Chapter 26

"Hi," Kelly said softly as he felt Parker waking up.

"Hi," she said, feeling a bit embarrassed and awkward.

She sat up against the headboard. Why was it practically every time Kelly was around, they wound up drinking some kind of adult beverage and wound up in bed together? She didn't regret making love with Kelly. What she did regret was how rotten she had been to him since she had found out she was pregnant. Oh the other hand, he was just as rotten. There were never any requests for dinner dates, and if she did spend time with him, Philip was along. But maybe, Mary Alice had been right.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked as his hand lazily stroked her arm.

"That Grandma was right."

"Of course she was. She's a smart lady."

Parker slid back down in bed and reached out her arms. "Come here."

Kelly moved on top of her, stopping to kiss her. He reached for her left hand and slipped something on her finger. Her eyes moved from his face to her hand. "Marry me, Parker."

She looked at the ring. It looked very familiar. "Kelly, how did you get Grandma's ring?"

"Easy. She gave it to me."

"She gave it to you?" she repeated. "When?"

"Last night when I dropped Philip off. I told her I was finally forgiven and that I was going to propose. She gave me her ring and told me to hurry the hell up."

Parker laughed. "That sounds like Grandma."

"So, what do you say? Yes?"

"Yes, Kelly. The answer is yes."

"I love you, Parker."

"Love you more."

"So I take it congratulations are in order?" Mary Alice asked when Parker and Kelly stopped over to pick up Philip.

"She's wearing the ring, Mary Alice," Kelly said as he held up Parker's hand.

"About time, Girl," Mary Alice snapped. "I told you four years ago that he was in love with you and he would do the right thing. But, of course, you had to be stubborn and wouldn't listen."

"Ok, Grandma. You win," Parker conceded. "I was wrong about Kelly."

"I hate to say I told you so, but-"

"-I told you so," Parker supplied. "Yeah, I know."

"So, have you thought about a date?"

"I'd marry her tomorrow if she'd let me," Kelly said as he covered Philip with the afghan that was lying on the back of the couch.

"But she's not agreeing to that?" Mary Alice asked.

"You know how stubborn she is," Kelly said as he folded the afghan and tucked it under his son.

"You just called off a wedding yesterday," Parker reminded.

"Yeah, well, that was because you showed up at Church and looked all sexy."

"I was wearing jeans and a tee shirt," she reminded.

"With no bra."

"Parker Stephanie! You went out of the house without a bra on?"

"It was supposed to be a quick trip, Grandma. I was only going to Church to drop off Philip and run back home."

"Oh, so that's what your middle name is? Stephanie?" Kelly asked.

Parker rolled her eyes and looked at Mary Alice. "Thanks for that. He's only been trying to find out my middle name since he met me."

"Yeah, and she always said it was S. She wouldn't tell me," Kelly quipped.

"So sit down, both of you. Let's eat like civilized people."

Kelly pushed in Mary Alice's chair for her while Parker served lunch. He looked at Mary Alice, then at Parker. He had spent many nights at Mary Alice's place talking with her and listening to her advice to win Parker back. Up until yesterday, he had failed at every turn. Parker didn't want to have anything to do with him, and right before he was to stand in front of all of his friends and say vows with another woman, she had totally turned around and decided that she did want him back in her life.

"Ok," Parker said as she returned to the table. "Who wants to say Grace?"