Chapter 41

"YESSSSSSSSSS!" Mary Alice yelled as she fist pumped the air. "I KNEW IT!"

"Don't you DARE say it," Parker retorted.

Kelly turned Parker around, tightened his arms around her, and kissed her long and hard. "Best news I've had all day," he said when they broke apart.

"I take it you're happy?"

"Very. Aren't you?"

"Very," she said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

"Hey, hey hey, none of that," he soothed as she wiped the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. "It's all good."

"Yes, it is."

"Better be a girl this time, Parker Stephanie," Mary Alice said as she dunked another doughnut into her now cold coffee.

"Need to talk to Kelly. He's in charge of sex."

Kelly laughed. Parker looked up at him. "It just sounded funny. Sometimes you're in charge of sex too."

"Kelly," she groaned. "Now Grandma knows we do that."

Mary Alice snorted. "You think I didn't know that? How did Philip get here? The stork?"

Kelly laughed again. "You are too much, Mary Alice," he said as he bent down to kiss her cheek. "Congratulations, Great Grandma."

"Thank you, Kelly."

She grew quiet for a few seconds. Parker looked at her, then noticed tears on her cheeks.

"Grandma," Parker said as she broke away from Kelly.

She crouched down beside Mary Alice. Just like Kelly had done with her earlier, she wiped Mary Alice's tears. Mary Alice waved her away.

"Would you just let an old lady cry in peace?"

Parker waited her out. Kelly pulled out the chair next to Mary Alice and sat down next to her. They waited until Mary Alice had pulled herself together. She reached out and took both of their hands.

"The only thing that would make me happier is to see you married and settled before I die."

"Oh, come on, Mary Alice. You're just like George Burns. You're going to live forever," Kelly started.

"Oh, Kelly, you are so naïve sometimes. I'm 96. I know my days are numbered. You've already made me happier than I have a right to be. You two gave me Philip and now this little one. I've had so many blessings with you two. Thank you."

Kelly reached over and hugged her. "No, Mary Alice, thank you. You gave me Parker. I couldn't have her, Philip and the baby without you. And thank you for you. You've been one of the best parts of my life."

Mary Alice patted Kelly's hand. "You know I love you, Kelly."

"I do. And I love you too."

Parker reached out and hugged both of them. "Love you both."

Philip walked back into the kitchen. "What's going on?"

"Philip, you're going to be a big brother," Kelly said as Philip made his way over to Parker.

Parker reached out with her free arm and drew him to her.

"Why would I want to be that?" he asked.

"It's a big thing, Philip. You can teach your little brother or sister things. Like how to play firehouse," Kelly said, knowing it would get a rise out of Parker.

"Kelly Michael Severide!"

He laughed. "It's a good thing, Buddy. You'll see."

"So when do I get to be the big brother?"

Kelly looked at Parker. She shrugged. Kelly did some quick math. "When you're done with school for the year."

"Ok," Philip agreed.

"Parker, can I talk to you for a minute?" Kelly asked.

"Of course."

She rose from her crouched position and followed him to the living room.

"I'm worried about Mary Alice," he started. "She's never talked about dying before."

Parker bit her lip. She was thinking the same thing. She wondered if Mary Alice was sick and not saying anything. "So am I."

"So what are we going to do about it?"

"I have to make a doctor's appointment. Have to get a due date and all of that stuff. I can take her along, but I can't guarantee she won't see Dr. Reed," Parker suggested.

He nodded. "I know if we ask her she will tell us nothing's wrong and not to worry."

"You know her well."

"Of course I do. When I look at her, I see you in another sixty years," he chuckled.

"Kelly," she sighed. "You'd better be by my side."

"Right with you. I promise."