Page 45 of The Archer and his Rosebud

“What the hell was that?”

I sigh. “A desperate attempt from a desperate man.”

She spins and tears wet her face. “Why didn’t my mom warn me?”

I brush the backs of my fingers across her damp cheeks. “Maybe she didn’t know he’d come to see you.”

“I didn’t know they spoke. She’s never said a word about him. He paid his child support, the minimum a father can do, really, and that’s that. Why would she tell him about Clem without asking me?”

“These are things you’ll have to ask her.” Using the pad of my thumb, I sweep away the hovering teardrop on her top lip. “What do you want to do with this?”

Willa stares at the business card between my index and middle finger then covers her eyes behind her right hand. “I can’t even look at that right now.”

Before she can swipe the card and rip it to shreds, I tuck it into my back pocket for later.

“Seriously, Archer. What just happened? The man left when we were children and now he’s showing up on my doorstep like he’s Santa, and I’m supposed to be happy about it? Honestly, the only reason I recognized him is because of the family pictures my mom has stashed away.”

“I don’t know, Will. Sometimes when new life is brought into this world, it makes people do out of character things. And hearing he has a grandchild maybe gave him a chance to reflect on his mistakes.”

“Just wait until Devin hears about this. He’s going to flip his lid.” Willa spins in circles, scanning the room, searching for her phone, no doubt. “I have to call my mom. I have to understand what the hell is going on.”

“Do you want me to go? I can bring Clem with me, give you a minute of quiet to process.”

Her gaze swings to me, almost like she forgot I was here. “Will you? Please? That would be so helpful.”

“Don’t even need to ask, Rosebud.” I reach for Clementine and she hands her over. “C’mon, little one. Let’s go watch a group of men whack a puck around on some ice.”

As I bend for the diaper bag, Willa flings her arms around my neck, tugging me in for a hug. “Why are you so good to me?”

I slip an arm around her waist, moving Clem aside so she doesn’t get squished when I hold Willa closer. “It’s human decency, Willa.”

“No, it’s Archer decency.”

Thirty minutes later,Willa lets herself into my apartment, her hair piled on her crown and her eyes rimmed in red. Clementine is chilling in my lap, her wide eyes following the motion on the television screen as her momma curls into my side on the couch.

I extend my arm around her shoulders and rub her arm. “Wanna talk about it?”

With a sniff, she sinks deeper against my chest. “She didn’t mean for him to come here. She told him not to. That he could send a gift and let me reach out if I wanted. Of course, my dad didn’t listen.” Willa brushes a knuckle over Clem’s cheek. “I guess he’s been contacting her on and off for years, asking about Dev and me. She ignored him most of the time.”

At the break in her voice, I rest my cheek on her head.

“If he could call her, why not call us?”

Pride. Guilt. Shame. “He probably didn’t know what to say.”

“Hi would have been a nice start.” She inhales deeply. “Until tonight, I hadn’t heard his voice since I was ten, Archer.”

“I’m so sorry, Will.”

“He’s too late. He missed too much of my life. If he wanted to be a father, he would have been there.”

Understanding she’s likely thinking of Ty and Clem as much as her father, I tighten my hold and kiss her temple. Her relationship, or lack of, with Tim Hawthorne is a choice only Willa can make. I’ll stand by her side however she needs, but I won’t throw my two-cents in.

ChapterFifteen

ARCHER

“Will wonders never cease,my baby brother has called.” I sigh as Paige carries on. “You move to Vermont and you forget your family?”

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