Post by CarpentersFan2003 on Jan 14, 2004 20:09:17 GMT -5
Chapter Eleven
It was a bright and sunny day on the twenty-sixth of December and by noon Nathan, Karen and Christopher where all piled into her Jaguar and on there way too Nathan’s mother’s house.
To say that Karen was nervous would have been putting in mildly. She was never good with social gatherings with strange people in an intimate setting. Meeting the Yates family would be a make or break experience. What if his mother hates me? Oh God please let her like me.
“ Hey if you twist your handkerchief any harder you’re going to shred it.” Nathan looked over at his fiancée as he stopped at a red light.
Karen looked down at her hands and saw that Nathan was indeed right. She was ringing her hands together tightly. She blushed, opened her purse and stuffed the cloth back into it.
As the car started to move again Karen said in a tight voice.
“ I guess I’m a bit on edge. Meeting your family is a big thing for me Nathan. What if they don’t except me. I’m terrified that I might lose you. I remember when I met Tom’s parents… What a disaster!”
“ Karen, calm down. My mother is a gentle and caring woman. She’s very loving. You have nothing to worry about.” Nathan patted her knee.
When Nathan pulled to a stop in front of his mother’s house Karen took a moment to look it over.
It was a brick ranch style home, with a large yard in the front of it. The gardens had a mixture of roses in different colors. There was a large pine tree that was strung with lights.
Once Christopher was out of his seat in the back of the car he ran for the door and knocked. Karen turned to help Nathan with the gifts in the trunk.
“ Well hello Christopher. My you have grown into a handsome young boy.” Martha Yates said as she opened the door and picked up her grandson for a hug and kiss. She was in her late fifties, had light brown hair that was streaked with gray, she had warm green eyes and the very beginnings of laugh lines at her temples.
“ Go on in and help yourself to some sugar cookies, Chris. I want to greet your father, and say hello to your Aunt Lynda.”
Martha watched as her son and his new girlfriend walked up the walk to the door. She held the door for them and when Nathan had put the gifts down he turned to hug his mother.
“ Merry Christmas to you Nathan. Who’s this lovely looking girl?” Martha asked looking at Karen.
“ Mom, this is Karen Carpenter.” Nathan smiled as he introduced his fiancée.
“ Hello Martha.” Karen extended her hand.
Martha stood back for a moment looking Karen over. She was impressed by the girl’s looks and it was obvious that her son liked her a lot.
That was when Nathan’s younger sister came into the living room. At first she stopped dead in her tracks her jaw hanging open. She stared at Karen for a long moment then said.
“ Oh my God… Karen Carpenter is in my mother’s house.” Lynda rushed forward and shook Karen’s hand.
Karen for her part blushed slightly. She was not expecting this sort of greeting. She was used to people being star-stuck around her but this was indeed weird. Hadn’t Nathan mentioned her to his family?
“ Hi to you too.”
“ Karen Carpenter. I have heard that name before somewhere.” Martha said she too was now looking harder at Karen trying to place the name.
“ Mom, you know the song “We’ve Only Just Begun”, and how much you like it? This is the woman that sings it.” Lynda said rolling her eyes.
“ I see.” Martha raised her eyebrows.
“ Mom, Karen is here because I wanted you to meet the woman I’m going to marry.” Nathan finally said as he guided the three women into the living room. He sat on the sofa and so did Karen.
At this new announcement Lynda let out a squeal of delight.
“ Your getting married? Get out of here! My brother is marrying Karen Carpenter. I don’t believe it. I’m going to be your sister-in-law. Outta sight!”
Martha sat in one of the two chairs facing the sofa. She was awe stuck, but managed to ask.
“ When did all this happen? Why didn’t you come and introduce Karen to me before you got engaged?”
Nathan could see the shock in his mother’s eyes and he was sorry for hurting her that way. He tried to explain.
“ Mom, when Karen and I got engaged she asked that it be kept a secret. See Karen is a celebrity, and so she has to have her PR woman make a statement to the press for the papers. We wanted to have the opportunity to tell you ourselves. I asked her to marry me back in November.”
Karen then said.
“ Mrs. Yates, I’m very much in love with your son. He’s come to mean a great deal to me.”
“ Well then, I guess it’s time to say, welcome to the family Karen.” Martha stood up and motioned for Karen to do the same. She then hugged her future daughter-in-law.
Karen sighed. This was going better then she’d hoped it would. When she’d met Tom’s parents it was just horrible. Tom’s mother had actually said to her son in front of Karen that she didn’t care for his taste in women, and marrying a singer was the bottom of the heap.
That had caused a huge argument and left both Karen and Tom on the defensive for the rest of the evening. It had amazed Karen that the Burris family wanted to attend the wedding at all.
Before anyone could say anything else Christopher ran into the living room from the den.
“ Can I open my presents now?” The boy asked impatiently.
