Chapter Two - Bad Surprises and Good Surprises

Later that evening at Harry and Karen's home, Bernie was wearing his new "I heart NY" cap and T-shirt and Daisy was wearing her new "I heart NY" dress. They were both picking though a box of Ghirardelli chocolates.

"Mum you must try one of these," Daisy said. "They are heaven."

Karen shook her head and said, "No thank you Daisy, I'm trying to eat healthy right now. You and Bernie go ahead and enjoy one for me."

Bernie gave an enthusiastic, "I sure will," as he stuffed another chocolate in his mouth. The children took the chocolates to the sitting room to watch the telly.

Harry studied Karen and said with concern, "Karen, are you sure you're all right? You look so thin. Perhaps you should see a doctor?"

Karen shook her head and replied, "No, I'm fine, really. I did go see the doctor while you were gone. My blood pressure was up, understandably."

She gave him a meaningful look. Harry looked abashed and Karen continued, "The doctor says I just need to get regular exercise and eat healthier. That's what I've been doing. I joined a gym and have been working out. I'm trying to watch my diet. The doctor says this should put my blood pressure back under control."

"You will be going back to the doctor to see that it's working and you are not losing too much too fast?"

Karen gave a brave smile. She was trying to get this part of her life under control when she felt everything else was in turmoil. She knew she had not been eating much of anything since the night of the Christmas concert when she opened the Joni Mitchell CD and knew Harry had given the necklace to Mia. She just had no appetite. She had lost 25 pounds in a month. But she felt stronger since she was going regularly to the gym.

"Yes, I go back in two months. I should be in much better shape by then."

Harry opened his mouth to say something but Karen cut him off in a rush, "I've got something else to tell you."

Harry snapped his mouth closed and felt that awful sinking feeling in his stomach again. He thought this was where Karen was going to tell him to clear out and he was going to lose his family. Karen said determinedly, "I've got a job. I'm working as a substitute teacher at the school taking the place of the third year teacher who left to have a baby."

Harry's eyes widened and he spat out loudly, "Why? I've just acquired a terrific American account. We will have more money than ever coming in!"

Karen clenched her fists and responded sharply, "It's not about the money. I just need to do this for myself and you can't stop me!"

Harry stood up seething, "No, I can't and I suppose I have no right to even be worried about your health. I see you've got everything under control as usual! I'm just not needed here!" He stormed out of the kitchen and went up to take a shower.

Karen put her head in her hands and wept silently. Bernie and Daisy came in looking distraught and Bernie said cautiously, "Mum is everything ok? There was a lot of shouting in here."

Karen wiped her face with her hands and tried to smile at her children. She held out her arms to them. Daisy sat on her lap.

"Yes it's all right. I've just surprised your dad a bit with my new job."

"He sounded angry," Daisy said. "But you're the best teacher in the school. He should know that."

Karen hugged her daughter tighter, "Thanks Daisy. I'm sure he will come round. It was just a shock."

Bernie looked very worried. "I'll tell him how we've been helping more with the chores. He'll see everything is just the same even though you are teaching."

Karen kissed Bernie on top of his head, "You've both been terrific. I really appreciate your help. Dad will be proud of you, too. Now come on it's Wednesday night, time for bed. We've all got school tomorrow."

Harry stood under the shower letting the hot spray pound his tense muscles. He was physically exhausted from his overseas flight. He was emotionally exhausted because his marriage was falling apart. He missed being with Karen. It wasn't just the sex, though that had always been good. It was just feeling close and comfortable with each other. They used to talk for hours or just sit not speaking, companionably near each other and feeling content with just being in each other's presence. Since Christmas they had so much tension between them, nothing was comfortable anymore. Now Karen's taken a job without consulting him first and was looking trim. He was sure that it was all leading her to becoming self-sufficient so she could tell him to pack up and get out of her life. Well he wasn't giving up that easy. Bloody hell, he had made a mistake. Yeah, a damned big mistake, but he knew it was a mistake all the same. Nothing had happened with Mia. He was sorry and he wanted no one but his beautiful wife back. Why couldn't she forgive him and let him show her how she was his only reason for living? Damn it, he was going to keep trying till she took him back or kicked him out. He climbed out of the shower and got ready for bed. He fell fast asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Karen climbed into bed and looked at her husband sleeping. She pulled up the covers and faced the wall. A tear fell down her cheek as she thought, 'Oh Harry, I do need you more than anything. I just need to know that you need me, only me. Am I good enough for you?'

Harry was so tired that he slept through the alarm and Karen had to shake him awake as she was leaving with the kids for school. "Harry, we've got to go. You should be getting up for work."

Harry opened his eyes with a groan. "I'll call and let them know that I'm not coming in until tomorrow. I'm still jet lagged."

Karen said coolly, "We're off. See you tonight."

