A/N: Really long chapter this time, I would love a long review from my
readers if it's possible. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or it's characters.
Chapter Eight
Thanksgiving Secret
In the middle of November, Katherine was at Karen and Jack's penthouse, addressing the invitations for the wedding that was next month on the sixth. The three of them were sitting at the dinning room table. Karen was drinking a martini and Jack was putting stamps on the envelopes once Katherine had finished writing on them.
"Can't you do this on a computer?" Katherine asked as she took a break from writing. "It takes such a long time to write out the names and addresses."
"I love your handwriting Kat," Jack said. "And besides, I want everything to go perfectly. That means no cheap computer typing."
"Well at least you're only inviting eighty people all together," Katherine said, looking at the guest list and rubbing her right hand. "Wait, I think you guys forgot someone."
"Who's that Kath?" Karen asked.
"Jack, your mom's not on the list," Katherine said, looking over at him.
"Oh... yeah, well. Funny how that happened," Jack mumbled. "I'm going to get something to drink, excuse me."
"I knew he was going to do this," Karen said, shaking her head and eating one of the olives in her drink.
"You figure he would tell her about you guys first thing," Katherine said, starting to write addresses again. Her sister had told her how Jack had waited until five years ago to tell his mother that he was gay.
"I guess I should talk to him," Karen said, getting up out of seat.
"Try not to kill him Kare," Katherine said. She looked at her watch and then got up too. "I better go and pick up Amber," she said. "I'll try to finish these at my place. Bye Kare."
"See you later Kath," Karen said. She left the dining room and walked into the living room, where she could hear Jack playing the piano. Once she had stepped inside, Karen closed the door behind her.
"Look Karen I-" Jack started to say, not stopping playing the piano.
"It's okay poodle," Karen said, walking over to him. "I know how hard it is for you to tell your mom this. Well how hard it would be to tell her if you did."
Jack took his hands off the keys and turned around on the bench so he was facing her. "I don't know why I don't want to tell her," he said, looking forlorn. "I guess it's like I'm taking back what took me so long to tell her earlier."
Karen sighed and sat next to Jack on the piano bench. "Jackie, I know you don't want to tell her, but I think you should let her know about us before she hears that we've gotten married from someone she knows," she said. "Because if she hears that and thinks that you're still gay..."
"She'll think I got you pregnant," Jack said absentmindedly. "Or something serious like that." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay Kare, I'll tell her. I guess I can call her tonight or-"
"Why don't you just invite her for Thanksgiving dinner?" Karen asked, smoothing a wrinkle in her skirt.
"Are you drunk already Kare?" Jack asked incredulously. "Because if I invite her to Thanksgiving dinner, she'll think I'm going to tell her some big secret."
"Well you are going to tell her a big secret Jack!" Karen retorted. "I just suggested that since it's better than just telling her over the phone."
"This is too complicated," Jack said, leaning back against the piano and covering his eyes with a hand.
"I'll call her and invite her over poodle," Karen said, leaning over and giving him a peck on the lips. She stood up and started to leave the room.
"You better call a medical supply store," Jack called out to her. When Karen turned to him, a confused look on her face, he continued. "We'll need something to resuscitate my mother when we tell her I'm marrying you."
Karen left the room, shaking her head, but smiling softly.
~~~
On Thanksgiving Day, Will, Grace, Katherine and Amber met up and took a cab over to Karen and Jack's penthouse.
"So is anyone else coming to dinner or is it just us six as usual?" Will asked.
"I think Kare may have invited someone else," Katherine said. "She mentioned something about needing another place setting, but she could have been talking about the wedding."
When they arrived at the penthouse, Karen opened the door and then yelled out behind her. "Not her Jackie," she said. "Come on in guys."
"Who else is coming?" Grace asked.
"My mom," Jack said, coming out of the living room.
"Is she staying here until the wedding?" Will asked.
"He didn't tell her about us yet," Karen said. "Let's go sit."
"Wait, wait, wait," Will said, as Jack and Karen walked into the living room.
"Just come in here so we can talk," Jack said, shaking his head. Once everyone was sitting, he said, "I never told my mom that Karen and I are engaged. So Kare invited her to dinner tonight."
