She offers a gentle nod. “Of course. Go rest. Put your feet up. While you’re doing that, remind yourself of all the good you did with Archer, and when you feel better, come back in and pour all that good into someone else.”
I nod, and she stands up, bracing my elbow to help me stand as well before picking up my purse and handing it to me. “Thanks, Georgia.”
She stuffs a bundle of tissues into my hand and then walks me through the office to the front door. “Call me if you need anything, okay?”
I offer a wave as I slip out, and I have no intention of calling her. As I get into a cab, I callhim.
It goes straight to voicemail, like his phone is turned off. I honestly can’t blame him for that.
“Colin, I just found out about Archer. You told me months ago that if there was anything I needed, I could call you. Right now, what I need is for you to know that you can call me for the same reason. Or even come by my place. I’m going home for the day. We could watch SNL reruns or crappy nineties comedies. Either way, I’m around.” I rattle off the address and then pause. “Also, I really like Audrey for a name. I think we should go with that.”
After ending the call, I rest my head against the window and stare at the city as it zips by.
We.
I think he and I could make a goodwe.
About six months ago, I got this wild idea that I could bribe my little brother with a million dollars to stay clean for a year. That wild idea ended up changing the course of my life forever, and Archerdidget clean. I just didn’t realize his dabbling in drugs extended beyond merelyusing, but went all the way toselling.
And now I’m using that million dollars—part of it at least—to pay for a lawyer.
“It can be anywhere from five to forty years,” Russell Worthen, the aforementioned lawyer is saying to Archer and me in a small room with fluorescent lights. The lights plus the orange jumpsuit make Archer look even more pallid and blonde than usual, and I’m sure I don’t look much better than he does. “Fines can be as much as a hundred grand.”
My brows fly upward and I blink rapidly, but I otherwise don’t react.
Welp. There goes another chunk of that million dollars.
I rest my elbow on the stainless steel tabletop and set my chin in my palm, and Ireallyjust want to go back to bed. “What’s the likelihood of him getting the maximum sentence?”
“Ahhh…” Russell scratches the patch of short black hair on one side of his otherwise bald head. “I’m pretty confident that we can avoid the maximum.” He thumbs through files, including documentation faxed to him by Elle’s boss, Georgia, the morning after I got the awful news of all this. “All he’s had is minor possession charges in the past. The fact that he was already involved in this recovery program and made progress will bode well, too.”
“What about the possibility of probation?” I ask, and Archer hasn’t said a single word the entire time. Not me, nor to Russell.
Russell waggles his head from side to side. “I could give it a shot. They might agree to that in conjunction with an ankle monitor. Especially if you can provide proof that he’s going to jump right back into that recovery program.”
I nod against my palm. “Yeah, they can do that for us.”
Of course, that means re-enrolling Archer in the program, which will mean paying their non-refundable fee again, which is one more chunk of the million dollars, anddamn.I amreally gladI thought of the little arrangement with Elle that secured that money. Because after having to miss two days of work this week to deal with this shit, I’m pretty sure Dalton has me on double secret probation, and isdefinitelygoing to fire me if one more thing comes up.
“Okay.” Russell makes a clicking noise in the back of his throat as he starts packing everything up. “I’m going to put all this together and send it over to the prosecutor’s office. I’ll also request to have the court date moved up, which’ll let them know that you’re serious about jumping right back into that program. I think that’ll help, too. Normally, people push it back to try to wear them down, but this’ll underscore that you’re trying to be proactive about turning your life around and all that.”
He stands and I stand so we can shake, but Archer remains seated silently.
Russell pats his back. “Hang in there, Archer. It’s not the end of the world.”
I sit back down, and I’m alone with my baby brother for the first time since I got word of his arrest.
“Probation wouldn’t be awful,” I say, leaning back in my chair and sliding my tie through my hand. “You’d be able to get back on track with your program. You could start your classes in the summer. Georgia said AJ would give you another shot at working for him.”
Archer says nothing and merely keeps his head low while he picks at the palm of his hand.
“Archer, why did I get a call from the missing person’s unit and not fromyou?” I gesture at the glass that looks into the holding area of the county jail. “I know you were given a phone call.”
His shoulders remain hunched, posture stiff and defensive. “Tired of you cleaning up my shit.”
“Well.” I toss my hand flippantly, letting it land on my lap. “Just kinda the way it is, isn’t it? I have given you every tool necessary to take care of your own shit foryears. This last time, I was going to set you up forlife. I put you in the best recovery coaching program in New York. You had thebest…” I have to stop because I’m suddenly on the cusp of losing it, and mentioning Elle is sure to push me over the edge. “You were doing really great, and you just turned your back on it.”
“I had no choice, Colin.” Archer cuts his brimming blue eyes up at me. “I got involved with these people last year before the program, and these aren’t the kinda people you just say no to ‘cuz you suddenly change your mind.”
