Finding Parker

by Scott Hildreth

  Kenton nodded his head and raised his glass, “Here’s to soon.”

  And we all raised our glasses and toasted.

  To being married.

  Soon.

  VICTORIA. For as long as I have lived, I would say I’ve only had two wishes. More like dreams, I suppose.

  As a toddler and a young girl, I often wished I had a father. My mother’s constant complaints of his death and her love for him continued to remind me how much she missed having him in her life as well. As I grew older, I began to understand the differences between all of the other girls in school and myself. They had families, and I did not. They sat at home at night at a dinner table and ate with their brothers, sisters, and both of their parents. I sat at home and ate Ravioli’s from a can as my mother sat in her chair and watched television in what I assumed was terrible pain.

  Life as a little girl in my home was far different than most other girls I knew. I never felt that a father was a fix, but I felt it would be a good start. Not only could he take care of my mother, but he could also take care of me, I was sure of it. He could cook me meals, and tell me stories, and hold me when I was scared. When there were things in school I did not understand, and there were plenty, he could softly explain in a manner I could understand. He would always love me, and never let me go.

  He would drop me off at school and pick me up when it was over so I didn’t have to walk alone. When the other children’s parents came to school for their conferences, he would come. And teachers would not stand in the hallways and talk about him in a tone that I was perfectly capable of hearing.

  But a father never came.

  As I grew older, and hormones began to run rampant inside of my pre-teen body, I yearned for a boyfriend. One who would hold me, love me, care for me, and never leave me. When I turned thirteen, my wish was granted. Josh Wilson asked me to be his girlfriend. Although it was through a note passed in class, I took it for being the gospel. We went steady for about a month, all of which was a one-sided relationship from an emotional standpoint. He played sports, ran around with his male friends, and never cared to spend time with me outside of school.

  At my insistence, he agreed to spend an evening with me at my home. My mother agreed, and I was sure this was going to take our relationship to the next level. How wrong could I have been? Half an hour into the night, he demanded I have sex with him, and when I said no, he called me a slut and stomped out. Later, while back in school, there were times I wished I would have had sex with him. He did what I believed to be unthinkable – he told the other boys he did have sex with me. It wasn’t long and all of the boys were begging me for sex and calling me a slut when I said no.

  And I slowly began to lose trust in all men.

  What began as my second wish turned to more of a dream – to one day become married to a man who would accept me for who I was and what I believed. I knew regardless of whom it was I may ever meet, sex was going to wait until we were married. That, to me, was an absolute.

  I wished and dreamed throughout high school, and every boy, upon finding out I was a virgin, decided they were not interested. I stopped with the daily dreaming, and came to understand marriage may never happen for me. By the time I was twenty-one years old, and had not yet had a boyfriend, I completely gave up on being married; and on men in general. My attitude quickly changed, and for the most part, I became anti-social. My lack of interest in meeting men turned into a lack of interest in meeting people.

  And life, to me, became quite simple.

  Two wishes and two impossibilities.

  And low and behold, I was introduced to Parker Bale and Kenton Ward. Now, as a girl of twenty-three, I have one of my wishes granted. I am soon to be married, and I have a man who I view as a fatherly figure. He may not be my father, but he’s as good as I could ever hope for.

  And far better than most biological fathers, I’m sure.

  I just needed one thing from him, if possible.

  As I nervously approached the gate, a voice came from the landscaping along the fence.

  “Good afternoon, Miss,” the voice hesitated.

  “Good afternoon, Victoria. Mr. Ward is expecting you.”

  “Downes?” I asked.

  “Yours truly. Come in and park by the fountain.”

  As the gate opened, I depressed the clutch and revved the engine. Although I never wanted Parker to see my car, I had no problem with Kenton seeing it. I just needed to make this a quick visit. Parker had gone to get fitted for a tuxedo, and he would be done in about an hour. I released the clutch, mashed the gas, and lurched forward along the driveway that led to the Ward Mansion. As I came to a stop at the fountain, the engine died.

  Perfect timing.

  As I stepped from the car, Downes walked out onto the porch, “Good afternoon dear. I hope all is well.”

  “Very well, thank you,” I said as I slammed the door to the car.

  “Vintage Toyota, they’re bulletproof,” Downes nodded his head and smiled.

  “Oh stop it. Good God, Downes, it’s a piece of shit,” I laughed as I walked toward the steps.

  “Kenton’s sitting out on the deck. Follow me,” Downes said as I reached the top step.

  I followed Downes through the house and out onto the deck. As I stepped through the French doors, Kenton stood from his seat, smiled, and opened his arms, “This engagement isn’t going to last forever, and surely you’re going to go the distance, aren’t you?”

  I laughed as we embraced, “Yes, I’m going the distance, it’s not that.”

  “Money? Do you need money?” he whispered as he hugged me.

