“And now you’re doing it all yourself anyway.”
She shrugged. “It’s better that way. I’m going to show Archer how to do it soon. He’s been asking, but I still think eight is a tad young to push the mower.”
“I think I was around eleven,” he said. “Can’t remember for sure. I know I was on the riding lawn mower with my father much younger than that.”
“Yeah, Archer says I should get one. Please, I can get this done in twenty minutes back here and the front is about five. Only a few passes.”
“I’m surprised they don’t care for those things in the development.”
“Tucker wanted a place that did, but I liked having more space between the houses here than the other places he looked at. Plus there are amenities here. Not that we use the pool often, but Archer does like to swim.”
It was a time factor more than anything. During the week, there was way too much going on to get to the pool. On theweekends, she was doing other chores and they had to balance it all.
She knew the day would come that Archer would want to go down alone with friends, but that wasn’t going to be for a long time.
“My parents have a pool,” he said. “We aren’t that far from here.”
She smiled. “I remember your parents’ pool. We had some good times in it.”
Not just the two of them kissing and reaching for each other when no one was around, but friends over for weekend pool parties.
“We did.”
She grabbed the fish and Jayce held the door for her, then lifted the lid on the grill and she put them down and looked at her watch.
The minute she put her arm down, her watch started to vibrate. “Archer is calling me.”
She ran into the house to get her phone. “Hi, buddy. What’s going on?”
“I just wanted to call and say goodnight now. Grandma is taking me to the movies so we won’t get out until close to nine and then I’ll go right to bed. She thought you might be tired and sleeping, but I said no.”
She laughed. Her mother knew she was with Jayce right now. She hoped her mother didn’t think Jayce would be spending the night. No way.
Not yet.
“Sounds like you’re going to have a fun night. You might be the one who is tired after today.”
“I’ve got more energy than you,” Archer said, giggling. “And Grandma made me spaghetti and meatballs. Now I’m stuffed, but I said I want popcorn and chocolate.”
“Glad you’re spending the night there and not here then.”
“Are you okay by yourself?” Archer asked. “You’re not bored? You could come with us.”
She looked at Jayce, who was grinning. She’d bet he could hear the conversation. Archer always talked loudly.
“I’m not bored,” she said. “And you know I have no problem being by myself.”
“It’s your me time,” Archer said. “I know. Have fun.”
“I will. You have fun too. Love you.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
Archer hung up. “Your ‘me’ time?”
Yep, he’d heard that.
“You see how much energy he has. It’s nice to have peace and quiet. My me time is sitting on the couch and doing nothing. Just sitting there and not having to hear feet pounding in the house, my name called, or having to prepare food for someone other than myself. And if I want to have a bowl of cereal for dinner, no one is going to question it.”
