Chapter Twenty-Seven

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Chapter Twenty-Seven

Eleanor's POV 

"Father? Mum?" I asked slowly, my eyes darting back and forth between my parents.

I watched as they rose up from their spots on the armchairs with glistening eyes. It had been around six years I hadn't seen them. Six very long years, and now they were here. They were here! Standing in front of me in their flesh and blood, my blood, were my parents. They didn't look the same from last time I saw them. They aged terribly in the time I was gone. 

But I could recognize them from anything. The two people who raised me. 

"Oh, Eleanor Rose, is that you?" Father was the first to ask with a wrinkly smile. 

I nodded vehemently. "Yes. Yes. It's me." 

I didn't realize I was holding on to Parker's hand tightly for he took his hand and motioned me with a small smile to go on. I turned back to my parents and without a moment's hesitation ran towards my father's open arms. The tears I was holding back on broke free as soon as I touched him once again. I was fragile in his arms, him having to hold onto me to keep me upright.

"Oh Father, I'm so sorry!" I blubbered out into his chest. "So sorry."

"Shh, nothing's to be sorry for, honey," he whispered into my hair comforting me. "Your mother and I are sorry. We love you very much and didn't show it the right way."

Hearing him mention my mother, I turned to look to the left of him and saw my mum into tears. The strongest person I know, Carmela Edeson, who doesn't break down into tears was crying. For me. She looked at me with  sad, dejected eyes. My mother looked worn out. Stressed. Although underneath all that weariness was the beauty she always had with her. People would always tease me and say that I got my looks from her. It was true. She opened out one arm slightly, and that was enough for me to break free from my dad and go to her.

"Mum!" I cried out hugging her to me tightly. "Mum, I'm sorry. For everything."

"Shh, now," she said bringing me down to the couch to sit. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders not wanting to let go. After finally seeing them again, I didn't want them to disappear. I didn't want to wake up and realize this was all only a dream. 

But seeing Parker's smiling, knowing face, I knew it wasn't. It couldn't be. He set this all up. He knew how much I wanted to be with my parents again. Didn't I have the best husband ever?

"I'm here," my mother told me kissing my forehead like I was a little girl when I first broke my arm. I might as well have been by how I was acting. "Your father and I would let go. Ever again. I love you so much, my sweet, dear Eleanor."

I felt the other side of me go down, and I knew my father was here. He placed a tender hand on my shoulder rubbing it, trying to calm me down. After I regained my composure, I sat up straighter grabbing a hold of my parents' hands in each of my own. 

"I'll give you three a private moment with each other," Parker said politely from where he was standing. Looking at me, he said, "I'll put Luke to bed." Then he left without saying another word.

I cleared my throat wanting to say something. Just anything

"I'm married," I blurted out.

They nodded smiling softly. "We know." Mum said. "Parker told us everything."

"How was he able to contact you?" I asked suddenly now very curious of the answer. 

Father answered for me. "He's a very powerful man. I'm sure getting a way to contact us was no problem. You chose a very nice one to marry, Eleanor Rose." I smiled, loving the way I get to hear my dad call me Eleanor Rose. He was the only one who ever did so.

"I know I did. I'm very lucky with him."

"Why don't you tell us everything, dear?" Mum asked rubbing my arm. "We've missed so much of your life. I missed my only daughter and child's biggest accomplishments."

And so I told them in a very long discussion of what my life has been like after we soon stopped seeing each other. My mum, especially, cried out in tears of when I told her of my very weakest moments. When I was homeless with two kids, and Riley leaving me. It was very painful for her to hear, and I to tell, about those years before Parker.

Although as soon as I told them about when I met and married Parker, I found myself eager and delighted to tell them. How he treated me nicely and took my sons in as their own. I told them the truth about how I intentionally only married him for the money but grew to love him in the end. My own gallery. (They apologized for not believing and supporting my talents then.) I was proud to tell them my life, not one bit ashamed.

"I'm so proud of where you've come from," Father told me. 

"And I'm glad that in a way, you've come to a peaceful moment in your life," Mum added. 

