The next morning Karen and Chris woke up lying very closely next to each other on the sofa with a thick fluffy fleecy blanket draped delicately over them. Karen woke up first quite early at 6am, she was confused when she opened her eyes, she wondered why she wasn't in her own bed and then she saw Chris lying next to her and panicked. What had happened the night before? Oh how she loathed the morning after. She had a slightly sore head and her memory was foggy, it took her a few moments to work out what had happened, but when she remembered the deep passionate kisses they were crystal clear in her mind and she knew she'd been made feel special for the first time in years. She whispered into Chris's ear in an attempt to wake him, but there was no response at first. She was worried because the girls would be up soon and she'd no idea how she was going to explain Chris and why they'd both crashed out on the sofa. "Chris, Chris, wake up please!" she whispered with urgency."What is it baby," he opened one eye and surprised himself a little to see Karen lying squished up next to him as slowly images from the night before flashed into his own mind. "We'll discuss things later," Karen said nervously, "but right now I need you out the front door and hidden out of sight, the girls will be up any minute now and I don't want them to find out this way... I'm so sorry..." Just then Laura came sleepily padding down the stairs which sent panic through both Karen and Chris. "Quick just get in the cupboard over there please I'll come and get you when Laura's gone to college, I think Emma stayed out last night," Karen instructed promptly, and then walked out of the living room shutting the door behind her so to hide the fact that Chris was frantically trying to scramble into the cupboard which was full with a few of Karen's bag, not quite believing his luck. Laura saw her mum come out the living room wearing the same clothes she had on last night and rocking the bed-head look, she'd not actually realized that Karen hadn't come to bed that night and then she remembered hearing the kissing, and wondered what had actually happened."Mum, are you okay?""Yes honey I'm fine, just had a bit of a rough night's sleep that's all, I don't even remember falling asleep I don't think I'm quite with it today... What do you want for breakfast?""I'll just have some toast but I'll get it don't worry, why don't you go back to bed and get some proper sleep?""No it's fine I'll make it, actually I fancy some myself this morning." A brief silence came across them both while Laura thought, and then broke it with, "Who is it then mum?" Karen stopped what she was doing for a moment and froze as she turned around to face Laura, not realizing exactly what Laura knew, just assuming she knew everything."Laura I'm so sorry you had to find out this way I really am... it's Chris,""Chris? Really? Isn't he married to Jill? And didn't you have a little thing for him a few years ago after you split from dad?""Yes, yes well not quite... Yes I may have had some feelings for Chris in the past and yes technically he is still married to Jill... In fact the reason he came round last night was to talk to me about a divorce and get my solicitor's information to help him out," Karen said softly. "So you've spent the night with a married man who's not even definitely in a failed marriage... things could still work out for him! And you lied to me... you said he was coming around to sort out something for work!""Ssh, shh Laura please! I can explain. I never meant for anyone to find out like this, especially not you. The kisses were all nothing else happened, and that was the first time I swear to you, we were talking yesterday morning while we were waiting for Jayne and he told me thing weren't working out for him and Jill, and I suggested he see my solicitor as she was fantastic help to me... and that maybe he should come round after work and tell me more about it while I found the details for him.""That was Chris I could hear you kissing then?! I thought maybe you'd just had another man over for a date or something, not that you were dating Chris! I really can't believe you!" Laura said, getting more and more angry by the minute."Laura, Laura please calm down! But now that you know can Chris come out the cupboard? He's been in there a while I can't imagine its very comfortable...""He's still here?! You both slept down here? Mum I really don't get you sometimes honestly, but I've had enough now I don't want to hear it..." Laura stormed out the kitchen back upstairs taking her breakfast with her and got ready for college faster than she ever had before, meanwhile leaving Karen sat at the kitchen table in tears, she didn't know what she was going to do about the whole situation and she judged by the way that Laura had just reacted that Emma wouldn't take it too well either. The moment the door slammed shut Chris came wondering into the kitchen and saw Karen upset, walked over to her and put his arms round her, allowing her to cry into his shoulder."That didn't go down well then? I