In the End

As was stated in the last chapter, after the last ghost's identity was revealed to our Miss Parker, she awoke in her own bed, in her own room, with tears coursing down her cheeks. She had seen the past, the present and the future, and something in her had changed.

The shrill of the telephone interrupted her train of thought, reaching a hand out, she picked up the receiver, held it to her ear, then heard a familiar voice.

"Hello," she said, rather softly.

"Miss Parker," the male voice said, shock in his voice at her greeting.

"Yes, Jarod. You do have a good reason for calling this earlier or isn't it late for you?" Miss Parker inquired.

"Of course, I have a good reason. I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas," returned Jarod.

"Thank you," she whispered, " You too!"

"Pardon me, but did I dial the right number, this is Miss Parker, the Ice Queen," Jarod said.

"Yes wonder-boy, you did? "

"What brought about the transformation, if I might ask?"

"You can ask, Jarod but I don't have to answer you?"

" That's quite all right, Miss Parker. Merry Christmas!" the click of the receiver indicated that he had terminated the call.

"Merry Christmas, Jarod," she whispered," And believe me, I won't underestimate Lyle."

She dressed and then went to the cemetary. She stopped in front of the small black marble headstone. After placing a small evergreen wreath on his grave, she made her way to the other two headstones. Her mother's and Faith's.

"Thank you, momma. I won't let the Centre win, I promise." she placed the pointsetta that she had brought with her, between the two headstones.

She paced outside the door of Sydney's for a good fifteen minutes before she gathered up the courage to knock. The door opened. Sydney stared, somewhat startled to find Miss Parker on his doorstep.

"Does the invitation still stand, Syd?"

"Of course it does, Miss Parker. Come in."

It felt like home to her in about five minutes. That she had wanted to spend the day at the Centre had amazed her, when she had family that cared for her and accepted her for who she was. This was happiness.

Miss Parker returned home from Sydney's later that evening, and as she walked up the steps to her front door, she was surprised to find a gold foil wrapped gift propped against the door. Reaching down she picked up the gift and opened the door; stepped into her dark house, flicked the light switch, quickly placed the gift on the coffee table, shrugged out of her coat before taking a seat on the sofa. She unwrapped the gift, looking for a card, only to find none. Nestled inside the gold tissue paper was an exquisite porcelain angel. The same angel that momma used to put on her nightstand when she was little. She know who gave her this piece of her past. Taking the angel and herself, she made herway to her bedroom for a good night sleep.

Sitting in her office early the next morning, with the door open, Miss Parker waited for Broots to come in. Knowing full well that he would be late. Glancing at the clock on her desk, eight, and no Broots. Thirty minutes later, and finally the timid step of Broots was heard by the woman.

"Broots!"

"Yessss, Misss Parker. Sorry that I'm late but. . ."

"Broots, don't you have a skating party to attend with your daughter, this afternoon," she smiled.

"Yes, yes I do, but how did. . ."

"Then go and have a good time."

"Are you sure?"

Go, before I change my mind," she snapped, as she watched the computer techie scurry out of the office. A smile played upon her lips. The ringing of the phone on her desk captured her attention.

"What?"

"That's the Miss Parker, I remember," Jarod smirked on the other end.

"What do you want Jarod?" she smiled.

"To warn you that your dear brother is. . ."

"I know whom to trust and whom not too. See you in the new year, Jarod."

The fact that the line went dead signalled that the call was over.

Looking up from her desk, she saw her brother standing in the doorway, grinning rather cagily.

"Did you have a nice Christmas, Parker?" he purred.

"Bah humbug, Lyle! Now excuse me but I have something to attend too," she left her brother standing there, his mouth wide open standing, as she excused herself, heading for the elevator, a pair of ice skates in her hands.

THE END