Chapter Twenty-Five

Eleanor's POV

Oh the holidays! The holiday season was officially in place for the past two weeks. Christmas was right around the corner. Christmas decorations were up around the house, and the Christmas tree Parker ordered was coming in today! My sons were getting quite the butterflies in their stomach to decorate it. I had everything set on the floor for the three of us. 

The doorbell suddenly rang, and I got up from the couch to check it out.

"It's the tree, Momma!" Luke exclaimed running ahead of me to the door.

"Don't open the door yet, my angel," I called after him. 

When I reached it, I looked through the peephole, and it indeed, was the real tree. I saw a dark haired man with a clipboard, who should be no other than the delivery guy for the tree. I opened the door telling Luke to get behind me. 

"Hello, Mrs. Jenkins?" I nodded. "The tree you ordered is here. Where shall we put it?"

I looked behind him to his truck and saw the vast greenery. "Wow. I didn't know my husband got one that big." I frowned. Now the designated spot I was hoping it would be located at would be too small for the thing. "Just bring it in for now, and I'll see."

I pushed Luke away from the door, so they would be able to come through. "Go to the living room and watch your little brother for me."

"But Momma!" 

"Go now or you wouldn't get to help decorate."

He sulked walking away. I looked around me trying to find a spot. I was hoping to put the tree in the corner of the living room, but the ceiling was too low for it in that area. So the only spot I could think of putting the tree in was in the large foyer in the middle. I stood back a bit and looked. Yeah, that would be a nice place! Parker would be surprise coming home to it.

"Just put it right in the middle here," I pointed to the two men carrying the tree with the rope still tied around it. They placed it on the exact place on the first try. "Thank you both!" I smiled gratefully at them. "Is there some kind of delivery fee I need to pay?"

The shorter of the two men with light brown hair shook his head now. "Everything is taken care of. Thank you ma'am."

I walked them to the door. "Happy holidays." I said to them before closing the door behind me. "Luke! Peyton! Come and bring all the decor over here."

A few seconds later, I heard scrambling of feet and boxes being slid on the hardwood floor. My sons appeared in the room and looked at me expectantly. "Ready to decorate boys?"

"No sweetheart," I took the star from Peyton's hands who was getting ready to chuck it at the ground. "We have to save that later."

"We're done, Momma?" Luke asked sitting Indian style by the tree.

I nodded. "Yep. We just need Daddy to get the star up for us."

"Because he's tall?" 

I nodded picking him up in my arms and cuddling him to me. "Yes!" I heard the sound of the garage door opening with its creaky noise. "In fact I think he's here."

"Put me down, Momma! I wanna see him."

"Me too," Peyton said softly running towards the door. 

"Down Momma!" Luke struggled in my arms. I finally put him down with a fond smile on my face. 

I stayed behind fixing all the mess the three of us made. Empty boxes and boxes of ornaments were scattered all around us plus extra ribbon that we didn't use. I looked at the tree again. Wow. As a kid I never had a tree this big! My parents and I were dedicated Catholics, but we never went all out on the decorations. It was always a small, artificial tree.

I was bent down when I heard the chatter of Luke happily filling in Parker on what we did today. I straightened up just in time to see Parker's appreciative glance at the tree. 

"You did this all by yourself, buddy?" 

"No. Momma and Peyton too."

"Hey," I greeted him with a kiss. "The tree came in." Obviously, Elle. "I didn't know it was this big." 

"I wanted the best for the kids," he remarked looking at me with the same loving expression as he always did. I could never get tired of seeing it. "I see it's decorated ...interestingly."

I laughed nodding. By looking at the tree, you could see the spots where I placed the ornaments length apart and others when the kids did it all in close proximity. I didn't  have the heart to tell them to change it. Luke and Peyton were really proud of their work. 

"I wish I could have helped but with my last day at the office before break, I had a lot to do."

I picked up the star handing it to him with a smile. "Well, we could use some help putting this on the top."

He grinned taking it from me. "How thoughtful." He stepped onto the step stool we used that morning to decorate around the top. Luke and Peyton cheered when the huge star was set into place. 

