He saw her from his place behind the bar. Peering out the window he thought he was looking at a small animal, rummaging through the snow for scraps. Had she not took two small steps forward and turned to him, he would never have seen the rosy tint of her cheeks and pouting lips.
She couldn’t have been more than six years old. The falling snow was collecting in her hair and on her coat and the sight of her pulled on his emotions. Where she came from and why she was alone, he couldn't say. What he could do was offer her a warm place to sit.
"Hi there. My name is Ames." He tried to sound as friendly as possible. "What are you doing out here?"
The girl sniffed and mumbled a reply, but the sound was muffled by her mitten clad hands covering her mouth. He gently asked her to repeat herself and she lowered her hands. “I’m Rosie… I can’t find m’ mum.” She offered no further explanation. Tears fell down her cheeks and onto her coat. He knew he wouldn't get much else out of her.
"Rosie, do you think you could come inside for a little while? It’s warmer and, you know, I just made a lot of hot chocolate and I need someone to help me drink it all." He smiled and looked down the street. "I can call and see if anyone has found your mother from inside. Is that okay?"
Rosie thought for a moment and he thought she might bolt, but after a shuffling of her feet and once her hands covered half her face again, she nodded.
Ames stood and offered her his hand. She took it cautiously and they slowly made their way inside. After ten minutes of work he had her set up with a mug of cocoa and a coloring book he had for a reason he couldn't remember. He called the local police and reported her found.
Raleigh Craig had answered and Ames was thankful for that. Good intentions or not, he knew bringing a child into a bar with just himself looking after her would be frowned upon by most law enforcement. Fortunately Officer Craig was an acquaintance and had become a friend of sorts. Ames knew it was only out of convenience, but it served a purpose either way.
Raleigh would check around and be by within the hour to take Rosie back to the station. In the meantime Ames was stuck with the girl. He set his cellphone down and when he looked up the girl was staring at him. Her focus made Ames shift awkwardly. He could tell she was trying to figure him out. Place him as friend or foe. He cleared his throat in an attempt to lighten things, grabbed his own cup of hot chocolate, and joined her at the bar. She smiled at him and he frowned in return. Children messed with his nerves.
"You aren't really mean, are you?" The question caught him off guard and his frown deepened. He didn't answer right away and she smiled wider. "I thought you were scary, but you gave me chocolate and you said you were gonna help find m' mum. That's not very mean."
"I guess not."
"Are you sad?"
Another unexpected question. For a child, this girl was nosy. Most likely this was what got her into trouble in the first place. Ames didn't answer her. His eyes drifted down to the book in front of her. A colorful bird had been filled in with bright crayons, but what he was most interested in was the drawing at the bottom of the page. The image of a family holding hands. His gaze lingered on the drawing and she ripped the page from the book and gave it to him. "Here. You can have this."
Ames took the page and nodded in thanks. Right then the door to the bar opened and a blast of frigid air hit the both of them. Officer Craig walked in with a distraught woman in tow. She took one look at Rosie and rushed forward. The two met in the middle with a tight embrace. This was obviously her mother and the woman fussed over her daughter for several minutes. After finding no injury or sign of distress, she looked at Ames with tears shining in her eyes. She thanked him and the officer who accompanied her and she ushered her daughter out the door.
After they left Raleigh turned to Ames, grinning. He clapped Ames on the back and gave his shoulder a squeeze. Ames returned the gesture with a glare. "I never knew you were such a softy, Tavernier. I'll keep that in mind."
Ames didn't leave room for any further conversation. He showed Raleigh out and shut the door. The drawing Rosie gave him was still in hand and he studied it for a few moments. He didn't hang it up anywhere and he doesn't keep it anywhere it can be seen, but when he does see it, he can't help the hint of a smile that finds him.
