Chapter Fourteen

Eleanor's POV

Closing the door behind me, I climbed back up to the living room hoping to be of a good host to our guests. I stopped mid-stride when I heard Heidi's haughty voice rang out. 

"Look at this place," I could almost picture her disgusted face as she looked around, "I heard she picked this out. You know, Caleb, in some way I feel bad for Parker. He's always told me how he wanted a mansion as big as the one he grew up in; so his kids could have the childhood Parker had." I was leaning against the railing just waiting for her to continue. "Although considering that Elena's boys aren't his, it doesn't matter."

"Heidi, you're in no place to talk about her like that," Caleb's irate voice defended me. "We are in their beautiful home."

"I'm just stating my opinion; is that so wrong?"

Before I could hear anymore, I dashed back down bumping into someone in the process. "Whoa there." Parker's soothing voice filled my ears. "What's the rush?"

I grabbed onto the newly fresh shirt he put on, stopping myself from falling over. "Nothing. I was just going to check on the boys. You showered fast."

"Well, can't keep the guests waiting any longer can I?" He winked down at me. "You're not going to join us in my office?"

I  shook my head. "Business and I aren't compatible with each other, I'm afraid. Go on." He gave me one last smile, and a kiss on the forehead. 

"We should be done by dinner." I nodded at him before we went our separate ways. 

I finished walking down the stairs and stared at the place around me. Heidi was right; Parker probably does want a mansion. It was what he was use to all his life. Was I selfish for picking this house out by myself? He did say I could choose any house I wanted... Maybe I didn't know Parker at all. I was so selfish of using his own money, and he didn't even love the house.

I shook my head, clearing any negative thoughts out of my head. What's done is done. I shouldn't dwell on it any longer. Besides, I shouldn't listen to anything Heidi said. She obviously has something against me and would say anything to get under my skin.

To get my mind off things, I went into my sons' bedroom where they were sitting on the carpeted floor without a care in the world. I could see the wet stains scattered around the areas Luke and Peyton had been sitting. 

"Boys, you got the carpet wet!" I complained walking over to them and gently motioning for them to stand up. "Didn't I tell you to change out of your wet clothes and wait for me in the shower?"

"But you were long, Momma!" Luke excused himself. I blushed remembering the reason that delayed me.

"Well I'm here now, my angel and time for a shower!" I took Luke's hand in mine and looked at Peyton. "You too, sweetheart." He scrambled up to his feet and obediently placed his hand in my other free one.

"Bubble bath!" Peyton exclaimed with a bounce in his every step. 

Walking through the bathroom located on the hallway across theirs, I gave in. "Alright. Not too long though! I don't want my beautiful boys turning into prunes."

"Like raisins?" Luke asked giggling. 

I bent down to his level to take off his shirt. "Yes like raisins." He laughed harder when I started to tickle him. 

"Momma! Stop!" I slapped the back of his bum motioning him towards the ginormous jacuzzi.

I smiled helping Peyton free of his clothes. Luke, always an independent one, already got the water running and was playing in it. "Alright go on!" Peyton waddled his chubby self into the tub. Walking over, I dipped my hand into the water and immediately snatched my hand out. "Whoa, angel! This is awfully hot don't you think?" I fixed the water temperature placing the knob on the warm side.

Luke just shrugged and continued playing with the water toys he brought from the pool in there. "Just give me a shout when you're done, okay?"

They nodded enthusiastically, and I left the bathroom leaving the door open just in case anything happens. I sighed not knowing what to do next. I had already gotten used to the life full of hard work to support my sons, but ever since I married Parker... There was no more need for that. I walked around the play area rubbing my arms with my hands to warm me up. Toys were scattered across the floor; a typical play room for small toddlers. 

An idea popped into my head as my eyes landed on a painting displayed on a wall. I jogged up the stairs, grabbed a clean piece of paper, a pencil, and then ran back down, so I could hear my boys if they needed me. I sat down on the couch; its huge size engulfing me. I sat down in peace finally able to work on my artistic skills, something that I hadn't done in a very long time.