"Can we turn it on right now, Momma?" Luke asked tugging at the hem of my shirt.

"Sure, angel, but be careful."

I watched as he ran over to the wall plug  and bent down, his little bum sticking in the air. "So, when do you want to go shopping for presents?" Parker whispered into my ear, as he stood closely beside me with his arm wrapped around my waist.

"Oh that almost slipped my mind!" I exclaimed. "Luke and Peyton haven't been asking much." Well mostly for the fact that I usually couldn't give them what they wanted for the past years. My gifts were always small. "Tomorrow's a good time for me. I'll ask Charlotte to babysit them."

"We're going alone?" He asked. I nodded. "Perfect." He winked kissing me briefly. 

"Beautiful mum." I looked down to see Peyton sitting by my feet looking up at the lighted tree. 

"It is beautiful, sweetheart," I said picking him up in my arms. "Don't you agree Luke?"

"Yes Momma!" He grinned. "I can't wait to see gifts under it!" He looked up to his father. "Daddy, will you buy me lots and lots of presents? I never had big gifts from Momma. They were always socks or coloring books. Never good toys!"

My heart just about fell to the ground. Hearing those words from my own son broke me. I couldn't blame him. He was right. I was sure he didn't mean to say any of those in a negative way. Luke was just an innocent, four year old kid. I tightened my hold on Peyton who was getting restless. Must be time for his daily nap.

"I'll see you both later," I gave Parker a small smile who was looking at me concerned. "I'll put Peyton to nap."

I quickly walked to my youngest son's bedroom before my husband could say anything else. I blinked away the tears that managed to form in my eyes. I wasn't angry at Luke, of course not. I was just mad and embarrassed that I couldn't provide for Luke. 

"Mum look this." 

I turned my attention back to Peyton who was now on the floor playing with two cars. "Sweetheart!" I chuckled picking him back up. "What are you doing? Didn't I put you to bed already?"

I must have dozed off into space after putting Peyton on his toddler bed instead of crib like I usually did. He still probably wasn't asleep fully when I left him on the bed and sat in the rocking chair beside the bed. 

"I play toys, Mum!" He explained wriggling in my arms. "No sleep!"

"Oh yes sleep," I refuted tickling him back onto the bed. "Nap or no dessert tonight."

"Not sleepy," he said just as he yawned heavily. 

"I bet you aren't," I smiled kissing him on his forehead before standing back up and leaving his room. 

On my way up the stairs, I bumped into Parker who was walking down. I held onto the hand railings before I went flying back down. 

"Whoa, you all right?" He asked balancing me on the step.

I smiled kissing him on his cheek. "Yep. Thanks."

I continued walking to my original destination which was the kitchen. I heard Parker's footsteps right behind me and knew he was following me without looking back.

"Listen..." He started standing right across the kitchen island with me seated on the other. "What Luke said. I'm sure he didn't mean. He's just a kid after all."

I laughed humorlessly eating a grape I prepared myself. "Parker it's not that. I love Luke, and I know he meant no harm. It's just... I felt ashamed that I couldn't give them what they wanted for Christmas or their birthdays you know?" I sighed. 

"You couldn't help it," he told me softly. "You were in a condition that most people wouldn't be able to get out of." He walked around to my side, standing behind me. He placed both his hands on my shoulders, rolling them around. "What matters is that you gave all your love to those two boys. That's the only thing that's important."

"And also to you," I mumbled leaning back on his stomach.

"Hmm?" He asked kissing the top of my head.

"I also gave my love to you."

True to his word, Parker and I went Christmas shopping for our friends and family the next day. We had to come up with a lie to tell our sons, so they won't beg on letting them come with us. Once they beg, it was difficult to say no. 

We went to the big indoor mall just an hour or two away from the house. Parker was a bit too enthusiastic on getting every chance he could get to drive his new toy. By new toy, I meant his new car from his father. Ever since his birthday, Parker's relationship with Thomas got better, and it was nice to see. 

"Any idea on what to get the boys?" He asked as we turned onto one road from another. 

I sighed and shook my head. "Not really, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult. Once we land in a toy store, there's a very good chance I could find something they like. You are the problem." I pointedly looked at him.

