Post by Rick Henry on Jan 14, 2004 2:27:30 GMT -5
" Harold come look at this." Agnes called to her husband as she peered out the kitchen window watching her daughter and that nice young doctor on the veranda.
Harold looked out the window and shrugged his shoulders.
" Karen’s made a new friend that is nothing new for our daughter."
" No Harold I saw the way that Karen looked at him in the hospital. I think that they could be a great couple. After the disaster with Tom. I think that Karen needs a good man in her life." Agnes let the blind on the window fall back and leaned on the counter.
Harold shook his head and rolled his eyes.
" Agnes, Karen is barely out of the hospital and your setting her up on a date. I swear you’re as bad as some of Karen’s girlfriends."
Before Agnes could answer the sliding door opened and Karen and Nathan came into the dining room.
" Well I ought to be going I have to make morning rounds tomorrow. Thank you for a wonderful evening Karen. I really enjoyed our talk. Can I call you again for dinner before you leave for Seattle?" Nathan asked at the door ask Karen held it open.
" I’d love it." Karen said. " Call me in the afternoon tomorrow and we’ll get together. There is a quaint little Italian place that I know that I’m sure you’ll love."
" See you then." Nathan caught sight of Karen’s parents watching from the kitchen. Agnes came forward and joined Karen at the door.
" Thank you too Mrs. Carpenter. It was a great party."
" Your quite welcome Doctor. I hope to see you again soon." Agnes smiled.
" Thank you all again." Nathan said and walked out the street and got in his BMW. Karen stood and watched the car as it turned the corner and then rejoined her parents in the house. She was in a really good mood. She went over the table that the deserts had been set up on. She looked it over and then selected a piece of blueberry cheesecake. Grabbing a fork she went to the family room and curled up on the sofa. Her mother joined her by sitting in one of the two arm chairs.
" Thanks Mom. The party was wonderful. It was the best surprise of my life." Karen said and then took a bite of her cheesecake. She closed her eyes and savored the taste and texture of the dessert.
" It’s good to see you enjoying that, Karen." Agnes smiled.
" I can’t believe that I deprived myself of this for seven years. Mom, I want you to know that I intend to beat my anorexia. I want to live for a long time." Karen licked her lips and then took another bite of the cheesecake.
" Karen I wanted to talk to you about this plan of yours to go to Seattle. I can’t see how it will benefit you to leave your home after so recently getting out of the hospital. I think that you ought to rest here and then when your ready you and Richard can return to your careers. I mean who’s better qualified to take care of you then your own mother?" Agnes said in a gentle but concerned tone of voice.
Karen knew that this day was too good to last. Why did her mother have to spoil it by doing this. Clearing her throat Karen said.
" Mom, I know that you love me. Your offer to help is genuine, however I have to fight this battle alone for the first part of it. Steven has managed to get the doctor that treated the Boone girl to help me. Please don’t fight this. I need your support now more then ever. I have got to beat this illness."
Shaking her head Agnes realized that she would have to let her daughter go to a strange city once again. She hated being so powerless, but was grateful that she had three weeks with Karen. Her children meant the world to her. True she and Harold where not the most demonstrative in showing there love to Karen and Richard. In her heart Agnes knew that she’d been given a second chance with Karen. She thanked God each day for that.
" Alright Karen, if you have to go to Seattle for help so be it. Can I ask that you fly home to see us from time to time?"
" Sure Mom. Of course I will." Karen finished the last bite of the cheesecake on her plate and stood up. She went to the kitchen and put the plate and fork in the sink. Her mother followed her.
" Maybe you ought to call it a night Karen. If you like I can bring you up some warm milk." Agnes said as her daughter was crossing the living room for the couch.
" Mom thanks, but I want to watch a little TV and then I will come up to bed." Karen returned to the sofa and curled up. She pointed the clicker at the TV and turned it on.
" Just don’t be to late getting to bed. You need your rest." Agnes turned and went up the stairs when she joined Harold in the master bedroom she saw that he was reading the paper and continued on to their bathroom where she changed into a warm fennel night gown. She when to the vanity table and began to remove her makeup. As she wiped off her eye shadow she looked at her husband in the mirror.
" Harold, do you think that Karen managed to beat the odds this time?"
" I think that we are lucky to have our little girl still with us at all. She’s a fighter dear, Karen will survive. She needs our love and support." Harold folded the paper and laid it on his night table. He gazed at the woman that he’d married almost 50 years ago. To him she was still that same young girl. Agnes was iron-willed that was true but she had a softer side that proved her vulnerable center.
" I know that Honey, but the fact is Karen is so young. She has gone through so much. She’s had a perpetual illness for the better half of a decade, she is contending with a failed marriage and then a month ago she nearly died. What more will she have to face before she can find some peace and quite." Agnes said as she finished applying her night cream. She put the cap back on and crossed the room to the bed and slipped under the covers.
" Do you really think that our daughter will find happiness. I want Karen to be able to have the family that she has always longed for." Agnes leaned over and kissed her husbands cheek.
" She will Agnes. I’m sure of it. Now good night and stop worrying." Harold hugged his wife and then turned off the light.
