Page 8 of Archer
They all pondered silently, none of them looking too enthused. Evelyn stood beside me and crossed her arms, popped out her hip, and snapped her bubble gum before saying one word that gave a dire warning. “Tank.”
Tank rolled his eyes. “Fine,” he said. “But I mean it. We aren’t babysitters. This responsibility is all on you.”
“Of course,” I said. “Besides, it’ll be a piece of cake. She loves me.”
Chapter Four
Rose
“How can you expect me to stay at thiscreep’shouse?” I hissed in the elevator at my father for the fifth time since he announced the news. “We hardly even know him!”
“Honey, he’s been very nice to us all year…”
“Yeah, because he’s asking me out every time he comes in,” I said. “How can you just ignore that and be fine with your daughter staying here?”
He pursed his lips and paled. “Trust me. It’s safer. He will take care of you.”
“Why won’t you tell me who those men were?”
“Because,” he said, “I said so.”
I bit the inside of my cheeks to refrain from screaming as I followed my dad out of the elevator doors, carrying a large duffel bag crammed with as many clothes as I could fit. The walls were decorated in what looked like the same green felt found on billiards tables, scratched and torn in several parts just like you’d find in a pub. Stale cigarette smoke lingered in the halls and I felt desperate. “I’m not a child, Dad. Maybe I can help somehow. Justtalkto me, please.”
He ignored me until we got to the door with “604” in tacky brass numbers. He turned to be and threw his arms around me. “Please, forgive me.”
I choked back the urge to break into tears, not wanting Archer to see me in such a vulnerable state. Staying strong, I breathed and looked into my dad’s dark, tired eyes. “I love you, Dad. Always. Of course, I forgive you, just…”
“Come on,” he said and knocked three times on the door. “I don’t want you to be seen out here.”
Seconds later, shuffling footsteps sounded on the other side of the door, followed by the clanking of beer bottles in a garbage bag. I rolled my eyes.
This was going to be horrible.
The door cracked open and Archer’s dimples winked out at me. “If it isn’t my favorite baker.”
I scowled and brushed passed him, noting his startled expression.
“Uh, welcome! To Chateau Archer.”
I looked at him through narrowed eyes. “Do you have arealname?”
“Yes,” he said. “Would you like to hear it?”
“Please,” I said. “First and last name, written out, along with birthday and mailing address. Thanks.”
“Uh… sure, yeah. I’ll get right on that.” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. He turned to my dad. “Um, Ron, are you sure you don’t need to crash here as well?”
I looked over my shoulder, surprised that Archer even attempted to offer my dad a place, too.
“No, no,” my dad said. “Thank you. Truly. You’ve been more than kind. But I’m afraid my presence would only bring danger to Rose. I need to get going.”
“Dad,” I pleaded one last time. “What are you going to do about the bakery? Who’s going to work? You can’t do everything on your own.”
“Don’t worry, Rose.” My dad hugged me and stared into my eyes like it could be the last time we ever stood in the same room again. “I’ll call you. I’ll be in touch. Please, don’t worry about me. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad,” I threw my arms around his neck one last time.
Once he disappeared out the door, I felt like a piece of me broke away. Although my dad’s protectiveness drove me crazy, I had spent every day of my life with him. We had a bizarre attachment no daughters my age understood. To have him abandon me in some stranger’s house was heartbreaking, even if it was for a good reason.