Harry sat up and shook his head to wake up, "Um, Karen. I'm sorry about last night. I was tired and grumpy. I know you are a brilliant teacher and you liked teaching before you had Bernie. The school is lucky to have you there."

Karen gave him a smile, "Thank you Harry. That means a lot to me. I really enjoy teaching again. I feel needed. Oh, we're running late. Get some sleep. See you this afternoon." She leaned in for a quick kiss. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door. Harry called Sarah at work to let everyone know he wasn't coming in. He lay back down with a sigh. At least they weren't fighting and she let him kiss her goodbye. It wasn't what he wanted, but he was going to keep plugging away. He drifted back to sleep resolved to win his wife back.

Harry woke up several hours later feeling a little bit better. When he got downstairs the house seemed so quiet. He didn't like it. He made some tea and toast. He was looking for something else to eat when he saw ground beef thawing for dinner. He started thinking. He could make a spaghetti sauce and salad. He thought that having dinner started when Karen got home would be a treat. She always did the cooking. He popped off to the market to get a few extra items. When he returned he looked around for something else to do until everyone got home. He straightened up the kitchen and the whole downstairs. He even ran the Hoover. He set the dining room table with the good china and put the fresh flowers he had bought in a vase at the center of the table. He put two candlesticks on either side. He stood back and was please with how it looked.

He went to the kitchen to start making dinner. At 4:30 Bernie came busting into the kitchen followed by Daisy. Bernie said incredulously, "Dad's cooking!"

Daisy cried, "Ooh, what is it? Can I help?"

They threw their school bags on the floor. Harry gave them a look and said in his fatherly voice. "Those do not belong there; go hang them where they belong, and yes you both may help," he added, smiling at them. Karen came in carrying a stack of books and papers to grade. Harry went to help her. Karen smiled. "Something smells good."

Harry took her bundle. "It's nothing really, just spaghetti and meat sauce. I just thought since I was home I'd get dinner."

Karen looked around, "You've tidied up too, thanks."

He really was trying hard she thought. He told her, "You go ahead and do your paperwork. I'll finish dinner and call you when it's ready." Karen gave him a grateful smile and went off to the den to work.

Harry finished dinner and had the kids get ready and sit down. He lit the candles and went to get Karen. He knocked on the door, "Dinner's ready."

She called, "I'll be right in."

Harry went back and sat down waiting with anticipation. When Karen walked in she couldn't believe it. The dining room was beautiful with flowers and candles. There was a huge salad, spaghetti and sauce, steamed broccoli and carrots, garlic bread, glasses of red wine for Karen and Harry and glasses of grape juice for Daisy and Bernie. Daisy and Bernie had changed into nice clothes and Harry was in a suit. He came around the table to pull out her chair.

"I don't know what to say," she said. "It's like being in a fine Italian restaurant."

Daisy said, "I helped with the salad."

Bernie chimed in, "I helped too."

Karen smiled, "Thank you all. It's fantastic."

Harry smiled and said, "You had better taste it before you say that."

They all laughed. It felt good. They had a wonderful dinner with everyone chattering about their day and saying how good the dinner was. Bernie said, "Maybe dad should cook more often."

After dinner Harry stood. "I'll clear up. Bernie and Daisy is homework done?"

They both quickly answered "Yes."

Bernie said, "Dad, me and Daisy are building a giant Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle out of Lego's. Will you come up to my room and see?"

Harry smiled, "You two go on up. I'll be up after I've finished here."

He turned to Karen. "You can finish up your paperwork. I've got the cleaning up duties today."

Karen bit her lip. "Thank you Harry for dinner and cleaning up. That was really nice. I've finished with the grading, but I would like to go to the gym for a work out since you are here with the children, if you don't mind. I hate dragging them out even though they don't mind playing in the kids section while I work out."

Harry put on a tight smile, "No, sure. I don't mind. Go on. I'll hold down the fort."

This was not how he had hoped his surprise dinner would end. Karen grabbed her work out bag and was gone. Harry cleaned up the remains of his Italian restaurant surprise and went to see the world of Harry Potter being built in Bernie's room.

Karen went to the gym and worked out fiercely that night, her thoughts full of Harry. 'He was trying hard, maybe too hard. How guilty did he feel?' She didn't know if she believed that he didn't sleep with Mia. She had seen those talk shows where the husband swears to his wife and the world on TV that he doesn't even know the woman and it turns out DNA proves he is the father of her 2 year old child and they have been having an affair for three years. Mia was so young and beautiful and she was 41 with a body that had delivered two children and a wardrobe that could fit Pavarotti. How could she blame him for looking? She knew that being married for 13 years had made them complacent, just going through the days trying to get it all done. Both were so exhausted at the end of the day that it had left little time for each other or romance. Well, she was determined to get in shape to give that husband stealer a run for her money. She turned up the speed on the treadmill another notch.