Chapter 22

The next day, Karen got a surprise visit from Donna.

"What are you doing here?" she asked her friend.

"An intervention. Are you seriously considering going back to Frank?"

"How did you know about Frank?" she narrowed her eyes. "Did he tell you to get you to convince me?"

"Never mind how I knew. And he'd never ask me to do that, because he knows I wouldn't. Just answer me, are you really considering it?"

Karen took a deep breath. "I don't know. He said he still loves me, that he never stopped loving me. He wants us to get back together."

Donna looked at her in horror. "Why would you even consider that?"

"Well, there's the children. They'd probably be happier if their parents were together."

"Don't count on that. Who do you think called me?"

Karen was amazed at first, but then realized that the kids did really like Greg. Still that didn't mean everything in the long run. She tried another tack with Donna.

"Wouldn't it be easier for you at family parties if Frank and I were together?"

"Fuck family parties! As if I care. How many of them do I go to? It's usually only when you beg me so that you don't have to deal with Aunt Rosa by yourself."

Karen smiled. "That's true."

"Don't make this about anyone except you. And you are an idiot if you let Greg go. I saw you in the last year or more that you were married to my brother. You were a faded picture of the woman I know. Then you met him and you blossomed into more than I ever thought you could be."

"He's not an easy man to live with."

"Of course not. But you needed to be challenged. My brother was easy to live with. Of course, that was mostly because he was getting what he wanted from other women.

"So, Greg may be a little harder to deal with, but he's here with you. He cares about you."

Tears started in Karen's eyes. "That's just it! I don't know if he does! He's never said. Never told me that he loves me."

"Really? He never told you when you told him that you love him?"

Karen was silent and avoided looking at Donna.

"You have told him how you feel, right?"

Karen looked at her feet and shook her head.

"Oh, come on! Karen, that's not a man who is going to say the words without some assurance that they're going to be returned. He's also a man who says more with his actions than his words."

"I know."

"So why haven't you told him?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess, I'm afraid he won't feel the same way. Then what?"

"Oh, sweet Jesus! I've only been with the two of you for a short time, but even I can tell that the man is crazy about you. Words don't mean anything. The things he does, the way he treats you should tell you all you need to know."

Karen felt the tears coming again. "You're right. And I love him so much."

"Then why would you even consider going back to my brother?"

"I guess I really wasn't considering it. I just wanted to…oh, hell, I don't know."

"You wanted to make Greg jealous so that he'd profess his love for you."

"Maybe. Am I a terrible person?"

"No. Women have been doing that for centuries. But I've always found it to be a really stupid thing to do and one that could backfire on you. If you want my advice, hurry up and tell Greg how you feel and tell Frank to take his offer and stuff it."

Karen hugged her friend. "I love you! You are the best!"

"I already know that. Save those words and give them to your man."

Karen wasn't exactly sure how to broach the subject with House. He came home late from work on Monday and avoided her as much as possible. On Tuesday, she had to drive the kids around to their various functions and by the time she came home, he'd gone to bed.

She worried about it all of the next day and knew she had to somehow find the courage to talk to him or she could lose everything.

Frank came to pick up the kids for their Wednesday night dinner, but she avoided him. She didn't really want to get into it with him before she talked to House.

House arrived home as Frank was pulling away with the kids. Which was good, as the last thing he wanted was to face Ol' Frank. Because he just might be in the right frame of mind to punch the guy in the mouth. And wouldn't THAT help the situation?

In fact, he'd spent most of the last few days thinking about what would help it. He wanted Karen more than anything, but he didn't want to force her to be with him. If she didn't choose him freely and honestly, then what good was it?

So he'd made a decision and decided to act on it right away. He went directly to the bedroom and threw some clothes and personal items into a duffel bag. Karen was in the kitchen when she heard him limping out. She looked up and saw him with the duffel on his shoulder.

"What's up?" she asked, afraid of the answer.

"I don't want you to feel pressured to make a decision." He told her. "You need to take your time and figure out what's right for you. So, I'm gonna get out of here for a while so that you can do that."

He headed out the door and towards his car.

She was speechless. He was leaving? He couldn't! She ran as fast as she could to catch up to him. Thankfully, she ran faster than him and she beat him to the car.

"No!" she cried out. "You can't go!"

"Karen, you need—"

"I need you! I – I love you! I don't know why I ever even considered Frank's…it was stupid. I was stupid. I didn't know if you felt, well, it doesn't matter, I just… I want you. Only you."

He stared at her, unable to believe what she was saying. "Did you say you love me?"

"Yes. I did. I do." She put her head down, afraid to look into his eyes. But he lifted her chin and looked at her, his blue eyes intense.

"You love me? Seriously?"

"Of course I do. How could I not?"

He smiled then, the edge of his lips lifting up in that way she loved. "Lots of reasons why you couldn't. Why you shouldn't. But you do. And, um, I love you too."

She smiled and sighed in relief. "You know, I think I knew that. But it is nice to hear it."

"I'm more of a do-it, not say-it kind of guy. But I guess, once in a while…"

"Yeah. It's good."

"You know, I actually said it to you once before, but you were asleep."

"Really?"

He nodded. She smiled and put her arms around him. He held her close and kissed her. She broke the kiss, seconds later even though he wanted to continue, but she shook her head and led him into the house and into their bedroom.

He wanted to howl with joy. He wanted to rip off her clothes and take her right there where they were. But he also wanted to show her how much he loved her but taking her slowly and with every bit of love that he felt.

He kissed her gently and as her eyes closed, he moved his lips over her face slowly, kissing her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose. He moved to the side of her neck and nuzzled there, while she closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure. He reached for the buttons on her blouse and slowly undid them, then pushed the blouse off her shoulders until it fell on the floor.

She pulled his t-shirt up and over his head and dropped it beside her blouse. She ran her hands over his chest and squeezed his nipples. He continued to nuzzle her neck and then reached to undo and push down her jeans. She did the same with his. He kissed her hard on the mouth, then his tongue traced her lips before plunging inside.

While he was kissing her, his hands found the clasp of her bra and undid, then pushed off her panties. Soon her undies had joined the other clothing on the floor. Then he pushed her back on the bed and quickly slipped off his boxers. He climbed on top of her and continued the kiss.

She held on to his strong torso as she kissed him. Oh how could she have ever considered giving up this wonderful man? He reached between them to caress her and found she was already wet. Since he was more than ready for her, he moved into position and entered her swiftly.

She gasped, then moved her legs around his waist to allow him better access. They moved in the dance that was so familiar to then, so right. The emotion was so high between them, it fired the sex as well and it wasn't long before release came to both of them.