by Natalie Ann
“You aren’t single,” he said. “You’re with someone who wants you and our child.”
“No,” she said. “You said you wanted me to move in so you could take care of me. That’s not the same thing and you know it.” Her eyes started to fill.
“You know, for someone so smart, you aren’t seeing what is right in front of your face.”
“What’s that?” she asked, wiping a hand under her nose. “That you want to control everything and tell me what to do?”
“There is no talking to you until you calm down,” he said.
“Me?” she said. “You’re the one that is pacing around the room and looking ready to put your fist in the wall.”
“Again, you’d think you’d be able to figure it out, but you can’t see past the negative to the positive. You’ve had weeks to come to terms with this, but you drop it on me and think I’m going to know the right things to say right away.”
“You haven’t said one right thing yet,” she said.
“Fuck this,” he said, turning and storming out.
When he got to his house he slammed in the door and felt the urge to throw something. There was nothing he could pick up and do it with though. When he pulled his fist back to hit a wall, he stopped himself when it finally hit him.
He was going to be a father. And he had to set an example. Hitting a wall wasn’t going to do it.
Now he just had to figure out how to work this out with his child’s mother because he was going to be damned if he lost the best thing that ever happened to him. But they needed time to cool off, both of them.
He started to smile, then laugh. Damn it all. He was actually happy right now. Son of a bitch. He was going to be a dad!
26
Honest With Herself
Two days later, Parker was parking her car in front of her parents’ house. She was going to tell them about her job and the baby. She had to. She hadn’t even told her brothers about the baby yet but would need to do that next.
Too bad she couldn’t give too many answers on her baby’s daddy because they hadn’t talked since he childishly walked out her door on Tuesday night.
They had to find a way to work things out, but she had too many things to figure out first.
She’d given her notice yesterday at her job and though it didn’t go horribly, it wasn’t wonderful.
Bob was happy for her, but sad to see her go. Others, when they found out, made a point to say her brother helped get her the job. Or that she might have used “other means” to get it.
She always assumed people said crap like that behind her back, but it hurt just the same to hear it now.
“Parker, it’s so nice to see you,” her mother said. “It’s been several weeks. We’ve barely heard a word from you.”
Since her parents’ dinner party in early July. She’d hardly talked to her mother but had been in communication with her father more. She had a feeling her father hadn’t said a word to her mother about it.
“I’ve been busy,” she said.
“I’ve got a roasted chicken I pulled out of the oven. Why don’t we have a seat and I’ll get everything out. This is an early night for you, I see. Did you lose some commissions for it?”
Always money or success with her mom. Yes, coming to dinner at six was early, but since she’d be gone in a little over three weeks, she wasn’t busting her ass. Bob said he couldn’t get another rep on in time unless someone wanted to move up in the company. So either they were splitting her clients with everyone, or he’d fill in the gap, but she didn’t want to do more than the time she decided was left.
“No. About that. I’ll be done in a little over three weeks. I got another job.”
“You did?” her father asked. “Congratulations.”
“Where?” her mother asked. “Another sales position? But you were doing so well here, why would you want to leave?”
Funny how her mother’s first step was criticism rather than happiness. Her father didn’t know what it was and was happy for her. Why? Because he was always more worried about how his children felt and their happiness even if he wasn’t around much when they were younger.
Maybe that was why she didn’t harbor any hurt feelings that he wasn’t always around. Because when he was, he was pretty attentive and loving.
“St. Peter’s,” she said. “As a created position. I’ll be the Director of Development.”
“That’s wonderful,” her mother said. The abrupt change wasn’t shocking at all when the position sounded better. “You’ll be rubbing elbows with all the donors and trying to bring in more. That’s the best way to find a good man. I told you if you worked hard that you’d get your pick of a mate.”
She wanted to scream when her mother said that. “I’m not you and don’t need to attract some man with money or even worry about it.”
“Emma,” her father said. “Enough. Why can’t you be happy for our children and just drop it? You got the life you wanted. You passed over what made you happy to live comfortably.”
Her mother’s face turned red. “I am happy for her,” her mother said, giving her father a dirty look. Not only was her father standing up more for them but her mother wasn’t thrilled about it. Something definitely was going on, but she didn’t have the mental energy for it even if there was a hint to what her brothers said there now.
She could barely hold onto her own life and problems right now.
“You have a funny way of showing it,” Parker said, sitting down to eat. She had to calm her stomach down before she dropped the other bomb on them. Might as well get it all out in the open.
She hadn’t figured out how she was going to tell them yet. Obviously she didn’t do that good of a job with Evan. But how the heck could she have known he’d react like that?
Then she had to remind herself that maybe she shouldn’t have been so shocked.
