Chapter Thirty-One

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Chapter Thirty-One

Eleanor's POV 

My relationship with Parker only got worse and worse each day. We barely said one word to each other after that blow out we had in the hallway and after my slap to his face. I wanted to so badly come up to him and apologize, so we could go back to the way things were. I missed having him sleep beside me at night; he slept in one of the spare bedrooms instead. I wanted him to hold and kiss me. I just wanted him to love me again.

On the eve of New Year's, we celebrated over at his parents' place once again. Heidi, thank the Lord, already had a party to attend so she didn't come with us. I noticed Parker made no move in inviting her as well. We all got to meet Ellie's partner as her fiancee once again. Not one of them knew about the situation Parker and I were dealing with. Apparently the only people who knew were us including the pregnant woman herself.

I tried acting as normal around Parker; I didn't want to raise any suspicions from any of them. Especially Agatha, who seemed to have had an eye on us like a hawk. She probably got the idea that something was wrong when Parker only gave me a brief kiss on my cheek when the countdown for the new year was over. She was most likely hoping for a real kiss. 

That was when we made our leave, claiming that Peyton was getting a fever and had to be home soon. 

The second day of the year, all the offices were up and running again, which meant Parker was back to his normal working schedule all week. I could handle Heidi when Parker was around, but I wasn't so sure what would happen if he wasn't. I tried to avoid her at all costs except one morning when I heard screaming.

Oh goodness. Her water better have not broke! I thought to myself as I got up from bed to see what was happening. I heard the shouting going on in the kitchen and muffled cries. The sound of the familiar cries only made me walk faster to see what was going on.

I was baffled by what I saw. Two bowls were scattered on the floor and milk was pouring slowly from the carton and onto the floor. My head snatched up when I heard my name being called out.

"Momma!" My heart clenched at hearing my eldest son's cry for help. "Momma!"

"Shut up you little brat! Your mother's not coming to get you," came Heidi's jeering tone.

I ran to the pantry area where I found Heidi having a hard grip onto my son's arm jerking him up. Her other arm was up getting ready to spank my child. My child! 

"Heidi!" I yelled storming over and grabbing my son from her. "What in the world are you doing?" I gave her the iciest of glares. I turned my attention to Luke who was crying hysterically into my stomach, his arms wrapped around me. 

I bent down and pulled his face, so I could see. "Luke? Shhh, stop crying. Momma's here." I kissed his wet cheeks and placed him behind me. "What happened, Angel?"

The poor child couldn't speak but kept on crying continuously. I kissed him once more on the forehead, showering him with love. He definitely needed it after what Heidi did.

I stood back up walking over to a horror-stricken Heidi and slapped her across the face. "How dare you? How could you have the nerve to hurt a child!" 

She turned back around to face me with anger flashing through her eyes. "Hurt? Look at what you just did!"

I got ready to slap her once more before she grabbed my wrist with her hand. I yanked it from her and gave her a scathing look instead. "You deserve way more than that slap for what you did to Luke!"

"And what exactly did I to him?" Heidi asked condescendingly. "Did you see any bruises on the kid? I only disciplined him, that's what! Maybe you should start learning how to be a mother. How about a wife as well, because according to Parker you're not doing a great job at that." 

That did it. She had no right nosing her way in to my personal relationships. She just lived here, that's all. I brought both of my hands and clawed them into her hair. If there was one thing to go for in a fight, a female's hair is a good place to start. 

"Ahh!" Heidi screamed trying to get me off of her. "Eleanor you fucking witch! Get your hands off of me!"

I yanked her to the side and pushed her to the doorway of the pantry. I watched her, trying to steady my breathing. "Luke is too young to be disciplined through physical actions. Why don't you let the mother of the child do the disciplining?" My eyes darted to her profound belly. I scoffed. "You know Heidi? I feel sorry for that child. He's going to have to grow up with someone that's unfit of a mother like you."

"You bitch!" She yelled straightening up. I got ready to turn away but not until after I heard her say, "If something happens to Parker and I's baby, I am holding you responsible! And don't you think for a second that Parker would forgive you instantly. We'll see who he's going to crawl to after he hears about this. Say goodbye to your perfect, little family."  

