A few weeks later, Parker arrived home after a horrible date.
"Are you going to invite me in?" her date asked at the door.
"Do pigs fly?" she answered as she slammed the door in his face.
"I guess that's a no," he surmised as he turned to walk away.
"What a day," she groaned softly as she took her shoes off and walked into the bedroom. Turning on the light, she saw Jarod sitting on her bed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you but I see you had other plans."
"What? With the jerk of the year?"
"That is no way to treat a person."
"Okay, then you go out with him."
"No thanks."
"Can I do something for you?"
"What?"
"What is the reason for the visit?"
"Oh, yeah. I just wanted to see how you were doing?"
"Well, I'm fine. I'm going to bed now if you don't mind. I'm a little tired."
"Okay." He didn't move.
"Excuse me," she stared at him.
"Oh....alone."
"Yes, alone."
Jarod got up and walked toward the door.
"Jarod."
"Yeah." He turned to face her.
"Wait. I'm sorry. I am just tired."
"It's okay," he assured her softly.
She walked over to him. "Thanks for caring," she whispered in his ear. She could smell the same cologne he had on the night they made love.
I smell your skin,
I feel you breathing
Don't let me go, not yet
"Jarod?" she whispered again.
"What?" he responded faintly.
"Make love to me."
He took her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He ran his hands over her body before submitting to her every want and need.
The world is slowly turning,
as it turns I see your face, touch your eyes, your lips, space space
We've arrived at the place where they open the hearts
and fill them up with love, filled with love, filled with love
This one is pumping for you, as the mad thing starts
Never in your wildest dreams did it feel this easy
**********
The next morning, she woke alone. Hearing someone knocking at her door, she quickly dressed and peeked out.
"Daddy," she said as she opened the door.
"Good morning, Angel." He kissed her cheek. "Are you going to let me in?"
She opened the door wider and turned away. Mr. Parker came through the door and saw the house was a mess.
"I love what you have done to the place."
"What do you want?"
"I haven't seen you in a while and I thought I come by....you know to check on you." He sat down on the couch.
"To check on me," she said to herself. "No really, what do you want?" She sat on the other end.
"Nothing, Angel. Honest."
"Daddy...."
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm fine. I'm glad you stopped by." She tired not to choke on the words as they came out.
He smiled.
"Uh, Daddy...I hate to rush this little visit but I have some things to do today."
"Oh, I understand." He stood.
She walked him to the door. Watching him leave, she hit her head on the door.
"You really shouldn't do that," she heard behind her.
"Jarod. I thought you were long gone by now."
"No, just gone long enough for daddy to leave."
"Why did you come back?"
"You don't think I could leave after last night, did you?"
"I don't know what to think anymore." She walked back to the couch and sat down.
Jarod joined her. "What do you want me to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you want me leave or stay?"
"I don't know. Leave...no stay."
"Which is it?"
"Stay for a while."
"That I can do." He wrapped his arm around her.
********
Two months later, Parker stood in her bathroom staring at a blue line. "No. This can't be," she yelled while looking at herself in the mirror. She ran her hands through her hair, pulling. "What are you going to do?" she said as she continued staring at herself.
The phone rang.
"What?"
"Miss Parker, are you coming in today?"
"Yes, Broots. I just got up late. I'm on my way."
Parker finished getting ready. She walked by the mirror again. "You look like hell. Hope nobody notices." She grabbed her things and headed out the door.
*********
She was sitting at her desk, with the trash can close to her, when Sydney walked in.
"Are you still not feeling well?"
"No," she answered without looking up.
"Are you going to make a doctor's appointment or am I going to have to make one for you?"
"I will Syd. I promise."
Broots walked in. "Miss Parker, you look like hell," he said without thinking as he saw her hanging over the trash can.
"Thanks, Broots." She rolled her eyes at him. "Okay, where are we? Any news on Jarod?"
"No, Miss Parker. I haven't heard from him a couple of weeks."
She laid her head down on her desk. "So, you could say it is safe for me to take the rest of the day off."
