We said good night and I slept like a stone, but morning came early. I tossed and turned a bit, watching the rising sun creeping up through the slats of my blinds. I was remembering the previous night and Leslie’s plan. Maybe she was right. I was never going to have Archie. But maybe we could stop Sharon from having him, for the sake of the boys. I wasn’t pleased one bit with the idea of Leslie putting the moves on Archie. But I’d do anything to get Sharon out of the picture, so I swallowed my damaged pride.

I finally got up and dressed and poured myself a giant mug of coffee. Momma and Leslie still slept. I took my disappointment out to the bees in the haze of early morning’s light and told them everything I was worried about. I know it may sound peculiar to say this, but I felt better when I unburdened my heart to them. In my whole life, there had only been two men I’d ever loved: my father and Archie. Both had broken my heart.

I don’t want to seem melodramatic, but there were things I just didn’t understand about men and never would. How could our father put himself so far ahead of the needs of his daughters? How could Archie do the same thing to his sons? Look at Leslie, Dad. Take a good look at what you did to her. Who did she choose as a partner? And me? I chose an older man who rejected me before he had a chance to consider me. I wasn’t even worthy of consideration. Thanks, Archie. Nice job, Dad. Nice job.

Chapter 9: Leslie Takes the Mike

“Things happen when they are supposed to, you know,” Archie said.

“I don’t know about that,” I said.

“There’s an Indian dude, Srikumar Rao, who said, ‘When the flower blossoms, the bee will come.’”

“Oh, please,” I said.

Chapter Nine

Leslie Takes the Mike

I had given our seduction idea a lot of solid thought and come to a few conclusions. I’d had enough of my own pathetic marriage to justify trying to stop someone else from making the same mistake. And I knew it was probably immoral to execute the plan as it stood, the actual seduction, I mean. I decided to see how it might take shape, you know, get a sense of where Archie’s mind was, and then I’d worry about the morality of it all.

Holly was deeply upset for more reasons than one and I felt it as though it was happening to me. It was awful to see my little sister be rejected by the only man I’d ever seen her have an interest in. Even though I wasn’t itching for children and there was a chance I never would, I had a healthy respect for Holly’s desire to see these kids be happy.