I rolled my eyes taking a bewildered Luke's hand in mine and led him out of there. In a way I felt sorry for Heidi herself. How desperate could she be? I took Luke to his room and settled him on the bed. His cries quieted down, but he still wasn't saying anything.

"Angel?" I asked bringing a wet cloth wiping away his face. "What happened back there? Please tell Momma."

He looked up at me with sad, sad eyes. "I- I tried..." He hiccuped. "I- I wanted to make..."

I nodded encouraging him. "Go on. Momma's listening. She won't hurt you."

"I- I was making cereal for you and Daddy. Then she... She came in and said Daddy was away. So she said I could give her the bowl instead of Daddy. So-" Hiccup. "So I did and poured the milk but was heavy Momma. I wasn't strong enough to hold it up with one hand like Daddy. Then I dropped the milk and all the bowls. Then she got mad and yelled at me." His voice sounded so broken, and I hugged him to me.

"Shh. No more crying, okay? She won't get away with it. We'll tell Daddy."

"Momma, I am sorry." 

I smiled softly brushed the top of his head. "It's all right. I know you meant well, but we'll get Augusto to cook your favorite. He's coming in a little while. What was your favorite again?" I asked even though I knew full well what it was.

Luke's face lit up. "Blueberry pancakes with bacon and eggs! Oh! And also hot chocolate."

"And?" I prodded.

He wrinkled his eyebrows thinking deeply. "There's nothing else, Momma!" 

I grinned and tickled him onto the bed. "What about fruits?"

"Yuck!" He made a face. "That's not my favorite."

"Well you're still going to have to eat it," I declared picking him up. "We want you strong and healthy for your new school. Aren't you excited?"

He nodded vigorously walking besides me up the stairs. "I make new friends! Momma, can you and Daddy come with me to buy my school supplies?"

"Of course," I said. 

Luke was about to enter pre-school in the second semester which was next week. He was all for it, and I was glad. I didn't want to have to worry about him being scared and nervous. It would be his first time away from home all by himself.

When we reached the kitchen, I found that the mess that Luke accidentally created was gone. I spotted James coming out of the supplies closet and mouthed a thank you to him. Augusto was also already in place behind the stove. I was ecstatic to see him back! He definitely wouldn't want a stranger like Heidi to mess around in his territory. 

Luke rattled off his breakfast choice and we waited in the breakfast nook area. I read the morning newspapers as Luke played with the toy car he was driving on all the surface areas he could reach. I spotted a picture that sent my heart into overdrive. Parker was on the second page with a picture of him in his usual suit attire for work. The entire article was about the successful merging of another company and his that was completed yesterday. He hasn't told me about this. 

I remembered the nights when Parker would come home late, worrying over the deal. It seemed so long ago, but it was only less than a month. Anything that was alright between us seemed so long ago. I quickly read the article and was about to text him a congratulations but before I could the smell of food had hit me. I put the newspaper down and set it aside forgetting all about the article and calling out to Luke to eat.

The rest of the day passed by smoothly without anymore interferences with Heidi. I believed she left the house in the morning and was planning on staying out until the night where it was easier to avoid her. It was absolutely fine with me. She, after all, is the guest and should be the one going out of her way to avoid me. This was my home. I could do whatever I wished.

I bonded with my two boys all morning until after lunchtime where I sent them on their afternoon nap. That left me the time to be able to work on more paintings for the gallery. I was finishing up a painting when my hand accidentally shook and the brush spread across the center.

"Oh no," I groaned trying to save the painting.

I dabbed at it with a cloth seeing if I could take the paint out. It was no use. A bright orange mark was across my painting. I sighed heavily and took the canvas off the easel disposing it beside the trash can. Just when I was so close to finishing! 

I decided to stop for the day not really wanting to make other mistakes and headed out of the room, the door self-locking as it closed. I went into the bathroom to wash my hands and heard a cry. I listened in more closely and heard it coming from Peyton's room. All of a sudden, my body was attacked with apprehension. Please don't let anything happen to my son. 

I rushed into his room as the cries got louder. What I saw is a sight that I would never want to see again. Peyton was sitting up in his toddler bed crying his heart out. He was bawling his eyes out crying louder and louder. Screams filled the entire room that came from a small baby. 

