Page 14 of Blake University HBCU Chronicles: Archer & Destiny

TWELVE

Archer

Archer stepped into the grand foyer of his father’s estate, the heavy double doors clicking shut behind him. The scent inside was always the same, expensive wood polish, lemon oil, and faint cigar smoke lingering from his father’s meeting.

The marble floor gleamed under the chandelier’s glow, and the air felt thick with history from Archer’s childhood that he didn’t care to remember. This place never felt like home to him.

“Mr. Archer,” A soft voice called from behind him.

Archer turned to see Rosa, the family maid who had known him since he was small. She stood in her crisp uniform, her hands clasped in front of her. She looked tired, but her eyes were always warm and inviting with secret understanding to Archer’s pain.

“Rosa.” Archer nodded respectfully toward her. His voice was even as he looked around.

“Your father is in his study.” She gave him a small, sad smile.

“I know,” Archer replied, stepping forward.

Before he could take another step, the sharp click of heels cut across the foyer.

“Archer.”

Only one person could say his name with so much disdain.

Karen. He turned towards her, tall, poised, her pale skin void of the usual tans that she always got.

Today, she was dressed elegantly with a deep green silk blouse and pencil tan skirt.

Her blonde hair was styled perfectly as always, makeup untouched, even though it was nearing seven p.m. Rosa quickly bowed out of the room nervously, never making eye contact with Karen.

Karen moved towards Archer with a tight smile, her eyes assessed him to gauge the mood he was in.

“Sr. is in a meeting.” She said, her tone clipped.

“I’m aware, Karen.” Archer said. He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“This won’t take long.” He added.

“Don’t.” Karen said, stepping closer.

She cut off his pathway so that he couldn’t walk in his father’s direction.

“This meeting is important for him. Don’t interrupt or ruin it for him with one of your many moods.” She rolled her eyes.

“My moods?” Archer raised a brow.

Karen smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle on her blouse.

“Yes. The last thing this family needs is you making a scene while the mayor is in the house.”

He tilted his head as the corner of his mouth twitched.

“I never gave a fuck about what this family needed. What your kids need is a rehab…that’s something this family hides. What you need…” He licked his lips and smiled evilly.

“Would you like me to tell you what the fuck you need, Karen?” His smile continued to play on his lips.

“You don’t know shit about my kids or me.” She snapped.

She was losing her cool and had to remember that she needed to keep Archer calm. She didn’t need an argument right now carrying over and ruining her husband’s meeting.

“It’s cool, you know what you need. Plus, the doctor keeps my pockets fat, thanks to you fucking him whenever Sr. is out of town.” He stated coldly.

Karen’s posture straightened, all the wind left her as she batted her eyes rapidly. Her jaw tightened, but she forced another fake smile.

“Come help me in the kitchen, I have something I need moved.” She changed the subject.

“Fuck that, and you. Where the fuck is my mom?” his jaw tightened.

Karen’s smile slipped, just slightly, but it was enough for Archer to see that her usual facade was slipping away.

“What did you say?” She asked, blinking.

“My mother.” His tone sharpened.

He was losing the calmness that he possessed before walking in.

“Where the fuck is she?”

“Don’t you dare do this right now!” Her nostrils flared.

“Where is she?” Archer repeated, voice lower, colder.

Karen’s eyes narrowed, her cheeks turning red as her anger surfaced.

“She is no one, Archer. She is nothing but street trash that your father picked up when he was too drunk to remember what he was risking here.” She snapped.

Archer’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t look away, didn’t even blink. Karen stepped closer, her face twisted in rage.

“You should be grateful. Grateful that I agreed to stay. That I agreed to even be a mother to you, after your father cheated on me with that trash ass Black bitch! He never fucking loved her, and he half-ass loved you. All because you were a fucking mistake. It shows, too, every single day, with your defiant, ghetto actions.”

