by Unknown
“But you had it tonight?” Parker sighed, knowing this was not a good sign. One thing he did know was reoccurring dreams could return when a person is feeling overly stressed out, or concerned about something. It was the only thing he had learned from his years of therapy, though that was something he would never admit.
“When I was little,” she continued, and Parker was happy she was finally opening up to him. “And I had the dreams; I would climb into Gram’s bed and curl up next to her.”
She looked at Parker and smiled, but he could still see the sadness in her eyes.
“Sometimes I would have a dream that Gram was in the car too,” Alice admitted as her smile faded. “I was always afraid that she would die too. I used to sit on a chair in the corner, and watch her sleep.”
“You love her very much,” Parker said and smiled as the memory if Alice with her grandmother filled his mind.
“She is my world,” Alice replied with a sad smile. “When my parents died, there was just her and me. She spent every day after that, giving me a life that was as happy and carefree as it could be. I never told her about the nightmares, because I didn’t want to make her sad. But the truth is, it scares me to see her getting so weak and frail, because I know the day is coming when I will have to say goodbye to her too, and then I will be completely alone in this world.”
“You will never be alone, Alice,” Parker said as an overwhelming feeling of sadness washed over him. The thought that she would feel like she would have no one there for her made Parker’s heart break. “I give you my word, no matter what happens between us, I will always be there for you.”
She stared at him for a moment, then smiled.
“You really are a lot sweeter than you let people believe you are,” Alice said as she tried to hold back a yawn.
“When people know, you have a soft side, they see it as a weakness,” Parker replied honestly.
“And they hurt you,” Alice added.
“Exactly,” Parker agreed.
“Have you been hurt, Parker?” Alice asked, completely throwing Parker with her question. He stared at her for a moment, as he considered his answer.
“What makes you ask me that?” Parker asked a little defensively.
“Because I can see it in your eyes,” Alice sighed as she couldn’t fight back the yawn this time. “I saw it the very first time you walked into the coffee shop. You always acted like you were unbreakable and confident, but there was something in your eyes; something that told me you knew great sadness.”
Parker had no idea why, but he felt unsettled a little that Alice could see past all his crap. Sometimes it was like she could see directly into his soul.
“There was a girl,” Parker admitted. “But it was a long time ago, and she no longer matters.”
“She might not matter,” Alice replied. “But the hurt she caused you does.”
“I think…” Parker said but stopped himself from going any further with this. He wasn’t ready to let anyone into that part of his heart, not even Alice. “I think it’s late, and we should get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Alice replied with a smile, and Parker was relieved she hadn’t tried to push things further. “Thank you for staying with me tonight Parker. I am very grateful.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Parker smiled, as he leaned forward, and once more he kissed her on the forehead. “Good night, Alice.”
“Goodnight, Parker,” Alice breathed out as she closed her eyes and almost immediately she was sound asleep.
Parker lay there in the darkness of Alice’s room and watched her sleep. He was truly amazed by her. How she had survived what she had, and still turned out to be one of the kindest, most caring people he knew, was beyond him.
She had every reason in the world to hate life and to be angry as hell at the world, but instead, she chose not to hate, but to love and to be kind to all she met.
He thought about what she said about how she had seen sadness inside him from the very first day he walked into the coffee shop. All that time, she had seen the true him, and she cared for him, but he never saw her. How had he been so blind?
He knew that if they were to ever make it as a real couple, then he would have to open himself to her completely. He would need to tell her the truth about why he was the way he was. He was just afraid that if she knew the truth, she would never be able to love him again.
Chapter 20
Alice
Over the next couple of weeks, Alice and Parker fell into a comfortable routine with each other. During the day, Parker would work, and Alice would visit with her grandmother. After her visits, she would try and do something productive. She never had much free time in the past, so finding ways to fill her days was not easy.
Most days she would find herself in a museum or an art gallery. A couple of times, she would end up in the New York City Library. She wasn’t sure what it was she was looking for, something to grab her interest perhaps. She had no idea; she just knew when she found whatever it was, she would know.
She also called into the coffee shop, but after the second visit, she felt that she no longer belonged there. It was like her friends had moved on too, and she just didn’t fit in anymore.
The fact that she now had a security detail following her everywhere didn’t help her case either.
When Parker returned to work, he insisted that Alice was not to leave the apartment alone. He had hired her a driver, and a bodyguard called Brady. Alice had of course protested, but she knew that there was really no point. Parker was determined to protect her, and if she was honest, part of her felt relieved. The fact that Brady was probably the largest man Alice had ever seen in her life made her feel safe, albeit somewhat conspicuous.
Still, Alice felt a little displaced. She wasn’t really sure where she belonged anymore, and she had no idea what to do about it.
In the evenings, Alice accompanied Parker to several social events, and despite her initial reservations, Alice found that she enjoyed her nights out with Parker. He was always so attentive and caring, but also funny and very charming. She was surprised just how at ease she was in Parker’s company now.
On Friday, two weeks after the dinner with Parker’s parents, Alice had just arrived home when the buzzer for the front desk sounded.
Alice hurried to the hallway, wondering who could be visiting them at that time of the day.
