Chapter 32
Archer
I have to bite back a moan. Holy shit. Jim and Joyce can cook. Ellie mentioned her mom loves to cook, but she didn’t mention her dad is a grill master.
“Mr. Taylor—”
“Call me Jim, please.”
“Jim, these might be the best pork chops I have ever had.” They’re topped with apples and onions in some sort of glaze. “What did you marinate these in, if I can ask.”
“Apple cider.” Jim smiles “Believe it or not, this is Ellie’s grandpa’s recipe.”
“It’s freaking delicious.” I say making sure I don’t accidentally curse in front of Ellie’s parents.
“Joyce, please teach me how you made these sweet potatoes.” I’m not sucking up, this is legitimately one of the best meals I may have ever had.
I continue to gorge myself on her family’s food as they chat about everything and anything.
Joyce beams as I take another helping of pie.
Ellie is chatting with her dad, she didn’t mention she’s a daddy’s girl, instead of it being off-putting, it’s endearing, they’re close.
Not that she’s not close to her mom, she’s close to her too, that was evident the minute we got here, she’s just closer with her dad.
“Mrs. Taylor, if you are looking to leave the teaching profession, I know many professional football players who would hire you in a heartbeat to bake this pie for them.” I’m not kidding.
She baked two pies for tonight, her homemade pumpkin pie, for Ellie and Jim’s favorite— peach pie topped with ice cream.
“You are too sweet. And again, please call me Joyce.” She pauses.
“I know Jim thanked you earlier but truly thank you for being there for Ellie. We worry about her being so far from family. She has Sadie and Violet of course, but it’s nice knowing she has you now as well.
And thank you for putting up with Erica’s antics earlier.
” Her mom lets out a soft laugh as she turns her attention to her youngest, who is working on some TikTok dance with her friends.
I’m finishing my second helping of peach pie when Ellie walks over to us and sits down bringing her mother’s attention back to us. “Did Easton tell you that we are supposed to wear the color we think the baby is tomorrow?”
“Yep! I packed a blue dress.” Ellie answers as she helps herself to some pie. “What color are you thinking Mama?”
“Pink.”
“Hey! I packed a pink shirt too!” I smile, earning a high five from Mama Joyce.
“Erica says she’s wearing purple because she doesn’t care either way.”
Ah, there’s the teenage attitude I remember from my youth.
“Are you ready for the tour, Archer?” Jim asks, depositing the empty beer bottles in the recycling bin.
“Absolutely, sir.” I say as I put my disposable plate in the can.
I follow Jim around the house he so carefully built for his family.
It’s a gorgeous building, with tall ceilings and lots of windows.
Sleek hardwood is laid throughout the first floor.
Comfortable looking furniture is spread around in strategic areas where you can still enjoy the views from the windows, but you won’t be blinded by the sunlight streaming in.
Joyce has decorated it with pops of color throughout the house giving it a warm, welcoming vibe.
He shows me the kitchen, the dining room and breakfast nook.
I can just picture young Ellie eating her cereal in the nook with a book in front of her.
Off the kitchen is the laundry room and bathroom.
We navigate throughout the house as he tells me fun facts about each room.
The living room where Ellie and Stella were caught trying to sneak out when they were in high school.
The basement where he caught Easton trying to sneak a racoon in.
The house holds many Taylor memories, and he enjoys recounting them for me.
Finally, we arrive upstairs where the bedrooms are, Ellie and her mom are already in Ellie’s room.
Jim ushers me in and I take in the glory that is young Ellie’s bedroom.
It is bright bubblegum pink, with the hot pink shag carpet in the middle of the gorgeous hardwood floor, an orange and pink polka dot bedspread covers the queen bed, teen magazine models cover the wall along with photos from high school and college.
I caught a glimpse of the Halloween photo on a corkboard along with other photos, a few of them include her friend Vi.
She has her high school and college cross country and track medals decorating every shelf and surface that isn’t covered by knick-knacks.
A collection of novels takes up the bulk of her shelves.
Twilight seems to have earned a special place.
It’s standing in front of other books, cover facing out.
“This is…” I don’t even bother trying to hide my grin.
“Do not finish that sentence Archer Earnest Bell.” Ellie warns.
Grinning, I continue to soak up young adult/teenage Elle and her design choices.
“I’m going to go wrangle the girls and get them in from outside.” Jim states, excusing himself.
“Now that he’s gone,” Joyce starts, “we are not under any false impression that you two do not sleep together. So, we have you in here for the weekend. Cece and Bella have the other two rooms for the night anyway.” She starts to walk out of the room but pauses at the threshold.
“Please do try to keep quiet; the walls are rather thin.” She shoots us a saucy wink, and I look over and see Ellie with her face buried in her hands.
“Why can’t she be normal?” She laments. I can’t help it, a chuckle escapes. “It’s not funny!” She scolds.
“It’s a little funny.” I comment. I’m sure whatever she’s feeling right now, I will experience tenfold when she visits with my parents at the Grizzlies game.
“What’s with the boxes?” I nod at the stack of boxes in the corner.
“Mom wants me to take what I want so she can redecorate my room. She’s already done Estelle’s and Easton’s since they are married. I guess since I’m a spinster, she wanted to make sure I had my room should I have decided to come back.”
“That’s kind of sweet. I guess.” I wander around the room, touching and picking up various items. Imagining what she was like when she was little. “You’re taking Twilight, right?” I joke.
“Of course I am! It’s signed.”
“No, it’s not.” I look at her shocked.
“It is. Mom took me and Stella to a signing when it first came out.”
“That’s wow... That’s dedication.”
“Somewhere out there, there’s a little boy or girl, who feels the same way about an Archer Bell jersey so…”
I didn’t think of that. Huh. Who knew.