As per usual i want to thank my reviewers:
Kumiko Katawa: Yup Rick's in rehab, yeah Jack was practically perfect in every way. Yep i'm introducing the new character in this chapter, hope you like him. Yeah he is a guy :).
DoubleKK: Yeah you were indeed my first reviewer, thankye kindly. As I previously said the new character is a guy, but considering that Karen and Rick are still married and other reasons well... not much boyfriend chance... you'll see.
So anyway enjoy.
19. A fresh start
Karen frowned, it had been a month since she'd arrived at the Hunters and it seemed like such a short time and already she had to leave. Apparently Rick was fully recovered, less depressed and no longer dependent on alcohol. So she was leaving to go back to Mineral town again and away from the rest of the world. She had mixed feelings, she was going to miss the Hunters so much, but she also missed her friends.
So the Hunters had decided to throw her a small leaving party on her last day. She'd learnt so much from them, so much about the real world and so much about Jack. But she had promised to visit again and that when she returned and that she would beat Mr. Hunter at tennis. So as the Hunters prepared for the party she took round a disposable camera she'd bought to take pictures of her home away from home. Popuri would be incredibly jealous of the bedroom, she mused. She also had to take some pictures of the wall of Jackness, and the Hunters had made her an album of all the copies of the pictures.
Stepping into the golden sunshine of the garden Karen took some shots of the tennis courts. Everyone at home would be so jealous. Suddenly she heard voices behind her, the Hunters were ready for her leaving party.
"Aren't leaving parties generally held in the evening?" She asked smiling.
"I suppose, but since you're leaving this evening, we can't hold it then, can we?" Mrs. Hunter said with a huge grin.
"Exactly, Karen are you sure you're okay to take the night boat." Mr. Hunter asked, his concern showing in his shining blue eyes.
"Yeah... it means I can get back home without everyone waiting at the beach to greet us." She told them. She hated the thought of being welcomed back by a big crowd, it'd be too embarrassing. It was bad enough having a huge crowd of people watching them leave, knowing that Rick was in rehab, but coming back...
"Right, well we'll start the party then... after you're packed." She told her. Karen groaned, once her suitcase was packed she'd truly realise she was leaving. She trudged indoors to pack. She shoved her newly washed clothes into the bag and packed the photo album she'd been given of Jack's. Smiling at his adorable six-year-old face in one of the pictures she placed it carefully in the suitcase.
The party began and Karen was surprised to find the Hunter's neighbours there too, she'd thought it'd just be them. She met lots of really kind people there, deciding eventually that it must be something in the water... or drugs. There were banners saying "goodbye Karen, we'll miss you" specially painted by Mrs. Hunter. There was even a beautiful gift that she had completely not expected. A big present wrapped in shiny silver paper lay on the table waiting for her, and Karen liked shiny things.
"For me?" She inquired with a look of the purest surprise on her face.
"Sure sweetie, to remember us by." Mrs. Hunter told her. Karen grinned from ear to ear as she pulled apart the paper with a satisfying tear. Inside was a large purple velvet box and inside she found a small pendant. It was a small gold chain with a small golden medallion with a picture of the Hunter crest, a gallant centaur holding scrolls of wisdom. At the back was inscribed "may you find truth in all you do. You are a Hunter." Karen smiled fingering the gold crest gently.
"I really didn't expect you to buy me anything... thank you so much, it's beautiful." Karen told them to their delight.
"You'll always be a Hunter Karen."
"To Karen!" Mr. Hunter said raising his glass, "a Hunter through thick and thin."
"To Karen!" Everyone shouted in response. Finally came the hugest chocolate cake Karen had seen in her life, with the words "we'll miss you Karen" written on in white icing. Karen grabbed her camera and took a picture before indulging in a delicious slice of chocolaty goodness.
But the party was over sooner than she would have liked and soon they were headed for the rehab centre. Karen felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, she was so nervous to see him again. What if he hadn't got better? What if he would abuse her once again? She sat panicking in the car the whole way there.
They arrived outside the overly elaborate building and waited in the reception for Rick, who seemed to take his time. Finally he arrived looking healthier, happier and more benign. He had a sort of radiant glow about him that made at least some of Karen's nervousness go away. Rick put down his suitcase and wrapped his arms comfortingly around her for a big hug.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered into her ear, his breath tickling it. She nodded and began to feel close to tears, but for once tears of happiness, he was back.
