Post by cam83 on Oct 1, 2003 1:19:51 GMT -5
She peered outside, and saw his car there. He was early, and probably as scared as she was. He looked great! She thought to herself, and she felt all tingly. That was something that she had been attracted to in the first place, and still did. He was an extremely good-looking person, handsome in fact, and she adored being in his presence.
Meanwhile, Tom sitting in his car, could see her walking out of the elevator, and into the lobby, peering outside. She looked stunning as always, and his heart began to beat faster. He had kept track of how she looked through the magazines and tv appearances, but he was blown away. She looked just gorgeous and so healthy. She now weighed a healthy 112 pounds. He had never seen her look this good before. Even on their wedding day, she was thin, but now, she looked great. His wife.
They were still man and wife in the eyes of the law, even though they had been seperated for the last several years. He had not been with another woman in all that time. He had had the chances, but he couldn't bring heimself to love another.
She got into the passenger side, and she wanted to kiss him, but she couldn't bring herself to do that. She was surprised at herself. This was a man, she had known intimately and now she couldn't even find the courage to give him a tiny meaningless peck on his cheek, even though she knew that there would be nothing meaningless in her kiss.
Hello Tom," said Karen, almost in a whisper. Oh how she wanted him. But all the past hurts and problems in their marriage had loomed up, and threatened to kill any feelings that she might have for him.
"Karen. You look fabulous. Oh it's so good to see you after all these years. You look like an angel. I wish I could tell you how I really feel, without choking up," said Tom, trying to clear that lump in his throat that would not go away, no matter what he did.
*******************************
Karen woke up early in the morning, as the light hit her eyes. She struggled to get up and clear her mind, when a movement beside her made her jump.
"Tom!" she screamed. She realized what had happened. Oh my Lord, she thought to herself, how did this happen? For Tom was laying beside her on the bed. He was draped with a portion of the bed sheet around him. He apparently was wearing nothing else.
"Hey gorgeous!" stated Tom, who just woke up from his slumber, and laying his eyes on his wife next to him. He propped himself on one elbow, and faced her fully. She grabbed the sheet around herself much tighter. She felt very self-conscious and very vulnerable.
"Tom! What are you doing here…I mean…what happened? I don't really remember what happened…all I remember is dancing with you, and we had a few drinks and we…uh…and…" with this her voice trailed off, as her forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. She knew something happened, but she couldn't bring herself to remember what it was, whatever it was.
"Oh Karen, my love. We came back here, you invited me back. And I am glad you did. It was a very special night for me…being with my wife again, after all these years," said Tom, with a wide grin on his face.
Karen just frowned in confusion. Karen didn't say anything, as she draped the sheet around her, and walked slowly to the bathroom. She knew that it had been a mistake for him to have made the arrangements of them getting together, and for her to have accepted his proposal.
Last night, he had asked for her to destroy the divorce papers, and for them to try again. Karen made the mistake of agreeing, and she regretted it deeply. She wasn't ready for marriage, and she knew it. Not because Richard or her parents wanted her to sign the papers, but because she knew within her heart that it would and could not happen.
She stared at herself in the mirror, and saw a woman who wanted everything, a family, a home, a career, and a loving husband, and she wondered if she would ever get the whole set. It seemed highly unlikely, but she wanted all these things, like a girl wants a whole Barbie doll set, with a car, and a van, and a house, and a husband Ken, and a child, and a career. She didn't want to leave the safety of the bathroom, to face her husband and tell him the truth. It terrified her to no end. How was she going to tell him? What words would she use to tell him?
She sat down on the edge of her bathtub, and started tapping away with her hands, tapping a certain rhythm when she was nervous. And she was very nervous. The minutes passed by, and finally Karen knew what she would do. She would stall, and go ahead with her trip to New York, and hopefully by the time she got back, he or she would have forgotten everything. She knew that that was highly unlikely. They would remember. It was not something that either could forget. It was that plain and simple.
She opened the bathroom door, and saw that Tom had gotten himself dressed. He had used the other washroom and was now in the kitchen, judging from the noise coming in there. Pots and pans being hit together.
"Hope you don't mind Karen, but I was going to make us some breakfast. How does that sound Karen?" asked Tom, who was already whipping up some scrambled eggs. He made wonderful breakfasts as Karen was apt to know.
"Tom! I have to get ready? My flight leaves in 2 hours, for New York. I told you already! It's settled. I have to go!" said Karen, her voice getting higher and higher.
"Take another flight! We can spend the rest of the day together! It's not like you have to go today?" Tom said in voice, determined to get what he wanted. Which was her. He could feel that her career would get in the way of their relationship, and he had already gone thru that many times before. He hated being placed second.
"It's already planned Tom! Phil and the gang are all waiting for me! This has been planned for months! I just cannot show up!" stated Karen, in what she hoped was a convincing voice, "I want to start my second solo album, I mean, this is my career…My life! Can't you understand that Tom?"
