The next morning Karen awoke feeling pain all over. Why did he keep doing this to her? It hadn't always been like this. They were once happily married. It wasn't until a few years after they were married that he started drinking heavily. It was a couple of months before she started working for Grace. That was the main reason she went out looking for a job. That was also the main reason she began to drink as well.
The alarm clock went off and she slammed her fist on the off switch. She got out of bed and took a hot bath. This seemed like a good way to help the pain.
After her bath she dressed in clothes that hid her bruises and put her makeup on very heavily. She also wore her hair down, hoping it would hide the darkness of the bruise that makeup wouldn't completely cover.
Just as she was putting the finishing touches on her hair, Rosario knocked on the still locked door.
"Miss Karen, Mister Will is here for you. I'll take your bags down if you unlock the door."
Karen moved to the door and did as the maid said. When Rosario walked in she looked Karen dead in the face.
"Mami, what happened?"
"I fell out of bed Rosie, that's all." She spoke with little meaning. The maid had a feeling that something had been going on for a long time. However, every time she tried to get her employer to speak of it, she came up with another excuse. How could she help?
Rosario nodded and carried the bags downstairs. Karen grabbed her purse off of her table and also began to make her way down the hall. Just as she was about to pass the guest room, Stan emerged.
"Karen, baby, I am so sorry about last night. I don't know what I was thinking." He began to plead as he took her hands in his. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
"Stan, how the hell am I going to explain this bruise on my face, huh?" She asked while pulling her hands out of his grasp.
"Honey I love you so much. Please forgive me."
"Fuck you." She said, glaring at him and making her way down the stairs to meet Will.
She met him at the door and, just as she expected, he stared at her. She knew the question was coming, but she'd also been doing this long enough to come up with a convincing lie. She was getting too good at this.
"Karen, what happened?" Will asked with concern in his voice.
"Oh, nothing honey. I just fell out of bed last night. It's amazing how far down the floor is." She giggled, an attempt to blow it all off. "So are you ready?"
"Yeah, Rosario just finished putting your bags in the car." He said, ushering her out the door.
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The car ride started off in complete and awkward silence. Will stole a glance at Karen who was looking out the window. She seemed to be very deep in thought. He decided to break the silence.
"So, thanks for agreeing to come with me. It sucks going to a wedding without a date."
"No problem, honey. I do have one question though. Why didn't you just bring Jack?" She asked, confused.
"It's a funny story really. My aunt and uncle don't really accept the gay lifestyle."
"Who cares? It's your lifestyle. How come you didn't just bring a real date?"
"Okay, funnier story. I never actually got around to telling my aunt and uncle that I'm gay." He finally confessed to a shocked Karen.
"What? Oh, Wilma, shame on you." She said, giggling. This may be more fun than she thought.
"I know, but here's where you come in. I told them I'm bringing my girlfriend."
"Honey, are you joking?" She asked.
"No and I'm sorry. I was expecting Grace to be my date and everybody just assumes we're a couple. She doesn't like to look lonely so she just plays along. I didn't think anyone would have to know."
"Don't worry. I won't tell anybody." Karen said. "But it is pretty damn funny."
"Thanks. You know, maybe this trip won't be so bad."
"Well you never know. It could turn bad. I am a 'bitter drunk with a cruel sense of humor. I call you Wilma. I pop pills like they're tic-tacs.' Isn't that what you said to Grace yesterday?" She asked, wondering if he'd fess up. He was shocked.
"Karen, how…"
"I was standing outside the door when you said it, honey."
"I am so sorry you heard that."
"But not that you said it. You know, Wilma, I have my reasons for the way I am and I really don't appreciate you judging me." She said softly. Will thought he could hear some pain in her voice, but he decided to let it go.
"Karen I really am sorry. I don't really know you and I was just…look I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." He apologized.
"Thanks, I appreciate it." She smiled. Maybe this trip really wouldn't be so bad.
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After a few hours in the car, Will pulled into a restaurant parking lot. He wasn't sure what Karen liked so he chose a place that looked like it had a large variety. She didn't seem to have any complaints so he turned the car off and they walked inside. They were promptly seated and gave their drink orders.
"I'll take water." ordered Will.
"Same here." said Karen without taking her eyes off the menu. "The chicken looks good." When she got no reply she looked up at Will who was staring at her. "What?"
"You ordered water to drink. Are you sick or something?" He asked, still completely flabbergasted.
"No, I just wanted water." She replied. "You know I don't have to have alcohol all the time, Wilma."
"Of course not." he said, looking down at his menu. Since when does Karen drink water? She was starting to freak him out.
They ordered their food when the waiter came back. After ordering, they made light conversation until their food arrived. When Will saw Karen begin to eat a piece of chicken, he was once again astounded. What was with her? Why was she so different back home?