"It's never peaceful with having two toddler boys around," I said frowning, "but they're my pride and joy. I would never trade them for the world."

Mum perked up, remnants of her tears gone. "Speaking of which, I am very excited to meet my grandsons. If you let me, of course."

I tilted my head in confusion. "Of course I would want that! That's all I ever wanted when I had them. For you both," I looked at my father, "to accept and meet your adorable grandsons."

She smiled sadly. "It's just... When you first visited with a baby in your arms on our doorstep, I panicked thinking you ruined your whole life. I didn't want a reminder of that... that Riley." She spat out.

I shook my head adamantly. "No more. No more of him. Luke and Peyton, they are Parker's sons. Always will be." After a moment, I yawned. "How has your lives been, Mum? Father?"

"Maybe we should continue this conversation tomorrow," Father suggested with a bemused smile. "My daughter is the definition of sleep-deprived."

"I can stay awake," I mumbled yawning once again. Oh gosh! I was just like Luke earlier this night. It was just that... I was afraid of waking up the next morning and seeing them gone.

"We will be here first thing in the morning. Agatha and Thomas has so graciously offered to have us for breakfast. We won't be gone. Like we said, we are never leaving our daughter again," Mum assured me as if reading my mind. She was definitely my mother. 

I nodded standing up. "Where are you guys staying for the night?" I followed them, walking over to the huge doors.

"Just a hotel downtown," Father said putting on his coat. He kissed me on my forehead. "Good night, Eleanor Rose. God knows how long I have wanted to bid you a night farewell in years. I love you, don't ever forget that." 

I smiled kissing his cheek. "Good night, Father. I love you too." To Mum, I hugged her quickly. "Good night, Mum. I love you."

"Night, honey," she said kissing me on the cheek before following my dad into the car I remembered they had always been using while traveling.

I stood in the open doorway never minding the cold air seeping inside and shivering me to my bones. I watched as my mom waved from inside the car until they disappeared through the long driveway. I finally closed the door behind me, making sure to lock it, and turned around only to jump up in alarm at seeing a figure by the staircase.

"Parker!" I yelled. "Goodness, you gave me a fright."

"Sorry, babe," he said yawning. "Ready to sleep?"

"Why did you wait up for me?" I asked walking over to him and snuggling under his arm to warm me up. "I could have gone to bed myself."

"That's all right," he answered walking up the stairs along sides me. "I wanted to wait up for you."

"Thank you," I said to him. "Thank you for bringing my parents to me, when I couldn't. I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I just can't express it enough."

"Maybe you can show me?" He asked waggling his eyebrows as we walked through our bedroom for the night. It turned out to be Parker's old room when he was a child growing up.

I rolled my eyes and laughed stripping off my hair from the bun it was in. "Not under your parents' house and definitely not with the kids next door." I crawled under the covers patting the empty space between me. "Come on, Parker. Let's go to sleep."

"Just sleep?" He pouted pulling me close to him in bed as he got in.

I nodded and muttered sleepily, "Only sleep."

"Momma?" Luke asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

"It's me, my angel," I replied stroking his matted hair. I was leaning over the bed trying to wake him up the next morning but didn't have the heart to. He looked so peaceful sleeping I didn't want to wake them! Although my eldest son woke up as soon as I touched him. "Time to wake up."

"Where's Peyton?" He patted the empty space where his younger brother was sleeping the night. 

"He's downstairs," I answered picking my son up and seated him on my lap as I sat down. "Angel, I want you to meet some people this morning." I referred to my parents, his grandparents, who were already here having a nice conversation with the rest of the adults. Peyton was already with them, already warmed up to them quickly.

"Who?" He asked leaning his head against my chest sleepily. 

"You'll see." I stood up him still in my arms. "Come on. Let's go freshen up and you can have breakfast."

I walked into the bathroom sitting him on the sink counter. I took a washcloth and dabbed it with warm water splashing it onto his face to wake him up a bit. 

"Momma! That tickles!" He laughed out loud as I reached his armpits.

"Does it?" I asked nonchalantly digging in to tickle him further. 

