Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
The following day, Archer grew quieter as the morning progressed and sighed in resignation when they needed to leave for his appointment.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, as they walked the path leading to Dr. Hill’s office.
Archer’s eyebrows furrowed together as he struggled with what to say. “I feel stupid. Jonah didn’t make it, and I’m attending counseling to whine about my foot.”
Candy stopped, placing her hand on his arm. “You’re healing from the trauma you experienced from losing your best friend when you tried to save him. Your foot represents another casualty. Therapy can be tough and unpleasant, but when you’re done, I’ll be waiting for you.”
Archer blew out a breath as she squeezed his arm in reassurance.
Her eyes promised hope, and she didn’t get repulsed at the sight of his missing limb when she helped change the bandages the night before.
Candace remained positive, which gave him the strength he needed.
He nodded, feeling better, knowing she’d stay close by.
When he finished, she greeted him with an encouraging smile and an ice cream. Candace fed it to him while they returned to the cabin.
“How about a game of Poker?” he asked, wiggling his brows.
She rolled her eyes. “How many times do I need to kick your butt?”
“Who knows? Maybe I improved since we played last,” he challenged.
An hour later, Archer smirked and his eyes glimmered as he laid down his four of a kind.
Candace gazed into his eyes and presented her cards as a sly smile splayed across her face. “You lose again. I believe my royal flush kicked your cards to the curb.”
Archer tugged her arm, pulling her to him. “You cheated.”
“Please,” she waved her hand dismissing him. “It’s like taking candy from a baby.”
“All right,” he conceded. “You won, so you get to pick the movie.”
Candace surfed through the channels until she found her favorite chick flick. Archer groaned. “Haven’t you grown tired of watching this. We’ve seen it a million times.”
“Nope. I won, fair and square,” she gloated.
They lay on the sofa with her head in his lap as he caressed her hair.
The movie arrived at the scene, which always made her cry.
This time, the actors’ words hit home more than ever, as they closely resembled their love story.
He glanced down to wipe the tears from her cheek.
She gazed at him and used her thumb to wipe one from his eyes.
The bittersweet moment pulled them back in time.
A chapter where his world revolved around her and she peered at him with absolute trust, counting on him when Jonah let her down.
As the leaves began to change colors, something shifted between them. The friendship they experienced before began to bloom and grow. Archer longed to clear the air, but he worried if he pushed, Candy might disappear, and he didn’t want to take that chance.
The fall festival began the following weekend, and Archer promised Dakota to help with a few last-minute posters for the small town.
“If you don’t hurry, Dakota will think I forgot her,” he called from the living room.
“I’m coming,” she said, gathering her purse. “After we finish, I need to pick up some things from my cabin. We can pick up Ty’s for dinner and eat at my place. You deserve a treat.”
“I do? I’ve heard about Ty’s from Patch. He mentioned the steaks.”
“Ty makes them better than anyone. I’ll order you one,” she said, rushing to meet him and tying his shoe. “Then we’ll do your PT. You’re not getting out of it.”
Archer leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. “I never even considered it.”
They walked down the path and entered the hospital, where they found Dakota waiting for them.
“Guess what? Dr. Wilkinson said I can get my prosthesis,” she said excitedly.
“Oh, how wonderful.” Candy high-fived her.
“Miss Kassie says I’ll have to stay here until I get used to it and Dr. Chase said they can make an attachment which allows me to run,” she informed them.
“Congratulations,” Archer fist bumped her.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Archer. I hope I didn’t rub it in. Keep working hard and you’ll get there, too,” the sweet girl vowed.
“You didn’t,” he assured her.
“He’s doing great. Let’s finish those posters for the town. Why didn’t you print them?” Candy asked.
“Duh. They won’t be as spooky, and we want people to come. All the money we earn will go into the fund for us to have a fall dance,” she explained as they entered the art room.
“Do you like to dance?” Archer asked her.
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, I’ve never done it. I saw a blue dress with flowers embroidered along the skirt and straps. I hope I have enough money to get it. What happens if I get dressed up and nobody asks me to go? Oh, what if they do and I don’t know how?”
“It sounds lovely,” Candy said as they pulled the supplies down. “Dancing can be learned, and it’s not hard. You have fun and move your body to the beat.”