What did she want him to do? Hug and kiss her and hold her hand and say they’d get through it together? That he loved her and it was wonderful news?
She was living in some fairytale thinking that.
He had every right to be shocked and upset and she should have cut him slack over that. She could have told him sooner, but she’d been honest that she didn’t want him to stress if it wasn’t positive.
Then she had to be honest with herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to stress. She didn’t want him on her case to start making plans like he did a few days ago.
“It doesn’t matter what you think,” her mother said to her father. “Parker getting this job is a good thing. Now she won’t be on the road so much and will have time for a more personal life. She is more likely to meet someone too.”
She stabbed her fork down in the chicken she put on her plate after her mother returned with the bird. “I don’t need to find a man. I’ve got one. I think. I did a few days ago.” She shook her head and put food in her mouth.
“You’re dating someone?” her mother asked. “Why haven’t you said anything to me before now? I wouldn’t have tried to set you up weeks ago if I knew. Or is it newer than that?”
“I was seeing him then. We’d just started to see each other at that point. And I don’t need to tell you everything about my life,” she said.
Her father asked, “You made it sound like there are problems. Is everything okay?”
Of course her father caught onto that and her mother didn’t. “Not problems. More like complications.”
“Is he intimidated by your success?” her mother asked. “That’s not someone you want to keep around. Trust me, I know. Jealousy isn’t good for a relationship.” Her mother narrowed her eyes at her father.
Her father snorted. “Don’t compare what you wanted to your daughters. No one wants to play your games anymore.”
“No, he’s not,” she said quickly. She didn’t want to be caught in the middle of this. “He’s got plenty of his own success.” She picked up her water that her mother had filled before she sat down. He
r mother knew how to set the perfect dinner table even if it was just her children. “I told him I was pregnant.”
Her mother dropped her fork down. “What did you say?”
“I’m sure your hearing is plenty good. I said I’m pregnant.”
“Parker Rene! I thought you were smarter than that. And now if you aren’t sure what is going on people are going to assume you were just whoring around like your sister.”
She snapped her head up fast. “Don’t talk about Erin that way.”
“What do you want me to say?” her mother asked. “She allowed herself to be pulled into that situation. She slept with that vile man. She let women brand her and tell her to do things with that monster. You two don’t have any idea what your sister said to me when I took her away. I couldn’t handle it anymore and couldn’t sit in on the sessions another minute. What an embarrassment to me and your father that was.”
“She didn’t allow anything,” her father snapped. “You are the only one that felt embarrassed!”
“She was brainwashed,” her mother said. “She was weak. You know it. It is an embarrassment for people to know Erin was in that cult. As if it’s not bad enough she committed suicide and people talked about it but no one even knew why.”
“That’s all it is to you,” her father yelled. “An embarrassment. You brought her to that group years ago because you didn’t think she was good enough the way she was. You pushed and pushed for her to be someone she wasn’t. I think you did it because you couldn’t stand the fact that you gave up someone you loved for money.”
“Talk about games,” her mother said. “Now isn’t the time for this.”
“Like hell it isn’t,” her father said.
“I was the same with Erin as I was with all the kids and they turned out fine.” Her mother turned to look at her. “Or so I thought, until now.”
Parker stood up. “I’ve had enough of this. We are all different people and if you can’t accept that, it’s on you.” Her parents could fight it out without her.
“Parker,” her father said. “Please sit down and ignore your mother. I want to know more about this baby. When are you due? How do you feel? Who is the father?”
If her father hadn’t asked her calmly she would have walked out, but she could see a bit of hope in his eyes and she wouldn’t squash it. He wasn’t judging her and it helped.
Now if she could only ignore her mother like her father said.
She pulled the chair out and sat back down. “I’m due April first. It occurred early in our relationship. We were careful, but things happen,” she said. “I feel fine, just nervous about starting a new job and having to tell them at some point. I’m about nine weeks. By the time I start, I’ll be out of the first trimester and I didn’t want to tell too many people before that. Things can happen,” she said, her voice catching.
“And you don’t want it to,” her father said. “You are in love with the father?”
“I am. We just need to work things out. I’m sure we can. He’s in shock and not happy I didn’t tell him right away.”
“Who is it?” her mother said, finding her voice again. She’d been sitting there scowling. “Or are you going to withhold that from us? Just more secrets that this family needs.”
Her father snorted again, but she ignored it. “It’s not much of a secret,” she said. “It’s Evan Butler. The boys have met him. I’ve met his family.”
“Butlers as in the development you live in?” her mother asked, a smile forming on her face now.
“Yes,” she said tersely. “He lives across the street from me.”
“Well, at least if you can’t make it work, your child will be set up for life,” her mother said. “See, maybe one of our kids could get love and money at the same time.”
