Chapter 45

Parker stared out at the Pacific Ocean and sipped her ginger ale. Kelly joined her after he had changed into shorts and a tee shirt. He slipped his arm around her, and she snuggled in.

"It's weird," he said.

"What's weird?"

"This is the first time we've been alone since I asked you to marry me. No Mary Alice, no Philip, no House 51, just us."

She looked up at him. "You're right. That is weird."

Kelly kissed the top of her head. "So, Mrs. Severide, what are you going to do about it?"

"I can do plenty about it. The question is, do you want me to?"

He chuckled. "Later. Why don't we go find some breakfast first?"

"Sounds good. Just let me finish my ginger ale."

"Still getting morning sickness?"

"Not so much. It's more of a habit now."

"And you're afraid if you stop drinking it, you'll get sick again."

"Sounds stupid, doesn't it?" she asked.

"Not really. It sounds like you don't want to be sick."

"I don't. I don't mind being pregnant. I don't like the morning sickness thing."

"Nobody likes the morning sickness thing, Babe."

He picked up her glass and handed it to her. She took it and finished it.

"Put your shirt on, Lieutenant. I don't want the tourists ogling my husband."

Kelly laughed and wrapped her in his arms. "The only ogling going on should be from my wife."

"Got that right."

Kelly devoured his coconut pancakes while Parker picked at her loco moco. "Are you sure that's a breakfast thing?" he asked as he stared at the rice dish covered with a hamburger patty, gravy, and two fried eggs.

"It's on the menu," she said as she pushed the bowl toward him.

Pushing the bowl toward him was her way of offering him a taste.

Kelly took a forkful and ate it. He swallowed and nodded. He pushed his plate toward her. She took a small piece of his pancake. She looked up at him and giggled.

"What?"

"It must be love. We're sharing from each other's plates."

"It was love a long time ago. You were just too stubborn to see it."

"True," she admitted. "But I did see the light."

"I'm glad you did because if you wouldn't have, I wouldn't have Philip or Mary Alice."

"Mary Alice adores you."

"I adore her too. You know, she never gave up on us."

"No, she didn't. And she pushed me hard to make things right with you."

"I know she did. She told me."

"She loves you, you know."

Parker nodded. "I know. She and Grandpa didn't have to take me when my parents were killed. But they did. And I am so grateful that they did, otherwise, I don't even want to think about how I would have turned out."

She looked up at him. His blue eyes were looking at her intently, but he was quiet. He was obviously listening to her.

"I hope we can do as good with our kids as Grandpa and Grandma did with me."

"We will do the best we can, Park. They don't come with instructions, you know."

"I know. But I also want them to know that we love them."

"They'll know. We'll make sure of that and so will Mary Alice."

"I hope so."

He reached for her hand and slipped it into his. "Hey, we're on a honeymoon here. We're supposed to be having fun, eating great food, and having great sex. Everything else is supposed to not enter into this picture."

"You're right. Don't mind me, I'm hormonal."

"Of course you are. You're pregnant."

She looked down at their entwined hands. "Ok, so what fun are we going to have after breakfast?" she asked as she picked up her juice glass.