Security Blanket by Delores Fossen

grandmother,” Marin provided, and she got up to open the door.
    The petite woman who gave Marin a long hug was an older version of Lois, Marin’s mother. Except unlike Lois, this woman had some warmth about her. Of course, Marin had come all this way to see her, so obviously there wasn’t the tension she had with her parents.
    Lucky got to his feet, as well, though he didn’t move far from the bed in case Noah crawled closer to the edge.
    “I’m Helen,” the woman said, introducing herself to Lucky. Her dusty-blue eyes were as easy as her smile. “Welcome to Willow Ridge.”
    Her eye contact was hospitable, unlike the frostiness he’d gotten from Marin’s parents when they’d arrived minutes earlier. Helen’s scrutiny lasted only a few seconds though before the woman’s attention landed on Noah. She smiled again. No. She beamed and went to the bed to sit next to her great-grandson.
    “My, my, now aren’t you a handsome-looking young man,” Helen concluded. Noah stared at her a moment before he returned the smile. That caused Helen to giggle with delight, and she scooped up the little boy in her arms. “Why don’t we go out on the patio and have a little visit.”
    Lucky was about to question whether Marin was up to going outside, but she followed her grandmother to a pair of French doors that thankfully led to a glass enclosed patio. No sting of the winter wind here. It was warm, cozy and had an incredible view of the west pasture that was green with winter rye grass. With the sun just starting to set, the room was filled with golden light.
    “How are you feeling?” Helen asked, her attention going back to Marin. The older woman dropped down into one of the white wicker chairs.
    “I’m fine,” Marin assured her, taking the love seat next to her grandmother and son.
    Everyone in that sunroom knew that was a lie. The dark smudgy circles beneath Marin’s eyes revealed her draining fatigue. And then there was that bandage on her forehead, a stark reminder of how close she’d come to being killed. It would take Lucky a lifetime or two to forgive himself for not being able to stop what had happened.
    “How are you feeling?” Marin countered.
    Helen gave her a short-lived smile and showered Noah’s cheeks with kisses. “I figured the only way to get you here was to tell you I was under the weather.”
    Marin mumbled something under her breath. Then, huffed. “When you called Lizette earlier this week and asked her to give me a message, you said you were sick, not under the weather. Sick. I was worried about you.”
    “I know, and considering what happened on the train, I’m sorry. But I’m not sorry you’re here.” Helen paused a moment. “All of these problems with your folks need to be worked out, and this was the only way I could think to do it.”
    “Grandma, it didn’t resolve anything. Mom and Dad are trying to take Noah from me.”
    “I know, and I’m sorry about that, too. I did try to stop them, but you know how your mother is when she gets an idea in her head.” The smile returned. “But they’ll forget all about custody and such when Dexter comes home.”
    That grabbed Lucky’s complete attention. “You think Dexter’s alive?”
    “Of course. And he won’t miss the chance to see his sister and nephew. I figure Dexter’s been waiting for the best time to make his homecoming, and that time is now.”
    Lucky was about to agree, but Helen continued before he could speak. “I don’t guess you’ll be joining the family for dinner tonight?”
    “No,” Marin immediately answered. “Mom and Dad might have blackmailed me into staying here, but there’s nothing in that judge’s order that says I have to socialize with the people trying to take my son.”
    “I thought you’d feel that way. I’ll make sure the cook brings in some trays for you two and some baby goodies for our little man here.” Helen tipped her head toward the bedroom. “It’s my guess that your folks