“Hello?” I asked into the cell phone receiver.

“Hi,” came a soft, female voice from the other end of the line. “Is this Mallory Patel?”

I stopped shuffling around in my bedroom, immediately standing up straighter. The uncertainty in her voice caught my full attention. “Yes, this is he.”

It was still early morning, the weekend after Archer and I had gone to the shooting range. We’d seen each other almost every night throughout the week, mostly going out for drinks or him coming over for dinner. One night I spent at his hotel room and the two of us watched some crappy network television show and fell asleep with the lights on, fully dressed, on the uncomfortable mattress. But he’d fallen asleep in my arms, and I hadn’t slept better in years.

Archer was coming over tonight when he was done with work. I’d cleared out an entire dresser and half my closet. I wanted to show him how serious I was about him staying with me.

“You don’t know me,” the woman said. “My name is Amanda. I’m Andrew Hart’s ex-wife.”

“Oh,” I said smartly. Honestly, I had no idea what else to say. The phone conversation I’d had with Archer’s brother had been much worse than unpleasant. I didn’t think I’d ever hear from him again. “What can I help you with?”

“This is awkward,” she said, chuckling. “I’m calling because I heard about your phone call to Andrew. He’s friends with my brother—that’s how we met. Andrew told my brother, Mark, about a man calling him up and telling him about Archer. He was drunk when he was blabbering to Mark about it, so I didn’t get the full details.”

“He didn’t tell you himself?”

She laughed. “No, we aren’t exactly on good terms.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’ve spoken with him. I’m sure you could tell from that conversation how abrasive and selfish he is. But that’s not why I’m calling. To be frank, my relationship ended with Andrew on a sour note. It was short and barely sweet, but it is what it is.”

I sat down on the edge of my bed and switched the cell phone to the other ear. “Okay.”

“But when Mark told me you’d called about his brother, I knew I had to call you to try to get in touch with him. His name is Archer, right?”

“That’s right. Andrew didn’t tell you about him?”

“Not really.” She sighed. “Only that he had a brother he didn’t talk to after the death of their parents. He never told me why either. And I feel bad playing this game of he said, she said, really I do, but Andrew told Mark, who told me that it was because Archer is gay.”

I couldn’t help it when my hackles rose. It wasn’t that Archer was gay or I didn’t want anyone to know, but my experience thus far with his family had proven to be anything but accepting. And more heartache was the last thing Archer needed.

“That’s right,” I said, my tone clipped.

“Andrew’s an asshole,” she said immediately. “He’s a closed-minded prick. I only met his parents a few times, but I know how disappointed his parents would be with him treating his brother this way.”

“You met his parents?”

“Only twice, once by accident when Andrew and I started dating. We were at the same restaurant. They were the nicest, kindest people. Now looking back, I have no idea how Andrew turned out the way he did.”

“Truthfully, I was a little surprised when I called Andrew and talked to him. My son, Danny, called him a few years ago as well when Archer was in the hospital. Danny’s reception wasn’t exactly welcoming either. I wasn’t fortunate enough to meet their parents, but it definitely came as a shock seeing how Archer is so…” I struggled to think of the right word. “Emotional.”

I could hear her sigh on the other end of the line. “That’s a relief. So he’s not like Andrew?”

“I don’t know Andrew, but I do know Archer. He’s kind and gentle. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met. But after his parents died—”

“And after his brother abandoned him,” Amanda snapped. “Sorry. I’m just… Sometimes you think you know someone. Andrew comes across as so handsome and smart. It’s his smile that tricks people, I think. Sometimes I think if you’re good-looking enough, you can get away with murder.”

I leaned back a little on the bed and laughed. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I think Archer might have that weapon up his sleeve too.”

She chuckled. “I’m glad I called you, Mallory.”

“I’m glad you called too, Amanda. It would do Archer a world of good to hear from you if you want to talk with him. I don’t think he’s been able to talk to anyone in a long time who actually knew or at least met his parents.”

“Yes, I’d love to talk with him. There’s actually something I want to tell him. He has a nephew. My son. His name is Aiden. He recently turned four. He’s smart and ridiculous and has that same blond hair that all those Hart men have. And… I’d like him to get to know his uncle Archer.”

I put my hand over my eyes as I felt my throat begin to dry. “Yes. I can’t tell you how happy that will make him.”

“I’m glad. I’d like to chat with Archer first, if it’s okay. I don’t think Andrew has always been the best influence on our son, and I want to make sure Aiden is surrounded by the right kind of people.”

“Of course,” I said. “I completely understand. I’m a father myself.”

“Well, you have my cell phone number now on your phone. Will you do me a favor, Mallory? Will you tell Archer about me and Aiden, and let him know that if he wants to, he can call me any time?”

“I will.”

“I hope we get to chat again. Sometimes it’s nice talking to other adults. I forget what actual conversation is like since my brother is practically a man-child as well.”

I laughed. “Yeah, you too, Amanda. I think we’ll be chatting again soon.”

We hung up, and I took a moment to look out the bedroom window to the sky outside. Bright white clouds covered the blue smash of color. The sun was out, beaming, maybe brighter than I’d seen it in years.

I dialed Archer’s number, and when he answered, I said, “Archer. Can you come over right after you’re done with work? There’s something I have to tell you. Something good.”

---

The sound of the front door opening shot me up out of my seat.

I’d given Archer a key last week and told him to keep it, permanently. It was just after three in the afternoon, and since Amanda’s phone call, I hadn’t been able to think of anything else. The entire afternoon had been spent pacing around the living room, heart racing, trying to calm down before Archer came over.

