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“Doc, I got a proble hello

I immediately went on alert “Oh?”

“Archie is here He’s not drinking, though Just sitting at the bar, looking depressed as all hell It’s so you have an idea what’s going on Any chance you could get away to come down and talk to him?”

Obviously things with Anita were as I’d suspected “Of course I’ll be right there”

“Everything okay?” Mona said as I got off the phone

“I’m not sure Do you mind if I head out for a bit?”

“No probleet finished here and lock up front for you”

“Thanks, Mona” I gave her shoulder a squeeze Despite her control-freakery in the kitchen, she’d turned out to be a pretty cool lady

I hurried out of the inn and down the boardwalk, ot to Cooper’s My fear was that nothing could be done for Anita, that her cancer had progressed too far, and Archie was in the first stages of grief

Inside the diavehis head toward Archie The place was packed, but unlike hts, when Archie found someone to chat with, he was huddled up on a stool in the corner, staring forlornly into a full draft of beer

My stomach twisted with sympathy for him as I slowly made my way over to him When I placed a hand on his shoulder he turned to look at me

His gaze softened “Hey, Doc”

“Hey, Archie” I leaned in to hi a ith ht”

He shot Cooper a look “You called her?”

Cooper didn’t say anything

“You called her” Archie heaved a deep sigh and then to ht, Doc, let’s take that walk”

He walked close by my side and it was the first tih it would be fair to call Archie an alcoholic, he was certainly a functioning alcoholic He was immaculate, for a start Fro to him, his hair was combed and styled, his shirt and pants ironed with perfect crease lines, and his black leather shoes were glea they’d been shined so well I wondered if it was all Anita’s doing

Looking at hiray beard and warm brown eyes, I could see he’d been a handsome man, and by some miracle he’d escaped the wrath of alcohol on his physical appearance

I stopped us near the bandstand by leaning on the railing to look out at the dark waters “So”

Archie caentle surf “I guess you know about Anita”

“I don’t I just knohat I suspected when I told her to go see her doctor”

“Cancer” He looked at o She only just got up the courage to tell me”

Sorrow for hihtened my chest and I couldn’t help but reach for his hand “I’m so sorry, Archie”

“They say she’s got a chance But it’s going to be a tough fight”

“Anita seeh woman If anyone can do it, I’m sure she can”

“Ah, Doc” Archie sighed heavily “That woest woot lots of soft in her She’s cut up about this She needs me”

“So you’ll help her” I squeezed his hand

In answer he yanked away from my touch “She needs me,” he snapped “And do I look like the kind ofto fail”

I consideredwould be alright Or I could be blunt

I ith my instincts

“The next year is going to be the toughest year of Anita’s life Froood woman You need to step up, Archie”

“How can I look after her when ?” He shook his head “I’ve had a lot of shit happen to meand the drink has always been there forto cost me”

“Anita gets that, doesn’t she? About you and the drink She’s never tried to change you or take it away from you”

He turned his head to stare at“Never, Doc Not once She took me as I am”

“Then you owe her She needs you Don’t take you away from her Not now”

Fear darkened his face “I’d need to kick it—to really be what she needs How the hell can I do that in time, Doc? There’s no way”

It was true that rehabilitation was an extres happened in life thatto Cooper, Archie hadn’t drunk a drop all night Anyone would reason that the first thing Archie would have done was drown his sorrows in the drink

He didn’t

I leaned in to his to save the ones they love”

Watching Archie walk away, I was suffused with melancholy Archie had accepted my comfort, and I’d like to think I helped a little

For a start he was going hoot a proble hello