"Peyton!" I ran to him and picked him up in my arms. Automatically, my hand went to check his forehead which was burning hot. "Dear Lord! Your high fever came back."

Peyton only cried even louder if that was possible. The sound of it broke my heart in two. I didn't know what to do! I wanted to go to the hospital, but I knew that we would only be told to wait in the waiting room. Unlike here at home, I could do something about it.

"Peyton?" I said gently. "Are you hurt anywhere? Are you cold? Hot?"

I felt his damp forehead again brushing away his hair from his eyes. I set him onto the bed calling out for Luke who was awake when I passed by his room. It was only the three of us this afternoon. Augusto and James left and would be back by dinner time. 

Peyton didn't want to lay down, only spring back up when I made him.

"Luke!" I called even louder.

He appeared in the doorway with a frightened look on his face. "Momma...?"

I turned to look at him. "Go get a towel from the water and wet it with water. Now please."

He nodded and scurried away catching on that this was a serious matter. He came back handing me a wet towel which I wrung off excess water onto the carpet. I washed Peyton's bare skin over with it to try and cool down his body. 

"Oh what's happened to you?" I desperately said to myself. "You're too young to be getting sick."

"Momma?" Luke asked softly from behind me. "Is he okay?"

I tried giving him a reassuring smile. At least Peyton's cried died down a bit. "It will be all right, Luke. Can you fetch me the house phone?" He obliged coming back with the cordless telephone.

I punched in the number I knew by heart setting down the cloth over Peyton's forehead who was lying down now. It rang for a short time, and I yelled out, "Parker!" as soon as I heard the sound of the phone being picked up.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Jenkins," Parker's assistant's familiar voice rang out. "This is Kasey. Mr. Jenkins is in a meeting right now and left me his phone so he wouldn't be disturbed." 

My heart sunk. "How important is the meeting? I need to speak with him urgently." I paced around the room ignoring Luke's watchful eyes from the bed. 

"None of them are supposed to be interrupted."

"This is an emergency!" I cried out, feeling sorry for bringing out my frustration on sweet Kasey. "What I have to say is important as well." I said in a much softer tone.

There was a pause. "I'm really sorry, ma'am, but I can't get Parker out of the meeting."

"Will you please at least tell him it's from his wife and an emergency?" I pleaded. "Maybe he'll take the call. Surely his business associates would understand a personal emergency."

"Well... I suppose I could go in for a moment and tell him," Kasey said hesitantly. "Hold on just a moment."

"Thank you," I said crisply and waited for  Parker to get on the other end. 

I waited shortly until his deep voice greeted me. "Eleanor. What is it? I hope you know I was in a very important meeting. This better be important as well." I could hear how annoyed he was by my call. His stoic tone of voice he had been using around me lately was present; no sign of emotion.

I seethed. "Trust me, Parker. I wouldn't be calling you if it wasn't." I snapped. "Sorry to disturb your important, little meeting," sarcasm dripped my voice, "but it so happened Peyton is very sick. I thought I would let you know." 

He was silent for a moment. "Are you sure this isn't just one of his bad days?"

"Bad days?" I cried out incredulous. "He woke up screaming and crying his heart out! He was shaking immensely with a high fever, and you ask if it's just a 'bad day'?"

Parker sighed. "I didn't mean it in that way. It's just... Peyton's been having fevers for weeks now, and if something bad should happen, it should've been done with. We'll take him to the doctor once I get home."

"He doesn't need a doctor!" I said vexed. "He needs his father! Why can't you understand that?" 

"I'm sorry, Eleanor," said Parker. "I- I just really can't leave this meeting. I just called a break and this phone call is all I can give you."

I tried to restrain my anger. "What about after the meeting? Certainly you can home!"

He hesitated before answering. "Of course. Of course, I'll be home as soon as I can." 

I, somehow, quite didn't believe him. I would have believed the old Parker but now... I just didn't know who he is anymore. 

"Is that all you have to say?" He asked distractedly. "The meeting's about to continue on."