  “No, it’s not that. I really just wanted to talk,” I said as I released my grip and stepped back.

  “Okay. I’m all ears, dear,” he said as he sat down and picked up the pitcher of tea.

  “Peach?” I asked.

  “I’ve completely forbidden that damned raspberry, yes it’s peach,” he smiled.

  I nodded my head.

  As he poured a glass of tea, I considered how to begin what it is I wanted to say. This wasn’t going to be easy, and I hated the thought of rejection, but if I didn’t ask, I certainly would never happen. If I did ask, it just might. For a once in a lifetime event like my marriage, I had to at least ask.

  “Do you love me?” I asked as he was still pouring the tea.

  He stopped pouring and lowered the pitcher to the table, “Yes, I do. With all of my heart.”

  “Good because I love you too. You and Downes. And I’m not including him because I think that’s what you or Parker wants, I am because it’s true. And Kenton, you’ve become the closest thing to a father I could ever have hoped for. I consider you so much more than a fatherly figure. So much more,” I said as I reached for the tea.

  “What’s troubling you, Victoria?” he asked softly.

  I had no idea how to do this. I guess it’s just best to do it.

  “Would you consider,” I paused for a moment and took a sip of tea.

  “Let me rephrase that. I would like for you to stand up for me in my wedding. Would you do that? You know, give me away? Please?”

  His lip began to quiver as he attempted to open his mouth. Slowly, and without much stability, he quietly stood and turned toward the ocean. As he grasped the handrail of the deck, he began to speak.

  “Victoria, I’d…” he raised his clenched hand to his mouth and cleared his throat.

  “I’m sorry. Yes, I’d be. I’d be honored,” he said as he continued to look out at the ocean.

  Here comes the hard part.

  I stood and walked around the table to the edge of the deck. Without facing him, I walked to his side and gripped the handrail beside him. As I stood near him, I became relaxed. Kenton’s presence allowed me to feel content; and as a feeling of comfort washed over me, the scent of the beach filled my nostrils.

  And at that moment, I knew.

  “Would you…”

  This is not going to be easy to ask.


  “When they ask. However it is they ask, you know. When they ask,” I paused and attempted to gather my thoughts.

  My voice filled with emotion, I attempted to continue, “When he asks who gives this woman? Would you stand with me? You know, stand with me and say…”

  Filled with hope, I continued to stare out at the ocean, “Her father. Would you say that for me? I’ve always wondered when this day came what I’d do, and I just…I really want you to walk down the aisle with me and say that. When they ask. Her father.”

  I tilted my head to the side to face him.

  Tears ran from his eyes and dripped from his chin. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the handrail and took a few deep breaths. And I waited. Smoothly and slowly he inhaled a breath through his nose and turned to face me. He lifted his right hand from the handrail and held it to his mouth as he coughed a few times to cleared his throat. And he responded with the words I had hoped for.

  “I’d be honored, my dear.”

  And just like that. Both of my wishes were granted.

  DOWNES. The thought of spending a lifetime loving a person who in turn loves you unconditionally is something I have yearned for a lifetime to obtain. To have witnessed Parker and Victoria develop or naturally possess a love such as this satisfies me to no ending. Love is something impossible to explain. It is said, and I must agree, love must be experienced. My having played a part in what is before me will remain with me for a lifetime.

  Parker stood arrow straight in his black tuxedo as the music began to play. My arms neatly crossed in front of me, I stood and waited for the sound of the door opening. As the door creaked, I tilted my head and glanced over my right shoulder.

  The beautiful dress Kenton insisted on purchasing flowed behind her as she walked down the aisle. Her arm wrapped in Kenton’s, they walked slowly down the flower covered floor. Kenton had spent tremendous time and effort to ensure this wedding was something that everyone in attendance would enjoy and remember. He believes the mind has a more vibrant sense of recollection if a scent is associated with the respective memory. Well over a five thousand flowers were used to line the floor of the entrance with pedals. The beautiful aroma thickened the air and made breathing a sheer thing of joy.

  As they stopped at the end of the aisle, the preacher took a deep breath and clutched his bible tightly in his hands. Over the top of his glasses, he studied Victoria and Kenton and smiled.

  “Who gives this woman to be married to this man on this beautiful day?” he asked.

  “I do. Her father,” Kenton responded sharply, his voice echoing throughout the church.

  He had practiced those four words for the last two weeks, over and over. On several evenings, he had me ask the question repeatedly. More than anything, he wanted to be able to respond without a tremendous amount of emotion in his voice. Above all, he wanted the wedding service to be remembered as one of perfection.

  The preacher smiled and lowered the bible from his chest to above his waist, “I've never met a father who was completely willing to give up his daughter, so may I also ask, do I have your blessing for this marriage?”

  Victoria tilted her head toward Kenton and waited.

  Kenton arched his back and cleared his throat slightly, “Yes sir, you certainly do.”

