Chapter 4

After morning sickness from hell, Karen couldn't wait to go back to drinking. Compared to morning sickness, hangovers were so much more fun. Nathan had been by her side through it all, for the most part moving in with her. He was so kind, and loving. He spent every waking hour he could with Karen, constantly caring for her, and loving her when she felt up to it. He was so good about that. He never had sex, unless she felt up to it and wanted to. Lucky for him she always seemed to be in the mood, unless she felt sick. This happened on the occasion. She would feel so sick and would take to her bed. Nathan felt guilty leaving her to go to work, but she would make him. And then sometimes Grace would come over and crawl in to bed with her. Today was such a day.

"How are you feeling?" Grace asked, entering the bedroom. Karen glanced up, a drained pale look apparent on her face.

"Like shit." She answered blatantly. She held out her arms for Grace to come to her, and Grace did, like a child going to her mother. They exchanged a friendly kiss and then Grace, after kicking off her shoes, climbed in to bed beside Karen, wrapping her arms around her friend.

"How's Nathan?" She asked, trying to keep Karen's mind off her pain.

"Good." Karen smiled. "He has been so kind, and caring. He's just great, Gracie. I couldn't have asked for a better man."

"I'm glad you've found a man who loves you and respects you. I'm sure you never have to worry about him sleeping with his business partner."

"Oh, honey, are you still stuck on Leo?" Karen turned to look at Grace, who nodded. "You need to get out there and find someone new. I'm sure there's still someone who's decent out there."

"I'm just not ready, Karen." Grace shrugged. "I'm not like you, I can't just move on."

"I can't move on either, Gracie." Karen admitted, her voice soft. She hated opening herself up, allowing people to get inside, but Grace was someone whom she could talk with, and maybe even make feel better about her own predicament. "Yeah, after Stan died I went through hell. I just didn't let others see how torn up inside I was. Oh, and after Lyle I wouldn't leave my room. Only to come to work and act normal, but deep down inside, it hurt. It hurt that he didn't love me. I was vulnerable, even coming in to this relationship with Nathan. I was scared, I had my doubts."

Grace sat in awe. She had never heard Karen dictate her life more soberly, it frightened her. "Wow, Karen," was all she could get out.

"I know." Karen looked up at Grace and smiled. "You'll find someone."

Grace nodded, feeling oddly comforted by what Karen had just stated. Karen, noticing her friends down mood, wrapped her arm around Grace and let her manicured fingers run up and down Grace's silky top. Grace snuggled in to Karen's side, and soon both were comfortably laying together, their attention now focused on some nasty channel Karen had been watching before Grace had entered. Something excited Grace when some blonde girl who looked like a whore in a tight mini skirt, that barely covered her behind, bent over to receive a spanking by another scantily clad woman.

That night when Nathan arrived at the penthouse, where he was currently residing upon Karen's plea to not be alone, he found a rather comical sight. He came upon Karen curled around Grace, both fast asleep on Karen's bed. And what made the scene even more hysterical was the fact that the TV was on some soft femslash porn channel. He silently went to the TV, somehow knowing that what he was seeing was nothing to worry about, and turned it off. He knew of Karen's fondness for porn and often would watch it with her; why should he complain? Most men would get kicked out of the house for watching porn, but not him. He was forced to watch two women going at it…anyway, he walked quietly to where Karen was laying and kissed her forehead, careful not to wake her or Grace. He knew she needed her sleep and he didn't want to wake her.

Instead he wondered downstairs in search of some dinner. He encountered Cook in the kitchen and asked when dinner would be ready. Cook said he could have it done in less than twenty minutes. Nathan nodded and went in to the sitting room, poured himself a drink and then found the remote for the big screen TV. He fell in to a seat and turned on Court TV, interested in a court case that had been going on for the last few months.

When he had become so enthralled with the television, he missed the sound of soft foot fall on the marble foyer floor. He jumped when two arms wrapped around him. Glancing up, a look of panic apparent on his face, he found himself staring in to two hazel brown eyes. "Hi, honey." The all too familiar voice chirped and their lips met.

"Karen, you're feeling better?"

"Yeah, a little. I took a little nappie with my friend Gracie." She grinned, sitting on the loveseat beside him.

"So I saw."

"What?" Karen looked around as if the room had just been invaded by aliens.

"I went up there when I got home to check on you and I saw you sound asleep with Grace." He smiled at her sudden confusion.

"Oh," Karen smiled at him, reaching out her hand. He took it and felt her silky skin clasped in his rough hand.

She leaned forward and their lips met. Karen could taste a hint of Jack Daniel's on his breath, and sensually slid her tongue in between his lips, reuniting her mouth with alcohol. Just as the kiss began to deepen, Grace entered.

"Oh, sorry." She began to back away, but Karen shot up and grabbed her.

"Wait, don't go. Do you want to stay for dinner?" She asked.

Grace was taken aback by the invitation, but who could surpass an invitation to dine at the Walker penthouse. Not she. "Sure."

Nathan got up as well and followed the two women in to the dining room, where Cook presented them each with plates full of delicious looking cuisine. Karen ate as if there was no tomorrow, which was definitely a first for Grace, who had never seen her so much as touch a meal. Well she had, on several occasions, but it was awkward to watch her eating like a normal human being. And without a drink in hand the image was especially strange. Nathan seemed to watch Karen's every movement, making sure she was all right. Grace admired him. He was so good to Karen, just what she needed. He kept her grounded. Grace had definitely underestimated him. She was beginning to like him more and more.

TBC...Thankies for the reviews guys! Keep'em coming and the chapters will keep flowing. Lol.