Parker sat at her desk thinking about what Jarod had said. He was right. She needed to talk to someone but she didn't want people to think she was weak.
Sam knocked on the door breaking her concentration.
"These came for you." He brought in a six red roses in a vase. He sat them down on her desk.
"Thanks." She pulled out the card. Sam headed out as quickly as he entered. "Jarod." She smiled.
She picked up the phone and began dialing.
"Hello."
"Thank you."
"You got them already."
"Yeah." She smelled the roses. "I'm going to work late tonight. Debbie is going to bring the triplets home okay."
"Sure."
"I'm not sure when I'll be home so you don't have to wait up."
"What if I want to?"
"You can but it will be late."
"I don't mind waiting for you."
"I have to go." She hung up the phone before he could say anything else. Then she dialed another number.
******
Three weeks later
Parker entered the dark house. She headed up the stairs and looked in on the kids before making her way to her room. She figured he was up waiting on her. She opened the door slowly before entering. She saw his sleeping body in the bed. She changed her clothes and climbed in. She laid there awake a while before she rolled over and hit him.
"Jarod, are you asleep?"
He moaned.
"Jarod." She whispered in his ear.
"Mmm." He moaned again.
"I have something to tell you. Would you please wake up?"
"Can't it wait until morning."
"No." She flipped the lamp on.
"Damn." His eyes were trying to adjust to the light. "What?" He sat up.
"I have to tell something."
He sat there a minute before he could tell something was bothering her. "I'm listening."
"Jarod, I'm sorry. I haven't been honest with you the last three weeks."
He didn't say anything he waited for her to finish.
"I haven't been working late. The truth is I have been at Michelle's. She has been helping me cope with the accident."
"Between you and Lyle?"
"Yes. I think I can talk about it now."
"Melissa, what did he do to you?" Jarod tried to pull her close when she pulled away again.
"Well, he was waiting for me the car and then..."
"You can go straight to where he hurt you."
"He was talking to you on the phone. He said he wanted to hurt you and me."
"How?"
"He wanted to hurt you by having me."
"I knew it." Jarod rose from the bed and paced.
"Jarod, come back please." She held her arms out toward him. He listen to her as she finished telling him what happen.
Jarod had tears falling from his eyes.
"Jarod, I'm sorry I couldn't tell you and I wouldn't let you touch me."
"It's okay. I'm glad you decided to talk to someone."
She fell into his arms. "Jarod, make love to me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I need closure. The only closure that you can give me." She gazed up into his sweet brown eyes. "I need to feel you not him." She whispered as her lips locked onto his.
Jarod pulled her down in the bed and reached over and turned the light off.
******
The morning light came through the curtains. Jarod watched the light hit her dark hair. She looked so peaceful. He didn't want to wake her so he slipped out quietly and headed down the stairs. He started the coffee. He got a cup poured when he turned to see her standing there.
"I hope I didn't wake you." He poured another cup and handed it to her.
She took the cup. "No. I rolled over and you were gone."
"I'm sorry. I was going to let you sleep." He pulled her hair back over her ear and grinned. Jarod walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. He sat down. Parker followed him and sat down in his lap.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For helping me last night. I sure have missed you." She sat her cup down and straddled him. She leaned in, wrapping him with her arms and kissed him.
"Anytime. You should know that by now." He smiled.
"I forgot. Maybe you should remind me...more often." She kissed him again.
"Mom, please." Catherine entered the kitchen.
"What?" She looked up to the her standing in the doorway.
"Can you two do that somewhere else?"
"I believe our name is on the mortgage.
" Parker glanced down at Jarod.
"Yep." He agreed.
"Fine. Call me when you are done."
"You can stay. I have to get ready for work." She got up from his lap. She walked by Catherine and kissed her forehead.
******
It wasn't long until Jarod had joined her in the bedroom.
"Melissa?" He knocked on the bathroom door.
"Mmm." She opened it.
"I have been thinking. Maybe you should work part time."
"What?" She laughed.
"I see how you want to stay home with triplets."
"But I take them to work."
"Yeah but how much work do you get done? You are always down there with them."
"I can't work part time."
"Why?"
"Cause...cause....I just can't."
"That is not good enough. You should stay home with them and I'll go in more."
"Jarod." Her voice got lower.
He wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned her head back on his shoulder. "Honey, we can make it work. You can work three days and I help out the rest of the time at Legacy. Simone is there if anything bad happens."
"But don't you think she might want to work part time when she has her baby?"
"I can see it in your eyes. You want to."
"What?" She laughed.
"Just like when we moved back to Blue Cove. You wanted to move back here so bad you could taste it. It's the same look you have in your eyes now."
She stared at herself and at Jarod in the mirror. "You're right. I can taste it."
"So, what is keeping you from it?"
"I don't know." She hesitated.
"Then do it."
"Okay. I'll call a meeting for this afternoon." She turned to face him. "You're my strength. Did you know that?"
"You are mine." He slipped the robe off her and watched it fall to the floor. He kissed her bare shoulder.
"If I'm going to go part time then I better go in now."
"In a minute." He shut the bathroom door and pushed her against it as he continued to kiss her.
******
Parker sat at the head of the table in the board room. "I'm glad you could make it." She eyed everyone at the table. Jarod stood behind her and Simone sat to the right of her. "I know this is short notice but I have decided to go part time."
Nobody said a word.
"Anybody have something they would like to say?" Parker looked down at the table. "If nobody has anything to say then I will continue...." She watched the room. "Simone and I have discussed this. She will handle anything that comes up. I will always be available at home if you need me."
"What happens if Simone wants to work part time after the baby is born?" Broots glanced over at his wife then at Parker.
"We are still discussing that. If she wants to, that is fine. I don't have anything against it. I think she should spend time with the baby. After all, they don't stay little for long. Anything else?"
"When are you going part time?" Sam asked.
She glanced over at Jarod, who was now sitting over in the far corner. "I'm not sure. I have a few things to wrap up here first." She glanced back to the people around the table. "Probably, next week." She finished.
"I'm glad you talking the time to spend with the little ones." Michelle commented.
"Thanks. okay, if there is nothing else I'm going to close the meeting." She looked down both sides of the table. "This meeting is adjourned." Parker got up from her seat and follow the others out.
Jarod caught up with her in her office. "I hope you don't think I have pushed you into this."
"No. Why?"
"I wasn't sure the way you kept on watching me during the meeting."
"I was waiting to see if you had something to say." Parker placed her arms around her husband's neck.
Jarod embraced her. "Don't you have work to finish."
"Will you stay in here with me?"
"Sure." He kissed her lips.
Parker stared down the papers in front of her. Then over at her husband sitting on the couch.
"Let's go home."
"I don't think you are finished."
"I can take it home." She smiled over at him.
"Let's go." He took her brief case. Then he placed his hand on the small of her back and lead her out. They went down to the day care and loaded the little ones up and headed for home.
The End!