"Hey you" Karen smiled, giving her best friend a kiss on the cheek and as she hurriedly sat down. "So sorry I'm late. I couldn't find Henry's shoes anywhere, and only just made it to nursery before breakfast was over! ... domestic bliss hey?!"
"I'll say!" laughed Anna. "I hoped you gave my little godson a big kiss from me! And hey to you too. I've missed you! You're not allowed to leave me alone with no one to play with while you swan around in London again!"
"No one to play with?! I think Ben might have something to say about that!" Karen laughed.
"Yeah well, Ben doesn't count. He's useless at the girly stuff ... So! How was London? Tell me everything!"
"There's not much to tell. It was lovely, and Henry loved spending time with his grandma. We spent Christmas Eve with Derek's sister and her family, and then Christmas Day it was just me, Ruth and Henry. The only person missing was ..." Karen smiled, unable to finish the sentence, as a lump in her throat started to form.
"It will get better you know" Ana said, giving her friend a comforting wink. "I know it doesn't feel like it now, but it will. In time ... I miss him too" she smiled, reaching out to grip her friend's hand.
"But what if I don't want it to?" Karen said, wiping a tear from her eye. "Sometimes I think the pain is what keeps him close to me, you know. I know that sounds stupid."
"It doesn't sound stupid at all. But you know ... Derek's dead Karen. He's not coming back. And you're here with your whole life ahead of you. And you have this wonderful little boy who one day is going to want a dad to go with his mom. But more than anything he's going to want you to be happy."
"I was happiest with Derek"
"Karen!"
"I know I know. I'm sorry. I just still ... there's that moment, when I first wake up every morning, when I forget ... and for that tiny millisecond everything's perfect. And then I turn over and see an empty bed, and it hits me all over again ... ugh, enough about me and my woes. Come on girl, you must have some fun news. What did I miss in the Big A while I was away?"
"Same old same old" laughed Ana. "Bobby's New Year's Eve party will go down in history!"
"I'll bet" laughed Karen.
"Oh and did you hear about Josh?!"
"Let me guess" Karen smiled. "His on off on off on off relationship with Sophie Brocklehurst is off again!"
"Sophie Bitchhurst remember" replied Ana, eliciting an eyeroll from Karen. "And nope, sadly they seem to be still on ... Buttttttt, he's going to be back in New York to film his new epic sci fi movie."
"Really? That's fantastic news. I wonder why he didn't call to let me know himself. I haven't seen him in months."
"Ummmm he's an A Lister now remember. Well, a top end B Lister at least! You think he has time to be calling his insignificant broadway buddies?!" laughed Ana.
"You're terrible! And Josh isn't like that, you know he isn't!"
"Maybe!" grinned Ana. "I'll give him a pass because of how great he was during Derek's illness. Anywayyyyy, he's going to be attending the Annual Broadway Charity Gala ... I know you declined their numerous offers for you to attend, but Karen, I really think you should come. The show must go on and all that."
"I don't know. I just don't think I can handle all the questions, and displays of insincere sympathy from people who never cared one iota about Derek when he was alive."
"Karen, you need to get back out there. It will do you the world of good. And you just said you haven't seen Josh in months."
"I'll think about it" Karen smiled.
"That's my girl" Ana grinned, a twinkle in her eye.
"Henry Lewis Wills! How is it that I can only ever find one of your socks!" Karen said, as she routed through her son's drawer."
"Mommy, Rosco take" Henry said, referring to his favourite toy, his little cuddly sheep."
"Rosco took it did did he? laughed Karen.
Karen couldn't help but smile, as she finally found the other sock and began putting them on Henry's feet, then leant down to sweep Henry off his feet and plant him with a big sloppy kisses as he giggled in her arms. She ruffled his adorably messy head of hair. No matter what Karen did she could never tame it! He was Derek's son alright.
Henry was such a personality. He was a born performer, she could tell that already, but he was so good natured. She wouldn't let him turn into a brat that's for sure. She remembered back to the days after Henry had been born.
"Promise me one thing" Derek had asked, as he sat up in his hospital bed gazing adoringly at his son in his arms. "Promise me sweetheart that you won't let this little fella become an obnoxious precocious kid. There's nothing I hate more than obnoxious precocious kids!"
Tears sprang in Karen's eyes. "I promise you sweetheart. I love you so much" she said, kissing him gently on the lips and kissing her son tenderly on the forehead. "Our little family. I can't believe it."
"However long we have together" said Derek "let's cherish it okay?"
"Okay."
She was suddenly disturbed by the sound of her phone beeping, and grabbed it from the bed to see a text from Ana.
"I'm in the car waiting! See you in 5. Ben's on his way up! xo"
Karen rushed around her bedroom, frantically grabbing her things. She didn't know how Ana had managed to rope her into this. It had all happened to quickly she hadn't had time to think about it, but the nearer it got the more anxious she was getting. She knew that her arrival would cause a stir. She hadn't been hiding away since Derek's death, but this was her first public appearance, and she knew the reaction would be a mixture of shock and sympathy. She wasn't sure how much of that she could handle.
