Page 41 of The Archer and his Rosebud

Priya’s hand touches mine. “Why didn’t you say something?”

My gaze bounces between the three girls I used to consider close friends. “Why should I have to? If you were around, if you’d called, you would have known.” I slide to the edge of the booth and turn toward Priya. “It was nice of you to invite me, but I think I’m going to go.”

Slipping from the booth, I start walking but stop. “This has been the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. I could have used my friends.”

Stevie has the grace to avert her eyes to the table, Priya has the grace to turn red, and Georgina has no grace. She stares open-mouthed.

“I told you he didn’t want to be involved in our lives last year. I can’t help it if you all chose to believe he would change his mind. He didn’t. As a matter of fact,” I capture Georgina’s stare with mine, “he wanted me to get an abortion. The next time you talk to him, ask about that.”

Spinning on my heel, I leave with my head held high, my one regret being not waiting for my poutine.

* * *

My spirits liftafter my confrontation with my so-called friends on campus. It could be the antidepressants. It could be the nightly dinners, reruns, and now hockey games with Archer. Or it could be the relief of standing up for myself where Ty is concerned. A year ago he broke up with me for no reason other than he hadn’t meant to get involved in something serious while in college.Yeah, I know the feeling, jackass. A baby at twenty wasn’t part of my life plan either, yet here I am.

Driving home from teaching the additional afternoon dance classes Ruby let me pick up, the past year plays through my mind. How did my naive woman’s heart trust Ty so easily? I worked my butt off in high school to get into a good college, to get an academic scholarship. I’d known my path for years, then one spoiled frat boy came along and blew it all away. Clem’s wispy blonde fuzz and chubby cheeks flash before me. I take it back. I didn’t blow everything. I changed the route, but I’m still on the path.

“Knock, knock,” I call, letting myself into Archer’s. What would these last three months have looked like without him? My friend, my babysitter, my rock.

“Yeah, okay.” Archer glances over his shoulder from where he sits at his workstation between the windows of his dining room. “Hey, Aaron, can you hold on a sec? Thanks.” Lowering his cell, he shoves his fingers through his curls.

“She’s napping in my bedroom. I hate doing that, but I’ve had problem after problem today, and I kept waking her with my calls.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m sorry if she was an issue.”

“Not her, Willa. Work.” He looks at his cell. “I’m sorry, I need to finish this call. I don’t think I’ll be able to cook like I said I would.”

“Say no more. Take your call, and we’ll get out of your hair.”

Archer frowns. “No, leave her and go shower. She’ll be asleep for another hour. I’ll message you if she wakes before then.”

He’s back on his call before I can argue.

Forty minuteslater I return and find Archer still at his desk, but now Clem’s straddling his thigh, her back to his chest as he bounces her and works with one hand. An odd rush of relief hits me at the sight of her.

“Hey, baby girl. Momma missed you.” I pluck her from Archer’s lap, hugging her tight while offering him a glare. “You were supposed to let me know if she woke up. I don’t want her interrupting your work more than she already does.”

Archer spins his chair around, his blue eyes wide.

“What?” I smooth my hand over the top of my loose side-braid. “Why are you staring at me that way?”

“First, if I have to tell you one more time that watching her is nothing short of the best part of my work days, I’ll force you to watch Young Guns again. Second, work was a disaster today, I need a break. And third, I am staring at you because I’ve never seen you glow like that.”

Woosh.All thought flies from my brain.

Archer stands, crowding our space so much that Clem twists to greet him. “The way you took her from me and your tone…that was y’all connecting, Rosebud.”

My eyes water at the awe in his voice. I clear my throat. “It’s sad it took you three months with us to be able to say that.”

“Nah.” His thumb runs beneath my eye, catching a tear. “It’s amazing how well you’re doing.”

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. What can I say? The heat in his eyes warms me straight down to my toes.

Resting my cheek on Clem’s head, I offer Archer a soft smile. “You need a break?” He nods. “Grab your jacket and shoes and meet us in the hallway.”

I hurry into my apartment, check Clem’s diaper, of course he changed her already, bundle her up in her new UVM Catamount bunting, eager for Archer’s reaction, and steer the stroller out the door.

Archer still beats me. “No jacket for you?”

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