Parker

Chapter 31

Rodger looked at the door to the office where Parker was. I can't leave him he thought. I don't care if the owner of the company is waiting for me I can't abandon my son when he needs me.

He's been abandoned by too many people in his life. He does not need me adding to that number.

He walked to the door and tried the handle only to find it locked. "Parker." No answer. "Parker please open up." He then knocked on the door. "Come on son let me in."

Rodger then heard footsteps approach and he felt a small twinge of relief. The door then unlocked and opened revealing his tear stained face. He felt several tiny  daggers of guilt stab into the pit of his stomach.

"I'm sorry Parker." Rodger said as the daggers started slice deeper into his stomach. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. I should have handled that better."

"Yes you could have." Parker said in an accusatory tone. "Starting off by not believing I would do such a thing." Rodger averted his gaze. "How could you think I would be capable of doing something like that."

Rodger shoved his hands in his pockets. "I thought you were trying to get back at me for not telling you about Miranda." He looked at him again. "You have to understand that it was something your brother and sisters would have done to me."

"I'm not my brother or sisters." Parker yelled as he slammed his foot into the floor and threw up his arms.  "How long do I have to suffer for every stupid mistake they ever made."

Rodger's phone rang and he placed his hand on his pocket.

"You want to get that?" Parker sniffed back the tears. "Go ahead answer it."

"No." He shook his head. He pulled out his phone and saw it was Justin again. He sent it to voice-mail and then put it back in his pocket. "That's not important right now." Rodger stepped towards him. "You are the most important thing in my life." He grabbed his arms. "And you are hurting because of me and I need to find some way to fix it." He placed his forehead on his. "Tell me how to fix this."

Parker was about to say something when they heard his father's name called from the lower level.

"Rodger!" Charlie yelled. "Rodger are you here."

His first impulse was to remain silent and hope that he went away.

"Its okay dad." Parker said.

"Thank you." Rodger rubbed the back of his head. "Up here."

Charlie ran up the stairs and then stopped at the top trying to catch his breathe. "Dude Mister FitzSimmons is waiting for you and Justin is about to pop a blood vessel."

"Mister FitzSimmons is here." Parker said surprised.

"Yes." Rodger replied. "He's here to meet with me and Justin."

"And he's getting impatient." Charlie said.

"I don't care." Rodger said. "My son is hurting and he's more important to me than some job."

"Well having food and electricity is pretty important to me." Parker said. "So please go see your boss."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Parker said emphatically.

"Okay." He rubbed the back of his head.  "Come on." He placed his hand on his back and then hurried down the steps. They stopped at his office where he left Parker with strict instructions not to leave.

They then stepped out and Rodger asked "Where are they?"

"In Justin's office." Charlie replied. "Is he here to fire Justin?"