"Hello?" she heard Ben call from downstairs, as Ana's boyfriend, who Ana had roped into babysitting duty for the night, made his way in.
"We're upstairs" called Karen. "Down in a second."
"So, how do I look?" said Karen, sheepishly, as she made her way slowly down the stairs, Henry in her arms.
"Holy crap Karen. Ditch the kid who's ruining the look and you just stunning." laughed Ben, as he reached out to take Henry from her arms. "Talk about making an entrance!"
"Thanks Ben" Karen smiled gratefully. She was wearing a long dusky grey chiffon dress, with a plunging neckline and a slit running right up the thigh, her hair down and flowing with natural waves.
"And thank you so much for looking after this little fella. You don't know how he's excited he's been to spend the evening with you. Right, I better get going. Bye Henry, be good for Uncle Ben okay?" she said, blowing her son a kiss. "And when Uncle Ben says bed, bed, okay?!" she said sternly.
"Yes mommy!" he nodded.
"Good boy. I love you."
"Tell me again what I'm doing here?" said Sophie, decidedly unimpressed with her surroundings.
"Supporting your boyfriend, and Broadway, and you know, some good causes!" said Josh, rolling his eyes.
"Well they could have at least provided us with some better champagne!"
Josh couldn't help but smile.
"What?" she said.
"Nothing. But this is my life, where I started Sophie. It's still where my heart is, so please try and respect that okay?"
"I do respect it. It's just not my scene!"
"Clearly!"
Josh grabbed another glass from a passing waitress and downed it almost in one. It was going to be a long night! He was suddenly distracted by a commotion by the entrance, and saw a bunch of lights flashing, and intrigued by who could be causing such a stir he walked a little closer, when suddenly his heart almost missed a beat. Karen! She was looking completely overwhelmed by the attention that was being thrust upon her, and his immediate reaction was to go and rescue her.
Maybe it was because he hadn't seen her in months, and maybe because his last memory of her was when he'd visited her at her apartment to say goodbye before his move to Los Angeles, when she was a shadow of the girl he knew before Derek's illness, but right now she was just radiant. More gorgeous than ever. Her smile could still light up a room, although even from 10 yards away he could see the innate sadness in her big brown eyes.
He hadn't realised he was even staring until he heard Sophie whisper in his ear. "So, you were only ever friends right?! Jesus, you'd think the Messiah had arrived or something the way people are crowding round."
"For god's sake Sophie. This is a Broadway bash, and Karen's a two times Tony winner, so what did you expect!"
"Something a bit more spectacular to be honest!"
"Just then Karen's eyes wandered over to Josh's and when she saw him her face gleamed in delight at seeing her friend again, as she excitedly made her way over.
"Josh!" she said, as she reached him and embraced him. "You look really well. You should have told me you were in town. Why didn't you call me? Not too big a star for your old theatre mates huh?"
"Hardly Cartwright!" said Josh! falling into his old banter. "And I hope you don't mind me saying how beautiful you look."
"Thank you" she smiled, before checking herself and turning towards Sophie, who was standing a little to the side, eyeing the conversation suspiciously.
"I'm so sorry" Karen said graciously. "Josh and I haven't seen each other in a while. It's so nice to meet you Miss Brocklehurst. I know you by reputation obviously. You've got a good'un with this one" she teased, winking at Josh.
"Indeed" said Sophie, coldly. "Will you excuse me please" she suddenly said. "I've just spotted Robert Wardle. He's been trying to persuade me to sign up to his latest play for months. Better go and let him down gently. Pleased to meet you Karen" she said with a thin smile, before making a quick exit.
"Ummm, sorry about that" said Josh. "This is not really her thing."
"No worries" smiled Karen. "God it's so good to see you. I've missed you! Not that I begrudge you your new life in Hollywood. You're tearing it up over there. I'm so pleased for you."
"Thank you. So, how are you doing?"
"Okay okay. More good days than bad now" she smiled. "And Henry, well he keeps me more than busy. He's a little firecracker, but he's so good natured.
Just like his mom" said Josh, as an awkward silence descended over them. "Look Karen, I'm sorry I haven't really been around much recently. Everything's just been so hectic, and ..."
"You haven't got anything to apologise for Josh. I completely understand ... sooooo, how long are you in New York for?"
"A little while actually. I'm filming a movie here over the next few months."
"I read that. Congratulations! Well then I'm definitely getting you over. And Henry would love to see you. He loves spending time with you."
"How is the little nipper?" grinned Josh.
"He's great, he's great. He's a handful but then, he is Derek's son, so ..." said Karen trailing off, tears starting to fill her eyes. She couldn't help herself.
"Hey come on now" said Josh moving closer to Karen, removing his handkerchief from his tux pocket so wipe away Karen's tears. "It's okay Cartwright. No one is expecting you to be superwoman."
"I know" she said quietly. "Thank you Josh ... ummm I think maybe someone is looking for you" she laughed after a while, as she looked over to see Sophie glaring at her. "I'll see you in a bit okay? I'm so glad you're back."
"I'm glad to be back" he smiled, as he watched Karen would back into the melee of people practically queuing up to talk to her. He hadn't realised the truth of that statement until now.
