It has been a year and half since she married Jarod. Not feeling well, Miss Parker sits on an exam table waiting for the doctor to return. A female doctor wearing a white lab coat and dress pants enters the room.
"Miss Parker, you are two months pregnant."
Parker can't believe what she heard, jumps up and paces the floor. She wants a cigarette to calm her nerves.
"Are you sure?" Parker asked hoping she was hearing her wrong.
"Yes, you don't want to be." replied the doctor confused.
"It's not something I want right now. My..." then she stops and says, "The baby's father will be happy but I can't deal with it right now. I just can't." she says again. Then she walks to the door and the doctor stops her.
"Are you going to be okay?"
"I will be fine."
"Why don't you stay here for a liitle while and we can talk? I think you'll feel better." the doctor replied.
"I can't. I have to get to work. I do have one question though."
"Yes, anything."
"How long can I work before I start to show?" Parker asked.
"Well, I would say with this being your first child and you stay in shape, five months. Why?"
"I was just wondering."
"Listen, you look like you need someone to talk to. Stay a few minutes and I will help you with all your questions. I'm not trying to be nosey but I would like to help."
"Everything I tell you is between us, right."
"Thats right."
"Okay, this organization I work for can't know that I am pregnant. It is a long story."
"And the baby's father. Are you going to tell him?"
"Yes, he will be excited." Parker responded with a deep breath. Thinking, 'I really need a cigarette.'
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Parker answers thinking I am all ready telling you more than I should.
"I noticed you were wearing a wedding ring around your neck. Is this a secret also?"
"Yes, you see my husband, the baby's father, is on the run. He is not in trouble or nothing like that. The place I work for is responsible for him leaving. They put me in charge of bring him in but I can't because we fell in love. That is why I have to keep my marriage, pregnancy, and birth a secret. I hope you can help me with this?"
"I will do everything I can but how are you going to explain a baby?"
"I don't know that yet. I am trying to buy as much time as I can." Parker looks down at her watch and says, "I have to go. I'm late."
"Okay, listen you can use my back door and we can arrange your visits so you won't be noticed in case you are followed."
"Thanks. It was nice talking to someone." She felt better to actually talk someone about her life with Jarod besides Sydney.
"You're welcome." the doctor said as Parker left her office.
**********
Parker arrives at work. Sydney enters her office right behind her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?" she asked wondering if something was different about her.
"I was wondering. You are late and you call if you are going to be late."
"I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind."
"Have you heard from Jarod?" Sydney asked.
"Not in a couple of days."
Her phone rings.
"What?"
"I miss you. Meet me in the alley on Third and Pine Street." Jarod said on the other end.
"I can't right now."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I will be there in 30 minutes." Parker answered back. Then hung up the phone.
"It was Jarod. Wasn't it?" Sydney asked.
"Yeah, I have to go."
"Go. Don't worry about things here. I will see you when you get back."
"Thanks."
***********
Miss Parker walks in the alley and is careful to make sure she is not followed. She enters the alley and looks around. She can't see Jarod anywhere. She turns to walk out when someone grabs her. Jarod pulls her in a door way.
"I was fixing to leave." she tells him.
"I know. I wanted to make sure you weren't followed." he puts his arms around her.
She missed him so much. She gives him a kiss and says, "Does this mean you won't be home tonight?"
"I'll be home tonight. I just couldn't wait til then to see you."
"Good, I need to talk to you."
"Tell me now." he replied as he kissed her neck.
"I can't. I have to go. I want to make sure I wasn't followed. I will see you tonight."
"I will be there when you get home." he replied as he gave her one last kiss and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too." she replied back before stepping away from him. She walked out of the alley and Jarod watched her leave. He made sure she was safe before he left.
**********
She arrives at home and Jarod is waiting for her on the couch. "What do you have to tell me?"
"I don't know how to say it so, I am going to just spit it out. I'm pregnant."
"That's wonderful. How far a long?"
"Two months. I figure I can stay at the Centre another three before leaving. I don't know how I am going to do this."
"We will do this together. I will help you figure out something." Jarod puts his hand on her stomach and she pulls it away. Then he says, "Let's celebrate. I know a place we can go." He could tell that made her uncomfortable.
"I'm tried how about another night."
"Come on, I won't keep you out long. I promise."
"Okay." she says as she gives in.
Jarod and Parker get in the car. He drives to a resturant across the state border. They go in. He orders for them both.
"We have a lot to do before the baby comes. We have to come up with names and buy little baby things. I can't wait." he says with excitement.
"Don't get excited yet. We have to come up with a plan for me leaving first."
"How about your want to stay home with your husband?" he said with a laugh.
"Your funny." she replied back sarcastically.
Their food arrives and they eat. Jarod hears a slow song playing and says, "Dance with me."
"I don't want to dance."
"Come on, one dance and we can go."
"Okay, but that's it."
He takes her hand and lead her to the dance floor. He holds her tight. They both missed each other's touch. She lays her head on his shoulder. He holds her tighter not wanting to let her go. Before long another song begins to play and ends. She says, "Jarod, take me home. I have another way to celebrate."
