Post by cam83 on Oct 6, 2003 0:55:10 GMT -5
Chapter Nineteen
The jangle of the phone, broke her thoughts, as she went to pick it up. The sun was streaming thru the windows, as she said hello, "Hello?" said Karen.
It was Karen's Aunt Bernice, and she was asking Karen if she could come and stay with her, while her husband sold their home in Maryland. They were moving closer to the rest of the Carpenter family, and to be near their daughter and grandchildren. Of course it was fine with Karen. They made plans and arrangements.
Karen began to get the house in tip top shape. She dusted the cabinets, dressers, washed the mirrors, and windows. She began to fix the beds, clean the washrooms, and make sure that the house had all the necessary belongings for her aunt and uncle. Her Aunt Bernice would be coming down in 3 days, and wait for her husband to finally have the house sold.
Karen was excited. She was very close to Bernice. Karen had by this time, sold her condominium. She was shocked to hear that the aspiring actress Rebecca Schaeffer had been brutally murdered by an obsessed fan. It had scared Karen so much, that she decided that she didn't want to live alone. So Florine Elie came and lived in one part of the house. It gave some comfort to Karen, and to her family, who didn't think it was wise for Karen to live all alone.
Karen had had her share of obsessed fans, and she was very lucky that none of them had done any harm to her. One guy had parked outside of her house and stayed there for days, yet nothing could be done about it said the police. He hadn't committed any crime, which made Karen and the family angry, because when he did, Karen could be dead or something awful. Being a celebrity wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
Karen went to the airport to pick up Bernice, and they packed up the car, and went for a gourmet meal. Bernice was just so happy to see that Karen was eating normally, and that she didn't disappear towards the bathroom as Karen used to do, after a meal. They ate a leisurely meal, and caught up on each other's lives. They reminisced about the past, growing up in New Haven, family reunions, fame and the downfalls. Karen could tell her aunt anything, even more so than her own mother.
Richard and Mary were at the doctor's office for the twins checkup and so they were not able to pick up Bernice, and that is why Karen came to pick her up. Karen and Bernice headed to Karen's home, and Bernice gasped at the home. It was beautiful and so very stylish. She marveled at the hugeness, and vastness of the yard. There was a huge brick fence surrounding the immense yard, which was wonderfully tailored the way a yard should be. A pool was in the works, and workmen were busy digging up the back yard. Inside, Bernice was dumbfounded. This was a palatial home so full of beauty and space. Karen gave her a tour of the home.
When Karen and Bernice entered into the upstairs living room, she marveled at the many Grammy Awards shining brilliantly thru the glass and gold shelves. Karen held one in her hand, and imitating a snooty presenter said, "This award for Best Auntie in the World goes to….Auntie Bernice!" Karen had a sense of humor, which made everyone who knew her, love her even more, and Bernice reached out to touch Karen lovingly. Sometimes she wished that Karen were her daughter. She would just love her with so much zeal. Aunt Bernice accepted the award, and said, "Thank you everyone! I would like to thank my niece Karen Carpenter for all her love and support!" Bernice went to put the Award back, but Karen stopped her, "It's yours. You can keep it! I don't mind! I have so many of them as it is. It's my way of saying that I love you! You really mean a lot to me. I remember when I was younger and how you used to give me the encouragement and support I needed, especially with my anorexia. I am so glad you are my Aunt!" Karen and Bernice hugged, as Bernice's eyes started to tear up.
"Karen, thank you! I am so glad you are better! What would we have done if we had lost you! Our lives would have been so empty! I do love you! Thanks for the Grammy! I will treasure it even more, because it is from you!"
"Now let's stop this crying nonsense!" said Karen in a laughing, but no nonsense voice, "Let's get you settled, unpacked and ready for when Richard and Mary and the kids arrive. You don't want them to see you like this, do you?" Karen showed her Aunt her sleeping quarters, as Karen rushed downstairs, and began to set the table.
