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The next day Bree sat at her kitchen table, amidst kitchen ware and recipe cards. She and Evan had spent the weekend testing and improving her various dessert recipes for the new book and Evan was thrilled with his position as 'official taste tester'. Evan held the honesty of all five year-old boys and wasn't afraid to tell Bree what he thought of her cooking. Bree went through test trials to find the perfect match for Evan and was thrilled when he openly told her that she made the best fudge brownies he had ever tasted. Tired from all of his work in the kitchen, Evan was fast asleep in the living room, with a cartoon playing in the background. Bree hated to admit that Karl's son was the exact boost that she needed to brighten her weekend. They spent hours together at the park, going on walks, exploring Fairview – all of the things that she used to do with Benjamin before Danielle took him away.
Benjamin, Bree thought softly. She had chosen the name herself and had vowed to protect both her grandchild and daughter from pain by raising the boy herself. She was truly given a second chance at motherhood, after realizing the mistakes she made in raising Andrew and Danielle, Bree had been thrilled at the chance to try again. Benjamin gave life to her world and Orson grew to adore the boy just as much as she did – thinking of him as his own son.
When Orson went to prison, Benjamin was literally all that Bree had left, and she cherished every moment with him. He was growing to be a handsome little boy and he loved her as if she was his mother, he didn't know any different. Bree's world was hit hard when Danielle came back, after giving up her son, demanding him back from Bree. She warned her mother that she was married to an attorney, who could make things difficult for her if she didn't give Benjamin to her. Bree had no choice but to say goodbye to the boy she raised from birth. Benjamin's absence further encouraged her love of the bottle – the only place Bree felt that she could find relief in an uncaring world where she was left with absolutely no one.
Bree ventured into the other room and gently placed a blanket on a sleeping Evan. She laughed, wondering how Karl could raise such a likable child on his own and decided that all of Evan's good qualities had to be attributed to his mother. Bree frowned, wondering what the story between Karl and his former wife Marisa was. She learned that Karl was a single parent through Susan, when she told the ladies that Evan was now in her art class, though she had been vague on the details of the separation. It probably isn't any of my business anyway, Bree mused, stealing a final look at the little boy. He looks just like his father, Bree thought, Evan owning Karl's rich dark hair and impish grin. Bree shivered at a tiny Karl running around Fairview charming others to do his bidding.
Bree's heels clicked together as she headed back to the kitchen to clean up the assorted dishes, ingredients, and desserts. At the ring of the bell, Bree stacked the recipe cards in a kitchen drawer and headed toward the front door.
"Karl," Bree said, stunned to see him at her doorstep an entire day early. Bree closed the door behind him and placed a finger to her lips. "Evan's asleep on the sofa," she said softly as they gazed at the young form curled in a ball.
"Was he any trouble for you?" Karl asked.
Bree shook her head. "He had fun at the park this afternoon, and we tested desserts in the kitchen." Bree gently grazed Evan's forehead. "He looks so peaceful I couldn't bear to wake him."
Karl nodded in agreement as he followed Bree to the kitchen. "Busy day," Karl noted with a smirk at all of her creations.
Bree nodded her head. "Evan was my official taste-tester today."
"And all of this is for the new book?" Karl asked, impressed.
"With things going so well, I figured I may as well strike while the iron is hot." Bree pulled two glasses out of her cupboard. "Would you like a drink?" she offered.
Karl nodded yes as he sampled one of her sugar cookies. "Delicious," he said with approval as Bree handed him a scotch.
"How was your weekend?" Bree asked, curious as to why it was cut so short.
"Didn't pan out the way I planned," Karl said as he reached for one of Bree's cream puffs."
Bree smirked at Karl. "A bit disappointed are we?"
"Not really," Karl admitted. "I created a work problem to get out of the weekend early," he chuckled.
Bree looked at Karl in disgust, "That poor woman."
"She'll be fine," Karl replied. "Now I can spend extra time with Evan – and you can have your weekend back."
Bree lowered her head to suppress a frown at her time with Evan being cut short. "He'll be thrilled that you're back early," Bree said helpfully as she grabbed some stray dishes and brought them to the dishwasher.
"So how does your hubby feel about all of this extra work you've been doing?" Karl asked, surveying the room.
Bree sighed as she started the dishwasher and turned to Karl. "He said it caused his kleptomania and he told me to sell the company so that he could feel better about himself."
Karl sipped his drink and drummed his fingers on the table. "But you didn't give in," he smiled.
"You have no idea how close I came to doing it though," Bree said as she wiped down the countertops. "I was trying to convince myself that I was doing the right thing by sacrificing everything to become Mrs. Orson Hodge."
"Even the name seems horrible," Karl laughed.
Bree shot Karl a scolding look as she continued. "Andrew told me that if Orson really loved me, he wouldn't ask me to sell something that meant so much to me – that I worked so hard for."
"No he wouldn't," Karl agreed. "Orson is petty, he can't stand your success, so rather than let you be happy, he tried to bring you down to his level."
"To think I almost gave it up for him," Bree scolded herself, taking a seat next to Karl, sipping a glass of cider. "He isn't worth it."
Karl nodded his head in agreement. "But you won't have to worry your pretty little head about him much longer. He'll be out of your life without a penny to his name."