*** *** ***
Karen awoke midway through the morning. She was well rested and ready to tackle the day. Getting out of bed and going into her washroom she looked in the mirror and smiled. For once she felt good to be up and mobile. When she had went to bed last night she’d passed out cold. Turning on the shower she made sure that all her soaps and shampoos where handy and then got in.
Singing to herself as she bathed.
" Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s me, maybe it’s just the constant rhythm of the sea. Maybe it’s just I’ve never been the kind to pass a lucky penny by. Maybe it’s wise maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s you who brought the caring I forgot. Isn’t it nice to talk about special way you smile whenever I’m around…"
Karen took care to wash her hair twice. She loved its baby softness. It was shoulder length and she was growing it out. Once the water ran clear she conditioned it and then rinsed for the final time. She then make quick work of the stubble on her legs and was done. Once Karen had turned off the water she dried herself and then wrapped the towel around her chest.
" Karen?" Called her mother at the bottom of the stairs.
" Yes Mother?" Karen answered as she put on her bra and panties.
" Breakfast is ready for you. I have pouched eggs and bacon and rye toast. Hurry before it gets cold."
" Be right down Mom."
" Thank you." Agnes called.
When Karen appeared in the kitchen her family was already eating their morning meals.
Sitting at the table and pouring herself a glass of orange juice in the glass that was beside her plate. When she’d filled the glass she broke the yolks of her eggs and used the toast to dab the gooey yellow liquid. She bit into the toast and chewed. She then realized that her family was watching her eat. Karen raised an eyebrow and asked
" What? Have you never seen you never seen me eat before?"
" It’s not that sweetheart. It’s just been so long since you have eaten with us without fight that it’s nice." Harold said and leaned over and kissed Karen’s cheek.
" Karen I have some demo tapes that I’d like to go over with you. When you feel up to it." Richard said with an impish smile.
The thought of getting back into the groove of her career was stimulating to say the least. But the fact was Karen was unsure that she was ready for that. She only had three weeks to get all of her matters settled. She looked at her brother and smiled.
" Richard, I wish that I could spend the day with you but I have to a date tonight for dinner. I want to go to the salon and get my hair done and then I have to go for some new clothes. Can I take a rain check?"
" Sure Karen, it was only a thought. You have a date tonight with who?" his voice conveyed his amazement.
" With that nice Doctor Yates." Agnes said.
" Yep, he and I really hit it off at the party yesterday. He’s divorced and has a little boy of his own. I can tell that he’s a well grounded guy." Karen said as she finished the last of her eggs and toast. Glancing at her watch she stood up. " I have to go. I will see you all later."
Harold looked out the window and shrugged his shoulders.
" Karen’s made a new friend that is nothing new for our daughter."
" No Harold I saw the way that Karen looked at him in the hospital. I think that they could be a great couple. After the disaster with Tom. I think that Karen needs a good man in her life." Agnes let the blind on the window fall back and leaned on the counter.
Harold shook his head and rolled his eyes.
" Agnes, Karen is barely out of the hospital and your setting her up on a date. I swear you’re as bad as some of Karen’s girlfriends."
Before Agnes could answer the sliding door opened and Karen and Nathan came into the dining room.
" Well I ought to be going I have to make morning rounds tomorrow. Thank you for a wonderful evening Karen. I really enjoyed our talk. Can I call you again for dinner before you leave for Seattle?" Nathan asked at the door ask Karen held it open.
" I’d love it." Karen said. " Call me in the afternoon tomorrow and we’ll get together. There is a quaint little Italian place that I know that I’m sure you’ll love."
" See you then." Nathan caught sight of Karen’s parents watching from the kitchen. Agnes came forward and joined Karen at the door.
" Thank you too Mrs. Carpenter. It was a great party."
" Your quite welcome Doctor. I hope to see you again soon." Agnes smiled.
" Thank you all again." Nathan said and walked out the street and got in his BMW. Karen stood and watched the car as it turned the corner and then rejoined her parents in the house. She was in a really good mood. She went over the table that the deserts had been set up on. She looked it over and then selected a piece of blueberry cheesecake. Grabbing a fork she went to the family room and curled up on the sofa. Her mother joined her by sitting in one of the two arm chairs.
" Thanks Mom. The party was wonderful. It was the best surprise of my life." Karen said and then took a bite of her cheesecake. She closed her eyes and savored the taste and texture of the dessert.
" It’s good to see you enjoying that, Karen." Agnes smiled.
" I can’t believe that I deprived myself of this for seven years. Mom, I want you to know that I intend to beat my anorexia. I want to live for a long time." Karen licked her lips and then took another bite of the cheesecake.
" Karen I wanted to talk to you about this plan of yours to go to Seattle. I can’t see how it will benefit you to leave your home after so recently getting out of the hospital. I think that you ought to rest here and then when your ready you and Richard can return to your careers. I mean who’s better qualified to take care of you then your own mother?" Agnes said in a gentle but concerned tone of voice.
Karen knew that this day was too good to last. Why did her mother have to spoil it by doing this. Clearing her throat Karen said.
