Page 54 of The Archer and his Rosebud

We resume walking down the street, smiling at strangers and keeping an eye on the boys.

I want to rebreach the Leah topic, but I can’t think of an appropriate way to segue into the conversation. Archer does it for me when he says, “Leah and I had one night together roughly three years ago.”

It’s the answer I assumed, but not the one I wanted. I’m unable to hold back a wince.

“It was one of those drunk, lonely, and stupid things. I knew it was a mistake before morning came, but when the boys found us together, we had a bit of a problem on our hands.”

I’d say so. How confusing for them, finding Mom and Dad acting as if everything is normal.

“They were too young to understand why their parents weren’t together. Then Leah started pushing for us to try again. She said a few things to Nolan that confused the hell out of him. Made him think we’d be a big happy family.”

Was it her misguided hope? Or was it a manipulation? I don’t know Leah well enough to pass that judgment, but after what Archer has told me, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was using Nolan for her benefit.

“I made it clear I couldn’t forgive what had happened between us and that we’d never have a second chance, but if I hadn’t, her behavior after that night proved Leah will always put her happiness first.”

“Is that why you followed her here?”

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good mom. I don’t worry about my boys with her, but…” He releases a heavy exhale. “She can be selfish. She married Kurt for security, not love. I worry a time might come when she’s no longer happy with him. If he’s not enough some day, what will she do?”

“Is he a good man? He’s not the one she cheated on you with, is he?”

“Oh, no, no. She met Kurt after our divorce. He’s a decent guy, not a big family man, but he’s good to the boys. He and I agreed before their marriage that he’d remain neutral as much as he could when it came to discipline and stuff. He’s kept his word, for the most part.”

“There are days when Ty pops into my head and the way he tossed me—us—to the curb hurts, but when you tell me your story, I really think I dodged a bullet.”

“Because you met me?” Archer taps the tip of my nose.

“Well, obviously.” I roll my eyes with a chuckle. “But mostly because I don’t want someone to stay with me, to be in Clem’s life, just because they’resupposedto. A lover, a parent should want to be with their partner, with their child, no matter the cost. I don’t want to be a second choice.”

“You’re speaking of your dad, too.”

My tongue twists inside my mouth. “Am I that transparent?”

“I’m sorry he hurt you, Will.” Archer hooks a hand around the nape of my neck and kisses my hair. “If it helps, I think he truly regrets it. I saw a pain only another father would recognize in his eyes.”

“I’ve been thinking about what he said. I don’t know. Maybe a day will come when I’ll find the courage to call him.” But it won’t be any time soon. I can only tackle so much at one time, and reconnecting with my absentee father, a man who hurt me beyond measure, isn’t a priority at the moment.

As we stroll down the sidewalk, Archer’s steps slow. “Hey, wait a second. This house is for sale.”

I glance over at the two-story house. The windows are dark, and the porch lights are off, but the landscaping lights show off the mossy green cedar shake and crisp white trim. “It’s a beautiful home.”

“And really close to my boys. I need to get serious about looking. My six month lease is almost up.”

I take a step to keep following our trick-or-treaters, but halt when what he says registers. “Wait. What?”

Archer shrugs. “I have two rambunctious boys and work from home. I wanted a house when I moved to Burlington, but I needed time to look, to find something worth buying.”

“But that means…” I tick off the months in my head. If he moved in not long before I did, that means… “Archer, you can’t find a home, close, and move in less than two months.”

“It would be tight, but I could if I find something soon. Or I can reup with a month-to-month lease if I need to.”

“But two months.” In two months, he’ll no longer be my neighbor. It never occurred to me that Archer wouldn’t be a permanent resident, that I wouldn’t always have him close.

His finger hooks my chin, tipping it up to look him in the eye. “Hey, I wouldn’t go far. We’d get to see each other as often as we want.”

“Right. Yeah, of course.” But our evening routine will end, and it’ll be Clem and me all over again.

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