Bree raised her glass in the air. "I can drink to that," she replied as Karl clinked his scotch to her cider.
"So will it be all work and no play for you when Orson's gone?" Karl teased with a mischievous grin. "Because I know of some men that would be just perfect for you…."
"Karl," Bree admonished, batting him on the hand, "The last thing I want is another man complicating my life." Bree closed her eyes. "All I want now is my freedom – freedom to work, freedom to live, freedom to be myself without feeling guilty."
Karl looked into Bree's light green eyes. "You'll have all of that and more," he promised her. "Orson will be just a memory."
"Mmmm," Bree sighed. "If you can really do that, then you would be one of the most talented men I know," Bree said with a smile over her cider glass.
"Coming from you, that must be a big compliment," Karl chuckled as he watched Bree rise and refill his glass. "Two drinks, you are spoiling me," he teased.
"Not at all," Bree replied, "I want to let Evan sleep a little longer before you take him home." Bree resumed her position, where she could see the little boy from the other room.
Karl swirled his drink in his glass. "For a woman who claims to have given up drinking, you certainly do keep a lot of liquor in the house."
Bree's green eyes flashed at Karl as she clenched the table. "That is none of your business," Bree said pointedly. She stood up and moved to the edge of the kitchen with Karl following her.
"It's just an observation," Karl said, following her to the counter. He carefully positioned himself to block her from moving, knowing how she hated confrontations.
"A very personal one," Bree countered, attempting to dodge Karl's body, trying to look anywhere except directly at him. "I do a lot of entertaining," she said finally.
Satisfied, Karl moved aside and Bree started to clean the clutter from the table.
"I would think it would be too tempting," Karl pointed out. "Having it so close and everything."
"It keeps me going," Bree said, cradling recipe cards in her arms. "It encourages me to be strong and resist the temptation to drink." Bree looked down at the cards and traced the glossy surface.
Karl was silent as he ventured toward her, offering to help her clean off the table. "You're already one of the strongest women I know," Karl said, handing a small stack of index cards.
Bree gave Karl a look of disbelief, prompting him to continue. "You've survived the death of your husband, raised two kids on your own, stopped drinking cold turkey, started your own business and are now ready to leave husband number two." Karl gazed at Bree in amazement. "Most people would have done themselves in by now but you – you're still thriving, still maintaining your perfect image."
Bree released a shy smile. "I'm not as successful as you think I am." Bree rested her chin her palms. "Raising Andrew and Danielle on my own was hell – I'm surprised it at all. The catering business was pure luck – Katherine and I had the right idea at the right time. And as for Orson – he is one of my biggest mistakes." Bree let out a soft sigh. "And if I could do it all over again – I would have never given up my freedom to another man again."
Karl extended his hand and rested it on Bree's shoulder. To his surprise, she didn't shrug him off or tell him to stop. "Being with another man doesn't mean that you give up your freedom," he said gently.
Bree raised her head and met Karl's piercing blue eyes with a look of her own. "I suppose I've been staying with the wrong men then," she said finally.
I know you have, Karl thought to himself, not daring to say it out loud. "It's a common mistake," he assured her with a chuckle. "One that I'm sure you'll learn from in the future."
Bree stood up and walked toward the living room. "Oh believe me, I may never care to look at another man ever again."
"Really?" Karl asked, his interest piqued, he joined her under the ceiling, watching a sleeping Evan.
"Um-hum," Bree said. "I've never been truly single before," she admitted bashfully. "And I'd like to know how that feels."
"There's a lot that can be said for the single life," Karl agreed with a chuckle, knowing that he was speaking from experience.
Evan slowly stirred on the sofa and opened his eyes. "Daddy?" he called out as he identified Karl's figure standing with Bree's.
"Hey kiddo." Karl gently lifted his son into his arms and Bree went to retrieve his things.
"I'll walk you to your car," she whispered as Evan slipped back into a slumber.
Karl carefully buckled Evan in the backseat as Bree placed Evan's backpack in the front passenger side of the car.
"Thank-you again for watching him," Karl said, getting into the car.
"It was my pleasure," Bree assure him. "And if you ever need a sitter at a last minute, I'd be more than happy to help."
Karl grinned at Bree. "I'll take you up on that," he promised. "See you next week for our meeting."
"Next week," Bree agreed with a small wave. She stood on the edge of the street and watched Karl and Evan drive away. Her heart began to slowly sink as she realized that she was once again alone. Going into the house, Bree stole a quick glance at the grandfather clock and was stunned to see that Karl had been there for nearly an hour and a half. Bree let out a sigh as she crossed the room, finding herself taking a look at her full liquor cabinet.
It was easiest to drink when she was alone. A glass of wine cured a pang of loneliness in an instant. When she had confessed her alcoholism to Orson, he supportivelyoffered to keep the house liquor free for her sake, but she refused, citing that she wouldn't want to deprive him, or any guest of the luxury. Bree tucked a strand of hair behind her head and trudged up the stairs to an empty bed. She found her thoughts wandering to Karl and Evan as she pulled out a crisp, white nightgown from the bureau. Bree scolded herself for even thinking about Karl and attributed it to the upcoming divorce. When I officially divorce Orson, Karl Mayer will be out of my life for good and I will never think about him again she told herself with strong conviction.