Fully recovered through Karen's ministrations, Jack was demanding to know her reasons for such a rash act. "Why, Karen…why do this?"
"Face it, Jackie. We're a couple of losers. I spent my growing-up years getting passed around in the family. My mother abandoned me. Nobody else wanted me, so I started throwing myself at any pair of pants that crossed my path. I was looking for the love and acceptance I had never received from my family. But all guys wanted was a body; that is until I met Stan. Even though he was no looker, he was affectionate. He really seemed to care about me as a person. He had money too, even back then. He was a good catch. I was happy for the first year. We went clubbing almost every night – and those long getaway vacations…oh! But eventually as he gained weight and worked more and more at building his business, he became less and less a part of my life. He continued to support me in the manner I had become accustomed to, but the marriage was a sham. I had become a trophy wife. Then I started on the drink and pills, trying to find an out; even getting that job with Grace. I was so glad that day you came to the studio and we hit it off right away. But when Stan started playing the games – tax evasion, affairs, faking his death, the coming back like nothing had happened, that was the last straw. From that point on…I just waited patiently for you, continuing with the booze and pills to keep me sane."
Jack was mollified. He contemplated his own life – how he was the result of a brief, loveless encounter at a pool party; how his stepfather had never really accepted him; the frequent and sometimes violent bullying at school because he wasn't like other boys. He developed his acerbic personality as a defense. He was still a teenager when he met and formed the strange relationship he had with Will, who was in college at the time. Ever since he made Will come to terms with who he really was, it seemed as if he had held some power over the older man. Although Will never made romantic overtures, he was sending mixed messages - seeming to want to keep Jack near, yet holding him back at the same time. Jack had never held steady employment; in fact his current position was a record. He couldn't even get work at his life's calling as an actor apart from bits here and there like a commercial, or having to stage his own shows. He had no close friends apart from Grace, Will and Karen and his love life consisted almost entirely of ephemeral relationships. He had never met anyone he truly loved in a romantic way. Here he was pushing forty and had nothing to show for it. He hadn't much of a life up till now and there was even less on the horizon. Yes, he was a loser…big-time. He sighed. When talking with Karen, you didn't need any downers; that was for sure. Listening to her long enough, she almost started making sense. They both sat on the bed, looking sadly at nothing in particular, the mood deepening as they sensed each other's despair.
Finally, Jack reluctantly agreed. He couldn't go on either, especially if his dear Karen wasn't around. Who would be there to help him insult their mutual friends and society as a whole? Life just wouldn't be the same.
"Do you still want to get married?" he said bluntly.
"Of course that's what I want, Jackie," Karen replied softly, playing with the wisps of hair along his forehead. "That way, we'll always have each other."
"We'll have to get a blood test, then apply for a license," he said.
"Well, Poodle, we better get started then," she said. "Just let me get a few things together." She went to the closet and removed a small suitcase. She went to the dresser and picked up a few delicates, then a plain white dress and a black gown and a few pairs of shoes and packed them carefully in the luggage. She started to reach for the intercom to call Driver, but suddenly remembered. "Oops!" she giggled, "Can't do that anymore!"
"We'll take a cab…my treat," Jack offered. "And, by the way, no more 'Poodle', okay?"
"What do you want me to call you, then?" Karen asked.
"Just Jack!" he snapped, boxing his hands around his face like he used to do.
They were both laughing as they left the Walker penthouse for the final time.