"You are going to tell her right?" Katherine asked and Jack nodded.
"You really have a problem with telling your mom things Jack," Grace said.
"This isn't going to be too hard," Jack said, shrugging. "I've relaxed myself enough so I'll be able to tell her without any problems." Just then the doorbell rang and Jack yelled, jumping up from the couch.
"So much for calm," Karen said, standing up and smoothing her skirt. "Poodle, come on, this is your mom," she said, grabbing his arms. "It doesn't matter if she likes me or not, she'll still love you."
Jack seemed to calm down considerably, and took one of Karen's hands. Together they walked to the front door, and Jack opened the door. "Hi Mom," he said, giving her a hug.
"Oh it's so good to see you Jack," Judith McFarland said, hugging her son back. When they let go, she stepped into the entryway and took Karen's hand. "Thank you so much for inviting me to join you all."
"It was nothing," Karen said, smiling. She glanced over at Jack as Judith walked past her into the living room.
"Before we eat," Jack said.
"Alright, but we'll let the others leave the room first," Karen said as they walked into the living room.
"It's nice to see you two again, Will and Grace," Judith was saying, hugging them each in turn. She turned to Katherine and said, "Hello, I'm Judith McFarland. And you are?"
"Katherine Riley," Katherine answered, getting up from her seat and shaking Judith's hand. "I'm Karen's sister. And this is my daughter Amber."
Judith nodded at Amber and then looked back at Katherine. "It's hard to believe you two are sisters," she said, turning to Karen.
"Dinner is ready Miss Karen," Rosario said from the doorway at the other end of the living room.
Will, Grace, Amber and Katherine all left the room, going to the dinning room. Judith was about to leave as well, when Jack stopped her.
"Mom, could you wait for a minute," Jack said.
"Sure Jack, what's wrong?" Judith said, turning to her son.
"I need to tell you something," Jack said nervously.
Judith didn't say anything, but she glanced at Karen, who was standing next to Jack and then over at him again.
"Why don't we sit down?" Karen said.
Judith sat down in an armchair while Jack and Karen sat down in the couch next to her.
"Mom, what I want to tell you is..." Jack started to say before pausing. "Well, I wanted to tell you that next month on the sixth... Karen and I are going to get married."
The room was deadly silent as Judith took in this news.
"M-mom?" Jack stammered nervously and Karen took his hand.
"Jackie, are you in some kind of financial trouble at all?" Judith then asked. "Is that why you're marrying her, because if that's the reason then I-"
"No Mom, that's not why I'm marrying her," Jack interrupted. "About a year ago," he began. "I realized I was in love with Kare and it turned out she loved me too. So we, uh, got together I guess you could say. And then I proposed to her and she said yes."
"But, I thought you were gay Jack?" Judith said slowly.
"Yeah, well I decided that I'm really bisexual now," Jack answered. "But Kare's the only woman I'll ever love."
Karen smiled and leaned her cheek against Jack's shoulder. "I know it's confusing at first Judith," she then said. "But Jack and I are very happy with each other."
Judith glanced around the room, and her gaze rested on the piano where she recognized one of Jack's songbooks. "I guess I should say congratulations to you guys," she said. She turned back to Jack and Karen and asked, "Am I invited to the wedding?"
"I have your invitation right here Mrs. McFarland," Katherine said, coming into the room, pulling a white envelope from her jacket pocket.
"We hope you'll be able to come Mom," Jack said as she took out the invitation.
"I think I will," Judith said smiling.
"What are you guys doing in there?" Grace yelled from the dinning room.
"Yeah, would you hurry up, we're all starving," Will then called.
Jack and Karen stood up, as did Judith, who asked, "Are you living here now Jack?"
"Yes, I've been living with Karen for about a year now," Jack answered.
"Come on you guys, we'd better get going before Will and Grace eat the dinning table," Katherine said smiling.
~~~
After desert was served, all seven of them gathered in the living room.
"So what are we going to do now?" Katherine asked.
"I'm going to sit. I'm stuffed," Grace said.
"Me too," Will said, sinking into an armchair.
"Mummy, is it alright if I bring in the bag of games now?" Amber asked.