“Hello,” she said into the handset as she brought it to her ear.
“Mrs. O’Neill,” the doorman’s voice came through the intercom. “This is Patrick from the front desk. I have young Miss O’Neill here.”
“Why haven’t you let her come up,” Alice demanded. She knew that Parker left clear instructions that his family were always to be allowed go straight up to his apartment.
“She asked that I called you first,” the doorman explained. “She asked if you could come to talk to her down here first.”
“She what?” Alice asked confused by the girl’s request. “Tell her I will be right down.”
Alice wasted no time. She hurried out the door and almost ran into Brady who was heading to his new desk in the hallway between the apartment door and the elevator.
“Mrs. O’Neill,” he said as he stopped and turned the moment he saw Alice. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, thank you, Brady,” Alice said as she hurried towards the elevator. “I’m just going down to the lobby. Parker’s sister is downstairs, and needs to talk to me.”
“I will accompany you,” Brady insisted as he walked toward the elevator too.
“There really is no need,” Alice argued, but she knew that the man mountain would not take no for an answer. She was right, Brady insisted, and before Alice knew it, they were both stepping into the elevator.
As they rode down in the elevator, Alice wondered what was wrong with Nicole. It was strange that she wouldn’t want to come straight up to the apartment.
The minute the elevator doors opened, Alice spotted Nic
ole. The moment Alice saw the girl’s puffy red eyes, she knew something bad had happened.
“Nicole, what’s happened,” Alice said as she hurried across the foyer to Parker’s little sister. The minute she saw Alice, she stood up and once more the tears began to fall.
“Alice,” she said as she let Alice wrap her in her arms. “I made such a stupid mistake.”
“What is it? What’s happened?” Alice asked, as her mind raced with so many questions.
“I made such a stupid mistake,” Nicole sobbed. “I’m such an idiot.”
“Why didn’t you just come straight up,” Alice asked as she held the girl tightly.
“I didn’t want Parker to know,” Nicole replied as she looked up at Alice with her tear soaked eyes. “I don’t want anyone to know how stupid I have been. You’re the only one that I wanted to talk to.”
“Nicole, you’re scaring me,” Alice said, looking down at the young girl. “What’s happened?”
“There was this boy,” Nicole sobbed. “I thought he liked me…”
Alice looked up and noticed that Brady and the doorman were both watching their interaction closely.
“We need to take this upstairs,” Alice said, leading Nicole back towards the elevator.
“What about Parker?” Nicole asked as she reluctantly allowed Alice to lead her across the foyer.
“He isn’t home yet,” Alice assured the girl, and gave her a warm smile.
“Okay,” Nicole replied as her shoulders slumped and once more she began to sob.
As they stepped back onto the elevator, Brady walked across the foyer, but Alice gave him a pleading look. Brady stopped and gave Alice a knowing smile as the doors closed slowly.
“Okay, talk to me,” Alice said once she had Nicole seated in the living room of the apartment. She gave her the box of tissues from the coffee table and waited for her to begin. “What’s happened?”
“There’s this boy at school, Deacon James,” Nicole began as she blew her nose in a tissue. “All the girls like him, but he liked me. He kept texting me, telling me how much he liked me.”
Once more Nicole began to sob. Alice wrapped her arm around the girl and waited for her to compose herself again.
“I thought he liked me,” she sobbed sadly.
“What happened, sweetie?” Alice asked.
“I went to his place a few weeks ago,” Nicole continued. “His parents were out of town, and he said he wanted to hang out.”
She sobbed once more, and Alice just held her close.
“We…we had sex,” Nicole whispered, and Alice’s heart broke for the girl. “It was awful. It hurt and was nothing like I imagined it would be. So, I started to cry. Deacon freaked out and kicked me out of his house. He said if I told anyone he would send them the photo he took of me while we were doing it.”
“That little punk,” Alice replied angrily. “I will kick his ass…”
“YOU CAN’T!” Nicole exclaimed as panic took hold of her. “You can’t tell anyone about what happened. I don’t want him to share the photo.”
“Okay, okay,” Alice assured her. “I promise, I will tell no one. But sweetie, you have to know, what he did is not okay.”
“I know,” Nicole said as she nervously picked at her nails, and Alice knew there was more. She got a sinking feeling in the pit of her belly.
“What is it, Nicole?” Alice asked, but something already told her she knew the answer.
“I’m late,” Nicole whispered, finally letting her eyes meet Alice’s. “I… I bought a pregnancy test, but I couldn’t do it alone. Would you help me?”
“Of course, I will, Sweetie,” Alice said as she stood up, and held out her hand. “We can do the test, then take it from there. Okay?”
“Thank you, Alice,” Nicole sobbed once more.
Alice led her down to the guest bathroom. She had for a moment considered taking her to her own bathroom for more privacy, but she didn’t know how she would explain her and Parker having separate rooms, so the guest bathroom it was.
Alice instructed Nicole on how to take the test, then waited outside the door for her to finish.
“You can come back in,” Nicole called out once she was done. As Alice stepped back into the bathroom, she was struck by just how young Nicole really was. If she were pregnant, it would change her life forever.
