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“Don’t.” Archie shot me a pleading look. “Please.”
“Oh, I won’t share it. But if I’m dating a god, I think I have the right to at least tweak you a little.”
Chuckling, he rubbed his hand against my thigh below the table. “Youcan do whatever you want.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” I promised, and he chuckled.
Grandpa Ted nodded. “A keeper that one. All right. Have a drink. Let’s order, and then we’re discussing your birthday present, Sprout.”
“Grandpa, I’m good. Really.”
“Nonsense,” the older man continued. “Your trust has been there for you since you were born. That’s fact. Presents are supposed to be fun. And I have one for you…” Amusement glimmered in the man’s eyes. “You’re going to let me give it to you, Sprout.”
Archie raised his hands in surrender. “Yes, sir.”
I liked this side of Archie—the openness and warmth he shared with his grandfather. This was the side so few got to see. I did. He’d been like this with me from the beginning.
If I’d known him better, it might have clued me in to his real feelings long before I got there. Looking back, it was a lot clearer to me now.
We took our time picking out our meals. The waitress appeared as if summoned by magic when we’d decided. She also brought sodas for me and Archie. The wine was nice, but two swallows had already left me with a warm buzzy feeling, so probably better to dial back on that.
After she left, Archie’s grandfather focused on him. “All right, I’ve done some research. Your father might be engaged, but he’s not divorcing Muriel. At least not yet. He hasn’t filed papers anywhere. I also checked with the attorneys to go over a copy of the prenuptial they signed. He may not have to worry about that much longer. Either of them.”
“How so?”
“After twenty years or their youngest child reached his or her majority, several of the clauses would fall away.”
“And I just turned eighteen.” He scoffed and shook his head.
I covered his hand on my thigh with my own. “I’m sorry.”
“You know,” he said, cutting a look at me. “I don’t really care beyond the crap they’re pulling with you. Let them get divorced. It might make them happier.”
Leaning forward, Ted considered Archie. “I have friends on the board still, it wouldn’t be that hard to oust him. You’re a bit young to take his place though.”
What were they…?
“I’m good, Grandpa. No offense, not really into running Standish.”
Ted shrugged. “I could take over for a few years for you. Serves him right after he shoved me out the door.”
Were they…?
“Grandpa, really, I appreciate it. And I know you built that company. But I don’t want it. I want… I want to make my own mistakes. Build my own future. I want to build things, period.”
“Sprout, I respect that, but you also asked me to deal with your father. Now it sounds like you want me to back off.” Ted glanced at me, but the reality of Archie running the family company had never really sunk in before. I mean, sure, I knew they had one. But I didn’t picture him in suits—no matter how good he looked in them—wheeling and dealing, and doing whatever it was his father did.
Honestly, I had no idea what “Eddie” did, except date my mother and apparently, have affairs. So maybe it was a good thing I couldn’t picture Archie in that role.
“You’re already moving forward with your emancipation, young lady?”
I nodded.
“Then that’s one thing we can take care of. As for your father, neutering his power reduces his ability to threaten any of you.” Ted paused as our first course arrived.
This was not the conversation I pictured having on Archie’s birthday. Through most of the appetizers and the entrees, they debated it back and forth. I fought a silent battle with myself. A part of me wanted Ted to just stop and let Archie enjoy his day, but each time the conversation lulled, Archie would bring up another point and they’d be off to it again.
So maybe Archie did want to have the conversation.
