Page 14 of The Archer and his Rosebud

“I was telling Willa about going to visit Pop-Pop and Nana in Texas for the Fourth of July.”

She sweeps a lock of hair from her face. “They wanted to know when Willa was born. And she’s a firecracker baby, which got us talking about what you guys were doing on the Fourth.”

“And thatobviouslyled to cheesy pick-up lines?”

“Duh.” Nolan rolls his eyes with a hint of a smile. “I still don’t know why she wanted an old guy like you.”

I chuckle and point at him. “Watch it.”

Stepping to Willa’s side, I survey the salad fixings spread about the island. “I thought I invited you over. I didn’t expect you to cook for your meal.” I bump her hip with mine and spin to the sink to wash my hands.

“I told her not to,” Nolan points out as he opens the refrigerator and pulls salad dressings from the door.

His disgruntled tone coaxes a smile out of me as I wipe my overheated face with a damp paper towel and dry my hands.

Willa chuckles. “He did. They both insisted I sit down and relax, but once Eli took over as Clem’s entertainment, I had to help.”

“She said fresh veggies are better than bagged ones.” Eli laughs, hovering over Clem lying in the center of our living room on the fuzzy blue blanket usually draped over the end of his bed. “When I told her we didn’t have anything but zucchini, she went home and grabbed the carrot sticks we bought her.”

My head whips toward our guest and she winces, mouthing “sorry” as she dumps a handful of chopped carrots into the salad bowl.

“Dang, y’all are brutal on a man.” Grabbing Nolan by the torso, I drag him into a bear hug. “I do like fresh vegetables, you know. I grab the bagged stuff because it’s easy when I’m busy working.”

Nolan fights my hold, bucking against my stomach and begging for me to let him loose. I glance up to find Willa watching us, her lips twisting. “Whattaya think, Will? Should I let him go?”

“Yeeees,” Nolan squeals.

Willa carries the salad bowl to the set table and crosses her arms as she turns to look at us.

Beep, beep, beep.

“Ohhh, saved by the timer.” I release Nolan, who shoves my side and hauls tail into the living room, joining Eli and Clem on the floor.

Moving to the stove where Willa helped my son put the pasta on to boil, I switch off the burner and empty the pot of noodles into a strainer waiting in the sink. I look over at Willa standing in the middle of the kitchen as steam wafts around me. “It seems like I’m gonna have to invite you over for dinner another time.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because this was supposed to be us, cooking for you. I wanted you to have a break.”

She moves, dividing the space between us. “Archer, this is a break. Clem’s the most content she’s been since I brought her home from the hospital. I’m having real conversations with people who can carry conversations, and even though it was a small bit, helping Nolan cook made me feel like the old me.”

“Then, why are you crying?” I ask, low, reaching out and touching her damp cheek. Willa draws a deep breath, and I snatch my hand back. “Sorry, I—”

“Don’t apologize.”

Her hand settles on my forearm. “I didn’t realize I was crying. My emotions are more unpredictable than Clem. With her, I know to expect whining and tears. With me, I go from joy to despair at the drop of a pin. I hate it.”

“Give yourself time to heal. You brought life into this world. People don’t think about how traumatic that can be for a woman’s body. It’s a big deal, and you’re bound to feel a lot of emotions.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” She tugs at her shirt. “I didn’t realize how much I missed having people around. I’ve been pretty secluded the last couple months. Plus, you called me Will earlier.”

Did that upset her? “Oh, sorry. It flew from my mouth without thought. I hope—”

“Don’t apologize. That’s my brother’s nickname for me. It felt… like home coming from you.”

“Huh, my sister calls me The Favorite,” I tease to cover the protectiveness she awakens as I lift the colander from the sink.

“I imagine there’s a story there.” Willa grins. “I would have called you Arrow. Super unique, right?”

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