guess she knows I stayed the night?""Oh Chris, she'd going to hate me forever I swear... what have I done? I'm a terrible mother aren't I?!"Chris proceeded to comfort her, he knew she had struggled in the first couple of years becoming a single parent, and he hadn't seen her this upset since then; part of him felt like this was all his fault, maybe he went a step too far? But Karen had kissed him back so... He didn't know but he tried his best to say the right words."Karen honey of course she doesn't hate you, and there is no way you are a terrible mother. Most mums definitely wouldn't get up at 6am every morning because their daughter has college...and you're so relaxed about Emma and her boyfriend I know you are. Look, we don't have to go through with this relationship if you're not sure with it, but I love you Karen. I always have." He said all this whilst holding her petite frame tightly into his chest. "I have a confession to make to you Chris... I had very deep feelings for you a few years ago and I went through a phase where I simply couldn't keep my eyes off you. Jayne helped me through it I knew I couldn't make a move then; you were married - you still are. But little Jack was only three, I didn't want to split up your family just like that... and I was afraid you wouldn't love me back and think I was stupid but now I know...""Karen... I don't know what to say. I had feelings for you long before you were married and they've always been on my mind, too strong to just forget about - you're the most attractive woman I've ever seen or met, if only I'd known how you felt...""We could have started this relationship a long time ago.. but you're still married Chris, the divorce was just an idea and this is the only thing that worries me. You're probably upset and confused, you don't know what you want. Maybe this should just go on hold for now? I mean Jill has no idea where you are right now... I mean I don't think she'll believe you if you told her you crashed at the rink for the night? I want to be with you Chris I'm just not sure you know what you want yourself right now..." Karen said, tears forming in her eyes."When did you get so sensible?! i know I want to be with you, I just need to talk things through with Jill and get the divorce. i know she won't exactly approve but she must realize that this marriage is a waste of time, neither of us are happy anymore.""Well please make sure you do Chris, I want this to happen as much as you seem to. Look, we don't have to be at the rink until 11, so why don't you go home and get ready, and just talk to Jill for a bit, clear things up? I'm sure we can make this work.""Okay babe, I'll see you later then, get to the rink early and I'll fill you in," he said, placing another kiss on her lips and then leaving the house and driving back home dreading what awaited him and desperately trying to think of a decent cover story about where he'd been.
He let himself in the house and the boys came rushing up to him as he hugged them tightly, realizing how much they loved him."Where's mummy?""She's upstairs in the bathroom she said she wasn't feeling very well," the youngest son of 4 years said."Okay well I need to go and have a chat with her okay, you need to go and finish your breakfast," Chris said as he walked up the stairs at a rapid pace, but froze as he heard Jill being sick, and then rushed faster to see if she was okay. He found her sprawled across the bathroom floor in a terrible state."Jill are you okay?!""Do I look okay to you?!""Well what's the matter, what's wrong?" Chris said rephrasing his question. "I'm pregnant Chris. I found out last night.""You're what?!" Chris nearly passed out from the shock there was no way he could tell her he wanted a divorce now after that news, the thought of Karen and the thought of not being with her killed him, but what was he to do?"How far?" Chris grimaced at the question, not sure he wanted to know the answer. Maybe he could just walk out on her...? No, he couldn't do that to the kids..."3 months.""Well congratulations! I'm going to be a dad again!" he said putting on a false smile as he hugged his helpless wife. Jill never said anything else she just shooed Chris away, so he went to get ready for work, half an hour he went to tell her he was going to the rink. "Wait a second don't think you're getting away that quick, don't you think you owe me an explanation?" "What do you mean?" Chris asked knowing exactly what she meant and wondering how he'd got away with it that long."Where were you last night? You said you were going to collect something from the rink, you never answered my calls or texts. I even rang the rink and they had no clue where you were, they said you hadn't come in. Do you think I'm stupid?" Jill said angrily, giving Chris an evil glare wanting to get some answers out of him, as she rubbed her stomach which had only formed a very small but defined bump over the past couple of months."Oh Jill I don't know what to say... Do we have to have this conversation now, I'm going to be late..." Chris replied, dodging answers. "Do