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But when she spotted Mindy sporting a black eye and busted lip at the back door and not wearing a coat or even a sweater over her stained white T-shirt, she got mad, but she didn’t let it show.

She rushed to Mindy and pulled her in the back door. “Hey, you look like you could use something hot to eat and drink. Take a seat at the table. I’ll get you whatever you’d like, plus a hot coffee or tea.”

Mindy bit her lip, winced, and shook her head. “The kids are in the truck. I just... I hoped... They’re hungry.”

“Okay. No problem. You know you can always come to me for help.”

Mindy kept her gaze on the floor, her arms wrappedaround her middle, not to get warm but in a protective way that crushed Lyric’s heart.

“Let’s get the kids. They can warm up, eat something good while I pack up some food for you to take home.”

“He wouldn’t let me bring them in. Can you hurry? He’s not in a real good mood. We couldn’t pay the heating bill. Again.”

“Okay. Sit down. Get warm. I’ll be right back.” Lyric turned to her staff. “Grady, would you take over for me? I need to do something.” She turned to Christie. “Can you get Mindy a hot tea in a to-go cup and two hot chocolates for her kids?”

Mindy shifted from one foot to the other. “You don’t have to do that.”

“It’ll only take a minute.” She rushed out into the bar, grabbed one of their large glasses, then went to the sound system and cut the music.

Everyone stopped at the sudden absence of the blaring song.

“Listen up,” she shouted. “We have a family with two small kids who needs to pay their heating bill. Who’s got a few bucks they can spare to help out?”

Melody came by, grabbed the glass, then made her way through the bar, collecting the money people pulled out and held up.

“Thank you, everyone, for your generosity!” Lyric went back to the kitchen and found Mindy pacing by the back door.

“You didn’t need to do that.”

“These are your neighbors. They want to help. So let them.” She went into the pantry and grabbed the cash out of her purse to add to whatever Melody had collected. Then she snagged a plastic bag and startedfilling it with food, enough for a couple of days, maybe more. She set it down beside Mindy. “Let me get you some meat to go with all this. Plus, I made mac and cheese. I know your kids will love that.”

Mindy suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm. The intensity rolling off her made Lyric’s heart race.

She stilled and gentled her voice. “What is it? You can tell me.”

Mindy’s eyes filled with desperation. “I’m pregnant again.”

She wanted to congratulate Mindy, but the utter shock and fear on her face made that seem inappropriate right now. “What do you want to do?” Lyric had no judgment for the poor woman, only understanding that she was doing the best she could and that she was brave to come to Lyric and ask for help.

“I don’t want to go back out there. I don’t want to keep doing this. I don’t want another child, not when I know what’s happening to me and my kids will happen to them.” Mindy shook her head, silent tears streaming down her face. “I can’t. But what am I supposed to do?”

“You say the word, I will go out there and get your kids. I will call the cops, and you can press charges against him for hurting you and your kids. I know it doesn’t mean he’ll be gone for good, but it will be enough time for me to get you the help you need. There are places you can go, with your kids, that will help you start over. I have the names and numbers ready for you. We’ve talked about this before. I will help you. If you want it.”

Mindy didn’t move, she simply let the tears fall as she thought about her decision.

Lyric held her breath, hoping this time Mindy took the hand offered to her.

The agreement came with a single nod, Mindy’s gaze still on the floor, but her answer clear.

“You stay in here. I will go and get the kids.” First, she went back out to the bar and got John, their bouncer. Two hundred and twenty pounds of muscle, a man no one wanted to mess with.

“What’s up?” John asked as she approached him.

“I have a situation.”

“That asshole back?”

“No. A different one. Mindy’s in the kitchen. Her husband and kids are in the truck out back. Call the cops. She’s ready to file charges. I’m going to get the kids. He won’t see me as a threat. I don’t want him using the kids to get the cops to back off and Mindy to back down again.”