“You’ll find out as soon as Archer does.”
They were seated, their drinks ordered, then Archer asked, “Can I open it now? I know what I’m eating and don’t need to look at the menu. Neither do you guys cuz you’re having the same thing.”
“Archer, Jayce can get what he wants.”
“But you always eat the same as me,” her son argued.
“I’ll do it too,” he said. “No worries. I could go for a big burger. Open it up.”
“See, Mom. I told you Jayce would say yes.” Her son was pulling out the tissue paper, then lifting the youth Nino Meyers jersey and squealing loud enough she had to put her finger to her lips to shush him.
“Turn it around,” he said.
“It’s signed!” Archer yelled.
“See what you did,” she said, laughing.
“He’s excited. Let him be.”
“Did you buy it signed or like did you get him to sign it yourself?”
“He did it for me,” he said. “I bought the shirt when I was in town. One of the assistants got his signature for me when he came in and then mailed it back. I wasn’t sure when I was going to get it. I thought I would have had it on Saturday.”
“This is the best gift ever.”
“There is a card inside.”
Archer reached in and pulled the card out, then opened it. “Mom,” Archer said. “It’s from Nino. He wished me happy birthday and everything.”
Her lower lip came out a little. “That’s so sweet.”
“Best gift ever!” Archer said again, climbing out of the booth next to her and moving to sit next to Jayce to get a hug.
Watching her son with Jayce wasactuallythe best gift.
Which she needed hours later when Tucker finally called when Archer was in bed.
She’d texted him twice after dinner reminding him of the day and that their son wanted to thank him for his gift. That the least Tucker could do was be the one to make the call and wish their son happy birthday.
“Is he sleeping?” Tucker asked the minute she answered the phone. She wondered if he’d done that on purpose so he didn’t have to talk to anyone.
“No. I hear the TV on.”
“It’s late. He needs his sleep.”
“It’s eight thirty. He goes to bed at eight, and he’s allowed to watch TV for thirty minutes. Most times he falls asleep before it’s off, but he was excited. You know I take him out to dinner for his birthday.”
She wouldn’t say anything about Jayce. It was none of her ex’s business. Archer hadn’t said anything yet and it’s not as if Jayce moved in or was staying the night. They saw each other on the weekends and maybe one day during the week, if they were lucky now.
“Let me talk to him,” Tucker said.
She walked up the stairs, and Archer turned his head when she got in the doorway with her phone. “Is it Dad?”
“It is,” she said. “I know you were waiting for him to call.”
Which she wanted her ex to hear and know that was part of the reason Archer was still up. He hadn’t asked to call Tucker,but if he had, she wouldn’t have said no. Archer was used to the fact Tucker rarely answered his phone and it was just best to wait.
“Hi, Dad,” Archer said, sitting up.
