She turns to Jarod. "I would like to clean up. You can stay
if you want. I will come back later."

"Okay, I will be back in your room later." He watches her
walk out and go down the hall.

The nurse says, "You can keep her in the your room if you
like."

"Really. We can do that." Jarod answered with excitement.

"Yes, I can bring her down if you like."

"Okay."

Jarod walks with the nurse down to Parker's rooms. When
Parker comes out of the bathroom, Jarod is holding their
daughter. He is talking to her while he kisses her. She
watches him and thinks to herself, 'He is so good at that.'

Jarod sees her watching and says, "Do you want to hold her?"

"I don't know Jarod."

"Come on, she can't hurt you." he says as he hands her Catherine.

Parker takes Catherine and the baby begins to cry. "What am I
doing wrong?"

"Here hold her like this." Jarod replies as he puts Catherine
on her shoulder.

"You have to be patient with her." he whispers in
Catherine's ear.

"How are you going to feed her?"

"I guess bottle since she doesn't like me."

"You have to give it time. You might think about breast
feeding. You develop a special bond with her that way."

"I don't know if I am cut out to breast feed."

"I think you should at least think about it."

Then Jarod goes toward the door and says, "I'll be back. I am
going to get a coke. Would you like something?"

"No, I'm fine but don't leave me with her."

"You will be fine. I won't be gone long."

He walks out and Catherine starts to cry again. Parker try to
calm her the best way she knows how. A nurse walks in and
says, "Is everything okay?"

"No, I don't know what I am doing."

"That's okay. She's probably hungry. Are you breast or
bottle feeding?"

"I haven't decide."

"Well, you better decide quick."

"Can I do both?"

"Yes but breast feeding is better for them as a newborn. They
get all the antibodies from you to help build their immune
system."

"Good but I don't know how to do either."

"I can help you with that."

The nurse shows Parker how to hold her when feeding her. "You
will have to coach her on eating."

"What?" Parker asked.

"Let me show you." the nurse put Catherine on her breast and
stroke her little cheek, and she should find the nipple on
her own. The baby did this and Parker sucks in a little at
the small pain, but she soon relaxes and the baby nurses
happily. "See that wasn't hard, now was it? You only need to
nurse for five minutes on each breast to start with, and then
you'll go longer each time you nurse to help with the breast
pain. There are different creams we can give you to help with
your nipples too. In a week or so there should be no pain at
all." said the Nurse helpfully.

"Easy for you." Parker replied as Catherine held on.

"I think you will be okay. You may feel a slight tightening
in your uterus when she nurses, thats natural, its your
uterus contracting and shrinking back to its normal size.
Thats another advantage to breastfeeding. I will leave you
alone. If you need anything just push the button."

The nurse walks out and Jarod comes in about that time.

"What took you so long?"

"I just went to get a coke." He sees her feeding Catherine.
"I see you are going to try breast feeding."

"She made the decision for me. That hurts." she replied as
Catherine latched on tighter.

Jarod stayed all night with Parker and his daughter. He
wasn't going to let them out of his sight.

***********

After two days in the hospital, Jarod takes his family home.
Parker is still not sure about this baby thing. Jarod could
tell she is still having problems with it.

Parker says, "I think I am going to lay down for a while."

"That's fine. I will watch Catherine. Before you go, I have
something for you."

"What is it?" she asked.

Jarod handed her a small gift wrapped in white paper with red
roses in it. Parker quickly open the box to find a pair of
diamond earrings in it.

"What is this?" she asked.

"A pair of earrings."

"I know that but for what?" she said confused.

"I got them for you. I wanted to show you have much I love
you and for giving me a daughter."

"Thank you, Jarod but I didn't actually give you daughter by
myself."

"I know. I just wanted to show you how much I love you."

"Well, thanks again." she said as she gave him a kiss. Then
Parker goes to the bedroom and lays down. Before she goes to
sleep all she can think about is how well Jarod deals with
Catherine. Parker gets jealous easily over that. 'I can't
feel that way.' she tells herself. 'She is only a baby.' She
lays awake for while. Then she falls asleep.

Jarod gets Catherine asleep. He lays her down in the bedroom
with Parker. He leaves a note and goes outside. He pulls out
his cellular phone and begins dialing.

"This is Sydney."

"It's a girl."

"That's great, Jarod. How is everybody doing?"

"Great. Well, except for Parker. You know how she can gets."

"When can I see her?"

"We are going to your cabin in a couple of weeks. I want
Parker to relax before I move them again."

"I understand. Tell me all about her."

"Well, she has the most beautiful black hair. She weighed
7 lb. and 8 oz. and is 21 in. long. She is so beautiful. She
favors her mother."

"Now you wouldn't be saying that because she is yours, would
you?"

"No, but she is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen."
Jarod replies again.

While Jarod is talking to Sydney. Catherine begins to cry.
Parker wakes up and call out for Jarod. She sees the note.
'Great.' she says as she read it.