"Okay, Karen I have to ask you a question." Will said. He was finally just going to bite the bullet and ask. "Is something bothering you? You don't seem like yourself today."
"No, honey, I'm fine." She replied while eating another bite. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He said. Now it was starting to get awkward again. Great, he should have just kept his mouth shut. But he had no idea how to react. He hadn't seen her drink all day and now here she was eating solid food. Of course he'd seen her eat before, but never things like chicken.
After a nice lunch, they were back in the car. Will calculated that they would reach their destination at about five o'clock. This was good because he was really tired. He didn't get much sleep last night. He was too busy doing his last minute packing and Grace went on a date with a total jackass. He had to comfort her until she went to sleep.
Karen noticed Will beginning to swerve a little. She had her license, but she hadn't driven a car since before she married Stan. However, she could tell that Will was really tired. She wanted to show that she could be a good friend. Maybe she could use this trip to burn some bridges.
"Wilma, if you're tired, I can drive the rest of the way." She said. She could hear some shyness in her voice. What was that all about?
"Really? Do you even know how to drive?" He asked incredulously.
"Sure, honey. It's not a problem. Just tell me where we're going and I can get us there."
Will was still a little leery, but he was so tired. "Fine, here's the map. I'll pull over up a little ways."
She didn't know why, but she felt really good knowing that Will trusted her. She couldn't explain it, but for some reason she felt closer to him. She assumed it was just her sober state. It wasn't often that she allowed herself to remain sober so she wasn't used to the feeling. Maybe this was how people felt normally.
After pulling over and getting a few directions straight, Karen took the wheel. She was a little jerky at first, but quickly caught on. Just like riding a bike.
A couple of hours later, Karen pulled the car into the hotel parking lot. She was proud of herself. Stan wouldn't let her drive after they got married so this was some newfound kind of independence for her.
Will was still asleep so she leaned over and began waking him up. She shook his shoulder, startling him a little.
"We're here honey." She said, opening the car door and getting out.
"Already?" he asked as he also got out of the car.
"Yeah, that was pretty quick. We are at the right place aren't we?" She questioned. She seriously hoped that she had taken them to the right place. When he nodded his head she was completely relieved.
They loaded their suitcases on a cart and went to the front desk. Will asked for the keys to their rooms, but was extremely frustrated when the woman at the front desk made a mistake in their reservation.
"What do you mean I only reserved one double room? I asked for two single rooms. The girl on the phone said that's what she had me down for!" Will yelled. The girl was so nervous. She hadn't been the one to make his reservation so she had no idea what to say.
Karen saw the poor girl begin to squirm and decided, no matter how funny it was, she should step in and handle this. Will was obviously not in the right state of mind to be dealing with people.
"Wilma, I don't mind us being in the same room. It's kind of like sharing a room with one of your girlfriends, right?" Karen said, brightening the eyes of the girl at the front desk.
"Are you sure, Karen? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."
"Oh honey I'm fine. Let's go." She said, walking over to the elevator.
"Okay then." Said Will as Karen walked away. He had never heard her just give in to anything. She was always the one to put up a fight until she got her way or someone got fired.
Once they got to the room, Karen put her suitcases on her bed. Yes, Karen Walker carried her own suitcases. Will wondered what else she would do to shock him on this trip.
They began hanging clothes up and putting their things away. They met each other in the bathroom as they both went to put shower supplies and personal items in there.
"I wonder if people actually use these soaps. They don't smell too bad." Will said as he smelled a few of the complementary bars of soap.
"I don't know. I usually steal them all and have Rosie take them to homeless shelters." She said and then froze. Did she just say that? "If you tell anybody that I will deny it and then kill you." She threatened.
Will smiled. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe." He laughed. She smiled back as she attempted to pick up another bar of soap. It fell to the floor and she bent down to pick it up. She heard Will gasp and straightened up quickly.
"What honey?"
"What happened to your back? It looks like you got hit with something." He said, stepping toward her to check under her shirt again. He tried, but she pushed him away. "Karen what happened?"
"Nothing, it's probably from when I fell out of bed." She reasoned as she walked back into the bedroom area. She didn't get very far because Will turned her around to face him. "Ouch, honey, let go!" She squealed as he put his hands on her upper arms. He quickly pulled his hands away when he saw the hurt expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he pulled up her half sleeve. She tried to fight him off, but he was too fast. He gasped as he saw bruises on her arms. "What have you been doing to yourself?" He asked.
She immediately became defensive. "I haven't been doing anything to myself, Mary. Just drop it!" She yelled as she walked over to put her suitcase in the closet.
"Karen, what's been going on?" He asked again. He was really worried about her.
"Honey, I told you to drop it!" she defended as she grabbed her purse. "I need a drink." She said and then she walked out the door, leaving Will speechless.
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