Take Me Home {Completed}

Chapter Nine

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

- Bernard M. Baruch

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Chapter Nine:  

"No, I got it," Parker said once the finished breakfast and she attempted to clear the table.

"I should - should be doing it."

Parker wouldn't hear anything of it, "No, I got it." He picked up the plates and took them to the kitchen with Nola hot on his tail. "I told you, you will not have to lift a finger in this house. I meant it," Parker explained once more as he placed the plates in the sink and began to rinse them off.

Nola lingered in the doorway, unsure what to say or do. Part of her worried that she was doing the wrong thing just standing there. She felt like she should be doing something. Mitch would have taught her a lesson for letting a man clean up - that was her job. "I-I want to do it," Nola stated, even though it was a lie.

Looking over his shoulder, he gave her a stern look, "No." His tone came out demanding and serious.

Feeling intimidated, Nola stepped back and began to fear that Parker was going to teach her a lesson.

His eyes softened as he realized the tone he used with her. "Nola B. I'm sorry. I didn't mean say it like that." Parker turned off the water and walked over to her. He was about to envelope her in a hug but the second he extended his arms to do so, Nola flinched back and gave a whimper.

Parker stepped back, giving her room. Shoving his hands in his pocket, Parker realized just how much he was treading in uncharted territory. He'd no idea how exactly help Nola because he didn't want to just help her get away from her abuser, like he was doing now, but also wanted to help her become the Nola B. he remembered from years back.

"What do you want to do today?" Parker asked Nola with a smile.

Nola looked up at him, completely dazed that he asked her what she wanted to do today. A man was not supposed to ask her a question like that, she was supposed to ask him - at least that is what Mitch would have told her, that much she was certain.

Tilting her head, Nola began to wonder what game he was playing at. Was he saying and asking all this, only to later snap at her for allowing him to ask her these questions, to clean up and offer her to stay here with practically no strings attached? Nola started to feel like a fool, there were always strings attached ... he wanted something or was testing her.

What if Mitch had set this up? What if Mitch was testing her? The thought suddenly occurred to her.

Nola took three steps back and went wide eyed. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that she had failed the test, that Mitch - any second now - was going to jump out and teach her the lesson she seemed to be deserving.

"I'm sorry," Nola whispered with fear icing her veins. "Please, please forgive me!" She hollered. "Please forgive me, Mitch."

"Mitch?" Parker questioned.

Nola looked at him the second he said Mitch's name. "Please," she began to beg, "Please don't - don't ... I'll be good, I promise."

Parker was utterly confused at the scene unfolding before him. "Be good?"

"Please - don't - don't hurt me..." Nola quickly asked as she started to cry.

"Hurt you? Nola B. I said and meant no harm will come to you while you're here-"