278 Chapter 278: Shut Up (1/2)

Kylie was shocked by how quickly things had changed. Only minutes ago, Mr. and Mrs. Parker had made it clear that she was not welcome to be a part of their family. Now though, they were practically eating out of her hands. In fact, Mr. Parker had even asked her if she was almost ready to give them a grandchild. It was like a Christmas Miracle, except that it wasn't Christmas.

”Have patience,” Ethan laughed. ”Kylie's career is just taking off. It's not a good time to have a baby, but you have lots of life in you yet. We will make sure to have at least one child before you say goodbye for the last time.”

Ethan came up behind Kylie, and he wrapped his arms around her; seeing them like that, his parents were moved, and they finally saw what the couple saw in each other and how they completed each other – and the last bit of animosity that they felt for Kylie melted away. They had believed that Kylie was a gold digger, but now they saw how wrong they'd been.

”Shall we get something to eat?” Mrs. Parker wondered. ”Is everyone hungry; I know that I am?”

Everyone said that they were hungry, and Ethan went to get the nurse and a wheelchair. When they arrived back in the room, Ethan and the nurse helped Mr. Parker into the chair, and before she left, she said, ”Have a good day. They are serving baked pork chops served in a mushroom sauce. If I remember correctly, that is Mr. Parker's favorite, isn't it?”

”It sure is,” Mr. Parker replied with a bright smile on his face. As soon as she was out of earshot, though, he burst out into gales of laughter. Everyone asked him what was so funny and, once he was under control, he said, ”That woman is such a floozy. I don't even like baked pork chops with mushroom sauce. It is good to get out of the room though and spend some time in the cafeteria – and there are always at least two main dishes to choose from!”

***

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they were surprised to find Matthew, Aiden, and Khloe waiting for them. Mr. Parker looked them over and was surprised to see how dirty and disheveled Aiden looked. His hair was messy, his clothes were dirty, and he hadn't shaved in a few days. By all outside appearances, he realized, his grandson looked like a vagrant, and he was slightly embarrassed to have him sitting with him. In a hospital like this, where people went to die, life was boring, and gossip was the currency they bartered with.

By the end of the day, every old person in the facility would know that Mr. Parker's grandson was a homeless person…

”Aiden,” he hissed, ”what's the matter with you? What made you think that you could walk into my home looking like that and expect to be welcomed with open arms?”

”What is all of this about?!?!?” Mr. Parker demanded to know. ”We have always had a good relationship between us…”

”None of that matters!” Aiden hissed. ”You raised my father, so I hold you accountable for everything that he has done to me!”