Archer didn’t move, or yell right away. He processed her words and let them settle into him. His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into the palms of his hand as Karen turned to walk away.

“I’m done with all of you. Tell Sr. to never call me again.”

He turned, ready to leave forever. Archer was ready to go back to Destiny, to the only piece of real he’d ever had.

“Archer.”

That voice froze him, his shoulders stiffened as he slowly turned around.

“Dad.” Archer said, voice full of emotions.

Sr. swallowed and stepped fully out of the hallway. He ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair that he dyed every now and then. His eyes searched his son’s, and for the first time, he saw no shield there. He saw a man on the edge of breaking from not knowing the truth.

“Your mother’s name was Tasha Reed.” Sr. said, voice cracking.

“I…I loved her, Archer… I know you may never forgive me, for all of this but I want you to know the truth. I just found out most of the truth late last year.” Sr.’s gaze dropped to the marble floor before he forced himself to meet his son’s eyes again.

“I was young. Karen and I were… we weren’t in love; it was more of an arrangement for both of our families… But Tasha—” His breath shuddered.

“She was everything to me.”

Archer’s vision blurred for a moment as he tried to picture his mother. Her name felt warm in his mouth but tasted like ashes like she was no longer here.

“You lied to me.” Archer’s voice broke.

“All of these years.” He whispered out in disbelief.

Sr.’s face twisted in pain.

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Bullshit—”

“I didn’t know!” Sr.’s voice snapped.

“Karen was jealous, she told me a bunch of lies at the time. Lies that I didn’t give Tasha a chance to explain for herself.

Karen and I were already married but I spent most of my time with Tasha and you when you were born.

Karen wanted to take me for everything that I worked hard for.

She even told me that Tasha was sleeping with the doctor…

my best fucking friend! It broke me! I went in a rage and took Tasha to court.

I framed her in court and painted a picture for the judge to make sure he ruled in my favor.

They thought she was on drugs, leaving you at home by yourself to get high.

I forged her parental rights and got you just to hurt her.

I didn’t want you because looking at you reminded me of all the pain that Tasha caused.

She fought so hard for you, even after the restraining order, so hard that I relocated from California and moved us out here.

Late last year…” He paused and then looked away, not wanting to offer the final blow.

“Your mother—Tasha….sh—she died last year.” Sr. whispered in disbelief.

Her sister, your aunt, sent me a long email cursing me.

She told me everything about how Karen lied and it was Tasha who actually saw Karen out to dinner with the doctor.

Karen was threatening Tasha and even paid a hitman who failed at killing her.

Tasha never stopped looking for you, she drove herself insane, even through her last stage of breast cancer that ended up spreading to her bones.

” Tears shimmered in Sr.’s eyes, he felt so broken saying it all out loud.

“She’s buried at Inglewood cemetery. I can email you all of your aunt Robin’s information.

You have a big family that has been wanting to reunite with you and love on you.

I failed you and I’ll never forgive myself for falling into Karen’s trap.

I’m divorcing her, she knows this but is in denial.

I’m sorry, son. I didn’t know until last year. ” He reached out with trembling hands.

Archer stepped back, his world felt like it was tilting.

The marble floor felt cold under his shoes.

His mother hadn’t abandoned him, she loved him and fought hard so that he didn’t end up in this fucked up household.

Karen and his father had stolen him. Stolen him from the woman who loved him.

Tasha would have been the first woman to tell him about his worth and would have made him feel whole.

His breath came fast, his heart pounded so loudly in his ears, he could barely hear over it. The final piece of the cold armor that he struggled to wear shattered. He turned and stormed toward the door with Sr. chasing behind him.

“Archer, please?—”

Archer didn’t stop, nor look back. He had someone waiting for him, someone who needed the real him just like he needed the real her. Destiny was someone that he could finally be free for.

“Tasha.” He said his mom’s name lowly with tears traveling down his face at a rapid pace.

“I wish none of this ever happened.”