Disclaimer:  In first chapter

Chapter 15

She couldn’t believe it; here she was sitting at a high school football game with Jarod of all people, waiting to watch their eldest son play.  It just felt surreal to her.  With fifteen minutes left before the game started, Jarod and Brandon headed off down to the concession stand.  Sitting by herself, she looked down on the field to find Sarah and Debbie wearing matching jackets that said ‘stats’ on the back.  Miss Parker found out that morning that both girls were known as ‘stat girls’, which meant they kept stats for the football team.  Boy, did a lot of things happen this morning…

As she sat back down at the kitchen table, she listened intently as Jarod revealed more findings about her mother’s death.  Jarod told her about the rumors that circulated around town saying that Catherine was killed because of what she knew her husband did on the side to make more money.  But, she died before she told any authorities.  There was another rumor saying she had all this revealing evidence against Mr. Parker locked away somewhere that only she and someone else knew, but as to whom that other person was, it was still a mystery.  Of course, Miss Parker knew these rumors had to be true, now they both just needed to find them.

She listened more as Jarod told her about the contact he was suppose to meet on the pier, but whose life was cut tragically short.  When he mentioned one of the gunmen as Willie, she stiffened in her chair.  If Willie was involved, then that meant Mr. Raines wasn’t far behind.  Raines had to be the one that killed her mother.  And this time, she wouldn’t let the emphysema ghoul off so easily.  She would shoot first and ask questions later.

Maybe that was the kicker in this whole little charade of hers.  She had to avenge her mother’s death, see that the murderers are brought to justice so that she could somehow go back to her own world.  Watching Jarod gazing out the window, she couldn’t fight off the nagging feeling that there was something else he wasn’t telling her, but she decided to let it go, who knows, maybe paranoia was starting to take over her mind.

No sooner had they finished their little talk did Sarah and Josh come walking through the door, followed by Brandon and Lyle.  When Jarod saw her brother his jaw clenched as he got up to leave.   Before departing, he bent down by her ear whispering that he would be back around 4 o’clock to pick her for the game, and then gave her a quick peck on the cheek.  Watching his retreating form, she brought her hand up to her cheek, giving Jarod a stunned look.

As Josh sat the two boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the table, Brandon brought out a carton of chocolate milk to sit on the table.  Sarah meanwhile stood against the wall, picking at a doughnut in her hand, doing her best to avoid her mother’s eyes.  Clearing her throat, Sarah mumbled out, “So Mom, how…” she didn’t finish her question as she was interrupted by the ringing telephone beside her.  Stopping mid sentence she picked up the phone an answered it.  “Hello…yeah…a huh…let me call you back,” she then hung up the phone.  Turning to her mother she told her she had to call Debbie back, and then left the room.

Turning back around in her chair, she glanced over at Lyle.  He still seemed to be the normal, loving brother she met from last night.  His eyes held no madness only love for the family that sat before him.  She watched him as he held a civil conversation with Josh, always laughing or smiling at whatever Josh had to say.    She was soon interrupted from her thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring.  Getting up, she went to answer it.  “Daddy?” she gasped.

“Ah Angel, glad to see you up and about.”  Grabbing her hands, he leaned forward giving her a kiss on the cheek before letting himself in.  “So tell me, how are you doing?”

Still dumbfounded she replied, “I…I’m fine.  What are you doing here?”

He frowned at her question.  “You’re my daughter.  Is it against the law for a father to be concerned about his daughter?” he smiled.

“No, of course not Daddy,” she answered, running a nervous hand through her hair.  “Do you want something to eat or drink?” she offered.

Still smiling at her, he shook his head.  “No that’s okay, I’ve already had breakfast.” 

Leading her father into the kitchen, everyone stopped talking, wary looks cast upon their faces.  “Mr. Parker,” Lyle bit out sarcastically.

Her father just ignored Lyle’s comment, taking a seat between Josh and Brandon.  Miss Parker watched with peculiar eyes as her father’s face lit up when talking to Josh, but when Brandon tried to say something, her father would give a stern, almost disgusted look at the red hair boy.  With a solemn look upon his face, Brandon sat back in his chair, picking at the glazed doughnut sitting before him.  She then saw something she thought she would never see, Lyle showing concern for someone else.

She watched in fascination as Lyle got up from his chair, walking over to Brandon.  Sitting down beside him, he asked Brandon to tell him what was on his mind.  The young boy’s eyes lit up as he talked about how Josh was going to lead Blue Cove High to victory over those pathetic Bulldogs of Adams High.  Lyle grinned at him, saying that he was right as he ruffled the boy’s hair.  Brandon began laughing hysterically as Lyle tickled him mercilessly.  Out of control with laughter, Brandon’s arm flew out, knocking over his glass of chocolate milk, the contents spilling all over Mr. Parker’s lap.  At that precise moment, Sarah came walking in, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw her Grandpa.

