Page 75 of Keeping the Score

“Hello!” Mrs. Archibald says to Tilly, holding her in front of her. “Aren’t you beautiful!”

Mrs. Archibald’s ash-brown hair with a big white streak in the front is worn in a mass of messy curls around her face. She’s wearing a long russet-colored dress with a teal-colored… thing… over it. I don’t know whether to describe it as a cardigan? A jacket? A coverup? Her expression is genuinely elated, though.

She turns to Ford. “Why didn’t you tell us about this? I have a serious bone to pick with you, young man.”

Ford closes his eyes.

Now I see Mr. Archibald is carrying a suitcase. Holy crap. Are they here to stay? I blink over at Ford again.

“Come see her!” Mrs. Archibald says to her husband.

He’s… astonishingly good-looking. He has the same square-jawed face as Ford, his skin more tanned and weathered. His mustache and beard are also similar, and even his hair—although his is longer than Ford’s. Longer than his wife’s.

I snap my mouth closed and swallow.

Mr. Archibald takes Tilly. “Hello, little miss. I’m your grandpa. You can call me Grandpa Archie.” His eyes go misty and he looks at his wife. “We’re grandparents, Dolly.”

“Yes.” She mists back at him. Then she looks at me. “I’m so sorry! We were just overcome with our granddaughter!” She rushes at me and throws her arms around me in a big hug. “I can’t believe Ford didn’t tell us about youorour granddaughter! Ford, I amreallygoing to have words with you.”

“Mom…”

“You’re very pretty,” Mrs. Archibald says to me, studying me with a smile. “I’m so happy to have a daughter.”

“Mom!” Ford winces. “She’s not your daughter.”

“I mean daughter-in-law, of course.”

“Not that either.”

“Oh. You’re not married.” She lifts one shoulder. “That’s no big deal. Are you going to get married?”

Omigod, omigod, omigod. She thinks I’m Tilly’s mom and that Ford and I are a couple. My jaw slackens and I send Ford a panicked look.

“Mom.” Ford’s voice is tight, his jaw clenched. “This is my friend Andi.”

Friend. That’s right. I nod.

“She’s been helping me with Tilly. She’s not Tilly’s mom.”

Mrs. Archibald’s head tilts. “Oh.” Her eyebrows snug together. “Well, where is Tilly’s mom?”

Ford scratches his cheek. “In North Dakota.”

“This is sounding complicated,” Mr. Archibald says. He bounces Tilly on his knee. She gnaws on her fist. “Sit down, son. You too, Andi.”

Ford lowers himself onto the couch and I sit beside him.

Ford’s mom takes another chair. “Start at the beginning, Ford.”

Ford takes a breath. “Okay.” He starts at the beginning and tells them what’s happened. I give his parents credit for listening and not interrupting, only making comments likeoh my, andholy crap.

The one thing he doesn’t tell them is that we’re sleeping together. Understandable, I guess.

“I need a gummie,” Mrs. Archibald finally says, getting up to retrieve her purse. She pulls out a package and takes one then hands it to her husband. He also takes one and offers the pack to us. Ford and I shake our heads, though I am sorely tempted.

“Well.” Mrs. Archibald sits again. She seems at a loss for words.

“I know, it’s wild,” Ford says. “But that’s what’s going on.”

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