He nodded still squealing. "Stop it! Please, Momma!"

"Since you said the magic word..." I grinned and kissed him on his forehead.

I quickly changed his pajamas into clean clothes and walked with him down the stairs hand in hand. It just seemed like a few months ago when I had to carry him in my arms! I led him to the tremendous sun room where everyone was talking and having their late breakfasts. I opened the sun screen door spotting my parents right away with Peyton now in Parker's arms. Agatha and Thomas were chatting with my set of parents. Ellie was the only one missing who I assumed left to go pick up Jack from the airport.

"Oh is that the famous Luke?" My mum asked lightheartedly looking at her only other grandson. 

I smiled and nodded pushing Luke gently into her arms. "Luke, angel, that's your Grandma Laura."

Luke looked up at me concerned and ...frightened almost. "Grandma? She's my grandma!" He pointed straight to Agatha who had a piteous smile on her face.

A look of hurt flashed through my mum's face. I rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. 

"Luke, you know you can have two grandmothers, right?" I said encouragingly. "Agatha's your daddy's mother, and Carmela is my mother. Isn't that fun? Two grandmothers to spoil you even more?"

Luke didn't find my joke funny and shied away even further from my mum. "No. Momma, I'm hungry."

"Here, dear," Thomas handed my son a plate full of breakfast items with a small smile. "We saved this especially for you."

He took it cautiously then quickly walking over to Parker's empty chair beside him. He helped Luke into the seat saying things into his ear which made him laugh.

"Oh, Eleanor," Mum said as I sat down beside her. "It seems like my own grandchild doesn't like me."

"He'll lighten up," Agatha offered hopefully. "He was the way with me. Never making eye contact and stayed away from me like I was the plague! He'll be sucking up to you in no time, Carmela. Especially as soon as you show him your gifts."

Carmela laughed and nodded. "Oh yes. Kids are like that sometimes." 

I smiled at the two, loving the way they got along so well with each other. We spent the entire morning getting to know each other once again. Primarily my parents and I. Once Luke was finished eating, Mum and Dad gave him a bundle of Christmas gifts, and he loosened up a bit towards them.

By the end of the day, he was wrapped up in their arms saying goodbyes.

"Do you really have to go?" I asked when I hugged my mum goodbye. 

After having lunch with Parker's parents and Ellie and her fiancee, we headed over to our house to show them around. We spent the entire day just bonding with each other, getting to know one another once again. Although now, it was time for them to go back to Yorkshire. As doctors, they couldn't have much time off from their work. It was a very demanding job. They were lucky to have had three days off to come and see me when Parker asked them to. "I do, honey," she said kissing me once again on my cheeks. "I want to so badly take you home with me, but seeing as you now have your own family," she winked at Parker, "I wouldn't do that."

"We'll visit soon," Parker promised behind me with his hand on my shoulder. "It would be nice to see where my wife grew up."

"Oh definitely." 

"Well, we better get going," my father announced putting his jacket on. "We don't want to be out too late on the road."

I smiled teary at my father and hugged him. "Dad! I'll miss you."

"I'll miss my baby girl as well," he smiled and kissed me. "You be a good wife to Parker, all right?" I laughed and nodded. "Where are those boys of yours?"

Parker called for Luke and Peyton, and they came running into the room with one of their new toys. "Say bye to your grandparents!" I told them patting them on their shoulders. 

"Bye grandmum!" Luke exclaimed hugging her around her neck. "Bye granddad!"

Peyton followed his older brother's actions like he was his shadow. It was cute to see them like this instead of fighting all the time.

I said my final goodbyes to my parents and watched them leave to their car from the front door wrapping myself tightly in a fleece blanket. Snow was still heavily falling to the ground. The snowman my sons and Father built this afternoon was still in tact in our front yard. I closed the door gently beside me and turned around to see Parker standing there with a mug of hot beverage. 

"Parker, hey," I said surprised locking the door behind me. "What are you doing?"

"I thought my wife would be cold," he handed me the drink which turned out to be hot chocolate. I took a sip and moaned in satisfaction. "Good?" 

