Chapter 7
Rosario stood in shock. "How do you know that?"
Olivia proceeded to tell her a long, rambling story about how she had found the box on Stan's desk and when she asked him about it, he told her it was for Karen.
"Karen's gonna be my new mommy!" Olivia shouted excitedly as she ran down the hall to the playroom, leaving a surprised Rosario in her wake.
An hour and forty-five minutes later, Karen and Stan's limo finally pulled up to the Shelter Island Country Club. Pulling away from Stan, Karen checked her makeup in the mirror, making sure to reapply before walking in. Looking over at Stan, she giggled.
"What?"
"Honey, come here." She touched his lips gently. "You have some of my lipstick on your mouth."
"Hmm. I wonder why." He said, leaning in to kiss her again.
"Uh-uh. I just reapplied. People hate me here enough as it is, don't wanna add any more fuel to the fire."
"Fine. You'll owe me later." Stan said, opening the door and helping her out of the car.
They walked into the club arm in arm, and grabbed two flutes of champagne before making the rounds and saying hello to everyone. While Stan talked business, Karen stood just off to his right, listening but not interfering with his conversation. Within the last two months, Karen had become very adept and educated in Stan's businesses, just from listening to his conversations.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Stanley's girlfriend, trying to fit in with the elite……again." A familiar voice uttered, just loud enough for her to hear, as she stood with Stan.
Holding her head high, Karen turned and greeted him. "Oh, Beverly. So lovely to see you again. You know, honey, this whole act of yours has really got to stop. I mean, I'm never going to fall for a munchkin like you, so you may as well stop trying to butter me up."
Smiling politely, but with an evil smirk hidden somewhere, Beverly began to retort when Stan turned. Finished with his conversation, his eyes were now fixated on Karen.
"Mr. Leslie, how are you this evening?" Stan asked, extending his hand.
"Well, Mr. Walker, I was just having a lovely chat with your girlfriend. How lucky you are to have found someone so simple."
Stan narrowed his eyes. He felt Karen's grip on him tighten as soon as Beverly spoke. He wasn't going to let some miniature of a man ruin their Valentine's Day.
"I am, aren't I?" He looked to Karen and smiled, kissing her deeply while Beverly looked on. "And she's a great kisser, too. Excuse us."
Stan handed Beverly his empty champagne glass as he led Karen to the dance floor.
"That was fun." Stan said, grinning as he pulled Karen closer to him.
Karen simply smiled and leaned her head on his chest as they slow-danced.
"Thanks, honey. I hate it when he corners me like that."
Stan nodded. "No problem."
"I love that you always save the day for me, Stanley. You're a wonderful boyfriend." She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Stan saw this as the perfect opportunity.
"How about my being a wonderful husband?" he asked.
Karen stopped dancing, and looked at him seriously.
"What?"
Stan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the ring box. Opening it, he took Karen's hand in his.
"Karen, I love you more than anything. Would you marry me?"
By now, everyone in the room was focused on the two of them, but Karen didn't seem to care. She closed the ring box and jumped into Stan's arms, kissing him passionately.
As they pulled apart for air, Stan asked "So I take that as a yes?"
Karen held out her hand and allowed Stan to place the ring on her hand.
"Yes. I love you, Stanley."
"I love you, too, Kare."