  Victoria turned to face the preacher and her soon to be husband. The preacher motioned for her to step to up onto the platform beside Parker. As her dress trailed behind her and Kenton stood proudly, Victoria stepped gracefully up the two steps and stood beside Parker.

  The preacher smiled and raised the bible to his chest. He glanced at Parker and turned toward Victoria, “We are gathered here today, on this happy and joyous occasion, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

  He paused and lowered the bible to his waist, “Marriage is a solemn institution to be held in honor by all, it is the cornerstone of the family and of the community. It requires of those who undertake it a complete and unreserved giving of one's self. It is not to be entered into lightly, as marriage is a sincere and mutual commitment to love one another.”

  “This commitment symbolizes the intimate sharing of two lives and still enhances the individuality of each of you,” he hesitated and nodded his head in the direction of both Parker and Victoria.

  Again, he raised the bible to his chest, “And from Matthew, book nineteen. Haven't you read the Scriptures? They record that from the beginning God made them male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

  “Will rings be exchanged as a symbol of this union?” the preacher asked.

  Parker nodded his head sharply.

  The preacher smiled, “A ring is a fitting symbol for a wedding promise. It is a circle with no beginning and no end. Love without end is what we hope to achieve in marriage. As this ring is placed upon your fingers remember that it is your love for one another that has brought you here, and it is that love that will guide you down the pathways of your future. You may place the ring on her finger.”

  Parker removed the ring from his pocket, and without instruction, repeated what he had practiced, “With this ring, I give you my heart. From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. May my heart be your shelter, may my arms be your home.”

  And he placed the ring on her finger.

  The preacher turned to Victoria and nodded, “You may place the ring on his finger.”

  Gracefully, she reached for the ring Kenton had sewn on the side of her dress with a fine thread. As she snapped the thread, she raised the ring, and repeated the verse she and Kenton had spent many evenings practicing.

  “I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage. For today and tomorrow, and all of the days to come.”

  And she placed the ring on Parker’s finger.

  He turned to face Parker and smiled, “Parker Landon Bale, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to her as long as you both shall live?”

  Parker nodded his head sharply, “I certainly do.”

  Kenton’s light weeping beside me reminded me of his presence. I lifted my arm and placed it on his shoulder. The preacher slowly turned to face Victoria.

  “Victoria Lillian Fisker, do you take this man to be your wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, remaining faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

  Victoria turned to face Kenton and hesitated for a split second. As I held his shoulder in my hand, he shuddered and nodded his head. Victoria turned to face the preacher.

  “Yes sir. I do,” she responded.

  “Then,” he alternated glances between the couple.

  “Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  And they embraced, for the first time, as husband and wife.

  PARKER. Once you’re married, things begin to change. I have heard variations of this phrase said many times. Generally, when repeated, it is intended to advise the recipient that marriage ruins things, or makes relationships worse. Nothing, to me, could be further from the truth.

  Victoria and I, now married for two weeks, could not be happier. To imagine anything to change from the beautiful days we now have would be difficult. I have no reason to believe that if we both love one another, and we certainly do, this could or would ever change.

  We have already d
ecided to sell her mother’s home, reside in my condominium, and look for another home in which to permanently reside. Kenton held true to his promise of the wedding gift, but in lieu of cash, transferred money into my bank account. He would not, however, take payment for the ring, insisting if I attempted to pay him, he would merely deposit an additional three hundred thousand into my account. Mention was made of the contract language regarding gifts purchased, and that the cost was to be borne by the employer, to which we both got a good laugh.

  Last week, at dinner with Kenton and Downes, we announced our intent to have a child or children, and to do so naturally, by the grace of God. One never knows, but without birth control, maybe the near future will bring a child into our lives. Nothing would make Victoria or me happier.

  Today, as Victoria continues to add her touch of decorative flair to the condominium, I’m off to the mansion to have a talk with Downes. Although I am not one hundred percent certain, I believe Kenton’s birthday may be approaching, and a surprise party is in the works.

  The gate opened as I pulled into the drive. As I approached the home, it was if it was for the first time. I seemed to be viewing the estate with different eyes than I had previously. The trees were taller, the estate larger, and grass greener, the home more grand. Taller. More magnificent. In approaching the fountain, I noticed luggage on the porch beside the top step and the front door was propped open. Downes stepped onto the porch as I stopped the car.

  “What’s going on?” I asked from the bottom step.

  “Mr. Ward has been called to Chile to meet with an investor. It was somewhat of an emergency meeting, but what will more than likely be very rewarding. He’s already flown out. He asked that I tell you some things. As the meetings will be in the mountains, he will not have cell phone service, but he will be able to communicate via email daily. He asked that you communicate in that fashion,” he paused as he adjusted the bags on the porch.

  “What’s with the luggage?” I asked, motioning toward the luggage which littered the porch.