She goes up to Catherine and says, "I know you are not to
fond of me but it looks like I'm the only one here." She
picks her up. She holds Catherine in her arms and starts to
talk to her. Catherine slowly begins to quite down. Parker
begins to feed her as she moves to the bed. Jarod can see
them through the window. He finishes his conversation with
Sydney and enters the house.

He walks in the bedroom and finds Parker sitting on the bed
holding Catherine.

"I know you did this on purpose." she responds to him.

"Did what? I don't know what you are talking about." he said
softly hoping she couldn't see through him.

"Left me alone with her."

Jarod sits down beside his wife and looks at Catherine. "No,
I didn't. I had to make a phone call and I didn't want to
bother you."

"Oh really, who did you call?"

"Sydney. He wants to know when he can see Catherine."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him we would be there in a couple of weeks."

Jarod kisses his daughter on her tiny head and starts to get
up. Parker grabs his hand and says, "Thank you."

He turns back and says, "For what?"

"I know you did this on purpose." Then she gives him a kiss
on the cheek.

He just smiles at her and walks into the other room. A few
minutes later he hears Parker yelling, "Jarod."

He walks in and Parker is changing Catherine's diaper. "How
do I do this?" she responds as she holds a clean diaper in
one hand and the dirty one in the other.

Jarod says, "Let me show you." He takes the clean diaper in
his hand and slips it under Catherine's bottom. Then he folds
it over and fasten it. "There." he said.

"How come you make this look so easy? By the way, where did
you learn to care for a baby?"

"I found a baby in a dumpster once. I took care of him before
I found his mother."

Parker looks at her daughter and thinks, 'How could someone
do that to a baby?' She didn't say anything. Jarod walked
back into the living room and Parker wasn't far behind him.

**********

Sydney, Broots, and Debbie are waiting for them to arrive at
the cabin.

"Where are they?" Broots said as he paced.

"They will be here soon." Sydney answered as he watched
Broots pace.

"Dad, why don't you sit down?" Debbie says as she watches
him. He was making her nervous.

When they get there Jarod helps Parker out of the car. Sydney
meets them at the car door.

"Let me see her."

"Hold on a minute, Syd. Let's get in the cabin." Parker
responded.

When they enter in the door Broots takes the carrier from
Jarod. "Can I have her now?"

"Come on, Broots. I am her uncle. I want her first." Sydney
replies as Broots picks her up.

"Well, I get to hold her next." Debbie replied.

"Guys, you both can take turns. Don't fight." Parker
replies softly.

Debbie walks over to Parker with a present. "This is for
Catherine." she says.

Parker takes the gift and opens it. She finds the book
Little Women that she gave Debbie awhile back.

"I gave this to you." Parker said.

"I know and I thought Catherine would like it." Debbie responded.

Parker gives Debbie a hug and says, "Thank you."

While they leave Catherine with Sydney, Debbie, and Broots,
Jarod follows Parker in the kitchen.

"Would like something? I will get it for you."

"Thats okay. I can get it myself."

"Sit down and relax. You just had a baby. Please let me wait
on you."

"I'm not helpless."

"I know but I want to spoil you. I don't get to do that often."

She walks up to Jarod and puts her arms around his neck.
Then whispers, "But if you spoil me now, who will do
everything when you leave?"

"Let me worry about that." he kisses her soft lips.

**********

Before long the days go by. Parker has to return to work.
Jarod is sitting on the couch listening to the radio. His
phone rings.

Oceans apart day after day and I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line but it doesn't stop the pain

"Hello."

"Jarod, its Chance. I need you to do me a favor."

"Hey, Chance I haven't heard from you in a while. What have
you been up to?"

"Well, that is why I am calling. I have started a new
business and I think one of my employees is stealing from me.
Can you help me?"

"I can try. What do you need?"

"I need you to come to back to Colorado and help me figure
out why."

"Can I get back to you? I would love to help but I need to
discuss it with someone first."

Wherever you go whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it rakes or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

"Sure. My number is 896-555-6687. Let me know something soon."

"Okay, I will. Bye."

Jarod hangs up the phone. Parker enters the living room.

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' crazy

"Who was that?"

"Oh, an old friend. He needs my help."

"Go."

"What?" he asked.

I wonder how we can survive this romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

"You heard me. Go. I know you can't stay here forever. I will
be fine. I go back to work tomorrow and I have a sitter for
Catherine. We will be fine."

Jarod paused for a moment, then says, "Are you sure? I won't
be gone long."

"Go. I alway knew you were going to be on the run. Catherine
and I will be here waiting on you when you get back."

Wherever you go whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you

There was a long pause. Jarod was listening to the song
playing. Then said, "Okay, if you are sure."

"We will be fine." Parker answered. She reached over a gave
him a kiss. "Go." she said softly. She gives him a look. Then
he knows she will be okay.

Jarod calls Chance back and packs a bag.

The next morning Jarod leaves for Colorado. He kisses his
wife and daughter bye and heads out before daylight. A couple
of hours later Parker gets ready for work.