It was Monday night and Katherine had fallen asleep in front of the window as she waited for her father who never arrived. Parker carried her daughter into bed, tucked her in and slipped in beside her.
"Daddy," she mumbled sleepily.
"Shh, baby, just go back to sleep." She kissed her child and held her hand.
Since the two months she and Jarod had been apart, not once had he missed his nightly visits. Concerned, thoughts twirled in her head. He couldn't have left them permanently. She wondered. He would never have left the children. Would he? He could have at least called. Definitely, he would have called. He'd never be one to have disappointed his children.
There was a time when a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other would have eased her pain temporarily. Quietly, Parker left Katherine and headed to the living room. She took a photo album out of her chinese lacquered chest, sat down in front of the fireplace and leafed through it. The happy times was such a long time ago. She thought he would have loved her forever. But, betrayal and deceit was blamed for their unhappiness. She wanted Jarod back and had forgotten how it felt to have him in her arms. He was the best thing that ever happened to her. But, she was not the best for him.
Who would have thought the woman of his dreams would be the "Ice Queen" of "The Centre". He'd often wondered what was the reason for her existence in his life. He was alone in the world as he endlessly searched for his own identity. She was his missing piece. She completed his life, along with the children. His love for them was infinite.
Parker hadn't heard Jarod as he walked in. At the sudden sight of him, she was startled. He raised his hand in a silent "hello". Relieved, she returned the gesture. Her husband joined her and sat down in front of the unlit fireplace. Silence was in the air. After several minutes, Parker spoke.
"Where were you? Katherine waited until she was too tired to stay up."
"Sorry. I just needed to sort some things out."
"Have you?"
Jarod turned to Parker and back. "There were a lot of things I needed to think about."
"Why is it, that the one person that I'd been trained to distrust, to hate, to capture, is always with me during the most difficult moments of my life."
"Maybe, it's because we belong together."
Parker rubbed her arms to feel the warmth.
"Cold?" He asked his wife.
"A little."
Jarod reached over for the blanket they shared on those cold nights cuddled in front of the fireplace and gently wrapped it around Parker's shoulders. She pulled it close to her and their fingers touched, but, she pulled away.
"It's like that scene back at Ocee's. Only there's no fire in the fireplace." Jarod spoke in a whisper and looked straight ahead.
Parker cleared her throat. "And there's no Ocee."
It wasn't a moment of weakness, this time. They turned their heads to each other. No one pulled back as they inched their faces closer to one another. She felt the warmth of his breath as he moved his lips closely to hers. They touched lightly. He pulled away, their eyes locked. He ran his fingers through her hair.
"I've missed you. And I love you. I never stopped. I've just been so angry. Did you think I would have loved you and Katherine any less, if I knew the truth?" He kissed her passionately. "If you want me, if you still love me, I'd like to come back home to you and the children. I'd like to take care of my family again. I can't lose you. You're my life."
Parker lowered her head and cried.
"Look at me," Jarod whispered softly. "I can't imagine me loving someone else."
With her head raised, Parker looked at her husband. Jarod kissed the saltiness of his wife's tears. "At "The Centre", we've lived with so many lies and secrets most of our lives, we should not carry on that legacy. You're a part of me, you, Katherine and Taylor, I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I'm so sorry for everything. I tried closing down my heart when you left, to have no feelings at all for you, but no matter how hard I tried, it kept reopening to make me feel the pain I've caused you and especially, for the love I felt for you. You'll always be a part of my heart. I've been blessed to have you in my life. I do love you."
They kissed and held each other. "Sweetheart, there is something I needed to tell you."
Jarod kissed her tenderly. "What?" He laid her gently down to the floor and again, he kissed her.
"Sweetheart, I really do need to talk to you." She pushed him softly away.
"What is it?" Jarod looked down over her.
"I know it isn't the perfect time, but..."
"Not the perfect time for what, honey?" Jarod sat up and ran his fingers back and forth on her arm.
Parker hesitated. "To have a baby." She stared at her husband and waited for some sort of reaction.
Silence stood between them. After what seemed like forever, he slowly placed his hand on her belly. She laid her hand atop of his and nodded. No amount of words could have expressed what he felt at that very moment. He kissed her softly and tenderly at first. As the love within them grew, so were their kisses, hard and passionate, then again, soft and tender.
Love is not about the words, which goes beyond words. Love is a connection that defines a kiss, a smile and a tear. They found comfort knowing their love hadn't ceased, but had always existed and always will.
TBC - Chapter 6
Author's Note: Just extending it a bit, Chapter 6 will definitely be the last.