"Well, I just thought that this time would be different, but I guess I was wrong…look at who the fool is again…me," Tom said in a slow and unusually quiet voice. He didn't look at Karen when he said those words. He knew that he would always be second place in her life. And it hurt him.
"Tom. I didn't mean it like that. My career is very important right now. I love you, and I will always love you Tom. Nothing will ever change that. I just wish…" and with this her voice trailed off. She watched him, as he quietly collected his belongings and walked out the door. No goodbyes or nothing. She fell to the floor, and began to cry, her sides heaving and the tears pouring out of her like mad. Why did she have to hurt him this way? What was wrong with her?
Finally she picked herself up, and began to furiously pack like crazy. Throwing this and that into her suitcases. She raced to the bathroom, and began to take a quick shower. She just wanted to crawl into bed, and stay there forever, but the practical side of her, knew that it would not be possible. Too many people depended on her arriving on time in New York. She got out, dried herself and threw on some pants and a sweater. She didn't bother with any makeup and combed her hair, and stuck a clip into her hair. She threw on some of her dark sunglasses, and gathered her suitcases. She called for a cab, and then lugged her belongings downstairs. She had to make 3 trips, and by the third trip, the cab was there.
She was numb, all the way to the airport, and just concentrated on staring at the floor. She didn't want to think, otherwise, she knew that she would break down and cry. And she wouldn't stop. She just tried to bury all that pain deep within her. She knew how to do that. Why she had grown so good at it, for most of her life. If anyone knew how, it was Karen Carpenter.
They pulled up to the airport, and Karen got a cart, to carry all her luggage. She paid the driver her fare, plus some. She lugged in all her stuff, and quickly walked to where the boarding area was. She went into the First Class area, and seated herself. She was glad that no one recognized her, or came over to her, to start a conversation with her. She didn't want to be rude, if at all possible, as today was not a good day. Finally they boarded, and Karen went to where her seat was. She always booked the seats beside her, so that she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. She just wanted the rest. And anonymity…
The trip lasted several hours, and during that time, Karen did not sleep, but just stared out the window, in disbelief. Maybe she had been too hard on Tom. Maybe there was something special that would happen between them. What a stupid fool she had been? She had craved love, and now that someone still loved her, she had turned away and rejected him. She knew what she would do?
As soon as she got settled in the East Coast, she would call Tom and they would work this out. That was what she wanted to do.
She took a cab to the Regency Hotel, where she had booked a huge and luxurious suite, and where they knew her from previous stays there. She felt quite special that she could now call a cab, and ride in it. She felt all grown up now. She knew that that seemed kind of silly, but to her, it meant a great deal. Instead of people doing it for her, she could now make her own decisions. She was her own woman. She was Karen Carpenter.
Meanwhile, Tom sitting in his car, could see her walking out of the elevator, and into the lobby, peering outside. She looked stunning as always, and his heart began to beat faster. He had kept track of how she looked through the magazines and tv appearances, but he was blown away. She looked just gorgeous and so healthy. She now weighed a healthy 112 pounds. He had never seen her look this good before. Even on their wedding day, she was thin, but now, she looked great. His wife.
They were still man and wife in the eyes of the law, even though they had been seperated for the last several years. He had not been with another woman in all that time. He had had the chances, but he couldn't bring heimself to love another.
She got into the passenger side, and she wanted to kiss him, but she couldn't bring herself to do that. She was surprised at herself. This was a man, she had known intimately and now she couldn't even find the courage to give him a tiny meaningless peck on his cheek, even though she knew that there would be nothing meaningless in her kiss.
Hello Tom," said Karen, almost in a whisper. Oh how she wanted him. But all the past hurts and problems in their marriage had loomed up, and threatened to kill any feelings that she might have for him.
"Karen. You look fabulous. Oh it's so good to see you after all these years. You look like an angel. I wish I could tell you how I really feel, without choking up," said Tom, trying to clear that lump in his throat that would not go away, no matter what he did.
*******************************
Karen woke up early in the morning, as the light hit her eyes. She struggled to get up and clear her mind, when a movement beside her made her jump.
"Tom!" she screamed. She realized what had happened. Oh my Lord, she thought to herself, how did this happen? For Tom was laying beside her on the bed. He was draped with a portion of the bed sheet around him. He apparently was wearing nothing else.
"Hey gorgeous!" stated Tom, who just woke up from his slumber, and laying his eyes on his wife next to him. He propped himself on one elbow, and faced her fully. She grabbed the sheet around herself much tighter. She felt very self-conscious and very vulnerable.
"Tom! What are you doing here…I mean…what happened? I don't really remember what happened…all I remember is dancing with you, and we had a few drinks and we…uh…and…" with this her voice trailed off, as her forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. She knew something happened, but she couldn't bring herself to remember what it was, whatever it was.
"Oh Karen, my love. We came back here, you invited me back. And I am glad you did. It was a very special night for me…being with my wife again, after all these years," said Tom, with a wide grin on his face.
