Red spots colored Ruby’s neck. “Are you saying it’s my fault?”
Alex shook her head. “God, no. Look, I’m not a bad person. When I heard your message, something in me snapped. I realized that the mission to find who killed my sister wasn’t worth hurting others in the process.”
Ruby narrowed her eyes at Alex. “I appreciate you giving Norma and me a place to stay. From the first time I met you, I knew you were a kind person. I get your need for closure with your sister, but you put a little girl’s life in jeopardy. You frightened my little girl. She might have nightmares over all this.”
I draped an arm over Ruby. Granted, Raven wasn’t physically harmed, but Ruby had a point. Raven’s emotional stability could have been compromised. Regardless of her motives, Alex needed to pay for what she’d done.
I turned to Detective Rayburn. Lines fanned out from the corners of his eyes. “Can you shed some light on what evidence you had to arrest Trent?”
Ruby planted a hand on my stomach.
“We were about to serve a warrant to Trent when I got a call from Pete, the bartender at Firefly.”
Ruby and I exchanged what-the-hell looks.
“Apparently, after you left Firefly, Trent showed up. Tommy confronted Trent about the kidnapping. Then they got into a heated argument. Trent said no homeless woman was going to screw him out of money, and that she would get her kid when he got his money. So Pete called his cop buddy, Roy, and filled him in. Now I have Pete and Alex to testify in court against Trent.”
I barked out a laugh. “You are talking about that bruiser, Pete?”
“Yeah, dude. The same guy that beat your ass that night at Firefly.” Rayburn smirked. “Roy told me what happened.”
“Oh my God. I punched Pete in the throat.” Ruby’s voice was strangled. “I need to apologize.”
We both did. Then I needed to thank him.
Rayburn walked over to Alex and gripped her arm. “Let’s go.”
She rose, trepidation written all over her ghostly face. “Again, I am truly sorry.”
I couldn’t bring myself to forgive her actions. Ruby clung to me, not saying a word.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Rayburn said. “I got a call before you came out from the locker room. A Ms. Waters is on her way here to pick up Raven. Before you go ballistic, Raven is legally a ward of the state until you get your court case worked out.”
No sooner had he said her name than Ms. Waters clicked her heels against the floor, the sound grating on me. Ruby’s heartbeat ramped up, pounding against my side. Or maybe it was my own. I didn’t want Raven to be taken away again.
“We’ll be in touch,” Rayburn said as he ushered Alex out of the building.
It was time for the next battle. Ruby and I met Ms. Waters near the daycare room. Her face was clear of makeup. Her smile was as tight as the bun twisted on top of her head.
“Ms. Waters, can’t we keep Raven for the night?” Ruby asked in a wobbly voice.
She shoved her hands into her coat pockets. “I’m afraid not.”
My throat constricted. “Ma’am, how are we supposed to trust that Raven won’t get kidnapped again? It’s clear Mrs. Santos was distracted at the Boston Public Garden.”
“Mrs. Santos won’t be taking Raven to the Boston Public Garden anymore, and with the kidnapper in jail, Raven will be fine,” Ms. Waters said.
“Ms. Waters,” Ruby said. “I would never intentionally put my daughter in harm’s way. I hope you know that. I was trying to survive, and in the process, I screwed up. I’ll take whatever punishment you deem necessary.” Tears cascaded down Ruby’s cheeks.
Ms. Waters pressed her lips together as pity flashed in her eyes. “I’ve witnessed just how much you love Raven. If the tables were turned, I might’ve made the same choices you did. But it’s not up to me to decide how this case plays out. That’s for a judge to decide. For now, my recommendation to both of you is to find a suitable home for Raven. Do anything you can do to show the court you’re ready to be parents. I’m here to help.”
Then our next move was to go house hunting.
31
Ruby
The cold and sterile walls of the courtroom sent a chill down my spine. I found Kross’s hand and gripped it so hard, I would have sworn I was sucking all his muscled strength into me. His lawyer, or our lawyer, Mr. Davenport, was sitting on the other side of Kross, flipping through documents. I’d met the gray-haired man three weeks prior when he called Kross into his office to share the good news that the paternity test was a match. He was Raven’s father. Of course, I had already known that.
