(no subject)
A harried Gardenia stepped through the front door, shaking the rain out her umbrella as she slipped out of muddy boots. "I'm home, she announced. The silence that greeted her was not unusual. It generally meant that Virgil was not in. Whether Archer was, was yet to be seen.
She hung her coat neatly on its peg. Three other coats hung next to it. The difference in size made her smile briefly. She shoved her scarf in a sleeve and ventured further into the house.
The teapot was sitting on the counter, recently used. The stove was still warm and there were no tea cups sitting in the sink. She poured herself a cup. Her first sip almost ended up all over the floor. It wasn't tea inside. It was whiskey.
"Archer? Why is the teapot full of--" two pairs of eyes flitted up to meet her as she crossed the threshold: Archer's gentle gaze, curious, amused, and the fiercely cunning inspection that was Virginia's. The six year old evaluated her briefly before pressing a finger to her lips in an exaggerated shushing gesture.
Archer, who sported a bright pink princess crown and matching feather boa, pointed to Virgil, who was passed out on the couch. One hand was flopped over his eyes dramatically as soft, clicking snores escaped him.
Virginia nudged Archer impatiently with a dainty foot. Gardenia watched him smile as he picked up the bottle of purple nail polish and leaned over the table that was comically small for him. The chair that Virginia always insisted he sit on was pushed to the corner of the room. His height made it more awkward than it did for Virgil. Archer resumed painting her nails with careful, precise strokes.
"We had a tea party," Virginia informed her sagely, tapping her little feet in the same impatient way that Virgil did when he thought something was taking too long. Archer was undaunted by her fidgeting, his fingers encircling her slim wrist to hold her steady. "Dad said I make the best tea."
Gardenia could only manage a sigh.
'Would you mind coming over here?' Archer asked. He'd changed his font again. It looked quite similar to his handwriting. Gardenia crouched next to the table. Ever demanding, Virginia pointed to the little chair that Archer had foregone. A single, questioning look from Archer was all it took for her to situate herself on the ridiculous thing. 'We changed the lock to the liquor cabinet again. She is much better at this than she should be.' He continued, leaning forward so that he could pick Virginia up under the armpits and set her on the table. The little girl took a breath in preparation to scream bloody murder at the injustice of being forced to sit on a table.(How would she ever become a lady?) Archer set a fingertip to her lips gently, removing it only once she had exhaled.
Satisfied that the tantrum had been squashed, Gardenia sighed again. "Yes, well, if Virgil would stop showing her things, we wouldn't have this problem." She accepted Virginia's hand and began to blow on her wet nails.
'It is amazing how much she picks up at such a young age. Language too. How many is she up to?'
"Seventeen."
Archer leaned over and pressed a metallic kiss against her cheek. 'She is doing remarkably well. She shared with a boy at the park today.'
Gardenia smiled.
Virginia grinned back with all of her teeth.