"How are you feeling?" She asked when they finally parted.
"Strong and independent, alcohol does not run my life." He said as though it had been programmed into his brain. "Sorry." He apologised after seeing Karen's shocked face.
"So they really got through to you huh?" She asked.
"Well we had to repeat it over and over at the class, but other than that it was a beautiful place... Ah Mrs. Hunter, Mr. Hunter, thank you so much or what you've done for me and my wife. I'm sorry I wasn't more appreciative before." Rick said sounding rather embarrassed and Karen smirked, good, he should be embarrassed.
"Think nothin' of it, you were having a bad time is all." Mrs. Hunter said kindly. Mr. Hunter clapped him amiably on the back and helped him lift his suitcases into the car. They arrived at the dock and Karen said her final goodbye to the Hunters. She felt deja- vu from when Jack had left her for the final time.
"Call us if you ever need to talk... or you know, just want to catch up." Mrs. Hunter told her, handing her a slip of paper with their number on, just in case. They waved goodbye to her as she boarded the ship. The sky was dark and lit only by the thousands of tiny stars, the moon was simply a tiny scar across the sky. She stood out on the deck and breathed in the night air, a sense of calm drifting over her. She felt Rick's hand upon her shoulder and her calm vanished, she jumped. She turned around to see Rick frowning, hurt by her fear of him.
"You're still jumpy." He told her with a sigh. Karen frowned, how could she not be?
"Can you blame me?" She asked and Rick shook his head honestly. His blue eyes shone with the deepest regret.
"No. But I wish things could be good again. I wish we could just forget all this happened and just be happy, you know?" He said hopefully, encouraging her to forget. She folded her arms in frustration, he couldn't be serious suggesting that to her.
"What, you mean forget that you threatened me with a knife and a broken bottle? Forget the names you called me? Forget how much I hated you?" She demanded, becoming angry. She saw Rick flinch at the memories.
"You're right. But if you can't forgive me... never mind..." He said. Karen cocked her head, he had sounded like he wanted to say something important.
"What?" She demanded, trying but failing to sound sympathetic. Rick bit his lip and stroked back his carrot coloured hair.
"It's not important." He said with a deep sigh. Karen shrugged, she didn't care that much what he had to say anyway.
"We really need to talk things over though... get rid of the anger." Rick told her, placing his hand gently on her back. She stepped forward to avoid him touching her, his touch now made her cringe.
"Not tonight, I'm tired." She said. Rick nodded, the hurt clearly visible in his expression. Karen watched as he moved to the other end of the dock. She couldn't help feeling some pity for him, but why should she? It was he who had gone off the rails, not her. But then again when she had gone off the rails he'd been there supporting her, but that was for his selfish want to get her back. Finally they arrived at Mineral town and Karen's body ached with exhaustion. They headed home with their suitcases without a second glance, they didn't spot the stranger enter Mineral town.
When morning arrived Karen rolled over in bed, enjoying the space left by Rick's absence. He'd volunteered to sleep on the couch, which Karen hadn't argued with. She braced herself for a day of welcoming back from her friends and family as she took a long hot shower. After she had changed she blow dried her hair and headed downstairs to fix breakfast. She found a whole big breakfast already set out for her, pancakes with maple syrup and Belgian waffles, completed with toast and jam. She smiled and sat down opposite Rick who had already begun to eat his.
"Sorry I didn't want to disturb you." He said, gesturing to his almost empty plate. Karen raised her hand to show it was fine. After eating breakfast and watching as Rick cleared the plates away she prepared to go back out to the streets of Mineral town.
"Thanks for the breakfast Rick."
"No problem at all Karen." Rick said with a smile, then after a pause added, "I will make things up to you, you know."
"I know." She replied with a smile. Well it was definitely a start, but it would take a long time for her to fully trust him again.
At the inn she was bombarded with people who had heard of their arrival, somehow news had gotten round. Everyone hugged her and told her how much they had missed her and they all looked over the pictures she'd taken and got developed on the way to the rehab clinic. Then she spotted a new face in the crowd, he was sitting absent-mindedly in the corner reading a magazine. Karen caught a glimpse of the title, a fashion magazine? She giggled, a guy with a fashion magazine is laughable everywhere but in Mineral town, that was hilarious.