" Mom, I know that you love me. Your offer to help is genuine, however I have to fight this battle alone for the first part of it. Steven has managed to get the doctor that treated the Boone girl to help me. Please don’t fight this. I need your support now more then ever. I have got to beat this illness."
Shaking her head Agnes realized that she would have to let her daughter go to a strange city once again. She hated being so powerless, but was grateful that she had three weeks with Karen. Her children meant the world to her. True she and Harold where not the most demonstrative in showing there love to Karen and Richard. In her heart Agnes knew that she’d been given a second chance with Karen. She thanked God each day for that.
" Alright Karen, if you have to go to Seattle for help so be it. Can I ask that you fly home to see us from time to time?"
" Sure Mom. Of course I will." Karen finished the last bite of the cheesecake on her plate and stood up. She went to the kitchen and put the plate and fork in the sink. Her mother followed her.
" Maybe you ought to call it a night Karen. If you like I can bring you up some warm milk." Agnes said as her daughter was crossing the living room for the couch.
" Mom thanks, but I want to watch a little TV and then I will come up to bed." Karen returned to the sofa and curled up. She pointed the clicker at the TV and turned it on.
" Just don’t be to late getting to bed. You need your rest." Agnes turned and went up the stairs when she joined Harold in the master bedroom she saw that he was reading the paper and continued on to their bathroom where she changed into a warm fennel night gown. She when to the vanity table and began to remove her makeup. As she wiped off her eye shadow she looked at her husband in the mirror.
" Harold, do you think that Karen managed to beat the odds this time?"
" I think that we are lucky to have our little girl still with us at all. She’s a fighter dear, Karen will survive. She needs our love and support." Harold folded the paper and laid it on his night table. He gazed at the woman that he’d married almost 50 years ago. To him she was still that same young girl. Agnes was iron-willed that was true but she had a softer side that proved her vulnerable center.
" I know that Honey, but the fact is Karen is so young. She has gone through so much. She’s had a perpetual illness for the better half of a decade, she is contending with a failed marriage and then a month ago she nearly died. What more will she have to face before she can find some peace and quite." Agnes said as she finished applying her night cream. She put the cap back on and crossed the room to the bed and slipped under the covers.
" Do you really think that our daughter will find happiness. I want Karen to be able to have the family that she has always longed for." Agnes leaned over and kissed her husbands cheek.
" She will Agnes. I’m sure of it. Now good night and stop worrying." Harold hugged his wife and then turned off the light.
*** *** ***
Karen awoke midway through the morning. She was well rested and ready to tackle the day. Getting out of bed and going into her washroom she looked in the mirror and smiled. For once she felt good to be up and mobile. When she had went to bed last night she’d passed out cold. Turning on the shower she made sure that all her soaps and shampoos where handy and then got in.
Singing to herself as she bathed.
" Maybe it’s you, maybe it’s me, maybe it’s just the constant rhythm of the sea. Maybe it’s just I’ve never been the kind to pass a lucky penny by. Maybe it’s wise maybe it’s not. Maybe it’s you who brought the caring I forgot. Isn’t it nice to talk about special way you smile whenever I’m around…"
Karen took care to wash her hair twice. She loved its baby softness. It was shoulder length and she was growing it out. Once the water ran clear she conditioned it and then rinsed for the final time. She then make quick work of the stubble on her legs and was done. Once Karen had turned off the water she dried herself and then wrapped the towel around her chest.
" Karen?" Called her mother at the bottom of the stairs.
" Yes Mother?" Karen answered as she put on her bra and panties.
" Breakfast is ready for you. I have pouched eggs and bacon and rye toast. Hurry before it gets cold."
" Be right down Mom."
" Thank you." Agnes called.
When Karen appeared in the kitchen her family was already eating their morning meals.
Sitting at the table and pouring herself a glass of orange juice in the glass that was beside her plate. When she’d filled the glass she broke the yolks of her eggs and used the toast to dab the gooey yellow liquid. She bit into the toast and chewed. She then realized that her family was watching her eat. Karen raised an eyebrow and asked
" What? Have you never seen you never seen me eat before?"
" It’s not that sweetheart. It’s just been so long since you have eaten with us without fight that it’s nice." Harold said and leaned over and kissed Karen’s cheek.
" Karen I have some demo tapes that I’d like to go over with you. When you feel up to it." Richard said with an impish smile.
The thought of getting back into the groove of her career was stimulating to say the least. But the fact was Karen was unsure that she was ready for that. She only had three weeks to get all of her matters settled. She looked at her brother and smiled.
" Richard, I wish that I could spend the day with you but I have to a date tonight for dinner. I want to go to the salon and get my hair done and then I have to go for some new clothes. Can I take a rain check?"
" Sure Karen, it was only a thought. You have a date tonight with who?" his voice conveyed his amazement.
" With that nice Doctor Yates." Agnes said.
" Yep, he and I really hit it off at the party yesterday. He’s divorced and has a little boy of his own. I can tell that he’s a well grounded guy." Karen said as she finished the last of her eggs and toast. Glancing at her watch she stood up. " I have to go. I will see you all later."
Cheers!!!
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