“It should only take a couple of moments,” Alice assured her as she walked to the bathroom and sat down on the edge of the bath next to Nicole. Nicole handed her the pregnancy test.
“Thank you,” Nicole said as she looked up at Alice and gave her a sad smile. “For doing this, I mean.”
“Hey, that’s what big sisters are for, right?” Alice replied and returned her smile.
“Parker will hate me,” Nicole sighed suddenly as if the thought had just occurred to her. “He was always telling me to stay away from boys, and not to make the mistakes he made.”
“Parker could never hate you, Nicole,” Alice assured her. “He loves you more than anything in this world. He just wants the best for you.”
“I’m glad he met you,” Nicole said as the tears danced in her eyes. “You make him smile in a way he never smiled before.”
“I’m glad I met him too,” Alice replied honestly. She looked down at the test in her hand and breathed a sigh of relief. It was negative. She looked up at Nicole and gave her a smile. “You’re not pregnant.”
“But…but I’m late,” Nicole said as the tears of relief trickled down her face.
“You have been under a lot of stress lately,” Alice explained as she handed her back the pregnancy test. “That can mess up your cycle.”
“I’m not pregnant,” Nicole repeated as she released a nervous laugh.
“YOU’RE NOT WHAT?” Parker exclaimed, suddenly appearing at the doorway of the bathroom.
“Parker!” Nicole exclaimed as the colour ran from her face.
“What the hell is going on here?” He demanded as he looked from his sister to Alice. “Alice, why is my fourteen-year-old sister taking a pregnancy test?”
“Don’t freak out okay,” Alice said as she stood up and walked to Parker. This was the worst thing that could have happened, and Alice knew that if he freaked out and said the wrong thing, he would regret it forever. “She made a mistake, one we all make at some point in our lives. But she isn’t pregnant, so let’s just try to remain calm.”
Alice gave Parker a pleading look and held her breath. She knew he was madder than hell, and rightly so, but screaming and shouting were not going to help right now; especially not if she was going to get Nicole to tell him about the photo.
“She’s not pregnant?” Parker said looking into Alice’s eyes. She was surprised to see tears dancing in his eyes.
“No, she’s not,” Alice assured him. “She is okay, but I think she could use a hug from her big brother.”
He stared at Alice for a moment, and she knew he was fighting with his emotions. Alice gave him a nod telling him this was the right thing to do.
She stepped back out of his way and watched as he slowly crossed the bathroom to his kid sister. Without saying a word, he wrapped her arms around her and held her as she cried.
Alice excused herself and left the bathroom to give them both some privacy.
She made her way to the kitchen to make some coffee. She wondered if Nicole would tell Parker about the photo. Alice knew if she did, he would lose his calm completely.
She silently fumed as she thought of this asshole kid threatening Nicole. Alice was surprised by how protective she felt of Parker’s little sister. She was a sweet girl who made a stupid mistake. Now she would have to worry about this for the rest of her life because there was always a chance this asshole would come back at some point looking for something.
“I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!” Parker’s voice suddenly echoed down the hallway, and Alice knew her question was answered. “I WANT A NAME, NIC!”
“I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TOLD YOU ANYTHING!�
� Nicole cried as she came rushing into the kitchen, followed closely by Parker. “YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.”
“I’m not going to make things worse,” Parker insisted as he tried to keep a lid on his temper. “I’m going to kill him, and you won’t ever be bothered by this little shit, ever again.”
“HOW IS THAT NOT WORSE?” Nicole exclaimed as she sobbed uncontrollably. “I JUST WANT TO FORGET IT!”
“He has pictures of you, Nic,” Parker tried to reason with her. “He can’t be allowed get away with that.”
“There is nothing you can do,” Nicole replied, her voice barely a whisper, the fight suddenly gone from her. “There is nothing anyone can do.”
“You wanna bet?” Parker replied, looking from her to Alice. “Tell her; this snot-nosed kid can’t be allowed to get away with this. When Dad finds out, he will…”
“You can’t tell Dad,” Nicole pleaded with her brother.
“If this kid shares your photo, I won’t have to,” Parker replied.
“Nicole,” Alice said, finally deciding she needed to intervene. “You know this kid will hold it over you. Let Parker help you.”
“I’m scared,” Nicole whispered as she looked up at Alice.
“Please,” Alice gently persuaded her. She nodded at Alice, and Alice knew she was giving her permission to tell Parker the kid’s name.
“His name is Deacon James,” Alice said, as she gave Nicole a reassuring smile. “He is in her school.”
“That’s all I need to know,” Parker said as he blew out a deep breath. “Thank you.”
“But you’re not going to tell Mom and Dad, right?” Nicole asked, but from the look on her face, she already knew the answer.
“You know I have to, Nic,” Parker replied. “If they found out, they would never forgive me for keeping it from them.”
“But they will be so mad,” Nicole said as she began to cry once more. “They will be so disappointed in me.”
“Not in you,” Alice assured her. “They will be disappointed for you. But it’s okay. Parker and I will go with you, and I promise I will stay with you the whole time.”