"Hi," she said amiably as she walked over to him. He put down his magazine and looked up at her with electric blue eyes, surrounded by a layer of eyeliner.
"Hello babes." He said sweetly. His black hair was half concealed behind a hat and he wore a black t-shirt with pink letters saying "queen of the freakin' universe". She grinned, wondering if this was his attempt to flirt with her.
"I'm Karen." She said, holding her hand out for him to shake.
"Matty." He said, she grinned at his voice, it was excessively high with a slight lisp. He closed his magazine and gestured for her to sit down opposite him.
"How long have you been in Mineral town?" She asked, glancing at the smudged eyeliner.
"Only arrived last night, actually. I'm guessing since this is a welcome party you must have come on the same boat." He said with a smile.
"I guess so." She said smiling back. She looked over at her friends and noticed the crowd had dispersed and Ann and Popuri were waiting impatiently to talk to her.
"Well I've gotta go, I've got a lot of catching up to do. I'll see you around. How long are you here for?" She asked, glancing at Popuri and Ann.
"It depends on if I like the town enough. I'll talk to you later sweetheart." He said with a small wave. She grinned in confusion, did he call her sweetheart? She followed Ann and Popuri up to Ann's bedroom and collapsed on the bed. After Karen had described the outside world and everything she'd done in it to them Ann and Popuri sat intrigued and envious.
"It sounds so amazing, I wanna go someday." Popuri said sweetly, Ann nodded in agreement.
"Sound so cool. But anyway, how's Rick?" Ann asked an expression of concern entering her face. Karen pondered the thought for a moment then took a large inhalation of air.
"He seems better, he's not an alcoholic anymore but... I don't know if I can forgive him or trust him again. So I guess we'll see..." She said trying to sound indifferent.
"Oh Kar, don't worry about it, things'll get better you'll see." Ann said convincingly.
"Let's change the subject, huh?" Popuri said, sensing depression entering the room.
"Oh yeah, what do you guys think of Matty?" Karen asked with a grin.
"He seems real nice." Popuri said and Ann agreed.
"Yeah but what's he going to do, I mean there's no girls left in Mineral town, who's he going to date..."
"Karen..."
"I mean I guess he won't need a girlfriend immediately and he might leave but..."
"Karen..."
"But in the end he'll want a girlfriend, so maybe another girl will move here..."
"KAREN." Ann said losing her patience.
"What?" Karen asked looking confused. Popuri giggled and looked at Ann.
"Karen, Matty's not going to want to go out with any girls." Ann said, smiling awkwardly.
"Why, does he have a wife back home?" Karen asked curiously.
"No, no wife." Popuri said grinning.
"Then why...?" Karen asked curiously.
"Didn't you guess Karen... he's gay." Ann said smiling.
"Gay?"
"You know, he likes guys." Popuri said flushing red.
"Yeah so, I mean every guy likes guys, I mean guys have friends too..." Karen said innocently. Ann sighed.
"No, he bats for the other team..." Ann said, trying hard to get her message across.
"Huh?" Karen asked, not following.
"Goddess, you're getting like Popuri!" Ann said sounding exasperated. "Matty has boyfriends not girlfriends, he gets crushes on guys."
"Oh, oh right, yeah. I understand now... sorry it's just in Mineral town... you get kinda out of it." Karen said, growing red with embarrassment. She had wondered why he'd been really nice and friendly, she'd just thought he'd been flirting.
"He's really nice." Popuri said sweetly.
"Yeah..." Karen said smiling, he did seem nice. "We should invite him to a girly sleepover."
"Sure thing." Popuri said laughing. Her cute voice echoing off the walls. Karen glanced at her watch and sighed, she had to get back to Rick.
"I'd better go... Rick and me still have to patch things up, it'll take time." Karen told them, sighing heavily at the arduous task ahead of her.
Back at home Karen found Rick feeding the chickens, they seemed angry at him for having left them for such a long time, but the peace offering of food seemed to be working.
"Hey." She said softly, Rick looked up at her and beamed. He chucked another handful of feed onto the ground and walked over to her.