My nerves were quivering faster than a couple swing dancing, mainly because the judge could rule that Kross and I weren’t ready to be parents. Or Ms. Waters could give us a bad recommendation. I didn’t think she would. She seemed to be sympathetic to everything that I’d been through. Still, I’d put my little girl in a bad situation that could have cost her her life. I had to atone for my mistakes. If I didn’t, then I would be a bad example to my child. When Raven learned our story years down the road, I wanted her to see that I’d paid for my mistakes.
“My heart wants to fly out of my chest,” Kross said.
It was good to know I wasn’t the only one freaking out. I always had a hard time deciphering Kross’s moods except when we were about to make love. Then his blue eyes always seemed to darken with one long look that screamed, “I want to rip off your clothes.”
“We checked everything off our list.” I rubbed the back of his hand as I stifled a laugh at how the tables had turned. Normally, he would have been the one comforting me.
Lately though, I’d been the one to give advice to him and his brothers, especially Kelton. It had surprised the heck out of me that Kelton seemed worried. He’d said we were in good hands with Mr. Davenport. He’d also mentioned the same thing Ms. Waters had about how the family court system always returned a foster kid to her family as soon as they could, provided the family met the guidelines.
The door next to the judge’s bench squeaked opened. In walked a man wearing a black robe. He had thinning hair and a stony face. I heard rustling behind us. The entire Maxwell family was there to support us, minus Kade and Kelton’s girlfriends.
My heart sputtered as I began silently praying.
Kross squeezed my hand. “Here we go.”
Suddenly, I had that stomach churning feeling as if I was sitting at the top of a rollercoaster, looking straight down, and anticipating the car flying down the tracks. The difference was that I knew what would happen once the car coasted down. Glancing at the judge, I couldn’t gauge his decision or how he would rule.
“As I counseled,” Mr. Davenport whispered, “no outbursts. Let the judge talk.”
I wasn’t sure I could have even spoken.
The nameplate on the judge’s bench read Judge Garner. He opened a folder as he sat down then picked up reading glasses and set them on his nose.
We could have heard a pin drop. I held my breath and grasped the life out of Kross. Or maybe he was the one clutching me as though he was trying to crack open a walnut.
I tossed a look over my shoulder. Apprehension flashed in each member of the Maxwell family’s eyes as they focused on the judge.
Judge Garner cleared his throat, removed his glasses, and honed in on Kross and me. “I’ve gone through the case files for both Kross Maxwell and Ruby Lewis. I’ve had a chance to meet Raven Lewis. Before I make my ruling, I have some questions.”
I sat up straighter.
“Kross, your record indicates that you box for a living. Financially, will boxing support your family?” Judge Garner interlaced his fingers in front of him.
Kross held his chin high. “Yes, sir. I’ve recently signed a five-year contract with a boxing promoter. So I’ll have a steady stream of income.”
Judge Garner turned to me. “Ruby, you haven’t exactly shown that you’re a responsible mother. Your file has a list of infractions that lead me to belie
ve you can’t take care of a child.”
I opened my mouth then closed it. Don’t rock the boat.
“What I want to hear from you is what makes you believe you won’t be homeless again next week or two months from now?”
I glanced at Kross then Mr. Davenport. They both gave me a cursory glance. I couldn’t exactly blame the judge for his question. After all, in a matter of hours, my life had gone from cushy to harsh when my mom had been carted off to jail.
“Ruby, I’m the one asking. Mr. Davenport and Kross can’t help you with this question,” Judge Garner said, his voice commanding.
