Parker

Chapter 18

Rodger had decided the best thing to give Parker was some space. He was furious with him and he wanted to make sure that the boy did not say anything that would get him into any further trouble.

After all he did not want to whip the boy a third day in a row. If he had to he will but he wanted to avoid doing it again if possible.

So he decided to let Parker come to him. Let the boy calm down and then they could talk.

While he waited he decided to call his daughters and tell them the happy news.

He called his oldest daughter first who estatic for him. She wanted to know every detail and when she would get to meet Miranda. She did not seem to upset about his secrecy and was happy that he found someone.

Then he called his youngest daughter. She was rather apathetic about it. And annoyed that he was calling him in the first place. When he told her she said that's nice and then informed him that she needed to go.

She hung up before he had the chance to say goodbye.

So much for daughters being daddy's little girl he thought.

After the call Rodger decided to watch television. He found a college football game that was playing and watched that for two hours.

He had to admit that he found little joy in the game. Parker usually watched it with him and his absence made it difficult to enjoy it.

Once the game was over he decided that he had given his son enough space. They were going to talk and work things out.

Rodger was about to head upstairs when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw that it was his mother.

"Hey mom." He said wondering why she was calling him.

"Hello Rodger." Rose Cole said.

"What's up?"

"I heard you were seeing someone." The sixty year old woman replied. "And I wanted to know more about this person who has captured your heart."

"Who told you?' He asked. "Spenser...?"

"Parker."

"Parker." He felt a twinge of annoyance as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Yes he called me." How did he call you he questioned. I have his phone. He then remembered that Parker has a land line in his room. "He was upset and I can't say I blame him Rodger."

"Mom I didn't mean to hurt...."

"I'm sure you didn't." She cut him off. "But that fact of the matter is that you did. That boy thinks the world of you and you hurt him terribly."

"I know." His voice was etched with guilt as he spoke. He felt like a complete heel.

"Do you?" She asked. "Do you really? Because according to him you had cavalier attitude towards his pain."

"Believe me I don't." Rodger said.

"Parker said you were cracking jokes." Rose angrily said.

"I made one joke to lighten the tension between us that's all." Rodger felt as if he was on trial for his life.

"Well maybe you should have been more sensitive to your son's feelings than joking around." Rose said.

"You're right." He said.

"I know I'm right." She said sharply. "How could you take your girlfriend's son to dinner and not him Rodger? How could you be so cruel to your own flesh in blood?"

"I wasn't thinking." Rodger said as he shrunk.

"No you weren't." She snapped. "Because if you had been thinking it would have not taken you so long to tell your children that you were dating."

"I know." She has me on the ropes.

"Parker thinks you are embarrassed of him and that's why you did not introduce him."

"I'm not mom. I promise you that I am not."

"Are you embarrassed of her?" She asked. "Were you embarrassed to admit that you were dating the boss's daughter?"

"No." He said forcefully.

"Then why go so long without telling anyone that you were dating?" She said in dismay. "Did you at least tell your brother?"

"No, I didn't tell Geoffrey."

"You didn't tell Geoffrey." Rose said. "I'm beginning to wonder if the reason you said nothing about your relationship with this woman is because deep down you know that its not going to last?"

"No." He answered. "You're wrong."

"Maybe I am." Rose did not think she was. "But one think that I am not wrong about us that you need to need to fix this with your son. Because believe me out of your four children he is not the one you want to lose."

I don't want to lose any of my children Rodger thought. But I fear that I have already lost the others and I don't want to lose Parker too.

"I will make things right with him." Rodger said.

"You better." Rose said. "And when you talk to him keep your belt on." She said with ire in her voice. "That poor boy has been punished enough, he does not need another a whipping."

"He told you about that too."

"Yes, he did." Rose said. "He said he was grounded and I asked him why. He told me what he did and the whippings you gave him."

"I'm not going to apologize for it." Rodger said. "He deserved both of those whippings."

"I'm not telling you have to apologize Rodger." She said in exasperation. "Obviously you inherited your father's listening skills." He bristled at that comment. "I'm just telling you that when you go talk to him not to be so quick to take your belt off, show mercy, try to be empathetic."

"I can be empathetic." I'm not Justin he thought.

"Well prove me wrong then." Rose said.

"I will mom." Rodger said.

"Please do." Rose said. "Somstimes I don't think you realize what a special boy you have."

"I agree that I forget that myself from time to time." Rodger sighed. Usually when he does stuff like have his girlfriend over without my permission or disobeys me.

"You better go talk to him."

"I will."

"I love you, honey."

"Love you too mom." He said and then hung up.

Rodger sighed and then went upstairs to see Parker hoping that he did not push him to whip him again.