Alright guys, I know that it has been a little while since I updated, so this chapter is a little long. I hope that you enjoy, and it lived up to your expectations of the story. I wanted to say thank you for all the wonderful comments that you have left for me. Each and every one of the follows, favorites and reviews puts a smile on my face.
Edit- As pointed out Derek can't have his phone and Ivy, so I changed it to Ipad, Sorry! lol.
Karen starred at herself in the hotel mirror for what seemed like an eternity. It was Monday morning, and she could hear the hustle and bustle of the city below her. In her mind the day wasn't moving fast enough. Today was the day that she would be meeting Derek for coffee. She was nervous, unusually so. It had been so long since she felt the mixture of emotions that she had at the time. She was excited, nervous, scared, angry and hopeful all at once. Derek had been someone that she tried to forget, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't. Seeing that time was running away from her she decided to get ready. She pulled her hair back into a bun at the nape of her neck leaving her front layers out to frame her face. She began to apply her make-up in the bathroom, paying attention to the details. She applied sheer mineral powder, red lips and mascara. She pulled a nautical navy and white stripe long sleeve knee length dress over her head, and looked herself over in the mirror. She was pleased with her appearance. She felt that it showcased the maturity she'd gain abroad. She sprayed on Chanel No. 5 and head towards the door. She was so excited that she left her phone lying on the table along with her plane ticket. She dropped off her suitcase at the front desk, where they would hold it until she left for the airport.
Derek was up early in the morning anxious to see Karen. He was searching through his closet for something to wear. He was giddy like a teenage boy on his first date. He tried on five or six shirts before settling on an emerald oxford. The color went well with the pale gray suit he was wearing and intensified the color of his eyes. He looked himself over in the mirror long and hard. He was pleased with his appearance; he thought it showcased a more youthful side. He turned around to see Ivy had fallen asleep with Max on the bed. She hadn't left his side for one moment since the wedding. Derek knew that she was trying to prevent him from seeing Karen. Truth be told, he wasn't sure that her insecurities were unwarranted. He stood for a moment looking over his child and his girlfriend. He felt a spur of guilt about the way he was feeling. He loved his family, but this was something he needed to do for himself.
Karen caught a Taxi and headed towards the destination that Derek texted her. She laughed knowing that he must have begged Julia for her new number. That was her plan. As the taxi took off she couldn't remember the exact address to the café, even though she looked at the text a thousand times. It was a fairly new café, opening within the time she left. She searched through her purse, but couldn't find her phone. She realized she left it her room. Hopefully it was turned into the front desk, since she checked out. It was too late for her to turn back. So she headed towards the studio where Derek was working on his new project. At least she would be able to catch Julia there. She was sure the café wasn't too far from there.
Derek caught a cab to the studio where he would fill Julia and Josh in on the schedule for the day. He wasn't sure how much time he would spend with Karen, but he wanted to make sure they could run smoothly if he skipped the day. With Lisa as stage manager, they would be sure to accomplish it all.
As Derek walked across the studio floor all the girls whistled. He gave a small bow and walked over to where Julia was sitting.
"Well, that's something that you don't see every day." Julia smiled.
"Today isn't like every other." Derek said kissing her on the cheek. "You look like you're ready for a honeymoon." Derek teased.
"We leave tomorrow for Dubai. Hopefully you'll survive without me. Otherwise I can send Tom." Julia laughed with a small snort. Tom and Derek had been on better terms this year, but they weren't best friends as of yet.
"Sure love, you can send Rosie O' too maybe she wants to choreograph." Derek laughed. He handed Julia his notes and the schedule that he drew up.
"Looks like you're not planning on coming back." Julia said skimming through the pages.
"Depending….if things go horribly wrong I'll be back in ten minutes. If it goes amazingly well, I'll be back in ten days." He quipped in his British accent.
"Okay. Do you have time to see one of the changes in the script you requested?" Julia requested.
"Sure thing love, let me just text Karen." Derek patted his pants pocket for his phone. "Oh bloody hell" Derek sighed under his breath remembering that he didn't grab it off the charger.
"Forgot your phone huh? I'll give her a call." Julia volunteered. She dialed the young brunette, but it went straight to voicemail. "Voicemail, but don't worry, we'll get through everything, and you can deal with all the hell from Eileen tomorrow." Julia teased.
Just as Derek turned to walk out the door, it opened and Karen Cartwright was standing right there. There was a sudden change in the demeanor of the ensemble in the studio. All of the sudden the conversations turned to whispers, stretches to mere poses and glances to stares. Karen was somewhat of a Broadway legend. She was one of the biggest names a year ago, and she suddenly disappeared, breaking her contract with Hitlist and turning down every offer she received.