“Damn it!” Mr. Parker yelled out loud as he jumped from his chair. 

Brandon and Lyle both stopped what they were doing.  “I…I’m sorry Grandpa.  I didn’t mean…” apologized Brandon.

Mr. Parker stared at him, fire burning in his eyes.  Brandon sank back in his chair, frightened of the old man before him.  Miss Parker knew she had to do something.  “Daddy, it was an accident,” she tried to reassure him, but her father had that look in his eyes whenever he lashed out at people.

“Accident my ass, that little brat knew what he was doing,” he snarled.  “See, this is what happens when you marry a heathen, you have heathen children.”

She flinched at her father’s words as if she had been slapped.  Looking down at Brandon, she could see the tears streaming down his eyes as he tried to put on a brave face.  Becoming angry, she looked back at her father with seething eyes.  “How dare you talk about him like that?  He’s just a kid for crying out loud.  If I ever hear you talk that way to him again…”

“Angel,” he interjected, trying to gain some composure.  “Calm down.  I’m only speaking the truth.  If you would’ve listened to your father you would be married to a wealthy, sophisticated man like Mr. Cox instead of Jarod.”

Before she could reply back, Sarah walked past her, standing toe to toe with the old man.  “You don’t know anything about my father.  He’s ten times the father you’ll ever be.  And in case you’ve forgotten you’ve got three grandchildren, not one, but three, got that?” she said furiously.

Looking up at Miss Parker, her father commented, “Are you going to stand there and let her talk to me like that?”

Heaving a sigh, she glanced at Sarah, “Sarah, you…”

Throwing her hands up in the air, she interrupted Miss Parker, “I don’t believe this.  Here we go again, you taking his side.  I’m so sick of this.”  Without saying another word, Sarah stormed out of the kitchen, ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door shut.

The room remained silent, the only noise being that of Brandon’s sniffling as he tried to stop himself from crying.  Mr. Parker glared at the boy.  “Would you be quiet and stop that whining?  For crying out loud, you’re a Parker so start acting like one,” Mr. Parker scolded.

“I…I’m…sorry,” Brandon choked out.

Miss Parker had enough of this.  Grabbing her father’s coat she suggested coldly, “Maybe its best if you leave voluntarily before I throw you out.”

With disbelief in his eyes he replied back, “I’m your father, you can’t talk to me like that.”

“Says who?” Lyle interjected angrily. 

Mr. Parker took a step closer to Lyle.  “Just so you know your words have no impact on me anymore.  You’ve been dead to me for the past ten years now.  Choosing religion over law, such a dismal career path.”  Looking his son up and down he scoffed.  “Just like your mother, so weak and pathetic.”

Before Miss Parker knew what was happening, Lyle bolted from his chair, grabbing Mr. Parker roughly by the collar.  “Don’t EVER talk about her like that again!” he spat out. 

Miss Parker and Josh instantly rushed over, trying to ease Lyle’s grip from Mr. Parker.  Try as they might, Lyle’s grip was to strong.  Looking over at Brandon then back at Lyle she commented, “Bobby, let go of him.  Brandon is scared as it is; don’t frighten him anymore by doing this.”  Lyle looked over at her then back to Brandon, finally he let go.  Running a nervous hand through his hair he said he was sorry, looking dazed, he grabbed his coat and headed out the door.

Her father cleared his throat and straightened his tie.  Without saying anything else, Mr. Parker walked briskly to the door letting his own self out.  When the door slammed shut, Brandon got up from his chair, ready to bolt from the room, however Miss Parker stopped him, wrapping her arms around the hurt, young boy.  “Brandon, I’m so sorry.  I shouldn’t have let him talk to you like that.  I’m sorry, baby.”

“Its okay, Mom,” he mumbled through the tears.

Holding him more tightly she responded back, “No, it’s not.”

As the day wore on, Sarah remained in her room, only coming out for lunch.  Miss Parker tried talking to her, but the girl remained quiet, giving her the silent treatment.  As both girls turned around to look up at the stands, Miss Parker instantly waved her hand at them.  Debbie eagerly waved back, however Sarah gave her a disgusted look, turning back around.  Sighing in defeat, she looked over to the side to find someone walking up the bleachers to her.  Smiling she said, “Sydney, I’m so glad to see you.”

XXXXXX

To Be Continued…