Ruby nodded. “Oh, yes.”
Katie looked at Cole and Ava. “For you?”
“I’ll take the same,” Ava said.
“Me too,” Cole said.
“Coming right up.” Katie poured milk into the frothing pitcher and heated it up, making three hot cocoas before setting them down in front of them. Then she topped them with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.
“Wow,” Ruby said. “Thank you, Katie.”
“You’re very welcome.”
The three of them sat at the countertop of the coffee bar and sipped their cocoa. Ava’s hands warmed as she gripped the cup, finally warding the chill away.
“There you are.”
Ava froze. She knew that voice. Frank. She slowly turned to face him.
“Hi, Dad,” Ruby said, scooting closer to Ava on the edge of her barstool.
“Frank, what are you doing here?” Ava asked. She had never seen him read before, so he wasn’t there for the books. Plus, she doubted he had the money for coffee.
“I heard you might be here, so I wanted to come see my little girl. I’m very disappointed in you, Ava. Trying to take Ruby away from her mother is cruel. She’s been nonstop crying,” Frank said. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Constantly pretending Ruby is yours is disgusting behavior. You should be committed.”
Ava flinched at the ugly words and put an arm around Ruby, who was practically in her lap.
Cole stood and placed himself between Ava and Frank. Katie came around the counter and wrapped an arm around Ava’s shoulders.
“Ava has been taking care of your child, whom you have been neglecting. Don’t you dare step foot in my store and speak ill of her. She is a far better parent than you and a far better person,” Cole said.
Frank took another step closer, only an inch from Cole’s face. They were evenly matched in height, but Cole was lean and had more muscle. Frank had a protruding beer belly since his only form of exercise was lifting a bottle to his lips.
Ava wanted to intervene, but Ruby was hugging her tightly, and she didn’t want to let her go. This would traumatize her enough. Thankfully, she didn’t have to.
Eli appeared out of nowhere and pushed Frank back a step. “Hey, back up.”
“Step away, boys. This doesn’t concern you,” Frank spat.
“To hell it doesn’t,” Cole said.
“Ava and Ruby are our family, so you bet your ass we will be involved in this conversation. But right now, I need to ask you to leave, or I will call the cops,” Eli said.
Frank stared at them, and Ava thought he wouldn’t go. After a tense moment, he took a step back.
“Fine. But this ain’t over. See you in court.” Then he stomped out of the store.
They all let out a collective breath.
“You okay?” Katie asked.
Ava nodded, so Katie rubbed her arm before walking back around the counter. Ava looked down at Ruby, who looked freaked out with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“It’s okay,” Ava said. “He’s gone.”
“I thought he was going to take me,” Ruby whispered.
“He can’t, baby. You’re staying with me from now on.” Ava knew she shouldn’t promise something that might not be true a few days from now. But she would fight tooth and nail to keep Ruby with her. She had to keep her. Losing her wasn’t an option.
“Let me know if you guys need anything,” Eli said.
“Thanks, man,” Cole said.
After Eli walked away, Cole turned toward Ava and Ruby, wrapping his arms around both of them.
“How about we head home?” he asked.
Ava nodded solemnly. She helped Ruby off her barstool and kept hold of her hand as they walked to the car.
No, she couldn’t lose Ruby. Not now. Not ever.
