Damn it. Couldn’t he leave this alone?
“Maybe it’s because someone was mean and spanked me last night,” she muttered.
“That’s because someone was naughty and wasn’t using her pacifier,” Archer reminded her.
“I think that spankings shouldn’t be allowed on a road trip,” she said sulkily. She’d already tried this argument before and lost.
“I’m starting to think that someone needs a nap,” Issy said. “Maybe we should stop at a hotel for the night and go to their house tomorrow.”
Their house. Not his house. She bit her lip. She knew Issy was so grouchy because he was nervous. From the look Archer shot his brother, she could tell he’d worked that out as well.
“You don’t have to go in, Issy. I’m happy to go alone.”
“We’ve already had this argument,” Issy replied.
He they pulled down a tree-lined street. The houses here were all large, set on big lots. Easy to tell that it was a wealthy neighborhood. This is where they’d grown up? She looked around curiously. Issy pulled into a circular driveway and parked in front of a gray stone house. She peered up at the house. It seemed so cold. So dark. She couldn’t imagine two small boys living here.
“I still think I should come in,” she said.
Both men turned to give her incredulous looks.
“You’re not coming, girl,” Issy said strictly.
“But—”
“No way in hell, love,” Archer agreed.
“I don’t want you near those vipers,” Issy told her. “But I also think this is something that Archer and I need to do. Alone.”
That silenced any arguments. She got it. And truthfully, she was a bit relieved.
“It’s not that we’re ashamed of you or hiding you away, love,” Archer said worriedly. “It’s just something…”
“The two of you have to do. It’s all right. Really.”
“Stay in the car,” Issy barked orders. “Lock the doors. Do not move. No matter what. Got me? I come back and you are gone and you will not sit down for a week.”
“I’ll be here. I promise.”
They each gave her a long look. Issy’s full of heat and fire. Archer’s calm and steadying.
Then they left and she took in a deep breath to try to calm her nerves. If she felt this bad, she could only imagine how they were feeling.
Doc tried not to let the memories swamp him. Remembering the last time he’d been in this cold, sterile house. Nothing much had changed. They waited at the door for Archer’s knock to be answered. When the door slid open, there stood his mother.
She had changed in some ways. She seemed smaller. Her hair was fully gray now. And there was a fragility to her that hadn’t been there before. But in other ways, she was still the same. The polite smile that never filled her eyes. Tailored, expensive clothes that were flattering yet boring at the same time.
“Archer, this is a surprise, you should have called, dear. We’d have had your room prepared.”
Issy snorted, unable to stop himself. Her gaze turned to him as though she’d just noticed him, when he was sure she’d spotted him as soon as he stepped out of Archer’s car.
“Isaac. Why are you here? Archer, why would you bring…him?”
Archer sucked in a breath. “Mother, Issy is my brother.”
She sniffed. “You will refrain from using that ridiculous nickname in my house.”
Doc waited for his brother’s agreement. Instead Archer stiffened.