Parker

Chapter 41

The rest of breakfast went without incident. Parker quietly ate his breakfast wanting to avoid getting into anymore trouble. He feared that he was sailing perilously close to going to school with a red bottom and he wanted to avoid that all costs.

Or having the taste of his soap in his mouth.

They said goodbye to Carson who was once again admonished to stay away from his house until they came home. Carson agreed and gave his dad a hug once again.

Parker had the sudden urge to do something stupid in order to tick his dad off. But he suppressed his desire to get under his father's skin. Even though he could not help but feel that he deserved all the grief he could torture him with. But he thought better of it.

For now anyway.

"We will back at five thirty." Rodger told Carson. "If you need anything give me a call."

"I will sir." Carson said.

Carson waved to Parker and then retreated back into the house.

The two then drove with an awkward silence between them. Rodger tried to start conversations with him only to recieve grunts and one word answers.

They soon reached to the school and Parker opened the door as he said "Bye."

"Wait." Rodger said grabbing his arm before he could get out. Parker looked at him. "Close the door."

"I need to get in." Parker said. "I don't want to be late." The school frowned on tardiness which resulted in the student being written up and receiving five demerits. Parker was current sit at twenty two. Twenty five was the first punishment marked he would have to serve detention after school. And Parker did not want to spend two hours in detention which normally entailed copying pages out of the dictionary.

"Just give me a moment please." Rodger said. "If you are late I will tell the headmaster that was my fault and get any demerits recinded."

"Okay." Parker said as he shut the door and settled back in his seat.

Rodger gave him an awkward look. "I'm wanted to say I'm sorry."

"I know dad." Parker said. "You've told me that you are sorry several times."

"I don't just mean for not telling you about Miranda and not giving you the benefit of the doubt with the Mister Sellers thing." Parker gave him a curious look. "I'm for all the times that I vented to you about your brother and sisters."

"That's okay dad." Parker said.

"No, its not." Rodger told him. "Because I think it may have given you the impression that I hate them and that my love is conditional." Regret etched his voice as he said "Because its not. I still love them and nothing will ever change that. No matter how much they disappoint me or hurt me I will always love them." He looked at his son lovingly. "And nothing will ever make stop loving you Parker."

"You understand that right?"

"Yeah dad." I'm not sure if I believe it though.

"Also I wanted to know what you think about Miranda?"

"I don't know what to think dad." Parker said. "I don't know her." Bitterness was in his voice as he said "If you had told me about her weeks ago I could answer that question but I just met her yesterday and I only spent a few minutes with her."

"I know." Rodger said. "She wants to get to know you son." He told him. "She wants you to have dinner with her and Cyrus Friday night."

"Would you like to do that?"

Parker thought about that for a few seconds. He wanted to say no. Tell him that he didn't want to have anything to do with either of them. But he could not do that.

A idea came to his mind.

"Yes." Parker said. "But on one condition."

"What?"

"That it will be just be me and Miranda." Parker said. "Cyrus has gotten the chance to spend time with you one on one right."

"Yes."

"Then its only fair that I get the opportunity to spend some one on one time with the woman who might become my new mother."

"I suppose."

"Good." Parker said. "Its settled. I'll have dinner with Miranda while you do something with Cyrus and then we can meet for ice cream later."

Rodger considered it for a moment and then said "Sounds like a plan. I'll talk to Miranda and see what she says."

"Okay then." Parker then looked out to the parking lot. His eyes then widened and he said "What the hell?"

"Parker." Rodger said sternly.

"What is she doing with him."

"Who?" Rodger then looked in the direction that Parker was looking and saw Christine walking with a tall blonde haired brown eyed boy. The two were laughing as they sipped on ice coffees. That does not look good Rodger thought. "Who is that?"

"Wesley Goldsmith." Parker said. "Her ex boyfriend."

"Oh."

"Why is she with him?" Parker grabbed the door handle ready to spring from the car and confront the two.

"No." Rodger grabbed his arm restraining him. "Don't jump to conclusions."

"Like you are one talk." Parker shot at him.

"Yes I am one to talk." Rodger said. "Because I jumped to conclusions and strained my relationship with you and I don't want you to make the same mistake." They watched as Wesley opened the door for her. She then walked in and he followed her in. "It could be perfectly innocent. You need to get your facts straight before you throw around accusations you understand."

"Yes, dad." Parker said as he began to calm down. He is right there could be a perfectly explanation as to why she is in his car, drinking iced coffee with him, laughing with him.

"Yes talk with Wesley and get
their side of the story."

"Yes sir."

"Just don't do anything or say anything you will regret."

"I won't." Parker said. "I promise."

A bell than rang.

"That's the warning bell." Parker said. "I have one minute to get homeroom."

"Okay." He let go of his arm. "Have a good day."

"I will." Parker jumped out of the car and then ran to the front entrance.

Don't do anything stupid Rodger thought. Please.