"Yes," I said briskly. "And let me assure you, Parker," I hissed angrily into the phone, "that when you come back to this house, it'll be empty. My sons and I are leaving. You can have all the house to yourself and make more babies if you wish with Heidi!" I shouted.

"Eleanor!" He said more loudly. "You can't mean that!"

"Goodbye Parker," I said much more gentler, "and let this be the last time I ever hear your voice again."

"I'm coming home right now!" He shouted one last time. 

I hurriedly clicked the 'End' button and sunk down onto the floor. Tears were threatening to spill over my eye line. I blinked several times just to try and get them to go away.

"Momma?" Luke asked softly from the bed. 

I looked up. I totally forgot both my sons were in the room. I totally forgot what the purpose of my call to Parker was. It all ended badly. I wasn't planning on saying all of the things I did. It just came out due to my anger. Although somehow, I didn't regret it. I truly meant it this time when I plan to leave with my kids. I should have done it those two times I was stopped. Now that he's not here, there was no one to stop us. 

"Go pack your bags," I told Luke standing up and seeing how Peyton was doing.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"Is Daddy coming too?"

"Please, Luke," I sighed. "Just go and do what I say."

When he left I dialled another number I knew by heart. I could always come to her in times like these. She has already done it once a long time ago.

"Hey babe, what's up?" Summer greeted breezily. 

"Summer?" 

Her voice instantly turned earnest when she spoke again. "Elle? Are you crying?"

I sniffled. "No."

"Like hell. What happened?"

I sighed. "Can you come get me and my kids?"

"Sure." No hesitation. Just like that. If only Parker was like this, I wouldn't be havingt his conversation with her. "At your house?"

"Yeah, Parker's place."

"Finn!" I heard her shout off the phone. "Get the car ready! What's happened? Please, Elle, you're scaring me."

"I'm fine. Just... hurry please." I was afraid Parker would get here before we could leave. "I'll explain when you've arrived."

"That fucking asshole!" Summer heatedly said to me once again. "How could he choose Heidi and that baby, that which in fact he's not even sure is his, over a son that he legally adopted?" 

I sighed for the umpteenth time sitting out on their balcony despite the cold. After Summer and Finn picked me up, I insisted on staying at a hotel but they drove me to their place instead. My boys were confused on why we were there, but so far Finn kept them entertained while Summer and I talked. 

It seemed like the Riley episode all over again. 

I covered my face with my hands leaning on the table. "God. I don't know why I'm in this situation again."

"Because your husband is a fucking asshole," Summer answered for me. "Here I thought he was actually a decent guy. What a joke."

I smiled sadly. "I'm sorry Summer."

"For what?" She asked, eyes wide. She looked like a mess with her long, black hair up in a messy bun and her striped robe covering her. Her face was glowing though, perhaps because of the baby growing inside of her.

"For having to do this again," I waved all around me. "For taking me in when you and Finn could be enjoying yourselves together before married life."

"Don't you ever be sorry about that!" Summer scolded me sternly. "You're practically my sister. I would do anything to help you."

"Thanks... I just don't know what to do anymore."

Suddenly, Finn appeared outside looking uncomfortable. "Ah, guys. Sorry to bother but," he  turned to me, "Elle... Parker's at the door."

I tensed. I knew he would guess we were here sooner or later. I was hoping for later. "Can you get rid of him?"

"I tried. He really wants to talk to you. He says he won't leave until he sees you."

"Well aren't you a big doofus!" Summer stood coming around to jab Finn in the chest. "Why'd you tell the guy they were here?"

"Shit babe, that hurts," Finn rubbed the spot where Summer touched. "He must have seen Luke through the window watching TV."

Summer threw up her hands. "If Elle won't deal with him," with a determined nod of her head, Summer declared, "I would."

"No!" I stood up quickly grabbing a hold of her elbow. Who knows what type of 'dealing' Summer had in mind. I still loved Parker and didn't want to see him in the hospital. "I'll talk to him."

"Elle! You can't! He has to learn from his mistakes and that is never seeing you again like you said."

I sighed. "I know, but I'll get him to leave." I walked into the house being followed by the couple. "I promise."

Summer raised an eyebrow looking at me wearily. "You're not going

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