THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,106

suspected something was up when he had arrived yesterday, but he’d decided not to ask about it. But evidently, they were ready to tell him.

He tossed the magazine aside. “So, what’s up?”

“We’re getting a divorce.”

He blinked. Did they just say they were getting a divorce? But they were standing there, smiling about it? He must have heard them wrong. “A divorce?”

“Yes,” his father said, grinning. “I’m sure you’ve known for a while that your mother and I weren’t right for each other. And I told you years ago why we got married in the first place.”

He nodded. “It was an arranged marriage. But I also remember you saying you’d become friends.”

“And we have,” his mother added. “But it takes more than friendship to make a marriage work, and we’ve both decided that life is too short to wonder how things might have been if we’d married our soulmate.”

Soulmate? He couldn’t believe his parents even knew what the word meant. For them, a person’s social standing had been the important thing. Granted, their attitudes had changed when his mother got cancer some years back, but he figured they would stay together forever. But obviously, they’d both decided it was time to live the life they wanted, not the life they’d been forced into.

He eased up out of his chair and walked over to them. “If a divorce is what the two of you really want, then I am truly happy for you.” Then he pulled them in for a hug.

“We want you to know what’s important, too, Parker. We don’t want you to go through life not being with the person you love,” his mother said. “I hope that one day, you will meet a woman who—”

“I’ve met her already,” he quickly said.

His father lifted a brow. “You have? And you didn’t invite her to join us for Christmas?”

“She already had plans with her own family. Besides, I’m not sure if she would have accepted the invitation. I love her but I’m not sure how she feels about me.”

“Have you asked her?” his mother wanted to know. “And did you tell her how you feel? Knowing you, probably not. A woman needs to know when a man loves them. You have to make her believe that you want her to be a part of your life, not just in your bed. Life is too short not to be with the person you love.”

“I was giving her time.”

“Not everyone needs time. They need facts. You’re on the fast-track to having one hell of a career in medicine, Parker,” his father was saying. “Right now, the sky’s the limit for you. You can see why she’d have doubts about you being interested in anything serious. So if you want her to be part of your life, you need to tell her.”

Parker ran his hands through his hair, not quite believing this. His parents, who were thrilled to be divorcing, were giving him advice on his love life. “You’re right. Maybe I should have told her.”

“There’s no maybe about it,” his mother said. “A woman will usually assume she is only with you for the moment, unless you let her know you’ve included her in your future.”

Was that what Sebrina assumed? That she was just a passing fancy? His flavor for the moment? If so, she was wrong. But then, what else would she think, when he’d never told her anything different? He looked at his parents who were watching him expectantly. “I need to return to St. Paul. Tonight,” he said. He knew Sebrina wouldn’t be leaving for New Jersey until her shift ended tomorrow, on Christmas Eve morning. She’d go straight to the airport, right from the hospital, so he needed to see her before she left for work tonight.

“Good luck on getting a flight anywhere today. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. But I have an idea that could save you time,” his father said.

“What?”

“Feel like taking a spin in my company jet? It’s been years since you’ve done so.”

Parker released a deep breath. “Yes. I would definitely appreciate that, Dad.”

“Well, are you going to tell us who she is, this woman who might be our daughter-in-law if you handle your business right?” his mother asked.

“Sebrina Bennett. She’s a fellow physician who happens to be my housemate. She’s also Rae’jean’s cousin.”

His mother smiled and Parker knew her feelings were genuine. Standing before him was proof that people could change over time. “That’s wonderful, Parker. Please tell her that we welcome her into the