"Of course, but I don't know where Rosario put them, you'll have to ask her where the bag is," Katherine answered.
"I'll be right back," Amber said, turning and running back towards the kitchen.
"Amber is a darling child," Judith said.
"Aye, she is a sweetheart," Katherine said. "And I may be anticipating the wrong question you wish to ask me, but no she's not my biological daughter."
"That's what I was going to ask," Judith said. "If it's not too personal, how did you adopt her and when?"
"'Tis a long and tragic story Mrs. McFarland," Katherine said. "I'm not sure if you'd like to hear it."
"You can call me Judith. And I'll call you Katherine," Judith said smiling. "And I would like to hear the story."
"Well to make it short, my best friend in York, where I grew up, found herself pregnant by her boyfriend," Katherine said, looking at the doorway from time to time, making sure her daughter wasn't going to run inside the room. "Anyway, she was only fifteen and the boyfriend, who was twenty, was jailed. He died there in an escape attempt a few months later. Now when my friend, whose name was Rosalyn Becket, gave birth to Amber, there were serious complications, and she died."
"At fifteen?" Karen asked, looking at her intently. Katherine had never told her the entire story about Amber's real mother.
Katherine nodded. "There was a space of two hours in between Amber's birth and Rosalyn's death," she said, continuing the story. "In that time she dictated to her parents that she wanted me to raise her daughter. And just before she died, she asked that the girl be named Amber Roxanna."
Amber came into the living room just then, holding a bag that had a number of games in it. "I found the bag Mummy," she said cheerfully, not noticing that the adults were somber. "May we play now?"
"Of course love," Katherine said, smiling widely. "Come and give us the bag and we'll choose a game. Any of you lot care to join us?"
"Will you play a game with us Uncle Jack, Auntie Karen?" Amber asked, walking up to them.
"Sure we will," Jack said, picking the girl up.
"Is it okay if I join you Amber?" Judith asked, giving the girl a small smile.
Amber smiled shyly back and nodded, leaning her head against Jack's.
"Alright, How about we play Life first?" Katherine asked.
"Perfect," Karen said, smiling. She walked over to the table next to the fireplace and sat down in a chair.
A second later, Katherine sat down next to her, and Jack sat on the other side with Amber in his lap.
"You'll have to refresh my memory on the rules of this one," Judith said as she sat next to Jack. "It's been a while since I've played this game."
"Don't worry about it," Katherine said as she started to set up the game board. As soon as everything was ready, she started the game.
~~~
At twelve o'clock, Katherine stopped the game of Clue that was going on and motioned to Amber. "I think I should get going, my daughter needs to get some sleep," she said.
Amber, who was now sitting in Karen's lap, was nodding off. Her head would droop down and then she would snap back awake. "Can't we finish the game?" she pleaded.
"No love, we need to go," Katherine said, standing up and gathering the game pieces together.
Ten minutes later, Will, Grace, Katherine and Amber were all bundled up in their coats, scarves and mittens for their ride back to 155 Riverside Drive. While they had eaten dinner, it had snowed outside.
"Thanks for a great dinner Kare," Katherine said, hugging her sister and kissing her on the cheek.
"Kath, honey, you make it sound like I made it," Karen said laughingly.
"Karen, could I speak with you for a minute?" Judith said once the others had said goodbye to her, Jack and Karen.
"Sure," Karen answered. She turned to her sister and said, "I'll give you a call tomorrow morning Kath."
Judith walked into the living room, Karen right behind her. When Karen had closed the door so they could have some privacy, Judith spoke. "I just want you to know that I am very happy that Jackie has decided to marry you," she said. "And I know that you'll both be very happy, but, try not to hurt him."
"I would never-" Karen started to say.
"Because Jack hasn't had great romantic relationships with women," Judith said, interrupting. "One girl he liked when he was twelve, made fun of him horribly and hurt him badly."
"Judith," Karen said, taking one of her hands. "I love Jack a lot. And you need to believe that I would never hurt him, ever."
There was a knock on the door and then Jack stuck his head inside the room. "Everything okay?" he asked.