I rushed down the hallway and was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy to see Archer standing in the foyer, smile on his face, taking off his jacket.

“Hey,” he said.

“God, am I glad to see you.”

He laughed. “I saw you last night.”

I went to him easily and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Feels like a lifetime.”

“What is it you wanted to tell me? Frantic phone calls made early morning are always a little worrisome.”

“Come on.” I took his hand and led him back to the living room. We sat down on the couch facing each other. “I have something to tell you.”

“Tell away.” He leaned back against the armrest and crossed his arms.

I breathed in deeply. “Archer, I did something without asking your permission, and I’m sorry. I don’t regret it, though.”

Immediately he dropped his arms. “What did you do?”

“I called your brother.”

He said nothing, just blinked at me. He didn’t look angry or hurt, mostly surprised.

“I’m sorry,” I continued. “I am. I thought maybe I could call him and convince him to grow up. I was butting into your family and I had no right, but at the time, I thought I would be helping. But I talked to your brother and he was, well, exactly like you’d said.”

Archer’s brow furrowed. “You think I’d be angry with you for calling Andrew?”

I nodded. He reached out and took my hands in his.

He said, “Mallory, I’m not angry.”

“No?”

He smiled. “No. You were trying to help. You were trying to make me feel better. How could I be mad at you for that?”

“Because I didn’t tell you. I called and he was a dick, so I didn’t tell you.”

“Maybe sometimes people aren’t strong enough to make the hard decisions for themselves.”

I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“You’re telling me now.” He ran his fingers through my hair, moving a little closer.

I reached up, took his hands into my own, and kissed his wrists. “But there’s something else I have to tell you.”

“Okay.”

“I received a phone call today from a woman named Amanda. She’s your brother’s ex-wife. Did you know that your brother was married?”

Archer’s face fell. He shook his head. “I’d heard from old friends, but this is confirming it.”

“They aren’t together anymore. But she seems like a nice person. We talked for a bit, and she wanted me to give you her number. I guess that Andrew told her brother, Mark, about you. About the strain on your relationship and why.”

“And she wants to talk with me?”

“Yes. She doesn’t seem at all like your brother. And she told me that she’d met your parents a few times.”

A light sparked behind Archer’s eyes. He sat up a little straighter. “Really?”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “And that’s not it. You have a nephew. His name is Aiden. Amanda wants to talk to you first to make sure, but she said that she’d like for you two to meet.”

The chorus of emotions that played over Archer’s face could’ve melted my heart. Confusion, surprise, and utter, unconstrained delight.

“I—” His voice cracked. “I have a nephew?”

I nodded vigorously, feeling like I was telling someone they’d just won the lottery. And maybe to Archer, this was even better. “Yes.”

“And Amanda wants me to be in her and her son’s life?”

“Yes.”

Archer looked away, glancing out toward the patio in the backyard. He put his hand over his mouth and closed his eyes. I said nothing, just crowded him and wrapped my arms around him, squeezing tightly. I could feel the slight tremble throughout his body.

We stayed like that for almost half an hour, neither of us speaking and neither of us needing to.

Again, I felt that soul-deep connection to him. It was an ethereal sensation of belonging and pride, like his happiness was linked to my own and mine to his.

Eventually, when Archer’s stomach rumbled, we pulled apart and laughed.

“I’ll make some sandwiches.” I stood, grabbed my phone out of my pocket, and sent a text. “And here’s Amanda’s phone number. She said that you can call her anytime.”

Archer stood as well. “Do you think it would be too soon to call now?”

“No,” I said, smiling. “I think she’d like to hear from you.”

He nodded and looked down at the screen of his phone. “Okay. I’m going to call her.”

“You should go out onto the back deck. There’s some privacy, plus the smell of the trees always helps to calm me down when I’m trying to think.”

“I don’t have anything to hide from you, Mallory,” he said.

I cupped his cheek and looked into his eyes. “I know, Sweetheart. But this time is for you. Call your family.”

He nodded and looked down, his eyes glistening.

Archer went out back, and I headed toward the kitchen to start making some sandwiches. I sliced the bread by hand and buttered two slices after digging through the refrigerator to find some lettuce and tomatoes.

I felt antsy and excited for him. In my head, I began planning out trips we’d take to go see Amanda and Aiden. I wondered if Archer would tell him about Aiden’s grandparents or if he’d tell Aiden about the beautiful Canadian Rocky Mountains and how impossibly tall they were.

I finished making the sandwiches and glanced out through the back window. Archer was pacing back and forth across the deck, grinning from ear to ear. My heart fluttered as I looked at him.

After waiting another fifteen minutes, my stomach rumbled and I chuckled to myself. I sat on Archer’s favorite stool by the kitchen counter and ate my sandwich while flipping through the local newspaper.

A few minutes later, I heard the patio door slide open. I hopped off my seat and immediately went to Archer, who met me halfway and enveloped me in a tight embrace.

“Thank you,” he whispered into my shoulder. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Wetness seeped through the fabric of my shoulder where Archer had his face pressed against me. I cradled his head with one hand, keeping the other locked tightly around his waist.

I couldn’t remember the last time I felt happier.

Without moving even an inch, Archer said, “We’re going to video chat next week. We’ll get to see him and Amanda. I don’t—I don’t think there’s a word for this kind of happiness.”

“I love you, Archer.” I kissed the top of his head.

He held me a fraction tighter. “I love you too.”

And just when I thought the world had finally decided to let everything go our way, we both turned at the sound of a familiar voice asking, “Dad?”