"Me?" He gasped mockingly.

"I could barely get you anything for your birthday," I muttered. "Now Christmas too?"

Parker waggled his eyebrows. "You could always give me the same thing."

"Not with the sons in the house," I retorted playfully with a slight blush. "Anyways, Ellie's coming home for Christmas isn't she? Agatha mentioned it to me on the phone earlier this morning. She's also insisted we go over there for dinner the day of Christmas."

He nodded taking it all in. "Yeah. That reminds me, I have to find a gift for my sister."

I smiled and stayed silent afterwards, not knowing what to say. We didn't need to say anything. Parker and I were ina comfortable silence. Less than an hour later, due to my husband's speeding, we reached the parking lot of the mall. Thankfully we found a good spot just a few spaces from the entrance. The cold air of the air conditioning shivered me to the bones because of the cold weather outside. I wrapped my long trench coat around me tighter, taking a step closer to Parker's side. 

"Where shall we go first?" He asked intertwining our hands together to let the world know he was mine, and I was his. 

I looked around me slipping on my shades to the top of my head. "We could split up... You go buy your friends gifts, and I'll do the same. We'll get it done faster."

"Not a chance," he pulled on my hand to bring me close to him. "Who said I want this shopping to go by fast?" I pursed my lips to the side shrugging. "I want to spend some alone time as long as I can with my lovely wife."

"Stop being a charmer," I mumbled rolling my eyes playfully and pulling him forward to an upscale department store. "Come on. Let's go then."

After hours of shopping and several trips back to the car with the bags, we were done. Well almost. 

"I still have to buy Ellie something. Would you mind helping me?" Parker asked as we headed away from the shopping mall and to the busy area of London.

I nodded. "Of course." I already bought his sister a present. At the third department store we went into, I chose some really cute Tory Burch pumps for her. It would seem a bit embarrassing if I get her shoes from a generic brand, even when Parker urged me that she wouldn't mind. "Where were you thinking of going?"

Without answering, he instead kept on driving and parked in front of a single building which was a very fancy and upscale jewelry store. I stared in awe around me at the uniformed salespeople looking the typical serious people they are as we walked in. Once they recognized who entered, smiles lit up their faces and couple of them stalked towards him right away. I tried to stifle in my smirk.

"Mr. Jenkins!" One of the youngest of the two exclaimed with a flip of her straight red hair. "Welcome back. Is there anything I can help you with?" Flip. Smile. Was she seriously flirting in front of a married man in front of the wife as well?

Probably seeing the look on my face, the older of the two who seemed to have no interest in Parker sent the younger one away to another customer. She gave the both of us friendly smiles. "Mr. Jenkins." She nodded at Parker and then at me. "Mrs. Jenkins."

Wow. The Jenkins family must be really well-known and famous throughout the entire city. Maybe even country.

"Is there anything I could help you with?" She directed at the both of us. "Christmas shopping, I presume?"

"I'm actually shopping for my little sister. I don't know what to give her. Maybe you can show me around to a few jewelry pieces?" Parker asked sincerely.

I let go of his arm to let him follow behind the salesclerk. I gave him a reassuring smile and waved him on when he turned back around. I stayed behind, and soon he disappeared in the immense room. I walked and browsed all the jewelry on display. I ran my fingers over the transparent glass case looking at the beautiful pendants. 

I wavered my eyes away from the prices labeled knowing that would give me a heart attack. If Parker could spend something that huge on a single item, I was the polar opposite. Coming from my background of close to poverty, I was still trying to get myself situated into a life like Parker's. 

"Need any help?" 

I jumped slightly and turned around with a humiliated look on my face for my startle. I was face to face with the same young sales person who was giving Parker the look earlier. "Oh, no I'm fine. Thank you."

"Well we only let in promising customers into this place," she said acidly. "No loiterers allowed. So unless you're thinking of buying something, which I'm sure you're not able to even afford the cheapest item we sell," the red-haired girl looked me up and down and made it clear, "I suggest you leave before I call security on you."

I stared back at her with an amused smile. Did she not recognize me with Parker when she greeted him? I placed both hands on my hips laughing outwardly. "Excuse me? Are you... are you threatening on kicking me out?"