"Mum," I looked up from the quick sketches I had been doing to pass the time. Peyton was looking at the paper in my lap intently. "What that?"

"It's a drawing, sweetheart," I explained softly picking him up and sitting him right beside me. "I drew you while you were playing."

"Me?" He asked pointing to the drawing I just finished of him and his brother a few minutes ago along with Luke. "Luke!"

I laughed kissing him on his chubby cheek. "Yes, that's Luke and you." I looked up at the mention of Luke. "Speaking of him, where did your brother go?"

Peyton shrugged innocently. "I don't know." I smiled at his cuteness and picked him into my arms to go look for Luke.

"Luke!" I called out checking his room. 

"Luke!" Peyton mimicked me his brain recognizing what we were doing. "Hide and seek!"

I looked everywhere for Luke but failed to place him. Starting to panic, I let Peyton down to ask Parker for help. I tried to refrain by asking him, not wanting to interrupt his meeting with Caleb and Heidi. Although I had no choice now. I jogged to his office, opening the door so forcefully that it would have fallen off its hinges.

"Parker! Luke is-" I was greeted by four surprised faces: Caleb, Heidi, Parker, and Luke... Luke?

"Luke is what?" Parker asked teasingly with Luke safely on his lap. I let out a sigh of relief, leaning one hand against the doorway, at the sight of Luke looking up at me innocently. "He's all right, ma cheríe."

I quickly gave Caleb and Heidi apologetic looks and walked over to the side of the desk where Parker was. Luke trained his eyes on my outstretched arms and ignored the stern look I shot at him. "Come here Luke. You're interrupting Parker's meeting."

"That's alright," Caleb interjected with a goofy smile. "Luke has been an entertainment and gave us a break, hasn't he?" He directed at Heidi who just rolled her eyes.

"I don't know about you, Caleb," Heidi started examining her nails, "but I have a life unlike you and would love to get back to it when this meeting's over."

"Heidi, you can leave whenever you want. As far as I know, you were never invited," Parker told her calmly. "Caleb and I will be alright handling this meeting ourselves."

A slight tint of red rose on Heidi's cheeks. "I'd like to stay."

"Suit yourself," Parker told her, and then giving me his full attention. "Like Caleb said, Luke's fine here. He's been a good boy, haven't you?" He looked down at Luke who was playing with the British Airways airplane figuring situated on Parker's desk. 

"Yes Momma," he agreed with Parker and opened his arms out for me. "Stomach's growling!"

I grabbed him by his underarms and cradled him to me, my motherly instincts kicking in for the worry over thinking Luke disappeared. "Dinner's just about ready. Are you joining us for dinner?" I directed the last sentence to Parker and his colleagues. 

Caleb stood up shaking his head. "Ah, I got to run after wrapping this up. I have an event to attend to."

"How about let's cut this meeting short," Heidi announced standing up as well. She grabbed her designer purse and walked over to Parker's other side. 

"That's the best idea you've had so far," Caleb inputted sarcastically. 

Ignoring him, Heidi leaned over and pecked Parker on the mouth briefly before pulling away with a sly smile. "Goodbye Parker. Don't forget the meeting with Daddy in China this weekend."

I followed her walk out of the office with a begrudging expression on my face. "Don't forget the meeting with Daddy." I mimicked under my breath.

"What was that?" Parker asked recovering quickly from the small intimate touch with Heidi.

Caleb seemed to have heard what I said when he started to chuckle. I gave him a secretive smile and raised Luke up higher in my arms. "I'll see you at dinner, Parker." Closing the door gently behind me, I let out my fuming sigh. How dare Heidi kiss a married man? Right in front of the man's wife as well!

"Luke, guess who's birthday's coming up?" I asked my eldest son with a smile at the dinner table a few minutes later.

He looked up mouth full of his food. "Yours?"

"It's almost third of October, angel," I reminded him placing some soup that Augusto stirred for us with the ladle.

"My birthday!" He exclaimed sitting up straighter, his face brightening instantly. "I'm going to be four!" He held up four fingers correctly.

Laughing, I nodded. "Exactly. Are you excited big boy?" 