Martha looked at the other adults in the room and said.
“ I was going to wait to after dinner to open the gifts, but it seems that my grandson has other ideas. Let’s move to the den and let this little monster attack his gifts.” Martha said and then looked at her daughter. “ Lynda would you please bring in the hot cider and the cookies too.”
“ Sure.”
As Karen and Nathan walked into the den he slipped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. He was beyond himself with happiness. He never dreamt that he’d ever have this kind of love in his life. Karen made him feel complete.
Martha watched her son and Karen as she walked behind them she saw the obvious love and adoration that he had for his future wife. She remembered back to when Nathan was married to Jennifer and she’d never seen either of them this happy. She felt a smile playing on her lips. Finally my boy has found the right woman.
Once the adults where seated in the den and had mugs of hot mulled cider in hand, the orgy of opening presents began. Karen sat and watched the Yates family interact with one another. This was a family that loved each other that much was clear. All where laughing and enjoying there time together, Nathan was sure he included Karen in the conversation too.
Christopher was on the floor playing with his new Lego set that his Aunt had given him and didn’t pay attention as the Martha handed out her gifts to her son and daughter. Nathan got a new green velour sweater and Lynda a beautiful diamond heart pendent.
It was then that Nathan excused himself for a moment and said he’d be right back.
“ I’m awfully sorry that we’d didn’t get anything for you Karen. Had I known that Nathan was bringing you here I’d have picked something up.” Martha apologized as she topped up Karen’s mug of cider.
“ Really, Mrs. Yates, there is was no need anyhow. However I did bring you and Lynda a little something. It’s not much.” Karen handed each a flat, square shaped package. She watched as the two women tore into the wrapping. Lynda was the first to finish and let out a small sigh. Inside each was a copy of the Carpenter’s “Christmas Portrait” album, both had been autographed by Karen and Richard with “ Merry Christmas” as a greeting.
“ Wow. Talk about your singing telegram!” Lynda giggled. She opened the plastic wrap on the edge and took out the record. Crossing to the stereo she slipped the record on the turntable and put the needle down, and the room was filled with some of best carols ever recorded.
Nathan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention and then walked over to where Karen was seated on the sofa. He slipped his hand inside his coat pocket and extracted a long velvet box that was tied in a bow. He gave it to Karen.
“ Merry Christmas Karen.” Nathan’s eye’s gleamed mischievously.
“ But Nathan, you and I agreed not to exchange gifts this year.” Karen raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
“ Just open it.” Nathan said smiling.
It was a bright and sunny day on the twenty-sixth of December and by noon Nathan, Karen and Christopher where all piled into her Jaguar and on there way too Nathan’s mother’s house.
To say that Karen was nervous would have been putting in mildly. She was never good with social gatherings with strange people in an intimate setting. Meeting the Yates family would be a make or break experience. What if his mother hates me? Oh God please let her like me.
“ Hey if you twist your handkerchief any harder you’re going to shred it.” Nathan looked over at his fiancée as he stopped at a red light.
Karen looked down at her hands and saw that Nathan was indeed right. She was ringing her hands together tightly. She blushed, opened her purse and stuffed the cloth back into it.
As the car started to move again Karen said in a tight voice.
“ I guess I’m a bit on edge. Meeting your family is a big thing for me Nathan. What if they don’t except me. I’m terrified that I might lose you. I remember when I met Tom’s parents… What a disaster!”
“ Karen, calm down. My mother is a gentle and caring woman. She’s very loving. You have nothing to worry about.” Nathan patted her knee.
When Nathan pulled to a stop in front of his mother’s house Karen took a moment to look it over.
It was a brick ranch style home, with a large yard in the front of it. The gardens had a mixture of roses in different colors. There was a large pine tree that was strung with lights.
Once Christopher was out of his seat in the back of the car he ran for the door and knocked. Karen turned to help Nathan with the gifts in the trunk.
“ Well hello Christopher. My you have grown into a handsome young boy.” Martha Yates said as she opened the door and picked up her grandson for a hug and kiss. She was in her late fifties, had light brown hair that was streaked with gray, she had warm green eyes and the very beginnings of laugh lines at her temples.
“ Go on in and help yourself to some sugar cookies, Chris. I want to greet your father, and say hello to your Aunt Lynda.”
Martha watched as her son and his new girlfriend walked up the walk to the door. She held the door for them and when Nathan had put the gifts down he turned to hug his mother.
“ Merry Christmas to you Nathan. Who’s this lovely looking girl?” Martha asked looking at Karen.
“ Mom, this is Karen Carpenter.” Nathan smiled as he introduced his fiancée.
“ Hello Martha.” Karen extended her hand.
Martha stood back for a moment looking Karen over. She was impressed by the girl’s looks and it was obvious that her son liked her a lot.
That was when Nathan’s younger sister came into the living room. At first she stopped dead in her tracks her jaw hanging open. She stared at Karen for a long moment then said.