you really think I'm just going to let you go now just like that? You know you've not been yourself for months now. I want answers Chris." "Okay okay... Can we sit down then and have this conversation properly instead of in the doorway?""Oh so now you want to chat... I thought you were going to be late!" "Fine I'll go, if you don't want to listen to what I have to say then it can wait obviously." Chris said and stormed out the house, fuming the whole drive to the rink but trying to calm himself down. As he walked in he had a smile on his face even though he was worried sick about whether he should tell Karen about the pregnancy. She'd want to know a reason as to why he hadn't spoke to Jill about a divorce and he wasn't prepared to lie to her. He found her in the same place as the day before putting her skates on but with her back facing him as he sneakily walked in without anyone noticing. He crept up behind Karen and put his arms round her making her jump and then turned her around and placed a romantic kiss on her shiny soft lips, taking her by surprise. "Hello gorgeous... who said we can't be in a relationship when no one's here to witness?" Chris said seductively before sitting very closely next to her and giving her another soppy kiss."Did you talk to Jill?" Karen asked hopefully."Erm no not quite... I'm sorry I just couldn't bring myself to, as much as I want to get this over with as quickly as possible...""Well just don't leave it too much longer will you? The sooner you sort things out with her the sooner we can be together, if that is still what you want?""Of course I do. I just need some time," he said pressing his lips against hers and then finished tying the baby pink laces on Karen's skates, and then doing his own. They skated around a few times talking and messing around a little, but Chris couldn't hold it in any longer, it was too difficult to keep from Karen. "Jill's pregnant." he said bluntly. Karen nearly tripped over her toe pick at the news she wasn't expecting it at all and found it hard to believe, it silenced her for a few seconds."What.. how? When did she find out? How far along is she?""She found out last night... she's 3 months and I walked in to find her sprawled across the bathroom floor, I could barely ask her for a divorce then and there could I? And then she told me... Karen what am I going to do?"
"Oh Chris... are you really sure you want to be with me? You have a wonderful little family and another baby on the way... I know you and Jill are having some differences at the moment but are you positive you can't work things out?" Karen said, assuring him everything was going to be okay as their skating came to a halt. "Yes I'm sure - I've put off being with you for so long now its silly, I just want you in my life that way, I want to bring you coffee and breakfast in bed every morning, wake up next to you and watch you sleep next to me... I want you Karen Barber," he said dreamily. Karen just stared at him in the eyes and as he finished talking she rose up to kiss him. "Well wow if that's all included I'd really love to be with you too," she said holding his hand and laughing. "Where did you tell Jill you were last night then?" Karen asked wondering how imaginative he'd been. "Oh we never got that far, I was going to sit down and talk to her properly before I came out again, but before I'd said much at all it ended in a big argument and I stormed out the house... So I guess I've got that to look forward to when I get back - oh the joys..." Chris sighed as he looked at Karen."Don't worry, the quicker you talk to her the quicker it will all be over and the truth can come out eh?" said Karen positively, and then glancing down at her watch. "Right Jayne could be here any minute now so we'd better behave ourselves and keep an eye out.""You're kidding aren't you? She won't be here for at least another hour!" Chris replied giggling, and then picked up Karen and spun her round as quickly as he could until she felt sick. "Chris stop it!" she squealed as he lifted her higher and kept spinning faster, and then lifted her up above his head and then she came spiraling down again feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline. The second Karen landed back on the ice safely Chris skated off as fast as he could and Karen chased him round and round for a few laps of the huge ice rink that they had to themselves entirely, but before long she gave in - a little short of breath and Chris came skidding to a stop behind her, both of them with a serious case of the giggles which the pair seemed to find extremely contagious."So are we going to tell Jayne about us yet or should we wait until she knows about your divorce? It's totally up to ou, I won't tell if you don't want me to...""Well we'll leave it a while, if you can keep your hands off me long enough!" Chris said cheekily, moving closer to Karen so their bodies were pressed up against each other, they shared another intimate kiss with their hands wrapped around each other's waists."Oh sorry am interrupting something? What's going on?"