically hold his head out of the bath to keep him from drowning. She did have to hold the toothbrush, but she got him into clean jammies and into bed. He was yawning big before she kissed him. “I love you, Noah,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, Hannah,” he said. Then he was out.
When she got back to the porch, Owen held up a bottle of wine. “It’s not your bedtime yet, is it?”
* * *
Late that night, much too late, she texted Kate asking if she was awake. Her cell phone rang immediately.
“Everything okay?” Kate asked.
“Oh, Kate, this is the best thing I’ve ever done. Noah is so happy, completely worn-out, his cheeks pink from sunshine, his laughter is quick and crazy. There is this wonderful man here with a big lovable dog named Romeo who adores Noah—the dog, I mean. Although Owen loves him, too. He took us to get wet suits today because swimming will be good for Noah and the lake is too cold and...and he’s so nice.”
“Oh, boy,” Kate said.
“I’m okay,” Hannah said. “It’s not romantic. But I’ve never met anyone like him in my life. I can’t wait to tell you about him. He’s sort of famous. Also, he’s kind of shy. He’s published these books. Wonderful, amazing books. I never imagined Noah and I would run into someone like this...”
* * *
The days became a kind of fluid beauty for Hannah. Noah rarely woke up during the night and when he did, he was able to go back to sleep. He cuddled a lot, especially if he was a little tired. He woke up each morning filled with excitement, anxious to get his playmates across the yard moving. A couple of mornings Romeo found deer in the yard and chased them. Once there was a buck and he briefly turned on the Great Dane, though he didn’t get too near, but Romeo yelped and ran as though he’d been gored, causing Noah and Owen to laugh wildly.
The wet suits arrived and Noah and Owen got right into them. They donned their rubber shoes, waded into the lake, and within a half hour Noah was swimming! They didn’t wear flippers because Owen had read that learning to kick using the power of his ankles was better for building strength and stretching out tendons. Hannah couldn’t get Noah out for two hours, and then only long enough for a brief rest and a lunch break, and then he was begging to go back in.
In the afternoons, Hannah read to Noah in the hammock. What she learned right away was that Noah had some powerful reading skills. When she asked him how long he’d been reading he couldn’t exactly remember. “I didn’t play outside as much as the other kids,” he said.
On an early-May morning they woke up to a gentle rain and Noah begged and begged to go swimming. Hannah was firm that he could wait at least until the sun came out. Since Owen had explained about Helen Culver’s occupation as a writer and since Hannah already knew about Helen’s experience “inheriting” her niece, she thought maybe that rainy morning might be a good time to pay a visit to the Crossing. “Let’s go to Sully’s and you can say hello to Beau,” she suggested. “Owen, do you want to come along? I’ll just stay an hour or two if Helen isn’t too busy.”
Owen decided that the time would give him a chance to concentrate on some of his work. Hannah stuffed her backpack with diversions for Noah—his tablet, a couple of games, crayons and pens.
“Well, look here, the rain brings you out again,” Sully said when she walked into the store. “How’s the vacation going, young man?”
“We have wet suits and we can swim in them without freezing our nuts off,” he said.
Hannah put her hand over her mouth. “I’ll, ah, speak to Owen about his choice of words.”
“Sounds like it’s accurate enough,” Sully said. “We men tend to speak our minds around these parts.”
“Can I play with Beau?” Noah asked.
“As long as you don’t let him out. There’s no dog I know who loves rain and mud like this one and I’m not in the mood to wash him. I have an idea. You want to brush him for me? Unload about ten pounds of hair?”
“I could maybe do that,” he said.
“On the porch, then,” Sully said. “And don’t you let him in the yard.”
“Do you think I could interrupt Helen’s writing?” Hannah asked. “I’ve been wanting to talk with her.”
“She’d prolly welcome it,” Sully said. “At least the people she’s killing off in that book will be grateful.”
“Do you mind if Noah stays with you and Beau for just a little while?”
“I’d be real happy about that,” he said. Hannah shrugged out of her backpack, handing it to Sully. “Well, now, I know there’s no bottles or diapers in here, so what’ve we got?”
“Games and stuff,” Noah said with a little giggle. “To keep me busy.”
“I see,” Sully said. “If you brush the dog, then you can maybe teach me one of these games.”
“I could do that,” he said.
* * *
Helen looked up from her computer and smiled at Hannah. “I was hoping you were coming for a visit.”
“Are you in the thick of it? Your story?”
“Ach, it’s the most boring story I’ve ever written. At the moment, at least. How is your vacation so far?” Helen closed her laptop and indicated the other chair at her small table.
Hannah sat down. “Magic,” she said. “I’ve never seen Noah so happy. I was so afraid that no matter what I did, he might never be happy again.”
“There will still be those days,” Helen said. “Right now he’s too busy to dwell, but that longing for his mother will come and go. You’re right to enjoy these days. And your color is so good, too. You’ve been spending lots of time outdoors, haven’t you?”
Hannah told her everything they’d been doing from swimming to piggyback hiking, ice-cream sundaes at Rob Shandon’s pub.
“Rob is married to my niece,” Helen said. “That makes him like a son-in-law.”
“My God, this whole town is connected!”
“Talk about a family tree...” Helen said.
“And Noah is taking pictures now. Owen gave him an old camera and showed him how to focus and shoot. Then they look at his pictures on the computer and he’s thrilled.”
“Isn’t Owen the loveliest man?” Helen asked. “The second I met him, I knew he was special. I love talking to him about his travels, about his accidental success. Well,” she laughed. “Accidental in that he didn’t plan it or expect it but when you look at those books of his, read his descriptive prose, it’s unsurprising. It was bound to happen. He has the heart of an angel.”
“I know! I admit, I’m thoroughly captivated! He’s made such a difference in Noah’s life. And mine! He seems like such a pure soul. But, Helen, I know you’ve been in my shoes—will you please give me your three or four strongest tips for learning to be a sudden mother? My friend Erin, though a single, working mother, was the most wonderful mother I’ve ever known. There’s no way I can ever measure up!”
“Oh, you’ll do fine. I had to build a network, not just so I could survive, but so Leigh had connections, too. Neighbors, mostly. I had to get cozy with her teachers, making sure they all knew it was just the two of us.”
“I have two other best friends who aren’t far away. They were also close to Erin and Noah. They promise to help and they have kids who are great with Noah. And I’ll get him going on a new physical therapy program. Although, if Owen has his way, Noah will be walking on his own before we leave.”