Chapter 27
"I will," Kelly said.
He looked around the table at Mary Alice and Parker. He reached out and took both of their hands.
"Dear Lord, thank you for this lunch that Mary Alice made and Parker served. Thank you for making Mary Alice part of my life because without her both Parker and I would be hot messes. Thank you for softening Parker's heart and making her realize that I do love her and Philip. And thank you for Philip because he really made me realize that being a Father is a good thing. Amen."
"Amen," Mary Alice and Parker echoed.
Parker stared down at her napkin. She tried to blink the tears out of her eyes. Kelly did love her. She loved him. She probably had since she met him, but she didn't want to admit it. Instead, she had punished him by letting him spend all the time with Philip that he wanted, but not with her. Occasionally, she would make love with him when he needed comfort sex, but not on a regular basis.
"Park?"
Parker raised her head and looked at her Grandmother.
"Something you want to say?"
She nodded and looked over at Kelly. "I love you too."
"So let's plan a wedding."
She nodded. "We will." She looked over at Mary Alice. "I need a Matron of Honor."
"Stop," Mary Alice said. "You don't want an old lady like me. You need to have one of your friends stand up for you."
"No, Mary Alice, Parker is right. We would love to have you standing up for us. You've been nothing but supportive. Please reconsider."
Mary Alice looked at Kelly. He was smiling with his blue eyes twinkling. She looked at Parker. She was nodding her head.
"I want it to be a family thing. Philip can be ring bearer," Parker reminded.
"You two are spoiled," she finally said. "Always have to have things your way."
"Hell yeah," Parker said as she rose. She reached over and gave Mary Alice a hug. "Thank you."
Kelly stood and gave her a hug and a cheek kiss. "Thank you, Mary Alice."
Mary Alice waved her hands. "Sit down both of you. And eat your lunch. Everything's going to get stone cold."
They were just finishing up dessert when Philip approached the table.
"Hey, Buddy, you hungry?" Kelly asked.
Philip nodded.
"You want a grilled cheese and a bowl of soup?" Parker asked.
He nodded again.
Parker rose from the table and made her way to the kitchen. Kelly pulled Philip up onto his lap. Philip hugged him.
"Love you, Daddy," he said.
"Love you too, Buddy."
"Daddy?"
"What, Philip?"
"Are you going to stay with me and Mommy all the time?"
"Yes, Philip," Parker called from the kitchen. "Daddy is going to stay with us all the time."
"Good!" he said as he settled on Kelly's lap.
Parker came back into the dining room and set the sandwich in front of Kelly. He gave her a 'What the Hell?' look.
"Unless you don't want to?" she asked.
"I want to."
"Good. Then it's settled."