It took less than a day for them to move out. They took a suitcase each, her posing it as a short vacation away. She held on to the key, which means she’ll be back for the rest of their things, most likely while I’m at work.

I tried fighting for her and Stuart, but she had me beat.

“If you really cared about your nephew, you’d let us go peacefully. I’ll make up something that doesn’t paint you as the bad guy, something that makes this whole thing seem amicable. Do you really want him to watch us going at it with one another? To hear all the lies and dirt we have on each other? His aunt’s sex tape? Your original plans to pack him off to some boarding school?”

I knew it was another test of my will. This time I didn’t gamble. I let her go, painting it in the best possible light for Stuart. I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced, mostly disappointed that we wouldn’t be together as the happy family he’d become accustomed to, but at least he didn’t learn the truth about everything. Simone was right on that point.

But I wasn’t lying when I said I wouldn’t give up without a fight. So now I’m here standing outside of her apartment.

“What are you doing here, Archer?”

I can hear the irritation in her voice even through the intercom.

“I’ve come to see Stuart.”

It’s the one thing I can say that might get her to press that buzzer, allowing me up to her apartment.

There’s a pause on the other end as she considers it.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she finally responds.

“It’s not a good idea for him to see his own uncle?” I reply.

“I know what you’re doing, Archer. It isn’t going to work.”

“The only thing I’m doing here is visiting my nephew. I’m taking him to the Empire State Building like we originally planned for this weekend. Are you really going to deny either of us this time together?”

I can practically picture the scowl on her face. We both know I didn’t come just to take Stuart out, but I dare her to deny me this request.

“Fine,” she snaps. The buzzer sounds and I grab the door quickly before she can change her mind.

When I get off the elevator, she’s standing in the doorway to her apartment with her arms crossed over her chest. I’ve kept my ring on my left hand for good measure, but she takes no notice of it.

She quickly looks behind her to make sure Stuart isn’t around to hear, then turns back to face me. “Whatever game you’re playing it isn’t going to work,” she hisses in a whisper.

I look past her to make sure he isn’t in hearing range either, then I close in on her, backing her up against the door frame. I want her to remember what it was like the last time I was this close to her.

“I want you back, both of you. If that means showing up here every day, being the good uncle that I’m supposed to be, then so be it. Eventually you’ll realize that this isn’t some con or game or trick, it’s real. My feelings for you are real. Everything that happened was real.”

“Uncle Archer!” Stuart yells, coming out from some back room and running toward us.

I quickly pull away, leaving her breathless. Stuart grabs me in the usual place, around my knees and I reach down to rustle his hair.

“Hey there, Stuart. I dropped by hoping you still wanted to go to the top of the Empire State Building.”

He pulls away and looks up at me with a bright smile. He turns to Simone, then back to me and I know exactly what’s on his mind.

“With Aunt Simone as well?”

“Of course!” I say, before she can utter a word. I lied when I said there was no trick here. I want her to come with us. I want her to come back to me. If that means using Stuart then so be it.

“Actually, I think it would be a good idea for the two of you to spend some time together without Aunt Simone for once. A little male bonding would be good.” She gives me a look, daring me to counter that.

“But I want you to come too,” Stuart pleads, his face falling with disappointment. Even I’m moved. If I could use that face in negotiations at work, I’d make a killing.

But it has no effect on my estranged wife. “I wish I could, sweetie, but Aunt Simone is so busy. Besides, I’ve already seen it and you two haven’t!”

“Please,” he presses, God bless him.

“Maybe next time, Stuart,” she says, her voice becoming less placating.

He pouts a bit more, but in the end it’s just the two of us. For now.

When he runs back to put on some socks and shoes she comes at me again. “Really?” she says, crossing her arms again.

“Really, what?” I ask innocently.

“Using Stuart like that. ‘Of course!’” she mimics.

“He was the one who wanted you to come. I was just trying to make him happy.”

“You’re despicable.”

“No,” I say coming in closer again. She presses back against the door holding her breath. “I’m determined.”

Stuart comes running back before she can answer. We make our goodbyes and head down to the car. The questions start as soon as we are both settled in the back seat.

“Aunt Simone is angry with you, isn’t she?”

“We just had a little disagreement, is all,” I say, hoping that’s enough assurance for him.

“About what?”

“Grown up things.”

“What grown up things?” he presses.

“Things you might not understand. She just needs time.”

“Is that why we moved out?”

“It’s temporary, don’t worry. You’ll both be back before you know it.” They will if I have anything to say about it.

He settles in his seat with the worry still on his face, then he turns to me with a hopeful look. “When Mummy was mad at Daddy, he would make her laugh. Then she couldn’t be mad any more.”

I can just picture that. Kevin was a master at winning anyone over, often with his sense of humor. I, on the other hand, lack the requisite skills to make anyone laugh. My entire adult existence has been built on a bedrock of fear and intimidation, which is the last way I want to win Simone over. When she comes back, to me I want it to be because she wants me as much as I want her.

“I guess we’ll have to think of some good jokes today,” I say with a smile.

I was actually looking forward to visiting the Empire State Building with both of them. Now, the long lines of weekend tourists and noisy crowds just annoy me. Maybe it’s because Simone isn’t there, pouring sunshine and rainbows over everything.

The two of us eventually make it to the top and end up actually having a good time by ourselves. Stuart loves the crowds. I hold him up to one of the telescopes and he gets an up-close view of the rest of the city. By the end, I can actually see the appeal of it all.

Afterwards we walk and—Simone would be pleased to know—actually do a little male bonding.

“It’s like cricket, except with a different bat, and different rules I suppose,” I say, continuing the conversation about baseball that began only two nights ago.

“Do you like to play?”

I laugh. “I’m more of an observer. Now that the season has begun, I’ll have to take you to a game.”

We end up near the New York Public Library and Bryant Park.

“How would you like an authentic street cart hot dog?” I propose. It’s been ages since I’ve had one myself and the idea is absurdly appealing.

Stuart is all too eager to have one and we go and stand in line behind a crowd waiting for their own taste of New York.

“How is that tooth coming along?” I ask as I watch his tongue flick at it.

“It still won’t come out.”

“Hmm, let me see,” I say, leaning down to get a good look.

He opens wide and presses his tongue against it. It shifts only a little. I smile to myself as I think maybe he’s just eager for that money under the pillow. A Bennett after my own heart.

“You know, there’s a way we can get it out even quicker. My dad used to tie one end around the tooth and one end around a door knob, then quickly slam it shut. Bam! Out came the tooth.”

He immediately closes his mouth and stares up at me in horror. “I don’t think I want that.”

I laugh and stand up, bringing my arm around to comfort him. “I guess we’ll just have to wait it out then.”

We order our hot dogs—jalapeños and mustard for me, a disgusting amount of ketchup for him—and settle ourselves in the park to enjoy the day and people watch.

“When do you think Aunt Simone will stop being angry with you?”

I squint out at the passers-by as the make their way to and fro.

“Soon,” I say with confidence. “Very soon.”