"Hey." He said, shifting his feet awkwardly. "So..."
"Yeah, so..."
"I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk tonight... you know... a fresh start." Rick said, unsure of how to put it. He scratched his chin nervously and shifted his foot again, making a mark on the dark brown earth.
"Well... um... okay." Karen said, unsure of whether to agree. She didn't want to give him a second chance, but she knew she had to. Rick smiled awkwardly, he had known she'd be unsure of what to make of his offer. But he had to extend the olive branch of friendship; otherwise they'd never be able to get back to normal.
"So I'll see you... at seven?"
"Yeah." Karen said. Rick leaned down as if to kiss her, then thought better of it, instead he hugged her gently. Karen shifted awkwardly in his arms and then escaped.
"I'd... better go and check the farm." She said walking away quickly.
She arrived at the farm and was relieved to find it still in shape. The ground was covered in newly growing grass and there wasn't a single weed to be seen. The house looked clean as well as the barn and dog house. She paced the area making sure everything was still in perfect order before planting another plot of grass seed. Her aim was to have a third of the field for crops and two thirds for grass. She was more than half way there so it wouldn't be long now until her field was perfect. Then they could have picnics spread over the grass, enjoying the beauty of the farm.
"Ah, so you've been taking care of the farm." A voice said. To Karen it was instantly recognisable as Matty's, even though they had just met it wasn't a voice you could easily forget.
"Yeah, does it look good?" Karen asked, smiling proudly at her work.
"Excellent, when I saw it advertised in the newspaper it looked like a dump... But I wanted to start a new life so..." He began, gazing contently at the surroundings.
"Wait, advertised in a newspaper? Are you here to take over the farm?" Karen asked, stroking the shed protectively.
"Yeah, um see... I want to work in fashion, but until I get some inspiration I don't want to enter my ideas into a company. So I figured if a came to a like totally beautiful place like this I might get some inspiration. Then I saw the advert in the newspaper and I was like, yeah I could work on my abs! So I'm here to take over the farm." Matty concluded, flexing his arm muscle.
"Oh, so you're gonna take over the farm... yeah I've been taking care of it." Karen said smiling. Finally someone would take over the farm, sure she'd miss it, but it would stop her from having to work so hard.
"Oh I heard from the mayor, sweet guy isn't he? He told me you'd decided to upkeep it until someone who you approved of came to run it." Matty told her, batting his eyelashes as he spoke.
"Yeah, if you like I'll tell you the story." Karen offered.
"Sure, that'd be nifty. I'm a teensy bit busy now, I'm going round meetin' everyone, aren't they just swell? But anyway, how about later, we could meet in the inn, and I'll show you why you can so totally trust me to run the farm." He said winking. A sweet smile appeared on his lip glossed lips making Karen smile.
"Sure, sounds... erm swell. See ya later alligator." She said, pausing immediately, had she really just said that?
"Hee hee, it's contagious." He said with a smile. "Ciao bella."
He kissed her on the cheek then walked off, leaving Karen smiling happily. She didn't spot Rick overlooking jealously.
After checking her farm thoroughly she took a short dip in the hot springs and then prepared to meet Matty. She stepped out into the cool night air, and clacked down the streets in her high heels. She found Matty sitting at the bar waiting for her and he gave her a small wave.
"Hi, darling! Ha look I'm wearing more makeup than you are!" He said with a chuckle. Karen smiled, she did that a lot around him, such a shame he was gay...
"You sure are... how did you find meeting everyone?" She asked, taking a seat at the table.
"Aww, they're all so nice. This is such a gorgeous village, like one from a Disney story, like sleeping beauty." He said. She laughed at the reference, she'd watched every single Disney film at the Hunter's house, and she'd fallen in love with the beauty of the fairy tales.
"I guess it kinda is. How did you find the farm?" She asked, curious to find out what he thought of her work.
"Oh my gosh Karen... it's amazing, you've done such a great job." He said and Karen blushed at the complement.
"Do you think you'd wanna take it over?" Karen asked, hoping that he would. She couldn't think of anyone she'd rather work on it, well except Jack, but he'd be a corpse. That might be hard with all the limbs falling off when he lifted a heavy tool.
