Oh God.
Archie thought about her mom.
All the amazing things about her mom.
The way she’d smile at her dad.
The way she did voices when she read stories to them whenthey were little.
The time she sat in bed with Archie when Archie’s firstcrush decided he liked some other girl and she told her story about how herfirst crush went through the entire second grade, starting with Bryn.So shehad to watch as he went through the rest of them, and that was so much worsethan Archie’s story, Archie felt better.But how her mom told it, by the end ofit, they were both laughing.
How, every time they went to the grocery store, she made agame of them picking a treat, and made a point of teaching them how to sharethat love, because they each got to pick a candy bar or a bag of chips, butthey also had to pick something to take home to their dad.And they couldn’tpick somethingtheywanted, they had to think hard and pick somethingtheir father would like.
And the totally bonkers and insanely loud way she’d shoutand cheer at one of Elijah’s games that wassoembarrassing whenArchie was thirteen, but looking back, Archie saw the love and pride in it, howopen her mother was in sharing it and how beautiful that was.
The thought of not having those memories…
Having her dad or her grandparents share things about hermother, but never knowing them herself.
God.
Unthinkable.
She knew that Jagger didn’t have this, but until thatmoment, it never really sunk in just how much he’d never had.
“Haley,” her father bit again when he watched Archie’s eyesfill with tears.
And again, Haley ignored him.
“Watch that movie,” she advised firmly.
“Haley!”Andy clipped.
Haley was not to be denied.
“Watch it, doll.And I will never advise anyone to keepsomething from someone they love, especially not a partner.So tell him youintend to watch it.But watch it.You need to.For him.For you.And,” shecocked her head, trying to take the intensity out of what she was saying,“because it’s a really good movie.”
“Mom would say that.”
Haley grew still at Archie’s words.
Andy went solid.
“She would advise me to be strong.She would expect it,”Archie said.
Neither Haley nor Andy replied.
Archie got up from her seat and went to her stepmom.
She then hugged her and said in her ear, “Thank you.”
At first, Haley seemed surprised, and until that moment,Archie hadn’t realized she hadn’t been ugly or mean, but she might have beenstandoffish.
This meant Haley was stiff, until Archie spoke those wordsinto her ear.
She then curved Archie in her arms and relaxed in her hold.
And damn, being held in Haley’s arms felt nice.