She had spent the last few days preparing food. She loved to cook, and now she could cook and eat as well. She had made a tossed Caesar Salad, a fruit salad, some broiled chicken and some Spanish rice. Her table looked great. She had 2 high chairs for Kenneth and Kristi, as well as a cupboard full of baby supplies, and baby food. Karen rushed to her room, to freshen up. Richard and the family would be here as well as Harold and Agnes. It would be a nice, pleasant evening of visiting, and Karen looked forward to that.
The doorbell chimed We've Only Just Begun (as Karen had taken her condo doorbell and installed it into her new home), and Karen rushed to get the door, while glancing quickly at her reflection in the mirror, and fixing her hair. She let Richard and Mary and the children inside, and greeted everyone with a kiss. Just then Bernice entered into the foyer, and went to hug everyone. Their was laughter and talking all at once. The phone rang, and Karen went to answer it. It was her parents and they wanted to know what they could bring over. They would be over shortly. Everyone sat down in the living room and chatted about Bernice's flight, about the sale of their Maryland home, what Mark Rudolph was doing, and how the babies were doing.
The twins were on the floor crawling around all the toys that Karen had put there for them. Karen picked up Kenneth and gave him a big smooch on the cheeks, and he just gurgled with delight. She did the same with Kristi, who started to grab a hold of Karen's hair, and pull she did. Richard had to help distangle his daughter and sister. Everyone laughed.
When Agnes and Harold arrived, another round of hugs and kisses were needed. Then everyone was led into the dining room for supper. Agnes remarked at how beautiful the table looked, the food, the flower arrangements. Karen just beamed. They sat down, said grace, and began to dish out the various plates of food. Supper was wonderful, and the conversation ever so delightful.
Bernice had been with Karen for a few weeks, as Karen was busy with photo shoots and various obligations for the upcoming Christmas album. She would come home all weary and tired, but happy. It was especially nice to be greeted by her Auntie, who would have a nice refreshing cup of iced tea, with a lemon wedge, and they would sit outside on the porch and just chat over each other's day, and it's events. She couldn't imagine not having her Aunt living with her. She loved it very much.
The jangle of the phone, broke her thoughts, as she went to pick it up. The sun was streaming thru the windows, as she said hello, "Hello?" said Karen.
It was Karen's Aunt Bernice, and she was asking Karen if she could come and stay with her, while her husband sold their home in Maryland. They were moving closer to the rest of the Carpenter family, and to be near their daughter and grandchildren. Of course it was fine with Karen. They made plans and arrangements.
Karen began to get the house in tip top shape. She dusted the cabinets, dressers, washed the mirrors, and windows. She began to fix the beds, clean the washrooms, and make sure that the house had all the necessary belongings for her aunt and uncle. Her Aunt Bernice would be coming down in 3 days, and wait for her husband to finally have the house sold.
Karen was excited. She was very close to Bernice. Karen had by this time, sold her condominium. She was shocked to hear that the aspiring actress Rebecca Schaeffer had been brutally murdered by an obsessed fan. It had scared Karen so much, that she decided that she didn't want to live alone. So Florine Elie came and lived in one part of the house. It gave some comfort to Karen, and to her family, who didn't think it was wise for Karen to live all alone.
Karen had had her share of obsessed fans, and she was very lucky that none of them had done any harm to her. One guy had parked outside of her house and stayed there for days, yet nothing could be done about it said the police. He hadn't committed any crime, which made Karen and the family angry, because when he did, Karen could be dead or something awful. Being a celebrity wasn't all it was cracked up to be.
Karen went to the airport to pick up Bernice, and they packed up the car, and went for a gourmet meal. Bernice was just so happy to see that Karen was eating normally, and that she didn't disappear towards the bathroom as Karen used to do, after a meal. They ate a leisurely meal, and caught up on each other's lives. They reminisced about the past, growing up in New Haven, family reunions, fame and the downfalls. Karen could tell her aunt anything, even more so than her own mother.