"Oh yeah, I mean if you'd let me." He said, snapping Karen out of her daydream.
"Sure. I couldn't think of anyone better for the job. Besides it's becoming too much for me to run." She admitted, still it had been nice having her own place to work.
"Well you should so totally work with me... I mean I'd split the profits." He said enthusiastically. Karen held up a hand and shook her head.
"Oh no, I couldn't let you pay me. I'm fine for money, in this town money's not really an issue for anyone... though it is harder when you're farming. But I'd love to help out, I really love being there." Karen said, imagining the farm in her head.
"Oh yeah, I'd love to have a partner in crime... but one in farming is great too." He joked. "I'd love you to help out, we can talk and gossip while working. It'd be so much more fun."
"Yeah and then we can break for tea and scones." Karen said laughing. Matty nodded, and took a sip of the wine he'd ordered.
"Mmm, this is great wine. Try some." He said offering her a sip. She took a small sip and nodded, it was sweet and slightly fruity.
"Yeah, this year was a good harvest... me and my friends made our own wine." Karen told him, recalling the disaster that was Goddess wine.
"Really?" He asked intrigued. So the evening went on, with the two swapping stories and sharing jokes. She wished all guys could be like Matty, they were so alike and had loads of the same interests. Too soon the night ended and Karen departed home to sleep.
She walked into the room to find Rick sitting on the couch his arms folded, wearing an angry frown. She froze immediately, wondering if he was drunk again. Fear poured through her veins, making her heart beat quickly and her breathing irregular.
"Where were you?" He demanded angrily. Karen blinked, he seemed more angry than drunk.
"Huh?" She asked dumbly, why did he care?
"Where were you?" He asked again coldly.
"I... I was at the inn..." She stammered. She looked down and her hand was shaking, she was beginning to panic.
"Why weren't you at the house?" Rick asked his teeth gritted tightly together. Karen shrugged, what did she say? "ANSWER ME!"
"I was at the inn meeting a new friend... Matty..." Karen whimpered, she wrapped her arms around her protectively.
"So why didn't you come on the walk with me? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked with cold anger. Karen clapped her hand over her mouth as her heart sank. She'd completely forgotten about the walk. The walk that was supposed to reconcile their relationship.
"I'm so sorry Rick, I forgot." She said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Rick put his hands behind his back and began to pace angrily. Karen felt like a criminal being interrogated for a murder.
"You forgot about our walk, and then what? You went out with that guy?" He spat coldly. Karen's eyes widened, Rick hadn't ever met Matty.
"Oh no Rick... you've got it wrong... I know how it might look..." She began, swallowing hard. If he'd seen her with Matty he would think the worst.
"I've got it wrong have I?" He asked, uttering a cold laugh. "See I don't think so... I trust what I saw... but I don't trust you."
"You don't trust me?" Karen asked, sounding more devastated than she'd meant to. "Well you should, our marriage may not mean anything to you, but it means something to me. I admit and went to dinner with Matty... but he's gay Rick."
"Yeah I'm sure he's happy about it but..." Rick shouted angrily.
"No, he's gay! He likes men." Karen shouted back. Rick then fell silent, the entire story falling into place.
"Oooooh, oh Karen... see I thought... when I saw you with him..." Rick said, he then shook his head sorrowfully. Karen nodded her head and took a deep breath.
"Rick, I understand that I was wrong to forget our plans, but it was a mistake... but you shouldn't jump to conclusions. We were both wrong." Karen said gently and Rick nodded in agreement. "But a marriage is built on trust and if I can't trust you and you can't trust me, this isn't going to work."
"Yeah, I know." Rick said softly. Karen smiled, happy that he understood and then continued.
"So can you learn to trust me?" She asked and Rick nodded again. "Right, then I'll learn to trust you. Agreed?" Karen asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Agreed." Rick said. Suddenly Lillia appeared from the stairs in a pink nightgown, her eyes blurred with tiredness.
"Is everything okay down here?" She asked worriedly, looking from Karen's tear stained face to Rick's. Karen looked at Rick and smiled, he smiled back and squeezed her hand gently.
"No, but it will be." She told her.
So what do ya think of Matty? he's kinda based on one of my friends who is a lot like that.
