Chapter 7

Hello everyone!

I am sorry for not updating for so long: I had bad writers block, and didn't want to write something for the hell of it, I want to actually make it good, lol :p I guess I just got caught up in things, but I am here to stay now, woo!

So, here is the next chapter, hope you are all doing good and enjoy the story :D

Words in italics are Solomon's thoughts.

Please read and review, they make my day!

C/C is welcome.

Xxx

Solomon Vandy had not expected to see Danny Archer again, especially here in his own home. It would be one of those moments where they caught each other by chance, as opposed to actually arranging something.

But no, he was wrong. Because right in front of him now, was none other than Archer himself, and what appeared to be a small blonde boy. Archer looked exhausted, but also noticeably troubled. There was sadness to him that Solomon had never seen, except the day he had left Maddy, telling her to get on the plane. No, Archer had not wanted her to: Solomon could see that he loved her. He never mentioned it, but he knew.

Come to think of it, where was Maddy Bowen these days?

Whilst mulling these thoughts, Solomon returned to reality, and coughed hesitantly.

"Mister Archer? Is that really you?"

"Ja ja, my friend. It's me," he softly spoke, whilst giving a small laugh. It wasn't a happy laugh though: it was painful.

What on earth had happened to him? And who is this boy? Where is Maddy?

But he did not ask these questions, as he respected Archer, and knew if he crossed the line, he would feel the wrath.

"Well, what are you doing here?"

"It's a long story, bru. Do you erm, mind if we come in?"

Solomon nodded, and opened the door wide enough to let them ,his wife was not in today, and had gone to the local primary school where she worked looking after nursery age children who were too young to be enrolled in formal education. His children, Dia and N'Yanda , were at school, whilst his youngest daughter was at a family friend's house.

Solomon led Archer and Danny into his modest kitchen, and asked if they wanted anything to eat. Archer shook his head, and Danny said no as well.

Weird, he has an American accent. But I thought Archer has never been to America?

Danny had fallen asleep against Archer pretty quickly, whilst Solomon had made himself something to eat.

"Mister Archer, do you want to put him in the lounge? We have a chair he can sleep in."

"Ja that would be great, Solomon. None of this mister stuff though, bru, I'm not that important," he smiled.

Did Archer just smile? Archer never smiled. Not genuinely anyway. He smirked, all the time, but smiling?

As Archer came back into the kitchen, Solomon found he could no longer resist asking his questions, and closed the door gently: he knew this conversation could provoke loud voices, and did not want to wake the little boy.

"Ok, Archer, what's your game?"

Archer looked at him, confused. "What game?"

"This. You, here. What do you want from me, huh? You want some money or something?"

Archer laughed, again, painfully.

"No, Solomon, I don't want your money."

"Then why are you here? You haven't wanted to visit before. Ey, and who is the little boy?"

At these words, Archer's eyes glistened over.

"Archer, I can't help you if you don't tell me."

He got up quickly from the table of a sudden.

"Fuck off Solomon; I don't want your help. I just happened to be here, ja? Thought I would pay you a visit."

Solomon walked right up to him.

"You're lying, Archer. What is it?"

Archer pushed him away, and Solomon pushed him back, quite strongly.

"Fuck off, you keffa."

That was it, Solomon lost it.

Nobody insulted his skin colour and got away with it, even Danny Archer.

Solomon and Archer rolled around on the floor, punching each other, and Solomon had the strength to get up and push him against the wall.

"You never call me that again, you got that Archer? I don't care if you don't mean anything by it, this is my home. I will not be insulted in my own home."

He dropped Archer to the floor, and resumed his position on a chair.

"She's gone," Solomon heard a whisper, "She's fucking gone!" that had now turned into an anguished cry.

Solomon peered down.

"Who is gone?"

Archer didn't speak for what felt like hours, until the word "Maddy," tumbled out his mouth.

And then Solomon understood.

Solomon's heart stopped as the word 'Maddy' came out. She could not be dead; she was the most resilient person that he had ever known, aside from Jassie and his children.

He looked down at Archer, and realised that she must be gone though: but nobody had heard from her for years, and even if she was dead, how did Archer find out?

"Archer, you don't have to talk to again, but I cannot give you whatever it is you need if you do not."

Realising he was defeated, Archer slouched up. He had not intended on telling Solomon, but now he figured he had no other choice. It was that, or back to South Africa: and he was not willing to do that.

He climbed up onto a chair opposite Solomon, and lit up a cigarette, inhaling deeply. Solomon did not look too pleased about the prospect of smoking in his house, but Archer did not really care about this.

Solomon stared at Archer until he opened his mouth and spoke. Spoke about the woman that had turned up on his doorstep that day, to inform him Maddy was dead. Not only was she dead, but she had left a son behind: their son. The son that had been created in a moment of rough love, where needs were greater than consequences. A moment where Archer had never felt more alive or understood.

Of course, Archer did not tell Solomon all these feelings, but he told him what had happened.

About how he had gone to the airport to collect his son, and come home to find a set up. How his son nearly died, South Africa was too dangerous, and how he had had to kill people in front of his own child. And how Solomon was the only person in all of Africa who would understand all this.

Solomon did not interrupt him, whilst he told him the story. After he finished, he stopped, lighting up another cigarette.

Solomon sighed. "I'm sorry about Maddy, Mister Archer."

"Not your fault, my bru. Ah... what's the point in crying over spilt milk, huh?" he said, whilst attempting to stop the tears in his eyes.

"You know, just because you talk about your feelings does not make you weak ."

Archer laughed. "No. No it certainly does not. But I can't remember the last time I talked about my feelings."

Except with Maddy, he thought to himself.

Stop it. Don't think about her anymore. You'll get yourself all emotional again.

"So, Mister Archer, what exactly do you want from me?"

Archer thought. What did he want?

All he really wanted was Maddy. But that wasn't possible, so he figured Danny was his number one priority right now.

"I want Danny to be safe, really. I want him to go to school, when he is a bit older. I need to sort out his South African passport as well, and I figured we could erm…"

"You want to stay here, in my house." Solomon finished the sentence.

Archer looked at him, as though he were too embarrassed to ask for such a thing.

"Ja. It would not be for too long, just until…"

Solomon cut him off again.

"Mister Archer, you saved my family and I. However much of an idiot you are," Archer smirked at this, "My house is yours too, as I can never repay you for what you did for me."

Archer gulped. Why were people so kind to him? He didn't deserve their kindness; he had lost his kindness a long time ago.

"Thank you, Solomon." And that was all that was said on the matter.

Solomon smiled, as Danny walked in.

"Dad, when are we going home?" he asked,as though he were afraid of the answer.

Archer finished his cigarette, crouching down to his son's height, gently ruffling his hair.

"This is home now, Danny."

Yay, another chapter! *applause*

I hope you guys liked it, things are moving kinda slow at the moment but I'm one of those people who write lots of detail, lol. I have some ideas for future chapters, this is not a short story, I just take long to update, haha :)

This is not going to be all fluffy Father and son scenes either , there will be more action too, and events that I have planned, hehe.

Keffa- this is basically an insult for a Black person. I got it out of the scene where Archer and Solomon are fighting on their hike.

All reviews are welcome please :D! I love a review, they make my day.

C/C is welcome, and if you have any ideas or scenes you would like to see in future chapters let me know too!

xxx