Chapter 3
Parker woke in a strange bed under strange blankets in a strange home.
When her eyes focused she saw Jarod asleep halfway in a chair and half way on her right thigh. When she moved to sit up he snapped to attention with concern
"Tell me that it all wasn't a dream Jarod. Please"
"No." He said, his eyes softening. "It was very much a reality. We have a daughter, your father is dead and the Centere is all behind us." Just as he finished the baby in another room began squalling "See, what did I tell you/" Parker attempted to get up and comfort her baby. How strange that she had no resistance to the idea, it took no getting used to. It simply was and she was very content with it. "Don't even think about moving, you scared me to death going into shock like that, though why I didn't anticipate it I'll never know, but your not leaving this bed for at least a day. I'll bring her to you. Stay put" he darted out of the room, hushed the baby and brought her to the bed for her mother. He sat next to her and laid the infant in her arms
"She's so tiny Jarod."
"I know. She looks like you"
"She looks like you" she countered.
"Your eyes. " He said
"Your nose, and your ears"
"your smile"
"Your mole" She said in a definite tone that seemed to end the playful banter. It was true. Se had the smallest dark circle under her right eye.
His smiled seemed to go from ear to ear. This seemed so right. Him here holding Parker, holding their daughter.
"your going to be a wonderful mother" He told her kissing her head.
"and you a father…" she smiled "just seems right doesn't it?" He nodded.
"were in this together. No matter what" She nodded in agreement.
"where are we?"
"Some where in the mountains of Maryland."
"and the Centere?"
"has no possible way of knowing," She breathed a sigh of relief.
The baby began crying again and both of their focus was drawn immediately to their daughter.
"what's wrong Angel?" Jarod asked running a hand through her hair
"daddy always called me Angel" Parker said
"Im so sorry Parker, but I felt… that I had to… to insure your… and Catherine's safety."
"I know. I would have done the same thing for the both of you." She smiled
"Its so weird how, natural this feels. Us, with a baby, you and me." She said boldly.
"yes, it feels…nice. Is this what family feels like?"
"I…I don't know Jarod. I wouldn't know either. But your right, it feels nice. We'll make it up as we go along, how about it?" He nodded
"sounds fantastic" He said as he kissed her temple.
"So who are we masquerading as? Brother and sister Shirley raising a poor hapless orphan?"
"actually, Mr. And Mrs. Jarod and Angel rose and their daughter Catherine."
"Mr. and Mrs. Huh? Well I don't have a ring, Mr. Rose." He smiled
"leave it to you Parker." He stood, went to the end of the bed and pulled out a ring box from his coat.
"will this do?" he asked holding out a set of matching silver bands and a silver engagement ring with a sapphire stone set.
"'will this do?' I don't believe that those are the proper words Mr. Rose." She smirked.
He gave a coy smile back. "as you wish, Mrs. Rose." He knelt on one knee and opened the box, "Ms. Parker, will you marry me? I have loved you since I was 14 years old. You gave me my first kiss, I want you to give me my last kiss, I would be lost with out you." His eye shown with a sincerity that he hadn't known hed felt until the words began pouring from his lips.
She smiled with tear eyes. "that's better." She smiled switching the baby from her right arm to her left.
"'That's better' " he said in a mock imitation of her voice "why Mrs. Rose that was not the correct reply to that question" he jested
"My apologies Mr. Rose. I would love nothing more than to be your wife. But I expect a full authentic ceremony with a white dress an a layered cake. The works." She said jestingly back.
"As you wish." He kissed her cheek. But when he pulled back and looked into her eyes, he leaned back in to this time kiss her full lips.
"Parker." He whispered as he pulled away again.
"me too, Jarod. I love you too" He smiled and went to kiss her again when the infant between them began to whimper in her mother's lap.
"I think she's wet." Parker observed
"I'll change her, you get some rest, please. It won't kill you to take a day off. You'll have plenty of work to do when you have more energy. I read that the first week that an infant is home is the worst and most time consuming stressful period."
"you read to much Jarod Rose."
"I love you Mrs. Rose"
"I love you too Mr. Rose… go on, get out of here before I change my mind and kidnap my daughter back." She said pushing on his arm lightly and playfully.
"all right, sleep well and have good dreams"
"what more could I dream of?" She mumbled to her self as she fell asleep.
Down the hall Jarod laid a simpering daughter on the changing table.
"Daddies little angel, what more could I dream of huh? What more could I dream of" He asked the baby in a cooing baby talk.