“They’re at the women’s shelter in Tyler,” she said.
Ethan sat at the counter.
“Claire and Ava?”
Maggie nodded.
“Claire’s got three broken ribs and a fractured wrist. Ava’s eye is healing. Social worker says they’re safe for now.” She set the mug down. “Ray’s still locked up. Bond got raised after they found prior warrants.”
“Good.”
“Ava asks about you.”
Ethan wrapped both hands around the mug.
“What does she ask?”
“If bikers have offices. If she can write you a receipt. If guardian bells protect moms too.”
Ethan stared into the coffee.
Maggie softened.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Want pie?”
He laughed once, rough and unexpected.
“Sure.”
She brought apple pie warmed too hot with vanilla ice cream melting down the side. Ethan ate three bites before speaking.
“My daughter was Ava’s age.”
Maggie stopped wiping the counter.
“Was?”
“Car accident. Long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.”
He set the fork down.
“I spent years thinking if I couldn’t save Lily, saving anybody else would feel like pretending. Like I was trying to make a trade God never offered.” He looked toward the window where the gravel lot shimmered in heat. “Then Ava walked up with seven dollars.”
Maggie sat on the stool across from him.
“She saw you.”
“She saw the vest.”
“No,” Maggie said. “She saw you.”
Ethan wanted to argue.
He did not.
Two months later, Claire Miller stood in a courthouse hallway wearing a borrowed navy dress and a wrist brace.
Ava stood beside her holding Maggie’s hand.
Ethan and the Iron Saints sat on the bench across from them, dressed in clean jeans and black vests. They had been subpoenaed as witnesses. So had Maggie. So had the deputies.
Ray Cavanaugh arrived in an orange jumpsuit and shackles.
The moment Ava saw him, her hand tightened around Maggie’s fingers.
Ethan leaned forward.
Ava looked at him.
He tapped two fingers against his vest pocket.
She knew what it meant.
Guardian bell.
She reached into her own pocket and touched the little silver bell she carried everywhere now.
Her breathing steadied.
Ray took a plea after the prosecutor showed his attorney photographs, medical records, witness statements, the 911 call, and a short video Mason had taken from the yard after Ray grabbed the tire iron.
The judge accepted the plea and sentenced him to prison.
Not forever.
Never long enough.