Cole spotted Jameson already sitting at a table in the cafe, so he beelined it straight to him.
“Hey, Jameson.”
Jameson smiled and stood, shaking Cole’s hand and pulling him into a brief hug. “Hey, Cole. I heard you are seeking legal advice.”
“I am. Along with Ava. She should be here any minute.”
As if on cue, Ava came through the door, and Cole watched as her eyes panned the bookstore until she spotted them. A smilelit her face with a bit of hesitancy thrown in as she made her way over to them.
“Hey guys,” she said.
“Hey, Ava.” Jameson stood and gave her a hug. “So what can I do for you?”
Ava briefly exchanged a look with Cole as she took a seat. She leaned forward and lowered her voice so no one around them would hear. If the wrong person heard, it would spread through town like wildfire. “I would like to get custody of my little sister. I read about it online and found the paperwork, but it was recommended to hire a lawyer. Is this something you could help me with?”
He nodded. “I can, yes.”
For the next hour, Jameson explained the process and answered all their questions. When they finished, they all stood, and Ava hugged Jameson. Jealousy spiked through Cole. He couldn’t help it. Seeing any man’s arms around Ava would make him jealous, even if he knew it was platonic.
Jameson left, and Ava immediately threw her arms around Cole.
“Thank you.”
He wrapped his around her and was very aware of the eyes of his family members watching him. “For what?”
“For listening in and asking questions I hadn’t thought of. For trying to help me fight for custody of Ruby. For arranging this meeting.”
Cole tightened his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. “I’d love to take all the credit, but Eli helped arrange the meeting.”
“I better go give him a hug too, then.”
“In a minute,” Cole said, holding onto her a bit longer.
She giggled. “I think we’re drawing stares.”
“So?”
She laughed and pulled back. “I’m going to go thank Eli.”
Cole watched her walk to where Eli stood near the back of the store watching them. Then he spotted Katie behind the cafe counter. She smiled and raised her eyebrows. He smiled back.