Jarod lets go of her and follows her off the floor. He pays the bill and they get in the car. On the way home she lays the passenger seat back. "Wake me when we get home." She falls asleep. Jarod glances over at her. He noticed she was asleep. He reached over to touch her stomach and she grabs his hand. The rest of the way home he didn't try to touch her. He pulled up the drive way. He unlocked the door and carried her in. She woke up. Jarod sat her down on the bed.
"I'll be back." he whispered in her ear. He made sure the house was locked and secured. He went back in the bedroom. She was waiting for him in the bed. She pulled the cover back for him to get in. He noticed she wasn't wearing anything. She replied, "Come on in. I'll make it worth your wild. I promise." He climbed in with a smile.
They held each other tight hoping the night would go by slowly. Then, Jarod asked, "Why want you let me touch you?"
"I am hoping it will go away."
"What the baby? Why?"
"No, not the baby. I don't know how I am going to handle all of this. What do I tell my father, Mr. Raines, and everybody at work?"
"Don't worry. I told you I will come up with something. Leave it to me. When did you find out, anyway?"
"Today. I suppected it a few weeks ago but I was putting it off. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it."
"What did the doctor say?"
"She will help me anyway she can. I will going under another name for her records and in the hospital. If I go, to the hospital."
"And where do you expect on having the baby if you are not in a hospital?"
"I don't know. I may go out of state. I haven't decided."
"Well, we have a while to decide that." he replied as he gave her a kiss.
They fell asleep.
*********
Mr. Parker opens an envelope on his desk. He pulls out some pictures of his daughter leaving the alley and Jarod not far behind.
He gets on the phone and says, "I think I know how to catch Jarod." He tells the person on the other end. Then hangs up the phone.
*********
The next morning, Parker wakes up to the alarm. Jarod is holding her tight. She slips out of his arms and gets ready for work. Jarod wakes up and watches her dress. "I love you." he says softly.
"I love you too." she responds back. Then lends over and gives him a kiss.
"Promise me, you will be careful."
"I will. I'm late." she tells him. She heads out the door and drives off.
**********
As she drives toward the Centre, someone pulls out in front her. She hits the ditch. Her head hits the steering wheel and knocks her out. A man in a black suit runs over to her car. He pulls her out and puts her in his car. Another man drives them off. They drive to an abandoned building. One man carries her in and sits her on a bed in a little room and locks the door.
She wakes up to her head aching. She raises up and wonders where she's at. She gets up and walks around, hoping to find a way out. The door is locked. She bangs on the door and yells.
One man says to the other one, "It sounds like she is wake."
**********
Sydney walks into Broots office. "Have you seen Miss Parker?"
"No, I thought she was with you."
"This is not like her to be this late."
"She was late yesterday."
"I know Broots but I have a feeling she's in trouble."
"How do you get this feeling?"
"I can't explain it."
He walks over to the corner and calls her house. Jarod hears the phone but doesn't answer it. The answering machine kicks on.
Sydney says, "Parker, are you there?"
Jarod listening to Sydney and looks at the clock. He picks up the phone.
"Sydney, what's wrong?"
"Jarod, has Parker left for work?"
"Yes, she should been there by now. You don't think something as happened, do you?"
"I don't know. Nobody has seen her."
"Meet me at the corner of Hollywood and Elm. We will go looking for her."
Sydney hangs up the phone and meets Jarod. He gets in the car. They are driving when Jarod says, "Look! That's her car."
Sydney pulls over and Jarod runs to her car. He looks in and can't find her. He noticed blood on the steering wheel. Sydney gets down there about the time Jarod finds the blood. Jarod looks around for more clues. He also noticed one set of footprints walking to and from her car.
"Someone carried her. There is blood on the steering wheel. I have to find her."
"We will Jarod." Sydney replies hoping to calm Jarod.
"You don't understand, Sydney. She's pregnant. If she losing that baby, someone will pay."
Sydney standing there in shook says, "She's pregnant."
"Yes, and I have to find her quick."
Jarod and Sydney get back in the car and start driving around. Syd calls Broots at the Centre and says, "Broots, see what you can find out. We find her car but she is missing."
Broots responded, "You want me to snoop around. You know I can get into trouble for that."
"Broots, we are talking about Parker here." Sydney says with concern.
Jarod takes the phone away from Sydney and says, "Look! Broots, she is missing and if who ever took her hurts her I will hurt them and you if you don't help."
"I will get on it now."
"Thats the spirit, Broots." he says as he hangs up the phone. They drive around and look at building and streets.
Broots calls back. Sydney answers.
"Sydney, I find some pictures of Miss Parker and Jarod leaving an alley on Mr. Parker's desk. You don't think he is reponsible for her disappearence, do you?"
"I don't know, Broots. I wouldn't put it past him. See if he owns any building around the area of Main and Central Ave. Then call me back."
Sydney tells Jarod what Broots find. Jarod was getting mad. They drove around waiting for Broots' call.