Parker

Chapter 65

Parker's dad choose to go the local sub shop called Dotti's Fantastic Subs which was a mile from the house. He ordered a Philly cheesesteak sub with onion rings while his father ordered an Italian sub with fries. Parker mused how his dad would probably steal a couple of his onion rings.

He was at the soda dispenser where he filled his cup with Coke, Mountain Dew, and Root beer when a thirteen year old boy with curly brown hair and brown eyes walked up to him.

Parker smiled when he saw him. "Hey Graham."

"Hi." His stepbrother said.

"Are you here with mom and Terrance?" Parker then looked to his if his mom and stepdad were there.

"No I'm here with my mom and stepdad." Graham pointed at a couple who were sitting on the other side of the restaurant with three small children. Graham's mom waved to him and Parker waved back.  "I saw you come in and thought I would say hi."

"How you've been?" Parker thought it had been awhile since he spoke to him.  Another sibling I have little to no relationship with.

"Fine." Graham nodded as the walked away from the drink dispenser. "I have a piano recital coming up in a couple of weeks."

"That's nice."

A sheepish look crossed his face. "Do you want to come."

"You want me to come to your recital." Parker said floored. This was the first time he had ever been invited to one of his recitals.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Did your my mom or your dad put you up to this."

"No." Graham shook his head.

"Really?" He said overcome with doubt.

"Really." Graham said firmly.

"Forgive me for asking but you never asked me to come to any of your recitals before."

"I've wanted." He said with tremble in his voice. "I've wanted to you to come lots of time but I was scared to ask."

"Why?"

"Because I thought you hated me."

"What?" Parker said in disbelief. "Why would I think I hated you."

"Spencer said you hated all of us."

Parker's cheeks went warm with anger. "Spencer is a lying jerk."

"That's basically what your mom said when I told her." Graham said. "She said Spencer likes to stir up trouble and he did not want us to be friends." A look of sadness filled his eyes. "I want to be your friend Parker if its okay with you."

"Of course its okay." Parker said to the younger teen's delight.  A large smile spread across his face.

"Thanks."

"No." Parker said as he felt emotion bubble inside of him. All this time I thought he hated me and here he was thinking the same thing. "Thank you."

"I better get back to the table." Graham said as joy seemed to flow from him.

"Okay." Parker said

Graham headed back to his family and Parker walked to the table where his dad was sitting.

"Was that your stepbrother?" Rodger asked.

"Yeah." Parker replied. "He wanted to know if I wanted to go to his recital in a couple of weeks." A quizzical look crossed his face. "Can I?"

"Of course."

"Weird coincidence that they happened to be here." He said as his father bit into his sub.  A look of comprehension crossed his face. "It's not a coincidence is it?"

Rodger swallowed. "No." He took a drink. "When Graham found out that you were going out to eat with your mom he asked about you going to the recital. She told him to ask you and then he told her what Spencer said."

Parker's brow creased at the mention of his brother's name. "I can't believe he told Graham that I hated him." His face twisted in frustration. "What is his problem."

"Your mother and I spoiled him rotten." Rodger said remorseful. "We failed to instill any character into him, any empathy for other people, so he grew up to be a selfish, narcissistic man child who does not care that his actions hurt other people." He let out a breath of resignation as he wondered how he could fail his son so miserably.  "But don't you worry about him." He said. "Your mother is dealing with him right now."

Though I doubt it will do any good. He's spent over twenty years avoiding taking responsibility for his actions. One lecture from his mother not matter how intense is going to change him.

"Anyway your mom called me about it while we were still at Carson's parents and we set this up." Rodger said.

"Why didn't you or her just ask me if I wanted to go?" Parker asked.

"Because we felt it would best if the two of you talked to each other." Rodger explained. "That way you can see that he sincerely wanted you there and that you really wanted to be there and not that either of you were being forced by your mother." Rodger then picked up a piece of tomato that had fallen onto his plate and popped it into his mouth.

"Makes sense." Parker said. "But why didn't mom ever invite me to his recitals in the first place. Why didn't she try to make me a part of Graham's life or my half siblings lives in the first place. Why did she leave me out for so long." He struggled against the tears. "I've missed so much with Graham and the others."

"I don't know." Rodger said sympathetically. "That is something you will need to talk to her about when you have dinner with her Friday night."

Parker coughed as he regaind control of his emotions. "I guess I do." I don't know if I really want to know the answer though. I'm not sure if I can handle it.

Parker looked over at Graham who was laughing with his family. I'm just glad to know that I have one sibling who actually gives a damn about me.

Hopefully someday the others will too.