Summary: The first in a series of vignettes. Miss Parker's life through her father's eyes.
Categories: Prequel Characters: Mr Parker
Genres: General, Vignette
Warnings: None
Challenges: None
Series: None
Chapters: 1
Completed: Yes
Word count: 631
Read: 2473
Published: 12/05/05
Updated: 12/05/05
Daddy's Girl by Melanie Anne
Disclaimer: Not my characters. I'm just playing in someone else's sandbox. Sharing is caring ;-)
i. Angel
If God could make angels, why did he bother with men? (Dagobert D. Runes)
When the Triumvirate first told me their plan, I didn't want to do it. Catherine and I were still so newly in love and I'd promised her I'd never lie to her. I told them I'd think about it. I couldn't sleep so I spent the night looking at your mother and thinking. Thinking about how lucky I was to have her in my life. She could have had anyone but she chose me. There must be something in me to love, then.
The next day I told the Triumvirate, "No." I thought, foolishly, that would be the end of it.
I remember every detail of the day Catherine told me she was pregnant. I'd just come out of a meeting about a new project and she was waiting for me in my office. She stood to greet me when I entered and I remember thinking that I'd never seen her more beautiful. She was so excited; she could hardly get the words out, so she handed me a sheet of paper. They were test results. I went cold – they had gone ahead despite my refusal. But Catherine was so happy. I could hardly tell her the truth now.
That was the first deliberate lie between us.
I almost didn't come to see you, but in the end I knew Catherine would want to know why – and I can never tell her the truth. So here I stand, in the darkened Centre nursery, wondering when exactly I lost control of my life. But you are so beautiful and so tiny and so, so innocent. I can't help myself; I pick you up. You open your eyes and I expect you to cry but, instead, you smile. You are so perfect. For a second, I seriously contemplate taking you and running, leaving this place for good. Maybe one day I will.
You wrap your hand around my finger and I'm surprised to find that there are tears in my eyes.
You have a brother, do you know that? They took him away and told Catherine he was dead. I can't tell her he's not – just another lie between us. The list grows longer every day and I'm sure she suspects something. She must. She's always been intuitive. Maybe if I knew what they'd done with the boy, maybe then I'd tell her. All I know is that he's no longer in the Centre – apparently being the chairman doesn't hold as much power as it used to.
I hope you find him one day. You deserve to know each other, to love each other. I get the sense that together, the two of you could do great things.
Maybe that's why they took him away.
I gently run my finger down your cheek. Your skin is so soft. Before I know it, I place a kiss on your forehead. You smile again. I can already see Catherine in you – you have her smile and you have the same light in your eyes that she does.
God help me, I think I'm falling in love with you already.
"Excuse me, Mr. Parker. Your wife's asking for you."
I look up and frown at the intruder. It's just a young nurse. She must be new – I've never seen her before.
"I'll be right there."
I lay you carefully back down then kiss your forehead. I'll be back as soon as I can.
"Goodnight, my angel."
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.