"Yeah, only if you make a doctor's appointment."
"I am right now, Syd. If you two will leave me alone."
They looked at each other and walked out.
*********
Parker sat in the doctor's office waiting her name to be called. She picked up a magazine and flipped through the pages, impatiently. A nurse came out and called for her. Parker got up, 'Finally,' she thought as she entered exam room.
"Okay, what seems to be the problem, Miss Parker?"
"I'm pregnant and I need to know how far a long I am."
"Okay, if you will get undressed, the doctor will be in a few minutes." The nurse handed Parker a gown.
Parker sat on the table, thinking, 'How am I going to deal with a baby? My father is going to kill me. I can't have kids now. They are just not in my plans, especially with Jarod on the loose.'
A female doctor walked in. "Hello, Miss Parker."
"Hello, Jasmine. It's been a while."
"Yes, it has. Now, it says here you are pregnant. I hope you have quit taking your pills."
"Yes, I have. I did a home pregnancy test this morning. Could it be a mistake?"
"Yes, it's possible. I will start with the exam as soon as my nurse gets in here. Do you have any questions before we get started?"
"No, not right now. Maybe later."
After the exam, Parker sat up on the table. "Well, how far a long am I?"
"When did you say your period was?"
"I don't know. Last month, maybe the one before then. Why?"
"Well, best I can tell is you are about eight weeks. I would like to do an ultrasound to make sure."
"Eight weeks," Parker sighed.
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"No, how long can I hide this pregnancy?"
"I don't know. It depends. Some women can hide it until their fifth month and others show before then. Why?"
"No reason."
"Parker, you're afraid to tell your father, aren't you?"
"How did you guess?"
"I can see it in your eyes. Besides how long have we known each other?"
"I don't know. How long have I been coming to see you? Still, you just don't know my father. He's going to kill me."
"Parker, you are a grown woman."
"I know but you don't understand my father."
"Speaking of fathers, are you going to tell the baby's father?"
"I haven't decided."
"Parker, you know he has the right to know."
"I know. I will tell him when the time is right."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Okay, lets do an ultrasound. We can talk more afterwards."
Parker lay on her back and watched the little miracle that was growing inside, kicking and moving around.
"Everything looks great. The baby is the size of an eight weeks fetus."
"What is that moving there?"
"That is an arm. Look over here, see that," the doctor pointed at the screen.
"Yeah."
"That is the heart beating."
Parker couldn't believe it. She was staring a baby growing inside of her. She felt a little better but still didn't know how she was going to tell her father. 'Maybe I can run away until after the baby is born. Nah, he would find me. Oh well, I can come up with something between now and then,' she thought to herself.
**********
Parker saw Sydney sitting at his desk as she walked by. "Syd, can we talk?"
"Sure. Pull up a chair."
Parker came in and sat down beside her old friend. She put her hands on her head and looked up. "I'm in trouble and that's an understatement," she said under her breath.
"What is it?"
"Syd, I don't know what to do and I can't get out of it."
"Talk to me Parker."
"This goes no further."
"I know. What is it?"
"Syd, I'm pregnant."
"You're what?" He looked at her confused.
"I'm going to have a baby."
"Who's the father?"
"I can't tell you." She quickly got up and paced the floor. She couldn't look him in the eye for she knew he would know.
"Parker." He got up and placed his hand on her shoulder.
She wouldn't turn to face him. "What?"
"It's Jarod, isn't it?"
"No. Are you crazy?" She let out a laugh.
"Parker, don't lie to me."
She turned to face him. "Okay, Syd. It is. I don't even know how it happened. One minute we were talking and the next thing I remember is waking up next to him. What am I going to do?"
"Well, first thing is you are going to tell him. He has the right to know."
"I know. Then what? My father is going to have a fit, when he finds out."
"Well, maybe not."
"What do you mean?"
"Let me come up with something and I will get back to you."
"Thanks, Syd. I knew I could count on you." Parker gave her old friend a hug and walked out.
The End!