Page 26 of Maple Mountain
“I’m so fucking angry at Blair,” Archer said.His voice was low and measured.“I missed eleven years of Lenni’s life.I missed her first steps.I missed sleeping by her hospital bed when she had a life-threatening kidney infection when she was six weeks old.I missed her first words.I missed everything.”
His hand still rested on the kitchen table.I grasped it.
His fingers curled around mine.
They were warm, calloused.Capable.
“You’re here now,” I pointed out.
“Only because Nancy didn’t want to raise her,” he said.“I’ve known my kid for less than twenty-four hours.I have no idea what I’m doing, but like hell I’d ever walk away.”
He squeezed my fingers like he desperately needed contact.I squeezed them back, wanting to give him some sort of comfort.Some sort of understanding.
I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone.
“Can I tell you a secret?”I asked.
“Please.”
“Parents never know what they’re doing.”My smile trembled.“Even the best ones.You just have to be there for her.You’re the only one she’s got.”
“She’s got you.”
“For now.But you’ll be here forever, Archer, because you’re herfather.”I reluctantly tugged my hand free.“I think the tea is making me sleepy.”
“You haven’t even taken a sip yet.”
“Chamomile steam ...must be powerful.”I rose from the table.“I’ll take my dog now.”
He gently placed her in my arms, and I held her against me.I looked down at Mildred and smiled when she barely cracked an eye open.
When I looked back up, I found Archer watching me with an unguarded expression of need that had nothing to do with desire.
“Get some sleep,” I croaked.“It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
ChapterSeven
The House
Archie
Morning, Wynelope.I left the keys to the truck on the counter.I let Mildred out before I left.See you guys at noonish.P.S.the egg bites were incredible.
I set my cell phone aside and sat up in bed and looked at the sausage dog curled up like a donut next to me.
My door had been shut when I’d gone to bed, and I hadn’t heard it open.Had Mildred been pawing at the door?Or had Archer poked his head in?
My cheeks flamed.
I tended to sleep erratically.One leg poking out of the covers.Arms hugging a pillow.Sprawled out like a scarecrow.
That wasn’t super embarrassing.
Whatwasembarrassing was that I was in nothing but panties and an oversized T-shirt.Because I got hot when I slept.
What if he saw me in my skivvies?
I was not going to ask him.I’d play stupid.
