277 Chapter 277: Visiting The Old Parker (1/2)
Matthew placed his right hand on Ethan's shoulder and used his left to point at everyone who'd joined them on their walk. ”My family is here,” he said, ”You and Kylie are here, along with Ethan, Dinah, and Nate. The fact that we aren't scrapping in the streets is, in and of itself, a minor miracle…”
”This still-mate may not last beyond today,” Ethan agreed, ”but it is a good start.”
Matthew touched Khloe's stomach while he contemplated what Ethan had said. Ethan wasn't one to be so touchy, and at their display, he frowned and said, ”The way that you're touching Khloe's belly, a stranger might assume that you are the father…”
Matthew's face became gloomy. He rubbed his lips hard and found himself searching for words that just weren't there. Khloe, too looked guilty, though she was not. The implication itself was enough to make her feel uncomfortable. Her face turned red as she looked to Matthew for direction. Minute by minute, as the silence held, the atmospheric anxiety increased, it became so thick that one might have cut it with a knife.
Finally, Kylie broke the ice. She turned to Ethan and said, ”I have a gift for the old Mr. Parker. Should we go to the hospital now so that I can give it to him?”
”I will take you there now,” Ethan replied, without looking at Matthew or Khloe. Without a word of goodbye to Matthew or anyone else that they'd come with, Ethan and Kylie turned off at the next block where his car was parked.
Once Kylie and Ethan were gone, Khloe turned to Matthew and said, ”I came as soon as you called, so I didn't have a chance to get a gift.”
Matthew touched her belly again and said, ”The best gift that you could give me is right here. You don't need to be nervous about anything when you are around me!”
Old Mrs. Parker smiled when she saw her son arrive with Kylie, and she rushed to greet them. She didn't approve of Kylie, of course. Nothing had changed in that regard, but the joy she felt when she saw her son overwhelmed her, and for the moment, at least, she was able to set any animosity she felt for Kylie aside. ”What's up?” she laughed. ”I see that Kylie brought a gift. Are we celebrating something?”
”Do we need a reason to visit?” Kylie wondered. ”All we want is to bring some happiness to the old man's day!”
”Don't we always bring gifts?” Ethan added.
”I suppose so,” Mrs. Parker admitted. ”I suppose I wasn't thinking… Here, why don't we go check in on my husband? I know that he's been hoping you would visit him soon.”
Once they'd exchanged pleasantries and made themselves comfortable, Mr. Parker looked at Ethan and said, ”It means the world to me when you come to see me and the frequency of your visits are admirable, but Matthew seldom visits me… I've heard that Khloe is pregnant. Is that true?”
”It is true,” Ethan admitted. ”I am disappointed that Khloe and Matthew haven't been here to tell you in person.”
Mr. Parker frowned, and his breathing became labored. Mrs. Parker gave them the dirty eye as if they'd caused her husband to be in this condition – even though she knew better. The way she treated her husband, though, was more than admiral, and just by watching her, they could see how much she loved him.
Mrs. Parker had her husband's hand in her one hand, and her other hand was gently rubbing his leg. ”It's alright,” she told him. ”Calm down and try not to be angry. It doesn't help. Eventually, you will see Matthew, and you will be able to ask her any questions that you'd like.”