Page 17 of The Archer and his Rosebud

WILLA

As much asArcher insists we’re not a bother, Clem and I do our own thing over the next two weeks. Our days follow a pattern now that she’s adjusted to her fancy suck-my-bank-account-dry formula. Mom offered to gift us a month’s supply, but I can’t ask her to do that. She’s sacrificed enough for Devin and me through the years. It’s on me to make sure I figure this diet out because Clem seems to be doing a bit better, her crying cut in half, which means she must have some sort of sensitivity issue like the doctor suggested.

Nova and Cora have come over a couple times for what they like to call girlfriend playdates, but I know they show up to give me time to shower and clean. The help is nice, but Clem’s been going easy on me. I’ve taken her in the shower with me a few times in her reclining bath seat, and she loves the steam and water droplets.Andshe gives me fifteen minute spurts from time to time, lying under her play gym, while I pick up and do some dishes. It’s minimal, but it’s something. Classes begin on the twenty-ninth, and I’m optimistic I’ll be able to find time to do my online lessons.

After getting my mail,I head to Archer’s with Clem.

He answers barefoot, in shorts and a black v-neck tee, his disheveled curly mop falling across his forehead. “Willa, hey.”

“Long time no see, neighbor.”Oh my gosh, shut up, Willa.

“Yeah. I almost stopped by your place yesterday to check how things have been going.” Archer runs a hand through his hair, leaning closer to look at Clem. “How’s the little one? I’ve noticed a difference in volume lately.”

I laugh. “Thank God. We’re working on it. Maybe not tear-free, but I think she’s at the average baby crying level now.”

Archer high-fives her little flailing palm. “Good job, Clem.”

“And the reason I’ve shown up unannounced. That offer to have you hold a spare set of my keys?” I jangle my car keys. “Until college, I had my mom if I was in trouble, you know? I never considered I’d lock myself out of my car. My extra set of keys were in Michigan, so I had her mail them to me.”

He laughs and takes them from me. “Yeah, they won’t do you much good four states away. I’ll keep them safe for you.”

“Also, do you have your boys tonight?”

He shakes his head. “They’re with Leah, in tennis camp this week. I’m picking them up tomorrow after work.”

I bite my tongue at his pronunciation of tennis camp like he’s a posh Brit. Leah must have picked that camp out.

“The new season of your Viking show is streaming. Care to watch it with a friend?”

Nova and Cora are great, but a little adult time is necessary for my sanity.

“Age of Vikings?” He rubs his index finger along the dark scruff of his jaw. “I thought you’d never seen it.”

“Well, after you mentioned it the other day, I got curious. I spend a lot of time feeding this one. It didn’t take long to binge-watch the first season.”

“You watched it for Torsten, didn’t you?”

The sexy, mostly shirtless Viking with tattoos and bulging muscles? Am I a woman? “That is irrelevant, Mr. Thomas.”

With a knowing hum, he asks, “Your place or mine?”

“Mine?” I smile. “That way I can put Clem down in her crib if she decides to gift me with going to bed at a decent hour.”

* * *

Midway through slicingthe last sweet potato for our dinner, three knocks hit the door. Peeking over at Clem lying on her play mat and studying her tiny fingers like they’re magical, I wipe my starchy hands on my apron and open the door.

“I thought we said six, Arch—” Everything stops as I take in the man in front of me. “Devin!” Arms thicker and stronger than they were six weeks ago catch me as I throw myself at my baby brother.

“Oh, my gosh. Am I imagining you standing in my doorway?” I shove him, my gaze feasting on his handsome face before slapping his chest and pulling him right back in. “You’re here!”

“Surprise,” he murmurs in my ear, his arms holding me so tightly my tears are inevitable.

“How are you here? How…” A sob cuts me off. Moving for school was easy. Being apart from Dev and Mom, with the stress of having a baby and making ends meet? I rethink my choice to remain in Vermont and do this solo every day.

His hold tightens. “Hey, no crying, Will. Mom bought me a plane ticket for my birthday.”

I thought I’d miss celebrating with him for the first time in my life. “You could be partying it up with your friends and you decided to come spend your eighteenth birthday with your boring mess of a sister?”

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