Chapter 14

- -2 Months Later- -

Karen woke up one morning and noticed Randy was missing from the bed...She looked over at her cell phone and the time said 5am...Randy was always an early riser...knowing him he was down in the hotel gym working out. Karen pulled herself from bed as she pulled her jeans and tank top on and walked down to the gym in her bare feet.

True to the word, Randy was doing chin lifts for his bi-cepts and tri-cepts. Randy watched as Karen walked over and he dropped down from the bar as she smiled at him and said, "I knew you'd be here." Randy said, "Yea...I had some thinking to get done."

Randy leaned against the pole holding up the chin-up bar, as Karen watched him tug on his bottom lip a little and she said, "Okay...What's going on?" Randy sighed heavy as he ran his hand through his hair and said, "I have to be honest with you Kar...I really enjoy being with you and I've enjoyed this...whatever it is we have...but when we made love last night...you called out another man's name...and I have to tell you...I don't feel like fighting a ghost for your heart."

Karen's heart fell into her stomach and said, "Oh Randy...I'm so sorry...My God I'm so embarrassed...You have to know I would NEVER do that intentionally." Randy crossed his arms over his chest and said, "I realize that Karen...but it's not the first time it's happened...When it happens more then once, and even more then 3 times...It's time to try something new."

Karen said, "What are you suggesting?" Randy said, "I don't think we should see each other anymore...as much as I want to be with you and get more serious with you and see where it goes...I just can't...Because what if you never get over your husband...where would that leave me? I'm sure it would leave me somewhere in the negative of ever having held your heart...and like I said when it comes to fighting for your heart...I can't fight a ghost...I refuse to."

Karen couldn't stop the tears from slowly sliding down her cheeks as she just nodded in agreement with Randy. Randy started to touch her arm but she backed away and said, "Please don't...Don't make this any harder on me." Randy said, "Hard on you? I had to make the decision...not you." Karen said, "Yea...but you want this...not me...Just like you wanted me and because I'm not perfect you want to just give up." Randy said, "I still want to be friends...I want to help you Karen."

Karen said, "Oh...No thanks...I think you've helped enough...I don't want nor do I need your help. If I have a problem, I don't need your pity to help me get over it." Randy said, "It's not pity...it's called friendship...When you've got special friends you help them...when you've got friends who need help then damn it...you help them...You don't just watch them as they fall deeper and deeper."

Karen said, "Incase you haven't noticed Randy...I'm not falling...I'm standing on my own two feet and I have been for a while now...without any ones help...When Sam died I didn't have any one but Lisa...She saved me from myself just fine thanks...and when I miscarried Sam's baby from depression...I did just fine then too...I've over come a lot of bullshit in my life...This is nothing new to add to the pile of shit in my life, that I've over come."

Randy's head snapped up and said, "Did I just hear you say you miscarried Sam's baby?" Karen ran a shaky hand through her hair as she said, "Not that it's any of your business...but yes...I was 2 months pregnant and the night Sam was killed, I was going to tell him about the baby...but well obviously when he didn't come home, I found out he was dead...After the funeral I was highly depressed, but who could blame me...I'd just lost my husband...and I miscarried the baby 2 days after Sam's funeral."

Randy said, "You really need to get some help Karen." Karen said, "DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW THAT? I WAS FINALLY GETTING ON WITH MY LIFE AND YOU HAD TO PUSH YOUR WAY INTO IT...and now look...You find out I'm broken and suddenly you wanna bale...Well Shame on me because I should've known better." Karen rolled her eyes as she walked out of the gym and back up to Randy's room and retrieved her suitcase and back pack and placed a call into the only person she knew could help her as she got a flight back to Boston.

Stephanie gave her some time off and she left a message with Lisa.

By the time Karen got back to her apartment it was almost 7pm...She showered and pulled on track pants and a t-shirt when she heard the knock on the front door. Karen walked over and opened it and smiled weakly at John who was staring back at her and held up a plastic bag and said, "I got here as soon as I got your message that you needed to talk. And I brought comfort food."

Karen said, "Ice cream?" John said, "Of course...What else helps heart ache?" Karen couldn't help it as she threw her arms around John's neck and he held her tight as she practically crumbled in his arms. The Doctor of Thuganomics suddenly became the Doctor of Healing Heart Ache.