I licked the dryness from my lips, struggling to find an answer because there wasn’t a definitive one. Could I be homeless again? It was possible. Kross could leave us for some reason or another, then it would be Raven and me again. “Sir, the possibility does exist for any one of us to be homeless. For me though, I’ve set goals for myself to make sure that Raven and me never live on the streets again. I have a job, working at Rumors Night Club two nights a week.” After Kross and I had thanked and apologized to Pete at Firefly, he’d said he would put in a good word for me with Tommy. But I’d declined. My days at Firefly were over. “I’ve signed up to get my GED, and my long-term plan is to teach ballet.” Even though I could have been good at boxing, my heart was in ballet. “I don’t ever want my daughter to see me as someone who relies on others or can’t take care of herself.” Tingles pricked my hand that Kross was holding.
Someone was sniffling behind us. I would have put money on Mrs. Maxwell. She’d shed tears when she met me two weeks ago. I still couldn’t get over how nice she and Mr. Maxwell were. More importantly, I had been speechless when I laid eyes on Mrs. Maxwell. The resemblance between her and Raven was uncanny. I couldn’t wait for Raven to meet them. When the paternity test had revealed that Kross was in fact the father, Mrs. Maxwell insisted on meeting her granddaughter. But the timing hadn’t worked out yet. Actually, Kross and I had only had two scheduled visits within the last three weeks due to Ms. Waters’s schedule.
Nevertheless, Kross had mentioned that his mom was quite emotional. I understood. She was a mother after all. I couldn’t fault her for her sadness or pity. Part of me welcomed her sorrow. I wasn’t sure why. But right now, everyone had to know that I would give my life before I ended up on the streets again.
“What about living arrangements?” Judge Garner asked.
“Kross and I are living in a nice two-bedroom apartment in Boston, where Raven will have her own room.” We’d found a place in the same building that Kross had been living in with Kade, Kelton, and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell had offered their house, but Ashford was too far for Kross and me to commute.
As Judge Garner jotted down some notes, I prayed that today would be the day Raven would meet her paternal grandparents. That also would mean we could live together in our new home.
A giddy feeling zipped through me. It felt weird to say home. I hadn’t had a home complete with family in years. I often thought of my parents. I wanted both of them with me. I wanted to be able to sit in a kitchen while Mom cooked Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and just talk. I wanted to hug on my dad like I used to as a little girl and tell him I loved him. I wanted them to watch Raven grow up and open presents on Christmas and her birthday. Most of all, I wanted Raven to love them as much as I did despite where they lived and what they’d done.
For now, I had to take things one step at a time, although I had to pinch myself several times per day to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. My life had changed so drastically. Instead of dumpster-diving, I was eating at a table. The soft mattress that I curled up on at night with the sexiest guy on the planet was a far cry from the wet, cold, hard ground of the dark and dirty alleys I’d grown accustomed to. We were safe from the likes of Trent Baker, who was in jail. Even his high-powered lawyer hadn’t been able to get him out of the kidnapping charge, not with Alex’s, Tommy’s, Pete’s, Kross’s, and my testimony. When it came to Alex, as nice as her intentions had been to return Raven unharmed, she had to pay for what she’d done. Like Trent, she too would be seeing the four walls of a prison for quite some time. In all, I felt as though I’d won the lottery. I couldn’t wait to tuck Raven into her own bed at night and read her a bedtime story.
“Kross,” Judge Garner said. “I’d like to hear how you feel about being a dad. You haven’t been part of Raven’s life for four years. So tell me what makes you think you can be an instant father.”
Kross briefly eyed his own father. “I’m not going to lie. When I first found out that I could be a dad, I about passed out. Actually, I puked.” Kross glanced at Kody then back.
His brothers chuckled. As for me, I loved that Kross could admit his emotions despite how strong and powerful he was on the outside. In fact, two weeks ago, when he’d told Raven he was her daddy, he’d cried as she hugged him.
“I also worried that I wouldn’t know what to do. But my parents have taught me the importance of family. Not to mention, my dad is one of the best fathers a boy could have and learn from. I might not know how to handle a sick child or what to do when Raven cries. But what I do know is that blood comes first, and for that, my love for Raven will guide me to be the best father she will ever have.”