I nodded. "Very."

"Great, because I made it myself," he boasted with a quick smile. "Are you tired? I think we should go to bed."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Why are you so eager to get in bed?" 

He shrugged nonchalantly. "No reason."

I grinned and pecked him on the lips. "I'll just put the boys to bed."

After a struggle of putting Luke to bed, I finally climbed back up the stairs to my bedroom. Peyton was much easier; he was clearly exhausted from the happenings of today and yesterday. I swung the door open to find myself laughing uncontrollably.

"That's kind of not encouraging," Parker stated, pouting from his spot on the bed.

"I- I'm sorry," I said through my fits of giggles coming closer to inspect what he did. "I just wasn't expecting this. What did you do?

All around me were rose petals scatted across the floor and on the bed. There were even new, deep red bed sheets in place of our previous covers. Candles were lit on every surface you could find. The lights were dimmed giving it a romantic atmosphere.

He shrugged and sat up in bed, the covers falling just barely enough to cover where the 'V' led. "I tried to be romantic, and this is what I get?"

"I'm sorry," I said climbing on the bed and crawling over to him to kiss him on the lips. "I was just startled is all. It is quite romantic."

"Really?" He asked pulling me to him for another, much longer kiss. "I know we couldn't go off to a romantic hotel with the kids around, and I know how much you would want to spend Christmas with the boys. So I improvised the whole thing." He motioned around us rubbing my back with his hand. His hand got dangerously close to the clasp on my bra. "Do you like it?"

"I love it."  The clasp went undone.

I woke up early the next morning if it weren't for the constant noise I woke up to. I slowly blinked my eyes open looking at the clock on my bedside table. It was only seven in the morning. 

"Parker, what's all that-" I stopped mid-sentence to find that I was alone on the bed. Furrowing my eyebrows, I glanced around the room. My eyes landed on the open bathroom door to hear noise coming from his closet. "Parker?" I called out sitting up on the bed making sure to bring the covers with me to cover my body.

He appeared in the doorway fixing his tie. "Eleanor. Good morning."

"What?" I asked confused. "Why are you getting dressed up? I thought you don't start working until after the new year."

He sighed once he was done with his tie and came over to me for a kiss. "The board called an emergency meeting for the merge that's about to happen. It couldn't wait even a day."

"Right now?" I asked my spirits lessening. 

He nodded. "I'm afraid so."

"How long will you be at the office? The boys will be crushed when they see you gone and can't play with their toys."

"Hopefully I'll be back after lunch. Tell them sorry for me," he said grabbing the back of my head and kissing my forehead. "I love you. Go back to sleep."

I smiled and kissed him once more. "I love you too."

I watched him shrug on his suit jacket and gave him one last smile and wave. He retreated out of the bedroom, and I plopped back down on the bed. It was going to be one long morning without him here.

All morning, I played with my sons out in the snow to make up for Parker leaving. Thankfully the snow stopped overnight and left us with an abundant of white snow. We made several snowmen, Luke insisting on making an entire family.

Peyton wasn't too fond of the snow, crying once we stepped foot outside. I tried getting him to loosen up for a few minutes but he wouldn't stop crying. I was starting to worry about my little bugger. This wasn't normal for him. After a few attempts at handing him a snowball to throw, I finally gave up and brought him inside for a nap. I went back out to Luke and helped him finish his goal.

"Momma! Door!" Luke informed me from the kitchen doorway. I was in the kitchen trying to come up with a decent lunch for us to eat. 

"What, Angel?" I asked him distractedly reading off of a recipe I printed off on line.

"Someone's at the door!" He yelled louder. 

"Don't shout at me like that," I admonished and set the paper down. "Is your brother still asleep?" He nodded. "Go wake him up for me. It's almost time for lunch. I'll just open the door. Your father must be back."

I eagerly walked to the door and swung it open without checking if it really was Parker. My expression didn't quite add up to the amount of surprise I felt. There in front of me in her too skimpy clothes for winter was the infamous Heidi. My eyes landed first on her conspicuous belly.

A very pregnant looking Heidi.

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