“You think I’m safe riding solo?”
“Sweetheart, you have your wings and my Wing mastered. Which is why I have something to give you.” Celeste unzipped a pocket on her jacket and removed a delicate chain and pendant. Hannah recognized it right off. Delight washed through her. “The Angel’s Rest blazon?”
“For those who have embraced love’s healing grace. Congratulations, Hannah. Welcome to Eternity Springs.” She fastened the chain around Hannah’s neck.
“Oh, it’s beautiful. Thank you! Boone is going to be so jealous.”
“I know.” Celeste laughed cheerily. “Isn’t it fun? Now, there is no rush on the vehicle switch. You take all the time you need. I’ll have all your purchases boxed up and ready when you come.”
“Thank you.” Hannah threw her arms around her friend and hugged her hard. “Thank you for everything.”
“My pleasure, dear. It’s my job.”
She finger-waved goodbye, and moments later, Hannah heard the engine on one of the Gold Wings fire up and depart. She went forward to meet Bree and Serena. “How’s everybody doing?”
“Fabulous,” the nanny replied. “We’ve had a nice walk, and now our little angel is ready for a diaper change and a nap.”
“Let me do it,” Hannah said. “I need a little Bree time.”
“She’s all yours. It will give me a chance to grab a glass of iced tea, sit on the deck, and call my mother. I promised her I’d check in today. Holler if you have any problems.”
“I will. I’ll give you heads-up when I leave.”
Hannah focused on the baby, speaking to her while she lifted Bree from the stroller. “Hello, beautiful. Did you enjoy your outing? I’ll bet you did. It’s a beautiful day.”
Brianna let out a few fussy cries as Hannah carried her into the house and then into the nursery. “It’s okay, baby. You’re a tired girl, aren’t you? Let’s get this diaper changed, and then we’ll rock. Mama has a story she wants to tell you.”
With practiced hands, she quickly changed the diaper, keeping up a gentle patter all the while. Hannah offered Bree a pacifier, which the infant latched fast, and then they settled into the rocking chair. Ordinarily, when she rocked Bree, Hannah would sing. Today she placed the baby against her shoulder, patted her back, and said, “Go to sleep, little love. No worries. You know why? It’s because you have your own special guardian angels watching after you. Isn’t that awesome? Let Mama tell you about your sisters, Sophia and Zoe.”
Hannah held Brianna long after the infant drifted to sleep, rocking her, remembering, crying just a little bit, laying her ghosts to rest. Eventually, she kissed Brianna’s brow, rose from the rocker, and carried her to her crib, where she ever-so-gently lay her down. “Sweet dreams, precious.”
Hannah fingered the pendant around her neck and whispered, “Andrew, accident or not, I forgive you. I forgive me.”
She sent a text message to Boone before she left the house. Climbing onto Celeste’s Gold Wing, she took the road back to where it all began and waited for her future to arrive.
* * *
Boone was a wreck.
As he drove his truck up toward Lover’s Leap, his mind whirled like a top. He’d spent an hour working the phone, to no avail. It was a Saturday afternoon in August. Offices were closed. People were on vacation. Hell, half of Texas found the way to southern Colorado this time of year. If he scouted the campgrounds and fishing spots, he might find the people he needed to contact.
He was almost ready to try it. Anything would be better than facing Hannah with the news that had slithered through his mail slot today.
He’d considered keeping the news to himself, but that would only delay the inevitable. Hannah needed to know.
Oh, God. Please, God. Give me the right words.
He’d rehearsed a dozen different ways to say it after he received Hannah’s text, distracted shortly by the fact that she was riding Celeste’s motorcycle up to Lover’s Leap and wanted him to meet her there. Hannah on a bike? Another day, another time, he’d think that sexy as hell.
Today all he could think about was hanging on to his girls.
He didn’t speed. In fact, he took his time, making a full stop at every stop sign and driving well below the speed limit. He added five whole minutes onto the usual drive time from town to Lover’s Leap. Nevertheless, he did arrive.
She was sitting beyond the stone wall in the same spot where she’d sat the first time he’d met her. The sight of her took his breath away. So beautiful. So alive.
Probably wouldn’t hurt anything to move her back away from the edge before he shared his news.
Not that she’d jump, but during times of emotional distress, accidents happened.
He shut off the engine and climbed out of his truck. Better if he eased into this slowly. Better for him, anyway.
“Hey, Hollywood.”
The smile she turned toward him was as pretty as a sunset against a field of bluebonnets. “Hello, Texas.”
“You’re wearing leather chaps.”
She laughed. “I am. I have a leather jacket too. It has lots of zippers.”
He strode toward the wall and took a seat. “How do you feel about role-playing in the bedroom, Biker Girl?”
“Well, it would be a new experience for me, but I’ve discovered I’m game for new things.”
He patted the space beside him. “Join me?”
She repeated his gesture. “How about you come to me?”
“Ah, hell, Hannah. Any other time. Any other place.” He rested his elbows on his knees, leaned forward, and dropped his chin to his chest. “I gotta tell you something.”
Following a pregnant pause, he heard her stand and move toward him. “Sounds like a confession,” she said lightly. Sitting beside him, she added, “Does it have anything to do with New Year’s Eve?”
He gave her a sharp look. “What have you heard? No. Wait. That can wait. I gotta tell you this, and get it out there.”
Her smile faded, and concern creased her brow. “What’s wrong?”
“You have to trust me.”
Her hand clutched his thigh. Her tone intensified. “Boone, what’s happened?”
“It’ll be okay. Truly, it will. I’ve been down this road before—well, a similar road, anyway—and I have experience. I know what I’m doing. I’m a good attorney, an excellent attorney. This won’t happen. I don’t want you to freak out and … and … oh, hell, Hannah. I’m scared.”
Hannah closed her eyes. “It’s Brianna, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I’m going to be sued for custody.”
“Rachel changed her mind?”
“No. It’s the grandparents. The father’s parents. I got a letter from Ashleigh, and then I called her. She gave me the details. The woman knows everything that’s going on in the legal field in Fort Worth. Somehow, the grandparents found out about Brianna, and they’ve decided they want her. We’ll fight it, of course. They won’t win. I will not let them win. But things might be, um, unsettled for a while.”
“Will we have to give her up to someone?”