Karen just frowned in confusion. Karen didn't say anything, as she draped the sheet around her, and walked slowly to the bathroom. She knew that it had been a mistake for him to have made the arrangements of them getting together, and for her to have accepted his proposal.
Last night, he had asked for her to destroy the divorce papers, and for them to try again. Karen made the mistake of agreeing, and she regretted it deeply. She wasn't ready for marriage, and she knew it. Not because Richard or her parents wanted her to sign the papers, but because she knew within her heart that it would and could not happen.
She stared at herself in the mirror, and saw a woman who wanted everything, a family, a home, a career, and a loving husband, and she wondered if she would ever get the whole set. It seemed highly unlikely, but she wanted all these things, like a girl wants a whole Barbie doll set, with a car, and a van, and a house, and a husband Ken, and a child, and a career. She didn't want to leave the safety of the bathroom, to face her husband and tell him the truth. It terrified her to no end. How was she going to tell him? What words would she use to tell him?
She sat down on the edge of her bathtub, and started tapping away with her hands, tapping a certain rhythm when she was nervous. And she was very nervous. The minutes passed by, and finally Karen knew what she would do. She would stall, and go ahead with her trip to New York, and hopefully by the time she got back, he or she would have forgotten everything. She knew that that was highly unlikely. They would remember. It was not something that either could forget. It was that plain and simple.
She opened the bathroom door, and saw that Tom had gotten himself dressed. He had used the other washroom and was now in the kitchen, judging from the noise coming in there. Pots and pans being hit together.
"Hope you don't mind Karen, but I was going to make us some breakfast. How does that sound Karen?" asked Tom, who was already whipping up some scrambled eggs. He made wonderful breakfasts as Karen was apt to know.
"Tom! I have to get ready? My flight leaves in 2 hours, for New York. I told you already! It's settled. I have to go!" said Karen, her voice getting higher and higher.
"Take another flight! We can spend the rest of the day together! It's not like you have to go today?" Tom said in voice, determined to get what he wanted. Which was her. He could feel that her career would get in the way of their relationship, and he had already gone thru that many times before. He hated being placed second.
"It's already planned Tom! Phil and the gang are all waiting for me! This has been planned for months! I just cannot show up!" stated Karen, in what she hoped was a convincing voice, "I want to start my second solo album, I mean, this is my career…My life! Can't you understand that Tom?"
"Well, I just thought that this time would be different, but I guess I was wrong…look at who the fool is again…me," Tom said in a slow and unusually quiet voice. He didn't look at Karen when he said those words. He knew that he would always be second place in her life. And it hurt him.
"Tom. I didn't mean it like that. My career is very important right now. I love you, and I will always love you Tom. Nothing will ever change that. I just wish…" and with this her voice trailed off. She watched him, as he quietly collected his belongings and walked out the door. No goodbyes or nothing. She fell to the floor, and began to cry, her sides heaving and the tears pouring out of her like mad. Why did she have to hurt him this way? What was wrong with her?
Finally she picked herself up, and began to furiously pack like crazy. Throwing this and that into her suitcases. She raced to the bathroom, and began to take a quick shower. She just wanted to crawl into bed, and stay there forever, but the practical side of her, knew that it would not be possible. Too many people depended on her arriving on time in New York. She got out, dried herself and threw on some pants and a sweater. She didn't bother with any makeup and combed her hair, and stuck a clip into her hair. She threw on some of her dark sunglasses, and gathered her suitcases. She called for a cab, and then lugged her belongings downstairs. She had to make 3 trips, and by the third trip, the cab was there.
She was numb, all the way to the airport, and just concentrated on staring at the floor. She didn't want to think, otherwise, she knew that she would break down and cry. And she wouldn't stop. She just tried to bury all that pain deep within her. She knew how to do that. Why she had grown so good at it, for most of her life. If anyone knew how, it was Karen Carpenter.
They pulled up to the airport, and Karen got a cart, to carry all her luggage. She paid the driver her fare, plus some. She lugged in all her stuff, and quickly walked to where the boarding area was. She went into the First Class area, and seated herself. She was glad that no one recognized her, or came over to her, to start a conversation with her. She didn't want to be rude, if at all possible, as today was not a good day. Finally they boarded, and Karen went to where her seat was. She always booked the seats beside her, so that she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. She just wanted the rest. And anonymity…
The trip lasted several hours, and during that time, Karen did not sleep, but just stared out the window, in disbelief. Maybe she had been too hard on Tom. Maybe there was something special that would happen between them. What a stupid fool she had been? She had craved love, and now that someone still loved her, she had turned away and rejected him. She knew what she would do?
As soon as she got settled in the East Coast, she would call Tom and they would work this out. That was what she wanted to do.
She took a cab to the Regency Hotel, where she had booked a huge and luxurious suite, and where they knew her from previous stays there. She felt quite special that she could now call a cab, and ride in it. She felt all grown up now. She knew that that seemed kind of silly, but to her, it meant a great deal. Instead of people doing it for her, she could now make her own decisions. She was her own woman. She was Karen Carpenter.