Chapter 2

"I thought that was you. You haven't changed one bit in the last nine years."

Karen had met Stan back in 1985. She was 22, single and just out of college. Stan and Karen, at the time had a whirlwind affair, lasting only about a week or so, when Karen found out that he was married. It had broken her heart at the time, he was the first man she had real feelings for.

"Neither have you, Stan." She replied, although she wasn't being completely honest. He had put on some weight and his hair had begun to thin out, but other than that, he was still the man she had fallen for all those years ago.

"That's awfully nice of you to say, Kar. You're full of shit, but it's still very nice."

Karen laughed. At least she knew she wouldn't have to pretend around Stan.

"So, honey. How have you been? How's your wife…..Katie?"

"Cathy. She's fine, I guess. I don't really speak to her much since the divorce."

Karen's heart stalled at that word. Divorce. She couldn't believe that's what her second marriage had come to.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Stan." Karen replied sincerely as she finished her martini.

Stan nodded. "Can I buy you another drink?"

Karen studied him for a moment. "Only if you'll join me. I'm not that much of a drinker."

Stan smiled and signaled the bartender for two more martinis. "So, how have you been?"

Karen looked at him, tears welling in her eyes. Wrong question to ask, Stan. She covered her eyes as she began to cry. Reaching into his suit, Stan held out his handkerchief to her, tilting her chin up so he could see her eyes.

"Bad topic?" He asked, lightheartedly.

Karen laughed through her tears. "You could say that, yeah." She answered, flipping her left hand in the air haphazardly. Something on her hand caught Stan's eye, and immediately he felt sincere disappointment.

"That's um…that's a lovely ring you have there. I guess I can assume that you're married now?"

Karen looked at her ring. It was a small diamond, but still elegant. Twisting the ring off her finger, she dropped it into her purse without a care.

"It's worthless. As of two hours ago, my marriage is over."

"Is that why you're here, sitting alone in a hotel bar, on Valentine's Day?"

Karen nodded solemnly. "Yea. I just caught my husband cheating on me. You know, he's my second husband, too. And before you even ask about why the first marriage ended, don't bother. It's the exact same story."

Stan was at a loss for words. He watched as Karen stirred her martini with the stick of olives, wondering how anyone could possibly want to cheat on anyone as beautiful and wonderful as her.

Clearing his throat, he broke the silence.

"You know, that's exactly what happened between Cathy and I. I caught her in our bed with another man."

"You and I should start our own club. I hope you made her pay for it in the divorce."

"Yea. Well, the best thing I got out of that divorce was the kids."

Karen brightened. "You have kids, now?"

Stan nodded. "Yeah. Olivia and Mason. She's six and he's almost four."

Karen loved children. Neither of her husbands had wanted kids, so she spent as much time with her friends' children as possible, always offering to babysit when her friends wanted to go out.

"Do you have a picture?"

Stan reached into his back pocket and pulled out a wallet-size photo of his children sitting on Santa's lap. Olivia had gorgeous curly red hair and Mason was a spitting image of Stan.

"They're adorable, Stan." She said, handing him the photo.

"Thank you. Um, Karen?"

Karen raised her eyebrows as she signaled for another drink.

"I hope you don't mind my asking, but…..where are you going to stay?"

Karen's face fell. "I have no idea. I'll probably just get a hotel room somewhere and charge it to that cheating bastard."

"Well, I don't want this to be awkward, but I have an empty room in my building that you're more than welcome to stay in."

Karen smiled. "Thanks honey, but I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"You wouldn't be a bother at all, Karen. Honest."

"Don't you have to get permission from the landlord or something?" She asked, sipping her third, or was it her fourth, martini?

Stan smiled as he raised his glass to his lips. "You're looking at him."