Richard and Mary were at the doctor's office for the twins checkup and so they were not able to pick up Bernice, and that is why Karen came to pick her up. Karen and Bernice headed to Karen's home, and Bernice gasped at the home. It was beautiful and so very stylish. She marveled at the hugeness, and vastness of the yard. There was a huge brick fence surrounding the immense yard, which was wonderfully tailored the way a yard should be. A pool was in the works, and workmen were busy digging up the back yard. Inside, Bernice was dumbfounded. This was a palatial home so full of beauty and space. Karen gave her a tour of the home.
When Karen and Bernice entered into the upstairs living room, she marveled at the many Grammy Awards shining brilliantly thru the glass and gold shelves. Karen held one in her hand, and imitating a snooty presenter said, "This award for Best Auntie in the World goes to….Auntie Bernice!" Karen had a sense of humor, which made everyone who knew her, love her even more, and Bernice reached out to touch Karen lovingly. Sometimes she wished that Karen were her daughter. She would just love her with so much zeal. Aunt Bernice accepted the award, and said, "Thank you everyone! I would like to thank my niece Karen Carpenter for all her love and support!" Bernice went to put the Award back, but Karen stopped her, "It's yours. You can keep it! I don't mind! I have so many of them as it is. It's my way of saying that I love you! You really mean a lot to me. I remember when I was younger and how you used to give me the encouragement and support I needed, especially with my anorexia. I am so glad you are my Aunt!" Karen and Bernice hugged, as Bernice's eyes started to tear up.
"Karen, thank you! I am so glad you are better! What would we have done if we had lost you! Our lives would have been so empty! I do love you! Thanks for the Grammy! I will treasure it even more, because it is from you!"
"Now let's stop this crying nonsense!" said Karen in a laughing, but no nonsense voice, "Let's get you settled, unpacked and ready for when Richard and Mary and the kids arrive. You don't want them to see you like this, do you?" Karen showed her Aunt her sleeping quarters, as Karen rushed downstairs, and began to set the table.
She had spent the last few days preparing food. She loved to cook, and now she could cook and eat as well. She had made a tossed Caesar Salad, a fruit salad, some broiled chicken and some Spanish rice. Her table looked great. She had 2 high chairs for Kenneth and Kristi, as well as a cupboard full of baby supplies, and baby food. Karen rushed to her room, to freshen up. Richard and the family would be here as well as Harold and Agnes. It would be a nice, pleasant evening of visiting, and Karen looked forward to that.
The doorbell chimed We've Only Just Begun (as Karen had taken her condo doorbell and installed it into her new home), and Karen rushed to get the door, while glancing quickly at her reflection in the mirror, and fixing her hair. She let Richard and Mary and the children inside, and greeted everyone with a kiss. Just then Bernice entered into the foyer, and went to hug everyone. Their was laughter and talking all at once. The phone rang, and Karen went to answer it. It was her parents and they wanted to know what they could bring over. They would be over shortly. Everyone sat down in the living room and chatted about Bernice's flight, about the sale of their Maryland home, what Mark Rudolph was doing, and how the babies were doing.
The twins were on the floor crawling around all the toys that Karen had put there for them. Karen picked up Kenneth and gave him a big smooch on the cheeks, and he just gurgled with delight. She did the same with Kristi, who started to grab a hold of Karen's hair, and pull she did. Richard had to help distangle his daughter and sister. Everyone laughed.
When Agnes and Harold arrived, another round of hugs and kisses were needed. Then everyone was led into the dining room for supper. Agnes remarked at how beautiful the table looked, the food, the flower arrangements. Karen just beamed. They sat down, said grace, and began to dish out the various plates of food. Supper was wonderful, and the conversation ever so delightful.
Bernice had been with Karen for a few weeks, as Karen was busy with photo shoots and various obligations for the upcoming Christmas album. She would come home all weary and tired, but happy. It was especially nice to be greeted by her Auntie, who would have a nice refreshing cup of iced tea, with a lemon wedge, and they would sit outside on the porch and just chat over each other's day, and it's events. She couldn't imagine not having her Aunt living with her. She loved it very much.