"Excuse me," Karen said to Judith. She walked over to Jack and then out of the living room. "I'm tired poodle, I'm going to go up to bed," she said, walking with him over to the stairs.
"I guess I should talk with my mom and ask her what she thinks," Jack said as they stopped at the foot of the staircase. Neither one noticed that Judith was watch them quietly from the slightly open door.
"Yes Jackie," Karen said. "But don't talk for too long." She leaned forward and was about to kiss his cheek, when Jack turned his head and she ended up kissing his lips. When she pulled back, Karen said, "You're very bad Jack."
"Yep," Jack said, grinning wildly. He put his arm around Karen's waist and then kissed her deeply.
Karen reached up and put her arms around Jack's neck, returning the kiss.
When they pulled apart, Jack kissed her neck and then her forehead. He kissed her very softly on the lips and then rested his forehead against Karen's.
"You'd better go, your mom's probably wondering what's taking you so long," Karen said a little breathlessly.
"I'll be up as soon as I can," Jack said, sliding his hands so they were on her hips. "Don't fall asleep yet."
"I'll try not to poodle," Karen said, kissing the tip of his nose. She let go of him and turned to walk up the stairs.
Before she got to the second step, Jack reached out and gave her a light slap on her behind.
"You'll pay for that one McFarland," Karen said, continuing up the stairs.
"I'll be counting on that Kare," Jack called up after her. When she had disappeared into their room, he turned around and went into the living room. "Sorry I took so long to come back."
"That's alright honey," Judith said. She had come back to sit on the couch a few seconds before Karen had gone up the stairs.
"So, what do you think?" Jack asked a little nervously.
Judith smiled and said, "I think it's wonderful that you're getting married. And I do like Karen, she seems to love you a lot."
"I love her a lot," Jack said. "So you'll come to the wedding?"
"Of course honey," Judith said, getting up and walking over to her son. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and then said, "I need to go though, walk me out to the cab."
"Sure thing Mom," Jack said. He couldn't help but smile with intense relief, his mother was okay with him getting married. After he had said goodbye to his mother, he quickly went back to the penthouse, where Karen was waiting anxiously for him.
Disclaimer: I don't own Will and Grace or it's characters.
Chapter Eight
Thanksgiving Secret
In the middle of November, Katherine was at Karen and Jack's penthouse, addressing the invitations for the wedding that was next month on the sixth. The three of them were sitting at the dinning room table. Karen was drinking a martini and Jack was putting stamps on the envelopes once Katherine had finished writing on them.
"Can't you do this on a computer?" Katherine asked as she took a break from writing. "It takes such a long time to write out the names and addresses."
"I love your handwriting Kat," Jack said. "And besides, I want everything to go perfectly. That means no cheap computer typing."
"Well at least you're only inviting eighty people all together," Katherine said, looking at the guest list and rubbing her right hand. "Wait, I think you guys forgot someone."
"Who's that Kath?" Karen asked.
"Jack, your mom's not on the list," Katherine said, looking over at him.
"Oh... yeah, well. Funny how that happened," Jack mumbled. "I'm going to get something to drink, excuse me."
"I knew he was going to do this," Karen said, shaking her head and eating one of the olives in her drink.
"You figure he would tell her about you guys first thing," Katherine said, starting to write addresses again. Her sister had told her how Jack had waited until five years ago to tell his mother that he was gay.
"I guess I should talk to him," Karen said, getting up out of seat.
"Try not to kill him Kare," Katherine said. She looked at her watch and then got up too. "I better go and pick up Amber," she said. "I'll try to finish these at my place. Bye Kare."
"See you later Kath," Karen said. She left the dining room and walked into the living room, where she could hear Jack playing the piano. Once she had stepped inside, Karen closed the door behind her.
"Look Karen I-" Jack started to say, not stopping playing the piano.
"It's okay poodle," Karen said, walking over to him. "I know how hard it is for you to tell your mom this. Well how hard it would be to tell her if you did."
Jack took his hands off the keys and turned around on the bench so he was facing her. "I don't know why I don't want to tell her," he said, looking forlorn. "I guess it's like I'm taking back what took me so long to tell her earlier."
