Disclaimer: see part 1
Part 3
"Hi honey."
Jarod said sweetly looking up Miss Parker. Then, turning to look at the other woman he said,
"Joy, this is my wife Mary."
Then, looking at Parker he said, "This is the woman who owns the house next door, Joy Richardson."
"It’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Russell." Joy said smiling.
"You too." Replied Parker.
"Well, I’d better get going, my husband will wonder if I fell in. I hope to see you again before you leave. Maybe we can get together for dinner or something."
"Yeah, that sounds great. Bye." Jarod said, smiling, as Joy walked away toward the house next to theirs. By this time Parker had sat down next to Jarod and after Joy was gone he turned to look at her.
"So, wonder boy, what’s this all about?"
"What’s what about?"
"What’s what about??? You drugged me and took me from home to some unknown place and I’m sure there is some reason you’re going to hold over me so I can’t leave until you’re ready for me to leave."
"Well, not really. Ok, yes I drugged you and took you from your house. But, we’re not in an unknown place. We are at the beach. Emerald Isle beach to be exact. This house belongs to a friend of mine and he agreed to let me use it for a while. But you’re free to leave whenever you want. The only thing stopping you right now is that the car broke down, so you’d have to walk. But I plan to fix it today or tomorrow."
"You don’t think I’ll go in right now and call the Centre to come and drag you’re sorry butt back there.?"
"No, I don’t think you will."
"Oh, and why is that?"
"Because I think you’re tired of life in the Centre and with you’re father dead, there’s not much keeping you there." He paused, as if trying to decided if he should say what he wanted to. "And I think you know I can help you with that."
"You’re nuts. I don’t know where you come up with these ideas Jarod. But I’m hungry, so I’m going to go in and have breakfast."
She got up, brushed off the bottom of her jeans and walked up the walkway to the house.
Jarod sat stunned for a minute. He wasn’t sure if he should be happy or concerned that she wasn’t angry. He stood up, grabbed his book and followed her up the path to the house. He got inside and found her just sitting down at the table. His cell phone next to her plate.
"Where did you get that?" he asked nervously.
"It was under the pillow on your bed." She took a bite of eggs. "Mmmm. These are good, even if they are a little cool."
Jarod walked over to her and went to take the phone but she grabbed in before he could.
"I need to call Syd and let him know that I’m ok."
"He knows you’re ok. I e-mailed him." Jarod replied as he sat down across from her. "I told him you were with me and he knows I won’t hurt you."
"Jarod, why do you trust me not to leave?"
Jarod looked at the table for a minute before replying, "I’m not sure. I just know that things between us have changed, a lot, in the last few years. I know it seems weird that I should trust you but I do. I trust the little girl that stole my heart all those years ago. And I trust the woman she has become."
"I’m not that little girl anymore."
"I know, and that’s not what I meant. I trust you because . . . because I love you."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts about what had just been said. Parker, despite herself, was hoping that it was true and not just some trick. Jarod was hoping that she would say something, anything, just to let him know what she was thinking. Finally she broke the silence.
"Jarod, I’m not in the mood for any of you’re games. Just tell me what’s going on."
"I told you. I love you."
"You can’t love me. I’m the enemy, the person that’s chasing you and trying to take you back to the place you hate the most in the world."
"You’re just doing your job, just trying to survive in a place worse than hell. I don’t blame you, I never have. I blame Mr. Parker, Mr. Raines, and Mr. Lyle, among others. But not you."
Parker stood up abruptly. "I’m going for a walk. I’ll be back later."
"No, Parker, don’t leave now. Talk to me."
"I can’t right now. I don’t know what to say. Just let me go."
So Parker walked out the back door and down the beach. Jarod stood on the deck and watched her turn right and disappear down the beach.
About an hour later Jarod was just starting to get worried when she returned. She looked very determined.
"Jarod, fix the car right now, we’re going."
"No, I not leaving things like this."
Parker was getting mad and started to yell. "Jarod, we’re not going to do anything, ok? Nothing can happen. What you’re asking of me will only bring disaster and death, yours and mine probably. You have to take me back to the Centre now and then disappear. You run I chase, just like always." She was standing with her legs apart, hands on her waist and her Ice Queen mask in place.
Jarod contemplated this for a minute and then decided it was time to take drastic measures. Before she could move he had closed the gap between them, pulled her into his arms and began kissing her. She immediately began to struggle and protest, but he was stronger and she soon stopped struggling and became an active participant in the kiss. After a minute they parted and stood looking at each other, panting and arms still wrapped around each other. Neither of them said anything. Finally Jarod, who was getting worried that he had pushed her too far, opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped him.
"Don’t." she said quietly. "It will only ruin things." And she pulled him to her for another long kiss. They pulled apart and looked into each other’s eyes for a second before simultaneously turning and heading for Jarod’s bedroom.
Neither one of them said anything, they didn’t have too. They could still have conversations entirely with their eyes and they each new exactly what the other was thinking.
