The End of Me (The Downfall of Us #1)(8)
Author: Claudia Burgoa

 

They might be getting ready to kick you out of our properties. Everything I owned is now yours. Call the lawyer, then King, and finally visit Dad. Make sure they know you’re my next of kin. I know you don’t want anything but trust me, you’ll use it later. There’s a step that will require my assets, so don’t give them up.

 

Love you forever,

 

Archer

 

PS Silver lining moment… not many can say they spent all their lives with the love of their life. I did. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Five

 

 

 

 

 

Piper

 

 

April 14th

 

I’m tempted to watch more than just the one video, but the fear of going through all the memories he stored for me stops me.

 

It’s cute to watch five toddlers playing music. This was the first time I taught Archer how to play. In the video, I can see how I stopped what I was doing a few times to teach Arch how to keep his arms loose as he played the maracas.

 

It draws a smile to my face to see how Archer was less tense at the end of that day. He changed so much from the frightened little boy who joined our quad. I hope that someday when he comes back, we have a son who’s just like him—smart, kind, and loving.

 

I don’t know if it’s Archer’s letter or the fact that I have something to look forward to or feeling closer to him that makes me get out of bed and leave the house this morning.

 

When I arrive at my parents’ place, it’s quiet. Weird since Kip and Keith are noisy.

 

“Is anybody home?”

 

“I’m in my office, Ladybug,” Dad calls out.

 

Before I head there, I stop by the kitchen to prepare myself some tea and steal a few cookies from the jar.

 

“Morning, Dad,” I greet him as I enter the office and set the tray I carry on top of his desk.

 

“It’s good to see you, sweetheart. How are you feeling today?”

 

I shrug a shoulder. “Where’s Pa?”

 

Dad rises from his seat and walks toward me, giving me a big hug. “You should come back home. I hate knowing you’re alone in that big house.”

 

“It’s fine, Dad. Where are your spouses?”

 

“Matt is downstairs practicing with Keith. Thea’s in her office working.”

 

“Mom makes sense, but what’s Keith doing here? Shouldn’t he be at school?”

 

“He has an audition or something?” Dad flinches, obviously feeling bad that he didn’t pay enough attention.

 

I roll my eyes. “He can practice as much as he wants, but he’ll never be like the legendary Keith Moon.”

 

“Your brother will be better,” Pa says, entering the office. “How are you today, Pipe?”

 

“I’m here,” I answer because I haven’t assessed the damage done to my heart, soul, and body.

 

Pa shakes his head, exhaling loudly. “It breaks my heart to see you like this.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“Your bright light is off, sweetheart.” Dad’s the one who answers.

 

“It’ll be better when they find Archer, and I know he’s on his way home,” I assure them.

 

“Listen—”

 

“No, Dad, don’t try to give me one of your logical explanations, please. You, of all people, should understand why I insist. You feel Pa and Mom’s heartbeats. You would know if they stopped beating, wouldn’t you?”

 

“She has a point, Tristan,” Pa defends me. “I would know.”

 

“Matt…” Dad doesn’t finish his sentence.

 

“Please, stop trying to find logic around my intuition, Dad.” I try to sound normal, but my voice comes out too defensive.

 

“Yes, but in the meantime, I’m watching my daughter fade away.”

 

I wave a hand. “Well, I might stop that today.”

 

“What changed?”

 

“He left me a box just in case…” I press my lips together. “I’m finding reasons to keep going. All of you are right. I can’t pause my life. Maybe by following his grief agenda, I can find a new way to live while I wait for him.”

 

“Oh good, you finally started reading it,” Mom says when she steps into the office. “How are you today?”

 

I ignore her question or the fact that she knows about the box. “I have a confession to make.”

 

“Yeah?” The three of them look at me expectantly.

 

I squeeze my eyes shut, pull out the chain on my neck, and show them the rings.

 

“Wedding bands?” Mom’s voice has some concern.

 

“Umm, yeah.”

 

“Are you telling us you got married and never told us?” Dad asks.

 

“I’m wounded.” Pa glares at me.

 

“Sorry. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. We got married in Vegas a few years ago.”

 

“How long is a few years?” Pa’s tone has an edge to it.

 

“On Archer’s twenty-first birthday,” I answer, squeezing my eyes shut.

 

“And you didn’t tell us?” Mom sounds hurt. “What happened to let’s organize a wedding for my twenty-fourth or twenty-sixth birthday?”

 

I shrug. “That was for everyone. Vegas was for us.”

 

Surprisingly Mom smiles. “That was one thing I liked about you two. Even though you planned, you lived too.”

 

“One of his requests is to make sure I handle the legal affairs so I don’t run into trouble with his family.”

 

“What do you need from us?” Dad asks.

 

“I’m not sure, I have to call our lawyer and Kingston, but it feels overwhelming to do it alone.”

 

Pa rubs his hands together as if he’s ready to jump into action. “Okay, let’s do it.”

 

“Here?”

 

He nods. “The phone is yours. We’ll be right here or in the other room. Wherever you feel is best for you.”