“ Oh my God… Karen Carpenter is in my mother’s house.” Lynda rushed forward and shook Karen’s hand.
Karen for her part blushed slightly. She was not expecting this sort of greeting. She was used to people being star-stuck around her but this was indeed weird. Hadn’t Nathan mentioned her to his family?
“ Hi to you too.”
“ Karen Carpenter. I have heard that name before somewhere.” Martha said she too was now looking harder at Karen trying to place the name.
“ Mom, you know the song “We’ve Only Just Begun”, and how much you like it? This is the woman that sings it.” Lynda said rolling her eyes.
“ I see.” Martha raised her eyebrows.
“ Mom, Karen is here because I wanted you to meet the woman I’m going to marry.” Nathan finally said as he guided the three women into the living room. He sat on the sofa and so did Karen.
At this new announcement Lynda let out a squeal of delight.
“ Your getting married? Get out of here! My brother is marrying Karen Carpenter. I don’t believe it. I’m going to be your sister-in-law. Outta sight!”
Martha sat in one of the two chairs facing the sofa. She was awe stuck, but managed to ask.
“ When did all this happen? Why didn’t you come and introduce Karen to me before you got engaged?”
Nathan could see the shock in his mother’s eyes and he was sorry for hurting her that way. He tried to explain.
“ Mom, when Karen and I got engaged she asked that it be kept a secret. See Karen is a celebrity, and so she has to have her PR woman make a statement to the press for the papers. We wanted to have the opportunity to tell you ourselves. I asked her to marry me back in November.”
Karen then said.
“ Mrs. Yates, I’m very much in love with your son. He’s come to mean a great deal to me.”
“ Well then, I guess it’s time to say, welcome to the family Karen.” Martha stood up and motioned for Karen to do the same. She then hugged her future daughter-in-law.
Karen sighed. This was going better then she’d hoped it would. When she’d met Tom’s parents it was just horrible. Tom’s mother had actually said to her son in front of Karen that she didn’t care for his taste in women, and marrying a singer was the bottom of the heap.
That had caused a huge argument and left both Karen and Tom on the defensive for the rest of the evening. It had amazed Karen that the Burris family wanted to attend the wedding at all.
Before anyone could say anything else Christopher ran into the living room from the den.
“ Can I open my presents now?” The boy asked impatiently.
Martha looked at the other adults in the room and said.
“ I was going to wait to after dinner to open the gifts, but it seems that my grandson has other ideas. Let’s move to the den and let this little monster attack his gifts.” Martha said and then looked at her daughter. “ Lynda would you please bring in the hot cider and the cookies too.”
“ Sure.”
As Karen and Nathan walked into the den he slipped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. He was beyond himself with happiness. He never dreamt that he’d ever have this kind of love in his life. Karen made him feel complete.
Martha watched her son and Karen as she walked behind them she saw the obvious love and adoration that he had for his future wife. She remembered back to when Nathan was married to Jennifer and she’d never seen either of them this happy. She felt a smile playing on her lips. Finally my boy has found the right woman.
Once the adults where seated in the den and had mugs of hot mulled cider in hand, the orgy of opening presents began. Karen sat and watched the Yates family interact with one another. This was a family that loved each other that much was clear. All where laughing and enjoying there time together, Nathan was sure he included Karen in the conversation too.
Christopher was on the floor playing with his new Lego set that his Aunt had given him and didn’t pay attention as the Martha handed out her gifts to her son and daughter. Nathan got a new green velour sweater and Lynda a beautiful diamond heart pendent.
It was then that Nathan excused himself for a moment and said he’d be right back.
“ I’m awfully sorry that we’d didn’t get anything for you Karen. Had I known that Nathan was bringing you here I’d have picked something up.” Martha apologized as she topped up Karen’s mug of cider.
“ Really, Mrs. Yates, there is was no need anyhow. However I did bring you and Lynda a little something. It’s not much.” Karen handed each a flat, square shaped package. She watched as the two women tore into the wrapping. Lynda was the first to finish and let out a small sigh. Inside each was a copy of the Carpenter’s “Christmas Portrait” album, both had been autographed by Karen and Richard with “ Merry Christmas” as a greeting.
“ Wow. Talk about your singing telegram!” Lynda giggled. She opened the plastic wrap on the edge and took out the record. Crossing to the stereo she slipped the record on the turntable and put the needle down, and the room was filled with some of best carols ever recorded.
Nathan cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention and then walked over to where Karen was seated on the sofa. He slipped his hand inside his coat pocket and extracted a long velvet box that was tied in a bow. He gave it to Karen.
“ Merry Christmas Karen.” Nathan’s eye’s gleamed mischievously.
“ But Nathan, you and I agreed not to exchange gifts this year.” Karen raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
“ Just open it.” Nathan said smiling.