Archer turned on the radio and used his crutches to stand. She smiled at him, happy to see his progress. The counseling sessions were helping and he seemed happier and more himself.
“Candace used to dance all the time. Shall we see if she remembers how?” Archer asked Dakota. A slow song came on, and he held out his hand to her.
She narrowed her eyes before walking into his arms. They swayed to the music, and Archer held her gaze.
When the song finished, an upbeat song replaced it.
Candy broke from his embrace and invited Dakota to join them.
Archer did his best with the crutches, and they laughed as he twirled them both around.
Another slow song came on, and Archer held his hand out for Dakota.
“I might step on you. I don’t know what I’m doing,” she protested.
“Nonsense. Who do you think taught Candace?” he challenged.
Dakota glanced at her, and she nodded. Candy remembered how he rushed in to save her when Jonah didn’t show up at her cousin’s wedding. Archer saved the day, holding her in his strong arms and gliding her across the floor.
Archer held Dakota at an appropriate distance away as he instructed her. “If a boy wants to pull you closer, you keep your arms stiff, like this. It’s a dance.”
“Archerrr,” she drew out his name, giggling.
Candy grinned. One day, he’d make a great father. Over the last couple of months, Dakota and Archer connected through the same amputations. They compared notes, taught each other new coping mechanisms, and joked with each other daily.
“All right, you two. Time to get back to work,” she called from the table when the song ended.
They made their way over and got to work painting posters. When they finished, they hung them up to dry and cleaned up their work area. Dakota hugged Candy, then Archer. “Thanks for teaching me to dance.”
“Of course,” Archer grinned.
Candy said, “I can’t wait to see your dress.”
Dakota’s expression changed to a worried one before she pasted on a smile. “Thanks,” she said before leaving.
“What do you think the worried look was about?” Archer asked.
“I don’t know,” Candy said. “Maybe you should ask her.”
“I will,” Archer said. “You’ve worked me to the bone today. I’m starved and I have a steak calling my name,” Archer announced as they left the building, walked to her car, and drove toward the restaurant.
“You’ll be spoiled after tasting Ty’s,” Candy said, getting into the car. “Thanks for teaching her how to dance. It was sweet.”
“She’s a great kid. Do you think she’ll still be here by the time they have the dance?”
“It’s already planned. At least the date.
They’ll let the teens decorate and decide on a theme.
Kassie likes them to work toward things.
They never make enough money, so she puts the funds into the teen clothing store, allowing them to buy things with their chore money. It makes them feel independent.”
Archer raised a brow in surprise. “It’s ingenious and sneaky. It sounds like someone else I know.”
Candy grinned as they pulled in front of the restaurant. “Stay here, I’ll run in and pick it up,” she said, turning off the car.
Archer pulled her close, kissing her. “Hurry back,” he said huskily.
Candy ran inside, and a few minutes later, she returned with their order. Archer’s stomach growled in anticipation. “I haven’t eaten it yet and my mouth’s watering,” he said, inhaling the scent coming from the bag. “What did you get?”
“I ordered you a porterhouse with mushrooms and fries,” Candy informed him, wrinkling her nose and making him laugh.
“You still hate mushrooms?”
“Absolutely,” she said with a shudder. “I’ll stick to my roasted chicken and veggies.”
“I knew you didn’t live far from the hospital, but I didn’t realize you stayed on the mountain,” he admitted.
“Kassie assigned it to me as part of my incentive to move here. “You’ve made excellent progress. I’m proud of you,” she said softly, taking his hand.
“Thank you. I hoped I might’ve earned some of your respect, except when it comes to loading the dishwasher. I can never do it as well as you,” he joked.
“You’re a great roommate. It’s kinda fun having someone to talk to at the end of the day,” she confessed.
Reflecting on the past couple of months, she realized how much she looked forward to returning to the cabin.
He made her laugh, and Archer knew her likes and dislikes without her having to remind him.
They fell into the same pattern as they did before.
Why didn’t she ever notice her feelings for Archer all those years ago?
“Haven’t any of those hunky Serenity Securities men tried to scoop you up? They all seem to know you,” he said, almost sounding jealous.
“No. I first met them when Lizzy fought cancer. Then, Tess got shot, and Kassie asked me to work for her. We’ve grown close, but I don’t date them. What about you?”
“I wouldn’t have kissed you if I did,” he said firmly.