Chapter 12
Cole rode with Ava to the school to drop Ruby off.
After they made sure she got inside safely, they drove over to Jameson’s office.
Once the gossip of what happened outside the school traveled around town, he had contacted them and suggested they move things forward.
Ava was quick to agree and asked Cole to join her. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
They walked into the law office and were immediately brought to a conference room where Jameson was seated.
“I filled out the paperwork, but there are a few gaps I need you to fill in, Ava,” he said.
“Whatever you need,” Ava said.
For the next several minutes, they went over the paperwork and Jameson finished gathering the information he needed. He promised he would have everything filed before the end of the day.
“I don’t want to give false hope, but since your mom was arrested outside the school and had been driving drunk, there’s a chance this will be pushed through quicker than normal,” Jameson said.
“How much quicker?” Ava asked.
“You might be her guardian in as soon as two weeks,” Jameson said.
Ava looked at Cole with hope filling her eyes.
“What about in the meantime? Is there a way we can keep her until then?”
“I’ll file for a temporary injunction to give you guardianship until this is worked out.
I don’t see that being an issue with all the reports and information the school alone has provided.
Then with the arrest records both Tonya and Frank have for drunk driving and disorderly conduct, it should go through.
I’ll let you know as soon as I find out. ”
Ava nodded. “Thank you, Jameson. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m happy to help,” Jameson said.
He walked them to the front of the office and saw them out. Once they got into the car, Ava burst into tears.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Cole said. He did his best to hold her from across the center console, rubbing her back. “We’re going to keep Ruby safe. She won’t need to suffer.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m crying because I’m just so happy. I didn’t think it would be this easy.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s been easy.”
“That’s not what I meant. I only mean that I thought it would be a bigger battle than this.”
“Honestly, your mom showing up to the school drunk did you and Ruby a favor. I know it was hard for Ruby to see. No kid wants to see their parent in handcuffs, but it helped your case.”
Ava nodded and pulled back. “I know. You’re right. I’m just surprised, is all. And honestly, I’m kicking myself for not doing this sooner.”
Cole tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “You did it when you saw fit, and that’s good enough. Don’t stress about the past. We can’t change it. Besides, you may not have gotten custody before since we didn’t have an extra room for Ruby. But since Kelly moved, we have the perfect setup for her.”
Ava nodded. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
Cole glanced at the clock. It was still mid-morning, and he wasn’t stressed about getting to work anytime soon. “How about we go shopping for some stuff to dress-up Ruby’s new bedroom?”
“You aren’t worried about getting to work?”
“Nope. This is far more important.”
The look on Ava’s face would have him smiling for the rest of the day.
“Thank you, Cole.”
“You’re welcome. Now let’s go make Ruby the happiest girl alive.”
Ava and Cole drove a town over to check out a few different stores for items to decorate Ruby’s room.
It almost felt weird to Ava to have Cole with her.
This was the longest time they had spent together deliberately in a while.
When they were sick, it was inevitable. But Cole taking time off work to go shopping was on a whole new level.
Ava walked down an aisle of bedroom supplies and looked around. The options were slim, but anything they couldn’t find in person, she decided she would order online.
“What about these?”
Ava turned around to find Cole holding up pink curtains with colorful butterflies all over them.
“She’d love that,” Ava said.
Cole looked proud as he set them inside the cart he was pushing.
Ava then reached for a matching lamp and turned to show it to Cole.
“Yes, perfect,” he said. “Oh, we could go with a butterfly theme.” He picked up some butterflies that attached to the walls with magnetic pushpins.
“We'd better be careful or I am going to spend a ton of money.”
Cole tilted his head. “I’ll pay for it.”
Ava giggled. “I was joking. And no, you aren’t paying for it.”
“Why not?”
“Because she isn’t your sister or your responsibility. Plus, I haven’t been paying extra rent to have her stay in Kelly’s room. Which is completely unfair to you, by the way.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “I don’t care about that.”
“I know. But I’m just saying that you’re doing enough. You don’t need to buy her bedroom supplies too.”
“I do what I want.”
Ava snorted. They picked out a matching bedspread and a small area rug to match before deciding they had gotten enough. Ava paid for the items and then Cole carried them out to her car, putting them all in the trunk.
“Let’s grab lunch before heading back,” Cole said.
“Sounds good. What are you feeling?”
“Nothing in particular. Maybe the diner?”
Ava drove them over to the small diner and parked. They had eaten there several times before. Sometimes it was nice to get out of their town and eat somewhere different, but this was the first time it had been just the two of them in a very long time.
They were seated at a corner booth and looked over the small menu. They both ordered burgers and milkshakes before sitting silently across from each other.
“This is nice,” Cole said.
Ava smiled. “It is.”
“How are you feeling after yesterday, and the chat with Jameson this morning?”
“Does it make me a shitty person to say that I’m extremely excited that my mom screwed up so bad?” While she never would have wished her mom to make a scene in front of the school, and definitely wouldn’t have wished Ruby to witness it, she was happy it would help her gain guardianship in the end.
“Nope.”
“You seem so sure.”
“That’s because I am. I know you’re a good person, and you have Ruby’s best interests at heart. Tonya and Frank do not.”
She reached across the table and took his hand. “Thank you for believing in me.”
Their moment was interrupted when their food arrived. Ava pulled her hand back and smiled at Cole.
Ava half expected her mom to be waiting at the school when she picked up Ruby, but she wasn’t there. Cole insisted on riding with her, and Ava was thankful. She had planned to ask him to join her, but he had beaten her to it.
Ruby slid into the backseat with a bright smile on her face. “Hi, Ava. Hi, Cole.”
“Hey, sweetie,” Ava said. “How was school?”
“Good. I was invited to a birthday party.”
“You were? That’s exciting. When is it?”
“In two weeks. Can I go?” Ruby asked.
“Of course. We can make that work.”
Ruby’s face fell. “What if I’m back home by then?”
Ava was driving down the street and was about to pull over to talk to Ruby, but Cole beat her to it. He turned around in his seat and smiled.
“Then we’ll come pick you up and take you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Ava looked over at Cole and smiled gratefully at him. He winked. They pulled up to their house and walked to the front door. She and Cole had set up Ruby’s room before they picked her up from school. They agreed not to say anything and wait for Ruby to notice.
It took only a few minutes before Ruby went to the room to change her clothes. Ava and Cole looked at each other as a scream tore through the air. Cole laughed lightly, and Ava beamed as Ruby came running out of the room and straight into Ava’s arms, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you!”
Ava giggled. “Cole helped me pick it out. He found the butterflies and curtains. Do you like it?”
Ruby ran over to Cole and hugged him next. “I love it so much. Thank you!”
“Anything for my favorite girl.”
Ava damn-near swooned. Ruby giggled and ran back to her room. Things were slowly coming together. All she needed was for the court case to be over, Ava to be in her custody, and for Cole to be her boyfriend. Then perhaps she would have it all.