Chapter 14

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"Mommy, you leaving?" Trinity's voice broke the painful silence as Miss Parker and Jarod sat staring at each other in the kitchen.

Miss Parker didn't know what to say. Had Jarod been serious? Was he offering her a chance to leave her lonely life and run away with him?

She looked at her daughter who walked up to stand next to Jarod. "No Trinity… I'm not going anywhere, it's just wonder boy here who…"

Miss Parker got cut off. "I like Jarod, he's nice," Trinity said in a sharp voice. "Jarod is nice, mommy is evil…" she added with an icy stare at Miss Parker.

Miss Parker bit her lower lip hard. Her own child was turned against her. She was on Jarod's side. She stared at Jarod. Suddenly she got up on her feet, so fast the chair fell behind her.

"Why don't you take her with you and never come back, I don't want to see any of you again!" she yelled painfully, and then she turned and ran out of the kitchen.

Trinity looked as she disappeared. Then she looked at Jarod and smiled.

Jarod shook his head. "Trinity, why do you want to hurt your mother?" he asked. He felt so sorry for Miss Parker.

"My mommy is evil."

"Who told you that?"

"The man with white hair, he knows everything…"

Jarod sighed. Tyrell… damn that man.

"He's wrong, why don't you think now sweetie, what has your mother ever done to hurt you?" Jarod paused and when Trinity didn't say anything he continued. "She loves you, you're making her sad when you are mean to her, you think your daddy would have wanted this? He would want you to be kind, do you remember when your mother talked about him?"

"Daddy is dead," Trinity said, and Jarod could see her cold eyes start to fill with tears.

"Yes, but he still loves you, and your mommy does too."

Trinity didn't say anything, but Jarod could see she was thinking.

"Why don't you stay in here for a while," Jarod walked up to the freezer. "Want some ice cream?" he smiled.

Trinity nodded. "Ice cream is good!"

"Yes it is!" Jarod laughed. "I'll go talk to your mommy."

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Miss Parker looked out at the green landscape from her porch and sighed. How could her life have turned out like this? She had been so happy with Trinity. She loved her daughter more than words could say. She just wanted her back to normal. She thought of what Jarod had said, maybe there was hope? At least for Trinity, maybe she should let Jarod take her with him; maybe it was best for the child. Miss Parker pressed her eyes shut to prevent her tears from falling, how would she be able to give away her daughter?

"Parker…"

Miss Parker turned her head by the sound of her name.

"Are you okay?" She had tried so hard to keep her emotions under control, but Jarod's soft words, his concern made it impossible. Why would he have to be so damn nice all the time? He made it extremely hard for her to hate him…

"Yes, I'm fine," Miss Parker lied. She turned away from him.

Jarod walked up next to her, he gently touched her arm. "You don't have to lie to me," he whispered.

Miss Parker gave up. She turned to face him. Her pale eyes were brimming with tears and she wiped them away irritated as they stared to fall.

"Maybe you could take her… I'm not good for her…" she said after a long silence.

Jarod shook his head. "Yes you are," he said. "Hey, I meant every word I said earlier, I want you and Trinity to come with me, and a change of environment would be good for her… for both of you."

Miss Parker just stared at him. She didn't know what to say. Did she want to live her life with Jarod? Did she really want to leave all this? Yes, she wanted to leave the Centre, and definitely Tepicore, but with Jarod?

She had promised herself she wouldn't get involved with any other man again…

"I'm not saying that you have to marry me Parker, I'm just offering you my friendship and help, I'm giving you a chance to have a real life," Jarod said, just as if he could read her mind.

Miss Parker nodded. But was it really friendship she wanted, what if she wanted something more than that?

"You don't only have yourself to think of now, do it for your daughter."

Miss Parker looked away, she knew Jarod was right. And she just couldn't say no to the only chance she knew that could make Trinity better again. She couldn't sacrifice her daughters' life just because of her own damn stubbornness. Besides, going with Jarod could be the only way for her to get out of the mess she'd put herself in…

Miss Parker sighed deeply, slowly looking back at him. She swallowed hard, unsure of what she was getting herself into. She didn't trust herself around Jarod, and her feelings for him would probably complicate things a lot. She knew that the single word she was about to say would change her life forever, because if she did this, she would never be able to keep the promise she'd made, she would love again…

Miss Parker looked at Jarod; her mind was racing and her heard pounding in her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice failed her… could she really do this?

She knew both Jarod and herself knew that if she left with him, there would be a lot more than friendship between them, and that was what scared her so much…

Still not able to speak, Miss Parker made a trembling nod. She knew that in this moment nothing would be the same, one small movement of her head had changed her life forever…

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TBC.