“You’ve got the most screwed up thoughts in your head,” she said, standing up again. “You’ve got a horrible opinion of Erin and now me. I don’t know what either of us ever did to you, but I’m not staying here to listen to it again.”
“Parker, wait,” her father said, following her to the front door.
“What?”
He pulled her into his arms. “I’m happy for you. I know you’re upset with your mother and she and I are going to have it out once again.”
“The boys say that is happening a lot,” she said. “That Mom might have cheated on you?”
He looked away. “We are having problems. I’m not going to lie. You can see some of it. I can’t tolerate it anymore. I should have stood up more but didn’t and now I have to make a stand or a change. I’m not sure where things are going to go and you don’t need to worry about that. If you want or need to know. Did your mother cheat on me after we were married? I don’t think so.”
“But she did before you were married?” she asked.
Her father looked down the hall and said, “She did. I found out and told her I was done. She was my secretary. I had no idea she was seeing someone else in the office. He didn’t know about me either. Guess she had us both saying she wanted us to keep it quiet. She said she was confused but she chose me. I felt honored because I loved her so. I believed she felt the same.”
“But it sounds like she loved your earning potential more than you?” she asked. “Connor that works with you now?”
Her father frowned. “The boys have big ears,” he said.
“I’ve heard the name before.”
“Yes. Now he’s here and it’s bringing up old feelings and what our life has been like. After your mother broke things off with him and chose me, he transferred out. But he’s back now. She’s thrown a few things in my face about how well Connor turned out when she didn’t expect that of him.”
Talk about being a bitch. “So more or less saying that she made a mistake marrying you and having us?”
Her father’s eyes filled. “Don’t worry yourself about it. I have no regrets in my life or I wouldn’t have had my children. Your mother and I will figure this out, or we won’t. I’m more concerned about you.”
“I’m fine. Evan and I can work this out. I know we can. He likes to control things and I don’t like that.”
“No, you wouldn’t. But I’d like to meet the guy. Maybe I can stop over next Tuesday when your mother isn’t around?”
She smiled. “I’d like that. Hopefully Evan and I can be in a better place by then.”
“I’m sure you will,” he said. “When you want something bad enough, you get it. I have a feeling you want this.”
The tears were falling down her cheeks. “I do. Now I’m going to confess my sins to the boys and hope that I can keep them under control.”
“It’s not a sin,” her father said, “and don’t let anyone make you feel that way. A child is a blessing. Cherish the time you have with them and accept them for who they are.”
She started to cry a bit harder. “We are just so messed up, aren’t we?”
“No,” he said. “We aren’t. We’ll get through this because we love each other. And if your mother thinks she missed out on something better, then that is on her.”
She knew beyond a doubt her parents’ marriage was ending based on that statement. Her father was a loving and caring man. More loving and caring than her mother had ever been. If he felt that he was being told he wasn’t good enough after everything they’d gone through in their life, then he was strong enough to move on.
That was what she was going to do. Move on. The ironic part was, she wasn’t even upset over the possibility of their marriage ending but more accepting that maybe her father needed to end this book to write another. And she’d support him one hundred percent if it came down to it because that was what he’d done for his children. Including Erin.
When she was in her car, she sent off a text to both of her brothers to see if they were home and could meet at one of their houses, that she had to talk to them.
They both replied quickly and said to go to Marcus’s. She pulled out and turned in the direction to go to Lath
am and let them know they were going to be uncles and hoped they didn’t want to tear her boyfriend apart.
Then she laughed. Evan would never allow it, but she knew there was going to be some anger on their part. She just had to make sure they didn’t feel like they didn’t protect her.
She didn’t need it. She was going to go in there with a smile on her face and be excited about that baby so they were too.
She actually was excited. That part wasn’t hard to show. The harder part was explaining the relationship with Evan. But she reminded herself, she didn’t owe anyone an explanation and she was going to tell them that if they brought it up.
She was a good salesperson and hoped to put it to the test tonight.
27
Accidents Happen
Evan knew he was going to have to tell his family what was going on even if he still wasn’t sure himself.
It’d been three days since he’d talked to Parker and though he wanted to talk to her tonight, he’d seen her pull away in her Mercedes and knew it wasn’t work related.
What he didn’t expect though was that Kaelyn would be at his parents’ house when he walked in and now he’d have to either leave or let his sister know too.
He was preparing to get raked across the coals with a very sharp garden tool on this one after the shit he gave her when he found out she was pregnant and not married.
“Evan,” his mother said. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey. Just came to talk to you guys.”
“What’s going on?” Kaelyn asked.
“Not much,” he said, pausing to pick up Scarlet when she ran over to him. He held her in his arms and tried to think that not that long from now he’d be holding his own child and had to clear his throat over the raw emotions lighting up in his gut.
