We both look down, and there’s a foot encased in a black boot.
“What the-” Charlotte is cut off as Archie shoulders open the door, knocking her straight into me just as Mia emerges from the guest room. Her eyes flash from us to Archie as he looms in the doorway.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Mia asks.
Archie kicks the door shut, and that’s when I see the knife in his hand. I push Charlotte behind me, and hold out a hand.
“Archie, stop it now,” I say in a low voice. “This isn’t the way.”
His bloodshot eyes bore into mine. “What’s the matter, Dad?” He holds up the shiny silver blade. “You think I’m actually going to use it? Come on. I just wanted to talk to you all.” He laughs maniacally and looks over at Mia. “I missed you, babe.”
Mia stands like a deer caught in headlights, dressed in her robe, her hair wrapped in a towel. “Archie, you can’t be here.”
He gives her a shaky smile, looking her up and down. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“So am I.” Mia takes a few small steps towards him, her eyes flashing to mine. “But you need to leave.”
“I just wanted to talk to you.” Archie is fixated on Mia, his gaze not wavering at all.
I reach into my coat pocket and carefully pull out my phone. Charlotte’s hands on my shoulders dig in, and I pass the phone behind me. It’s unlocked, open on Jordan’s number. Charlotte releases me with one hand, and takes the phone from me.
She knows what to do.
“Can we talk?” Archie sniffles, wiping his nose erratically against the back of his hand, and I wonder if he’s not just drunk but also high. “I just want to talk, babe. Just the two of us.”
Mia is magnificent. She’s completely calm, hands spread lightly in front of her.
“I’m not talking to you alone, Archie. Anything you have to say to me, you say here, alright?” She raises her eyebrows and nods. “We can talk openly here. You’re safe.” Her eyes flash to the knife in his hand. “Can you put that away? It’s just making me a bit nervous is all.”
Archie looks down at the knife, and nods. “Oh yeah, this?” He holds it up. “I didn’t mean to bring it to hurt you, babe. I promise. I just… I don’t know. I really missed you.” He presses the back of the hand holding the knife to his mouth, suppressing a sob. “Sorry, I just…”
“It’s alright.” Mia moves a bit closer again, which has my hackles rising. “I understand. You’re sad and upset, and you want to talk. Put the knife down, and come sit with me.”
Charlotte lets out a small noise behind me as Mia moves closer still, but it’s loud enough that it snaps Archie’s attention over to us.
“You!” He points the knife at me, and Mia rushes even closer.
“Mia, get back!” I snap, and Archie stumbles towards me. I back away, shoving Charlotte along behind me. “Archie, fucking stop!”
“You!” He keeps waving the knife but stops walking, swaying on his feet as though he’s caught in a stiff breeze. “You fucking stole her away from me!”
“No, he didn’t, Archie.” Mia draws Archie’s attention back to herself, which is the last thing I bloody want. She shakes her head as Archie’s bleary eyes move in her direction. “You left, remember? You left me for Libby Mills. You went to Spain with her.”
Archie shakes his head, spittle foaming at the corners of his mouth. “Mm-mmm. No. No, I didn’t leave you. I just, I made a mistake, babe.” His face breaks into another maniacal smile.“She was a mistake. She was a slut. She was sleeping around on me.” His face crumples, and it’s like watching some piece of deranged theatre, his face morphing from hope to joy to anger to despair and back again. “She’s nothing like you. You’re so pretty and so smart, and so sweet to me. I know I made a mistake, but we can be together again, yeah? We can move past all of it.”
Charlotte has to hold me back as Archie walks on shaky legs across the room to take Mia’s hand.
“Just wait,” she mutters, and this time Archie doesn’t hear her.
“I’m sorry, babe.” Archie says, not noticing Mia’s rigid body language, her arm stiff as he grips onto her hand. “But we can forget it all, can’t we?”
“Do you think we can?” Mia asks.
Archie nods enthusiastically. “Of course. This is who we are. We have a big old fucking row, and then we make up. Do you remember how much fun we had? Making up after our stupid rows?” He reaches out with the hand holding the knife, and strokes his fingers down her cheek.
Charlotte has to wrap her arms around my waist to hold me back.
Mia freezes, her eyes staying on Archie as the knife blade moves past her face. “I remember, Archie.”