"Who's birthday is it?" Parker's voice injected as he approached the dining table. He came and stopped by my side swooping down and swiftly kissing me on the cheeks. I turned away disgusted he would do such thing after kissing Heidi. Was I being over dramatic? Maybe I was, but Parker shouldn't have let her kiss him either way.

"Sorry, I was late. I just had to fix a few appointments with my PA after Caleb left shortly." He whispered in my ear. I nodded to let him know I understood.

"Mine Parker! Mine!" Luke boasted.

"My birthday too?" Peyton asked sweetly in his high chair beside his brother's.

 Luke turned to glare at his younger brother jealously. "Not yours Peyton!"

"No need to be rude, Luke," I reprimanded him softly. 

Parker sat down at the head of the table gazing at the meal Augusto had prepared for us. I gently placed the plate and eating utensils in front of him. "Do you want a birthday party, buddy?"

"Parker, I think that's my decision to make not yours or his," I vocalized coldly without any eye contact.

He turned to look at me baffled. "What's up with my cheríe tonight?"

"What do you mean?" I asked coolly feigning innocence placing some new desert our cook had been experimenting all afternoon with. I was always up for some new food. 

"You seem to be bothered by something."

"I am not," I defended. "You might want to eat now; food is getting cold."

"Done Momma!" Luke scrambled off his chair. "Gonna play!"

"Hold up young man," I called after him pointing to his dirty dishes in return. "Where do you put your dishes when you're done?"

He pouted his lips, shoulders slumping. "Momma!" 

"Now." I kept my stern eyes on him as he walked back, grabbed the dishes off the table, and walked into the kitchen. "Carefully."

"James could have gotten that for him," Parker spoke up who was finally eating.

"I'm not letting them get pampered by your butler, Parker," I sighed leaning in the comfortable cushioned dining chair.

He nodded swallowing what was in his mouth. "Ah, I forget sometimes, that you're a terrific mother. By the way, I will be leaving for China this coming week. I have to inspect the manufacturer company making the airplane parts." 

"So I heard," I replied. "Heidi announced that pretty clearly in your office."

Parker was confused for a second, then realization dawning washing over his face. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh."

He sighed reaching over my hand which was laying flat on the clothed table. "It's not like I was expecting her to do that. Besides, you know how Heidi is. It was just a friendly gesture."

"It may be friendly to you but to her it isn't," I said calmly pulling my hand away from his and standing up. I went over to Peyton who was fidgeting wanting to be let out. "She obviously still has feelings for you."

"For what?" He asked exasperatedly, his eyes trained on the backo of my head. "There were never feelings in the beginning to start with!"

"Are you sure about that?" Peyton climbed out of the chair himself and waddled away from our conversation. Returning my attention towards Parker, I sighed. "Look, Parker. It's fine if... if you have feelings for Heidi. You guys did share a past together, and our marriage isn't even, well you know," I paused for a second trying to get my thoughts together. "What I'm trying to say is that, well... I guess it's not my choice if you- you have fun with other women. I mean-"

"That is absurd!" Parker stood up, his eyes glaring at me. He placed his hand in fists on the table. "Feelings for Heidi? Having fun with other women? Are you delusional?" His voice rose, eyes narrowing towards me.

I returned his look with an icy one of mine. "There is no need for you to insult me. I was simply stating from what I gathered with your interactions with her. Have fun in China." I walked past him brusquely but couldn't go anywhere far, for he stopped me with a hand on my wrist.

"Eleanor," he murmured pulling me against his chest. He wrapped his one free hand around my head bringing me closer. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for letting Heidi kiss me even for a millisecond."

My heart warmed slightly at what he said. "I shouldn't even be jealous." I turned my face to look up at him. "I'm just not used being in a relationship; especially a marriage one. I don't know how to act or... feel about you."

Parker kissed the top of my head. "Don't try and control your feelings. Just feel." Even if it was love?

I let him hold me in my arms in that position. Somehow, my arms found itself wounded around his chest holding him tightly to me. "I really did mean what I said."

"Which is what?" He asked guardedly, tightening me in his arms.

I smirked against his chest. "Have fun in China."