Karen sighed and sat next to Jack on the piano bench. "Jackie, I know you don't want to tell her, but I think you should let her know about us before she hears that we've gotten married from someone she knows," she said. "Because if she hears that and thinks that you're still gay..."
"She'll think I got you pregnant," Jack said absentmindedly. "Or something serious like that." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Okay Kare, I'll tell her. I guess I can call her tonight or-"
"Why don't you just invite her for Thanksgiving dinner?" Karen asked, smoothing a wrinkle in her skirt.
"Are you drunk already Kare?" Jack asked incredulously. "Because if I invite her to Thanksgiving dinner, she'll think I'm going to tell her some big secret."
"Well you are going to tell her a big secret Jack!" Karen retorted. "I just suggested that since it's better than just telling her over the phone."
"This is too complicated," Jack said, leaning back against the piano and covering his eyes with a hand.
"I'll call her and invite her over poodle," Karen said, leaning over and giving him a peck on the lips. She stood up and started to leave the room.
"You better call a medical supply store," Jack called out to her. When Karen turned to him, a confused look on her face, he continued. "We'll need something to resuscitate my mother when we tell her I'm marrying you."
Karen left the room, shaking her head, but smiling softly.
~~~
On Thanksgiving Day, Will, Grace, Katherine and Amber met up and took a cab over to Karen and Jack's penthouse.
"So is anyone else coming to dinner or is it just us six as usual?" Will asked.
"I think Kare may have invited someone else," Katherine said. "She mentioned something about needing another place setting, but she could have been talking about the wedding."
When they arrived at the penthouse, Karen opened the door and then yelled out behind her. "Not her Jackie," she said. "Come on in guys."
"Who else is coming?" Grace asked.
"My mom," Jack said, coming out of the living room.
"Is she staying here until the wedding?" Will asked.
"He didn't tell her about us yet," Karen said. "Let's go sit."
"Wait, wait, wait," Will said, as Jack and Karen walked into the living room.
"Just come in here so we can talk," Jack said, shaking his head. Once everyone was sitting, he said, "I never told my mom that Karen and I are engaged. So Kare invited her to dinner tonight."
"You are going to tell her right?" Katherine asked and Jack nodded.
"You really have a problem with telling your mom things Jack," Grace said.
"This isn't going to be too hard," Jack said, shrugging. "I've relaxed myself enough so I'll be able to tell her without any problems." Just then the doorbell rang and Jack yelled, jumping up from the couch.
"So much for calm," Karen said, standing up and smoothing her skirt. "Poodle, come on, this is your mom," she said, grabbing his arms. "It doesn't matter if she likes me or not, she'll still love you."
Jack seemed to calm down considerably, and took one of Karen's hands. Together they walked to the front door, and Jack opened the door. "Hi Mom," he said, giving her a hug.
"Oh it's so good to see you Jack," Judith McFarland said, hugging her son back. When they let go, she stepped into the entryway and took Karen's hand. "Thank you so much for inviting me to join you all."
"It was nothing," Karen said, smiling. She glanced over at Jack as Judith walked past her into the living room.
"Before we eat," Jack said.
"Alright, but we'll let the others leave the room first," Karen said as they walked into the living room.
"It's nice to see you two again, Will and Grace," Judith was saying, hugging them each in turn. She turned to Katherine and said, "Hello, I'm Judith McFarland. And you are?"
"Katherine Riley," Katherine answered, getting up from her seat and shaking Judith's hand. "I'm Karen's sister. And this is my daughter Amber."
Judith nodded at Amber and then looked back at Katherine. "It's hard to believe you two are sisters," she said, turning to Karen.
"Dinner is ready Miss Karen," Rosario said from the doorway at the other end of the living room.
Will, Grace, Amber and Katherine all left the room, going to the dinning room. Judith was about to leave as well, when Jack stopped her.
"Mom, could you wait for a minute," Jack said.
"Sure Jack, what's wrong?" Judith said, turning to her son.
"I need to tell you something," Jack said nervously.
Judith didn't say anything, but she glanced at Karen, who was standing next to Jack and then over at him again.
"Why don't we sit down?" Karen said.
Judith sat down in an armchair while Jack and Karen sat down in the couch next to her.
