It's been two months since he left. Miss Parker quit a year ago, but had taken to smoking and drinking again, taking long drags of her cigarette and gulping down her vodka and soda. An old tee-shirt of Jarod hung on the door hook of her bedroom. Each night, she would bury her face in it, still smelling a trace of him.

Debbie and Miss Parker were having a girls night, but, cried suddenly realizing Jarod was no longer a part of her life. Memories of him filled her thoughts.

"Miss Parker, what's wrong?" Debbie laid her hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Miss Parker. I'm here. You can cry all you want."

Hugging Debbie, Parker whispered, "thank you".

"We could have a slumber party right here in the living room, if you like. I'll bring out the pillows and blankets for us. Okay? Are you going to be alright, Miss Parker?"

She nodded, wiping her tears away. "Just as long as I have you, baby. I'll be fine."

It was early evening as they sat in front of her fireplace their hands stretched out to feel the warmth of the glow. There was a soft knock on the door.

"I'll get it!" Debbie yelled out. "Jarod! Miss Parker, it's him!" She yanked the pretender into the living room excitedly.

Jarod bent down to her. "Debbie, my but you look very pretty."

"Cut the sweet talk, unmess what you've done," she snapped. "I'll be in the bedroom, Miss Parker."

"Yes, ma'am." Jarod had a grin on his face. "I can see she gets it from you."

"Why didn't you use your key? You still have it, don't you?" She felt her heart skip a beat and wanted to run to him, but she held back.

He shrugged. "I figured I wasn't welcomed anymore, after the way I left. How are you? I've missed you."

He pressed his lips together and she could see the indentation of his cheeks. She loved those dimples of his.

"Say something, Parker. Hello. I've missed you, too. Get the hell out. Whatever, just say something."

But, she kept quiet. His hair was a little longer, but he still took her breath away. She thought she knew exactly what she'd say to him, if he ever appeared on her doorstep, but, now that he was there standing in front of her, she was at a lost for words. Of course, she had not expected to ever see him again.

"Melissa?" Jarod looked around her place and noticed nothing had changed. Even that blanket they used to wrap themselves when they laid on the sofa was still there folded neatly on her table.

"You're back to get the rest of your things, I'm assuming?" She tried so hard to be strong and held back her tears, but she couldn't.

"You left me! You broke my heart! You know how hard it's been for me? Getting up next to nothing? Reaching over and there's no you!

And now you're here to pick up the rest of your belongings?"

Jarod took two steps forward. "Did I say I was here to get the rest of my stuffs? I've missed you. And I still love you." His voice began to crack and it softened as he continued. "I never stopped."

"What?"

"I said I love you. I never stopped. I made a mistake. I shouldn't have...I shouldn't have left. God, Parker! You're going to make it hard for me, aren't you? I took a chance in coming, but, if you don't love me anymore, I'll leave."

"I left The Centre a few days after you left. You come first before anything. I could have killed them, daddy and Lyle. I took a shot at them. They'd better not get in my way. I won't miss the next time."

"Okay," Jarod backed away from her. "Now it's my turn?" He smiles at her.

"Don't tempt me." She pulls him by his shirt and runs her fingers through his hair. "You need a haircut."

He nodded. "Missed me, baby?" He takes hold of her hand, kissing her palm. "I just can't imagine my left without you in it." He pushed her against the wall, pinning her hands above her head. His mouth found its way into hers, then slid his hands to the outline of her curves.

"Make love to me," she whispered softly, pressing her body hard against his.

"Debbie's here," he mumbled in between breathes as Miss Parker raised one leg and wrapped it around him as far as she could.

"Take it off, take it all off," he begged.

"Debbie's here," Miss Parker reminded him. "Debbie's here."

Stepping back slowly away from her, he wipes his mouth. "Sorry, I forgot."

"I'll go check up on her." She kisses him and turns to leave, but his arms pulled her quickly into a warm embrace. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I never want the feeing of losing you every again."

"Hey, I want to say something."

"Hmmmmmmmm?" Her head rested on his shoulder.

"Marry me, Melissa. I will love you for all of my life."