Chapter 29
"So we're going to buy a house and we want you to move in with us," Kelly said to Mary Alice.
Mary Alice looked from Kelly to Parker. Parker nodded. "Was it your idea?"
"Actually, no. The house was my idea. You moving in was strictly Kelly's," Parker said as she shifted Philip from one hip to the other.
"You two are going to be married soon. You don't need me interfering with your marriage."
"You wouldn't be interfering, Grandma. We want you to live with us," Parker insisted. She looked over at Kelly, wondering if he would play his trump card or save it for later.
"Newlyweds need their privacy."
"We already have a kid. Privacy went out the window the day Parker gave birth," Kelly reminded.
"Still you two-"
"Oh, come on, Mary Alice. You know you want to say yes. You're just putting up a fight to try to out stubborn Parker. And you know as well as I do that that will never happen. Besides, if you move in with us, you can save rent money and when I'm not on shift, I'll drive you to Bingo."
Mary Alice looked at Kelly. His smile was working its magic. His eyes were twinkling. He had her and he knew it.
"All right," she sighed. "But I am paying you two rent and I am helping with the groceries." She glanced over at Kelly. "I know how much you eat, young man."
Kelly chuckled and gave her a hug. He picked her up and gave her a small swing around her living room. "Thank you, Mary Alice."
"Thank you, Grandma," Parker said. She wanted to hug her, but she couldn't while Philip was in her arms.
"Your man is very persuasive, Parker."
"Yeah, don't I know it? He actually got me to agree to marry him."
"Hey now-"Kelly started.
"I had a moment of weakness. Blame it on you being in your Class A's."
"Class A's are always woman bait," he agreed.
"Don't I know it," she sighed. "We love men in uniforms."
Kelly walked over to her and held out his arms. She handed Philip to him.
"Yes we do. I saw your Grandfather in his Army uniform, and that was all it took," Mary Alice said.
"Grandma!"
"It's true, Honey. He came home on furlough from the war and he was just so handsome. I knew I was going to marry him."
"Did he know he was going to marry you?"
"Took some doing."
Parker smiled. "I just hope Kelly and I will be as happy as you two were."
"You will. Just remember not to go to bed mad. Stay up and fight."
Parker laughed. "Kelly, you up for that?"
He laughed. "I'll make sure we don't go to bed mad."
Parker felt a shiver go through her. She knew he would work his magic to get them to stop fighting. She gave in every time because he knew just where to touch her to get her to forget she was angry with him. "You know me too well, Kelly Severide."