"Mom, what I want to tell you is..." Jack started to say before pausing. "Well, I wanted to tell you that next month on the sixth... Karen and I are going to get married."
The room was deadly silent as Judith took in this news.
"M-mom?" Jack stammered nervously and Karen took his hand.
"Jackie, are you in some kind of financial trouble at all?" Judith then asked. "Is that why you're marrying her, because if that's the reason then I-"
"No Mom, that's not why I'm marrying her," Jack interrupted. "About a year ago," he began. "I realized I was in love with Kare and it turned out she loved me too. So we, uh, got together I guess you could say. And then I proposed to her and she said yes."
"But, I thought you were gay Jack?" Judith said slowly.
"Yeah, well I decided that I'm really bisexual now," Jack answered. "But Kare's the only woman I'll ever love."
Karen smiled and leaned her cheek against Jack's shoulder. "I know it's confusing at first Judith," she then said. "But Jack and I are very happy with each other."
Judith glanced around the room, and her gaze rested on the piano where she recognized one of Jack's songbooks. "I guess I should say congratulations to you guys," she said. She turned back to Jack and Karen and asked, "Am I invited to the wedding?"
"I have your invitation right here Mrs. McFarland," Katherine said, coming into the room, pulling a white envelope from her jacket pocket.
"We hope you'll be able to come Mom," Jack said as she took out the invitation.
"I think I will," Judith said smiling.
"What are you guys doing in there?" Grace yelled from the dinning room.
"Yeah, would you hurry up, we're all starving," Will then called.
Jack and Karen stood up, as did Judith, who asked, "Are you living here now Jack?"
"Yes, I've been living with Karen for about a year now," Jack answered.
"Come on you guys, we'd better get going before Will and Grace eat the dinning table," Katherine said smiling.
~~~
After desert was served, all seven of them gathered in the living room.
"So what are we going to do now?" Katherine asked.
"I'm going to sit. I'm stuffed," Grace said.
"Me too," Will said, sinking into an armchair.
"Mummy, is it alright if I bring in the bag of games now?" Amber asked.
"Of course, but I don't know where Rosario put them, you'll have to ask her where the bag is," Katherine answered.
"I'll be right back," Amber said, turning and running back towards the kitchen.
"Amber is a darling child," Judith said.
"Aye, she is a sweetheart," Katherine said. "And I may be anticipating the wrong question you wish to ask me, but no she's not my biological daughter."
"That's what I was going to ask," Judith said. "If it's not too personal, how did you adopt her and when?"
"'Tis a long and tragic story Mrs. McFarland," Katherine said. "I'm not sure if you'd like to hear it."
"You can call me Judith. And I'll call you Katherine," Judith said smiling. "And I would like to hear the story."
"Well to make it short, my best friend in York, where I grew up, found herself pregnant by her boyfriend," Katherine said, looking at the doorway from time to time, making sure her daughter wasn't going to run inside the room. "Anyway, she was only fifteen and the boyfriend, who was twenty, was jailed. He died there in an escape attempt a few months later. Now when my friend, whose name was Rosalyn Becket, gave birth to Amber, there were serious complications, and she died."
"At fifteen?" Karen asked, looking at her intently. Katherine had never told her the entire story about Amber's real mother.
Katherine nodded. "There was a space of two hours in between Amber's birth and Rosalyn's death," she said, continuing the story. "In that time she dictated to her parents that she wanted me to raise her daughter. And just before she died, she asked that the girl be named Amber Roxanna."
Amber came into the living room just then, holding a bag that had a number of games in it. "I found the bag Mummy," she said cheerfully, not noticing that the adults were somber. "May we play now?"
"Of course love," Katherine said, smiling widely. "Come and give us the bag and we'll choose a game. Any of you lot care to join us?"
"Will you play a game with us Uncle Jack, Auntie Karen?" Amber asked, walking up to them.
"Sure we will," Jack said, picking the girl up.
"Is it okay if I join you Amber?" Judith asked, giving the girl a small smile.
Amber smiled shyly back and nodded, leaning her head against Jack's.
"Alright, How about we play Life first?" Katherine asked.