She stood up straighter which leveled us thanks to her super high heels. "That is correct. Leave or there wouldn't be a problem."

"No. I am a customer here, and I will stay thank you very much."

"I've seen you do nothing but look around for the past minutes. That leaves me nothing to do but think that you are planning on stealing one of our jewelry."

I couldn't help it, I busted out laughing. If only she knew who I was. I shook my head. "Unbelievable," I mumbled under my breath turning back around and continued my browsing.

"You left me nothing to do but," I heard her say to me, then she left. A few seconds later she came back beside me and told to the person next to her, "There she is. Get her out of here."

I was surprised by behind held onto on my elbows by no other than a security guard! "Hey! Let me go!" I struggled from his grasp.

"Sorry miss. I'm only taking orders. Let's go."

"What the hell?" I shouted, probably creating a huge scene now. I didn't care that people were looking. I was being kicked out of an upscale jewelry store, because I looked liked the poor! Oh curse Summer for thinking that tribal patterns were in fashion. It just made me look like a hooligan! 

I turned back to glare one last time at the red haired girl who had a triumphant look on her face. 

"Eleanor?" I had never been so happy to hear his voice. I looked at Parker who was coming back with the woman he left with. He had two big boxes in his hands looking down at it with his cute, concentrating face. "I'm not sure which one Ellie would like better. I need your..." His last sentence trailed off finally looking up.

It must have been a weird sight. His wife being held by a security guard who was in the process of dragging me to the doors. I gave him a sheepish look and a wave with my hand. "Hey there."

"What in the bloody hell is going on here?" He barked to the security guard with a menacing look on his face. He placed the boxes on a counter and strode over to where I was being held captive. Parker yanked me from the guard's grasp and pulled me close to him in a protective hug. "Louisa. What kind of service is this?" He directed at the older woman.

"Sir, I'm so sorry!" She rushed to apologize with a nervous look. "I apologize on behalf our trainee and the security guard. Dan, it's fine. You may go back outside." To the younger girl, she glared. "Bethany. Eleanor is Mr. Jenkins' wife." 

I saw the stupefied and mortified expression on the sales clerk who adamantly wanted me out of this place. Serves her right. Who had the smug look on her face now?

"Are you all right?" Parker asked looking down at me as he cupped my face in his. His concerned tone of voice warmed me. I nodded and placed my hands over his, squeezing it. "Don't worry. They won't get away with this."

"Parker, it's no big deal. Just buy the jewelry, and let's go." I pleaded stepping out of his arms and standing beside him.

"Mrs. Jenkins," Bethany rushed up to me taking my hands in hers. "I am so sorry. So so sorry!" The poor girl almost had tears in her eyes. "I had no idea who you were!" Turning to my husband she lowered her head. "Sir Jenkins. I deeply apologize for the inconvenience."

I only scoffed and looked away. 

"Bethany, go to the back room. Now." Louisa, who was probably the authority figure in this place, demanded. The girl scurried away from sight. "Mr. Parker, I am once again sorry for the chaos. We should continue on with the presents, shall we?"

Parker had disbelief etched on his face. "Continue?" He took the boxes from where he left it and not so gently gave it back. "After the way your employees treated my wife, I don't believe that I will be purchasing from this store today or ever. Your owner will be hearing from me and expect bad reviews on this place. Good day." He said briskly and led me out of the store.

I held my laughter in for this long and finally let it out as soon as he opened the passenger door for me. "That was harsh, wasn't it?" I asked him when he slid into the driver's seat with a smile lingering on my face. 

"They lost themselves a possible sale of a hundred thousand pounds," he muttered. "Remind me to never go back here."

I shook my head and kissed his cheek. "Oh Parker. It was only a misunderstanding. They thought I wasn't as upper class as the customers they normally have."

"It doesn't matter. They shouldn't be treating people like that in general."

"Thank you for standing up for me."

"Always," he stated with a smile and a kiss on my wrist.

After the incident we went ahead to another jewelry store where Parker informed me was the place he bought my wedding ring. The employees were much better behaved and treated their customers nicely in here. He successfully found a