She followed along as Jayce tagged after her son. “This room is awesome.”
“It was my father’s before. He used to come in here away from us and drink scotch and smoke cigars with his buddies. Mom made him stay up front because of the smell.”
Nothing like airing out dirty laundry.
“Looks more like a kid’s room now,” he said, winking at her.
“It was the first thing I changed. Archer needed his own space on this floor.”
“I picked the colors and theme.”
The room was blue with framed posters of professional athletes of all the sports that her son loved. Football, baseball, and basketball. Tucker loved to show off and get sports memorabilia for Archer. Expensive things a kid had to look at and not play with.
Would Archer appreciate it when he was an adult? Sure, but at his age he’d rather take the signed baseball and throw it in the yard than look at it through glass.
“It’s pretty rad,” he said. “I’ve got the PS5 too.”
“Dad bought it for my birthday last year.”
“His old one was just fine, but you know...”
Buying her son’s attention rather than giving it to him in person.
“We can play games together for sure,” he said. “So we’ve got bowling and video games. Two rainy day activities if need be.”
“That week is going to be awesome!” Archer shouted. “Mom plays video games with me, but she’s not that great.”
“Not something I’m striving to conquer.”
“I’m sure your mother is good at a lot of other things,” he said, winking at her.
“She cooks good,” Archer said. “We’re having lasagna tonight.”
“Awesome,” he said. “One of my favorites.”
She noticed the smile not reaching Jayce’s eyes and wondered what it could be.
“Archer, why don’t you start one of your games and I’ll talk to Jayce and show him around, then we’ll come back.”
“Okay.”
Her son pulled out the console and she walked out of the room with Jayce following.
When they were in the kitchen in the back, she asked, “If you don’t like lasagna I can make something else. I just remember you had it a few times at your parents’ when we were kids.”
She’d gone to dinner there once when they were dating and it was served. Then when they were just friends months later, a bunch of them went to hang out at his house and Stacy McCarthy warmed one up and served it for lunch.
“It is one of my favorites. I think I’ll be fine. Not sure if you know why I was at the doctor’s office.”
“No, I don’t check patient files if they aren’t mine or I’m not required to.” Though she could, she just didn’t.
“I’ve got an ulcer. Had an upper GI and got the results back on Thursday. I’m on meds and so far so good. I think I’ll be fine, but haven’t tried tomato sauce yet.”
She reached to rub his hand. “I haven’t made it yet. Do you like veggies? I love white lasagna with veggies and meat and cheese. Archer will even eat that if the good stuff is buried.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” he said.
“You’re not asking, I’m offering. And it’s a way to get a veggie in my kid without argument. I just wasn’t sure if you’d eat it.”