"Perfect," Karen said, smiling. She walked over to the table next to the fireplace and sat down in a chair.
A second later, Katherine sat down next to her, and Jack sat on the other side with Amber in his lap.
"You'll have to refresh my memory on the rules of this one," Judith said as she sat next to Jack. "It's been a while since I've played this game."
"Don't worry about it," Katherine said as she started to set up the game board. As soon as everything was ready, she started the game.
~~~
At twelve o'clock, Katherine stopped the game of Clue that was going on and motioned to Amber. "I think I should get going, my daughter needs to get some sleep," she said.
Amber, who was now sitting in Karen's lap, was nodding off. Her head would droop down and then she would snap back awake. "Can't we finish the game?" she pleaded.
"No love, we need to go," Katherine said, standing up and gathering the game pieces together.
Ten minutes later, Will, Grace, Katherine and Amber were all bundled up in their coats, scarves and mittens for their ride back to 155 Riverside Drive. While they had eaten dinner, it had snowed outside.
"Thanks for a great dinner Kare," Katherine said, hugging her sister and kissing her on the cheek.
"Kath, honey, you make it sound like I made it," Karen said laughingly.
"Karen, could I speak with you for a minute?" Judith said once the others had said goodbye to her, Jack and Karen.
"Sure," Karen answered. She turned to her sister and said, "I'll give you a call tomorrow morning Kath."
Judith walked into the living room, Karen right behind her. When Karen had closed the door so they could have some privacy, Judith spoke. "I just want you to know that I am very happy that Jackie has decided to marry you," she said. "And I know that you'll both be very happy, but, try not to hurt him."
"I would never-" Karen started to say.
"Because Jack hasn't had great romantic relationships with women," Judith said, interrupting. "One girl he liked when he was twelve, made fun of him horribly and hurt him badly."
"Judith," Karen said, taking one of her hands. "I love Jack a lot. And you need to believe that I would never hurt him, ever."
There was a knock on the door and then Jack stuck his head inside the room. "Everything okay?" he asked.
"Excuse me," Karen said to Judith. She walked over to Jack and then out of the living room. "I'm tired poodle, I'm going to go up to bed," she said, walking with him over to the stairs.
"I guess I should talk with my mom and ask her what she thinks," Jack said as they stopped at the foot of the staircase. Neither one noticed that Judith was watch them quietly from the slightly open door.
"Yes Jackie," Karen said. "But don't talk for too long." She leaned forward and was about to kiss his cheek, when Jack turned his head and she ended up kissing his lips. When she pulled back, Karen said, "You're very bad Jack."
"Yep," Jack said, grinning wildly. He put his arm around Karen's waist and then kissed her deeply.
Karen reached up and put her arms around Jack's neck, returning the kiss.
When they pulled apart, Jack kissed her neck and then her forehead. He kissed her very softly on the lips and then rested his forehead against Karen's.
"You'd better go, your mom's probably wondering what's taking you so long," Karen said a little breathlessly.
"I'll be up as soon as I can," Jack said, sliding his hands so they were on her hips. "Don't fall asleep yet."
"I'll try not to poodle," Karen said, kissing the tip of his nose. She let go of him and turned to walk up the stairs.
Before she got to the second step, Jack reached out and gave her a light slap on her behind.
"You'll pay for that one McFarland," Karen said, continuing up the stairs.
"I'll be counting on that Kare," Jack called up after her. When she had disappeared into their room, he turned around and went into the living room. "Sorry I took so long to come back."
"That's alright honey," Judith said. She had come back to sit on the couch a few seconds before Karen had gone up the stairs.
"So, what do you think?" Jack asked a little nervously.
Judith smiled and said, "I think it's wonderful that you're getting married. And I do like Karen, she seems to love you a lot."
"I love her a lot," Jack said. "So you'll come to the wedding?"
"Of course honey," Judith said, getting up and walking over to her son. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek and then said, "I need to go though, walk me out to the cab."
"Sure thing Mom," Jack said. He couldn't help but smile with intense relief, his mother was okay with him getting married. After he had said goodbye to his mother, he quickly went back to the penthouse, where Karen was waiting anxiously for him.