The Dilemma of Parker

Chapter9

The clapping and cheering snapped Richard out of his thoughts. He looked straight at William who was already on his phone searching for flights. He was going to Sydney to meet his daughter and no one could stop him. William knew the minute he connected his eyes with his father, what he had to do. "You better get tickets for me and the other two" Leon whispered. William just nodded his head and continued to search for a flight.

Jude and Tanner were staying with there mother. Leon text them that Parker had been located in Sydney. They were told to pack a bag for themselves and for Leon. They were also told not to inform there mother. She had basically had a nervous break down a few months after Parker had disappeared. Usually one of the aunties stayed with her, but most were here celebrating there nephews and nieces graduation tonight, so had been given the night off.

In the year Parker had been missing a lot had changed. Tamia was officially divorced from her husband who was run out of town. When Tamia's family heard about what had been done to Parker, they were not happy at all. Her uncles took off after Tyson and he hadn't been seen since. Some of the Aunty's knew where she was but refused to tell anyone because they had promised her ninny to keep her safe. Leon, Tanner and Jude had changed everything about themselves. No longer were they the playboys they use to be. They now had no time for women at all. They worked during the day then came home and looked for Parker and cared for there mother at night. Unfortunately the wake up call had come to late.

Parker had just ended the zoom and was happy. She got to speak to her school and watched as some of her friends graduated. Matt was happy for Parker, she had been reluctant to talk to her school incase William was there but she hadn't seen him at all. Admittedly she couldn't see much at all, just the crowd and then as the students walked up on stage. "You look happy" Matt stated. "I am. I found my home here for now and I still have some family back home if I go back" Parker stated. Matt nodded, he was glad Parker was happy as she had been a little stand offish when she first arrived. She didn't trust anyone at all and had closed herself off to others.

Richard, William and Leon practically raced out of the hall not stopping to talk to anyone. They had a flight, they managed to get on the red eye so would land at 6am in Sydney. William and Richard needed to get home to pack a bag. Leon had called his uncle to ask if he would care for his mother while they were in Sydney. His uncle, Tamia's brother, agreed immediately as he wanted Parker to be brought home. He missed his niece and felt guilty for not protecting her. He hadn't listened to his mother who had told him how Tyson was treating Parker. He thought she just didn't like the man because he was a white fella. When he realised that his mother had been right, he felt so guilty. Ninny had passed away when Parker was 16 and had asked her son's to watch out for Parker, they too let her down.

As soon as William and Richard made it home they began to pack. Both men wanted to get to Sydney and quickly. William wanted to grab hold of his sister and never let her go. He was excited and scared. Richard wanted to meet his little girl and just hoped she would accept that he was her father. He had thought about it for an entire year. What would he say to her? How would he explain why he wasn't in her life? Would she accept him as her dad? He hoped she would and then he would make up for the 19 years he had missed out on.1

The last 6 months, Richard had learnt about Parker from Leon, Jude and Tanner. He had been shown photos of her growing up. There wasn't many but it was better then nothing. Leon had been sure there as more photos but he couldn't find them. Before Tamia had a breakdown, she had searched for the photo albums and then had lost it because she had no idea where they were.

For the first 6 months that Parker was gone, Richard and William had nothing to do with the Jones'. They avoided them like the plague even when Leon reached out to William. Leon could understand it but it still hurt because he and William had always been there for each other. William had lashed out and told Leon he was nothing to Parker and he would make sure he would remain nothing. Leon knew he deserved it but it had stung. Leon may not of been blood related but he had been Parker's big brother and she had adored him just like he had adored her until he had forgotten about her to live his life.

The Jones men had been taught that women were good for pleasing men and taking care of all the man's needs. Leon had started to behave like that when he was 18 and began working with his dad. Parker took care of the house when his mother didn't. She cooked and cleaned and made him meals but he forgot that she was his baby sister. He hated that about himself. He swore that he would never treat a woman like that again. Jude and Tanner followed suit when they began working at the family business. Women fell over themselves to please the Jones men. They too felt like garbage for forgetting about Parker. There father had encourage them to treat Parker the way they had been. She was often left out of specials trips they took and no one questioned it until it was to late.

All five men spent the night watching the clock. They were willing time to go faster so they could go to the airport and get on the plane to Sydney. At 9pm Richard couldn't take it anymore and decided to head to the airport. That way he would not miss his flight. He didn't care if he had to wait at the airport for a few hours, he could clock watch there just as much as he could at home. At least at the airport he was one step closer to finding his little girl.