Archer Diaries

No Vacancy

There is only so much we can do, so far we can ran. My dad fought for his life but even at a point he had to give up. Mom gave in to her demons and allowed them to consume her enough to drive her away. I dread giving up. I just can't because quitters are always the sore losers and I have been that person, the sore loser, for so long that I know that I would never go back again.

*******

They looked like the perfect family as they sat at the table sharing lunch and laughter like they had been doing it for so long. Maya had settled right in, claiming the kitchen as her territory and Simone, the only one with a pass. The boys could hardly complain as they waited for them. As usual she didn't fail to impress with the array of food displayed on the dining table which was actually more a decorative piece than a table for eating.

"So..." Simone begun, looking over to Mason "Is your friend, Robyn married?"

Mason looked up sharply from his plate to her. She wore an innocent expression though he could see right through it. He turned his gaze to find Maya's expectant one and Antoine's amused one. He swallowed the morsel of food in his mouth before answering. "She was but her husband died."

"Her husband was Roderick Hawthorne, wasn't he?"

He frowned slightly "Yeah"

"Ah! I knew I recognised her from somewhere. But how do you know her?"

Mason threw an annoyed glare Antoine's way as he tried to suppress his snickers. "I knew her before I moved to Saint Laurent."

"I heard she's been accused of his murder..."

He dropped his fork angrily on the plate, causing a clanking sound. He was about to warn her when Maya shrieked

"Meurtre? She killed her mari?"

"No maman, she didn't kill her husband. It's false news and honestly I'd like to end this conversation." he deadpanned as he directed a hardened look at Simone. She was doing this on purpose as if it was going to change anything. Fed up, he got up abruptly, causing a loud scraping noise.

"Where are you going? You haven't finished eating" Maya asked, frowning.

"I'm full and I've got somewhere to be." He lied and walked towards the kitchen without another word. He set the plate in the sink and turned on the faucet.

"It's tough being a ladies' man." Antoine joked as he came over to him, setting his plates in the sink as well.

"I'm not a ladies' man."

He chuckled and pat him on the shoulder "Yeah right. You look like you could use a drink. Let's get out of here."

They left the apartment but not without Maya protesting of course. Mason drove them to Barry's club though it was supposedly closed. The guard let them in and they walked down the partially dark hallway to the mostly empty space.

"This place is grand." Antoine remarked as he looked around the exquisite place. It was open however it granted utmost privacy to those who required it.

"Yeah, you should see it at night."

"I sure would."

"Leo!" a voice called out from behind and they turned to see Barry coming towards them. He raised his hand to them to give him a minute as he was on the phone. "Well find out you prick!" he yelled into the phone before hanging up. "I swear sometimes I think I work with brainless chickens. Hey, man! What's up?"

"Uh... This is Antoine. He just got out and we came here to get a drink."

"That's cool. Leo's talk a lot about you. Nice to meet you, man and congratulations."