Page 74 of The Archer and his Rosebud

“And I didn’t go overboard. We wanted a fresh start here, didn’t we guys?” I carry the tree into the living room and place it in the empty corner where it can be seen from all angles.

“We bought this one for Clemmy.” Eli shoves a box I’d intended to wrap toward Willa.

“You bought her a…” She pops the lid off the white box and removes the tissue paper. Her gasp fills the room, her eyes shining as she stares at the ornament. “Arch.”

“I called your mom for all the information.”

“I love it.” She lifts the polished and hammered silver teaspoon engraved with Clementine’s full name, date and time of birth, as well as the weight and height listed below, all embellished with a burlap bow to match our rustic winter-themed tree. “XOXO —the Thomas boys,” Willa reads the back of the spoon, her voice cracking.

Pushing up from the floor where she sits, leaning against the new couch she helped me pick out two weeks ago, Willa first hugs Eli, then crosses the room and takes Nolan into her arms.

“You boys are the best.”

When she turns to me, one hand glides up my jaw before she lifts on her tiptoes, giving me a chaste kiss in front of the boys. I slip my arms around her waist, hugging her close.

“Someone is getting lucky tonight.” Her warm breath curls over my earlobe.

“Yeah?” I got lucky five months ago when I met her, but she has my attention.

“Mmm-hmmm. I believe I hit a triple and will be running toward third base as soon as a few little people get to bed.” Her hip brushes over mine as she pulls away with a coy grin.

“Okay.” I clap my hands, startling everyone. “Let’s get the lights up so we can decorate. You rascals still have school tomorrow.”

ChapterTwenty-Three

ARCHER

“This week has flown by.”I comb my fingers through Willa’s hair as she rests her head on my lap and watches some Hallmark holiday movie late Saturday night.

Willa hums her agreement, stretched out in her form-fitted holiday pajamas. “Thisyearhas flown by. I can’t believe tomorrow is the last day of the year.”

We’ve spent the last fifteen days and nights together, acting like a real family. The first few days, we kept busy as I moved the last of my belongings from my apartment, and we painted and decorated the place while the boys were in school. Once my new house felt like a home, Willa spent her hours soaking up extra mommy time with Clementine since she’s one hundred percent free of any obligations—no work, no school—for the first time since August, and I spent my days working and trying to ignore the two girls living in my home. It was hard to stay on task. Their presence fills a void I didn’t recognize as vacant before they came into my life.

Once the boys’ winter break began, our quiet days turned hectic. Nolan and Eli took to Willa’s constant presence in their lives effortlessly. They fought over Clem’s attention and flocked to my side like shadows whenever I worked on one project or another. In between getting their bedroom and playroom decked out with televisions and game stations and lots of display shelves for the legos under the tree, the five of us made time to play.Hard.We strolled Church street for the window displays and Christmas lights, we baked cookies and drank Nan’s homemade hot chocolate after ice skating, and the boys introduced Clem to all the classic holiday movies. We even made time to visit with Brett and Ruby’s family before they flew to Pennsylvania to spend the holiday with Brett’s sister’s family. As predicted, the boys got along well with Cora and Crew Pratt, and I helped their son Myles with a coding issue for a web app he’s trying to develop. That kid is going places with the ideas in his head.

Christmas morning we opened presents early before Nolan and Eli ran to Leah’s to share a few hours with her and Kurt. To Willa’s surprise, Clem received as many gifts from Santa as the boys. Toys, clothes, books. I can’t help wanting to spoil her. I spoil Willa, too. Something she balked at when she saw the signature blue box that contained a necklace I bought, along with the designer purse she’d eyed on one of our shopping trips.

“This is too much.” Choked up, she stroked the supple leather like it was a pet.

“There’s no such thing.”

“I gave you a picture and stocking stuffer treats.” Her mouth forms a pout, and she touches the sterling arrow pendant resting below her collarbone.

Sliding off the couch cushion to sit beside her on the floor, I throw my arm around her shoulders. “You gave me the best picture of my boys and me I’ve ever seen.” My lips brush her temple. “And you gave me two weeks. This is the best Christmas I’ve had in years, gorgeous. I don’t need anything else right now.”

“Archer—”

It’s not like I’m oblivious to the vast difference in our income. I didn’t expect anything, but I hate that my gifts made her feel less than. “I tell you what, if you really feel bad, I’ll let you make it up to me next year. Okay?”

She rested her chin on my shoulder and held my gaze. “Next year, huh?”

“That would be the best present ever, Rosebud.”

Without a word, she turned back to the boys who were already tearing into their next gifts, but I didn’t miss her smile or the way her body relaxed against my side.

The rest of this week has been perfect. We don’t hear from Ty, and we don’t argue about what’s to come after this break that feels like it could last forever. We just exist in this place of happiness and togetherness.

Each night I map the planes and curves of Willa’s body with my hands and mouth until we fall asleep hungry for more but satisfied with where we’ve been. Each morning I wake up and share my coffee time with the ever-chatty Clementine, Nolan and Eli. Quiet time is a thing of the past, but I’m not complaining.

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