Tears streamed down my face as I absorbed the feeling spilling from Kross’s words. I didn’t think I could have loved the man any harder or deeper, but I’d been so freaking wrong.
“Based on Ms. Waters’s recommendation and what I’ve heard, it is my ruling that Raven Lewis be remanded to Ruby Lewis and Kross Maxwell immediately.”
Kross and I glanced at each other as though we hadn’t heard the judge correctly.
A hand landed on Kross’s shoulder. “Congratulations, son,” Mr. Maxwell said.
It was then that all the air left me, followed by tears of joy. Kross pushed to his feet before he helped me to mine.
As though the courtroom was our stage, he spun me around then pulled me to him before holding my face delicately in his hands. He lowered his lips to within a hair from mine. “Marry me.”
A weird sound escaped me, or maybe it came from Mrs. Maxwell. I wasn’t sure, and didn’t care. My heart was racing like a galloping horse through the Wild West. I wanted forever with this man. I wanted to spend every waking minute with him and the child we had created and make more babies.
“I love you,” he breathed. “Let’s show our daughter how much we love each other.”
“Say something,” the Maxwell family said in unison.
I would if I had been able to speak. The only thing happening was that salty tears were sliding into my mouth.
Kross brought his lips to my ear. “I’ll properly propose later when we’re naked if that’s what you want.” I could feel his grin against my ear along with a slew of tingles from head to toe.
“Yes,” I said, sure and strong. Then I couldn’t stop saying yes until I heard Raven giggling.
Kross and I turned. Raven was walking in through the door the judge had come through earlier, holding Ms. Waters’s hand.
“Mommy. Daddy.” Her little legs ate up the courtroom floor as she smiled, her pigtails flopping as she approached.
I didn’t know she was even there.
Kross and I squatted down. Instead of running into my arms like she normally did, she stuck her hands on her hips. Then she twirled around in her soft yellow and white dress that brought out her jet-black hair. “I have a new outfit. Mrs. Santos wanted me to have one. She said I should look extra special today for my mommy and daddy.”
“It’s beautiful, bumblebee,” Kross said.
She giggled, showing that lone dimple that matched Kross’s. “I’m not a bumblebee. I like bumblebees.”
“What?” Kross touched his lips with his fingers. “Turn around. Let me see if you have wings.”
She twirled again like the little ham that she was.
“Yep. Your wings are right there.” He tickled her then swept her up in his arms.<
br />
She giggled again.
Kross carried her over to his parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Raven.”
Mrs. Maxwell’s mascara was running. “She’s precious.”
“Raven, this is your grandma and grandpa.”
She stuck her finger in her mouth as she appraised the elder Maxwells. “Did you know Kody, Kelton, and my daddy are triplets?” she asked so innocently.
Everyone laughed, even Mr. Davenport, who I’d forgotten was standing next to Kelton.
I blew out a long, much-needed breath as I hooked my arm through Kross’s free one. We were a family, and I was getting married to the man of my dreams.
Epilogue
KROSS
With my hands in my pockets, I stared out over the lake as my stomach swirled with nerves. Wild flowers bloomed, the warm breeze caused the trees around the lake to sing, and the water glistened beneath the May sunshine. Five months had passed since Ruby and I brought Raven home. Since then, life had been a whirlwind of bliss. We settled in as a family with no awkwardness at all, which was surprising to me. Being a daddy came super easy to me for some reason. Before our court hearing, I’d lost countless hours of sleep, worrying if I would know what to do as a father. Surprisingly, I had slipped right into a routine easily, reading bedtime stories, wiping Raven’s nose when she’d gotten a cold, eating cereal with her in the morning, and watching cartoons. The only part of being a father I didn’t like was traveling. Several times in the last three months, I’d had boxing matches that had taken me to Vegas, LA, and Houston. The best part was coming home and walking into the arms of Ruby and Raven.
“Are you ready, Bro?” Kade asked as he sidled up on my right.
“Yeah, man,” Kody said on my left.
“We need to get this show on the road.” Kelton walked up and settled in front of me.
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