Chapter 39
"I think the party went well," Kelly said as he helped Parker stack the dishwasher.
"I think so too. Except for Philip's antics. I was so embarrassed."
"Don't be. They're boys, Parker. They do shit like this all the time. And don't think it was all Philip's idea. The Cruz twins can be instigators."
"They can?"
"They tore down the Christmas tree at the house Christmas party one year. I thought for sure Boden was going to going to put them on wash out detail."
"Can't figure it out. Joe and Taylor are so nice."
"Taylor's the disciplinarian. Joe takes it all in stride."
He pushed the racks in, added a soap pod to the holder, and started the dishwasher. Parker opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer. She handed one to him.
"How long have they been married?" Parker asked.
"About 5 years. They used to date in high school, but then she left to join the Navy. Remember that CTA train crash? That's what got them back together."
Parker walked over to him and slid her arms around his waist. Kelly bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Took you almost getting married to get us together."
Kelly rubbed her back. "I wasn't sure we were ever going to get together," he admitted. "Thank God you came to your senses."
Parker looked up at him. "What if I didn't? Would you have married Melissa?"
Kelly looked down at her, and sucked in a breath. He let it out slowly. "I honestly don't know. Good thing I didn't have to find out, huh?"
"Very good thing," she agreed. "I don't know what happened that day. I was dressing Philip, and I got the feeling someone was watching me. I looked up and you were staring at me."
"And you dropped your head."
"I had to. I thought for sure you could read my mind. And it was broadcasting I love you Kelly Severide in HD audio."
Kelly laughed. "I thought something was up. That's why I went in for the full mouth kiss when you went to kiss my cheek."
"Kelly-"
He pressed his finger against her lips. "I knew I had to be very convincing in order to get you to change your mind. Thank God it worked."
Parker kissed his finger and nodded. "Kelly," she said quietly.
"Humm?"
"Thank you. Thank you for not giving up on me."
He felt her tears through his tee shirt. "I never gave up on you. And you can thank Mary Alice for that."
She lifted her head. "Grandma?"
"She filled me in on what you had gone and were going through. She made me see what makes you tick. And don't get mad at her. She was only doing it because she loves us."
Parker wiped her eyes with the hem of his tee shirt. "I'm not mad at her. I could never be mad at her."
Kelly lifted her head. "Hey. House is quiet. Mary Alice and Philip are asleep. What do you say we go upstairs, get into bed and watch an old movie on TV?"
"And after the movie?"
"We can talk about a wedding."
"Sounds good to me. Lead on, Lieutenant."