"Ladies and gentlemen Karen Cartwright." Derek introduced as she gave a small waive. She was leaning against the door.
The ensemble gave a small applause and Karen blushed.
Karen could fill her heart rate elevate at the sight of Derek. He looked extremely handsome, but it was more than that. Seeing him in his element, in the studio, she was entranced. Julia got up and walked towards Karen giving her a kiss on the cheek and a big hug. The two talked, text or e-mailed each other at least once a week, and had developed a deep, sister like bond. The two ladies chatted while Derek finished up with Josh.
Finally Derek headed towards the two ladies talking. He appeared to have it all together which made Karen's hard heart soften.
"Shall we?" He asked starring straight into her eyes.
"Be good." Julia said in her sing-song accusatory tone. She turned to walk away.
They headed towards the elevator in silence, it was an awkward silence, yet somehow still comfortable. It was hard to erase the history they shared, and the bond they developed.
Karen pushed the elevator to the first floor. She was frozen still in the elevator, she thought about the last time she was in the elevator with Derek when his kiss caressed her soul and yanked out her heart. She looked up to see Derek with a big smile on his face.
"What are you smiling at?" She asked as the corners of her lips turned up.
"I'm smiling at you, knowing that you're thinking about the last time we shared an elevator." Derek said in a husky tone with a devilish smile.
Karen immediately began to blush knowing that he could read right through her. "As a matter of fact, I wasn't thinking about that. I was thinking about bombshell." She lied.
"Sure you were. And I believe in Peter Pan too." Derek said as the doors slid open.
The nervous tension began to melt away as they continued to walk out of the building. Derek went to hail a cab, but Karen stopped him. She wanted to spend more time walking and talking.
"Derek, how about we walk?" She asked with a smile.
He raised his eyebrows with his signature smirk, as if she had asked him to go to a hotel.
"There doesn't seem to be any bloody cab's around anyway." Derek said as they began to walk. It was a short distance to the corner.
Unbeknownst to the two, as soon as they were out of sight of the Studio Ivy and Max pulled up in a Taxi to bring 'daddy' his phone.
As they walked down the street they spotted a large café and breakfast grille, Karen went in and Derek followed silently beside her. Karen couldn't believe that this was real.
Derek couldn't find the right words to say. He starred at the young woman walking in front of him in awe. He truly missed her presence.
They took a seat and ordered drinks. They continued small talk about Broadway, and traveling. Finally Derek decided to cut through the small talk after thirty minutes.
Derek took a big sigh, "So Karen. How have you been? Obviously you're married now." Derek smiled, although it pained him to say that.
"Married?" Karen inquired confusion written on her face. "I'm not married."
"Well I assumed that K.C Collins stood for Karen Cartwright Collins, Jimmy Collins." He implied the connection using his hands. He was so relieved when she said that he realized he hadn't taken a breath since the question. "What is that all about?"
"Oh right, that. Um long story short, the Monday after the Tony's Jimmy got out of jail because he was a minor at the time of his offense and we left Hitlist, went to Vegas, and we're going to get married. But I couldn't spend the rest of my life with him, so I left him there, with two or three females that were naked in our hotel room, took the rest of my money from Hitlist moved to France where I've been ever since." Karen said showcasing a range of emotions.
"That little Bastard! I always knew he wasn't good for you." Derek said sipping his coffee. "So how did you manage to come up with that name?"
"Funny you should ask. I was watching the broadcast of the Tony's when suddenly I had an urge to write. So I took out my journal, and a copy of the marriage license fell out. So I started writing under that name so no one would know it was me. And it kind of all took off after that." Karen said with a goofy smile bobbing her head just like she used to.
"That's fascinating, you left Broadway where you became a star, to go to France, and write as nobody." Derek questioned with a grin.
"Well when you say it like that." Karen said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry love. It's just I didn't know that you would turn out to be such a good writer." Derek admitted.
"How do you know I am any good?" Karen said with a look of curiously expecting him to provide a cheesy answer.
"Oh well while we are on the subject." Derek said taking out a book from his bag and setting it on the table. "Can you sign this for me. It's on every must read list this year, and no one knows the author, except me." Derek said with a smile.
Karen immediately turned as red as a rose. If Derek had read her book, she was in deeper than she thought. "um….I would be pleasured…..I mean It would be my pleasure." She could feel her face heating up under Derek's amused stare.
She signed the copy of MUSEic and passed it back to him.
"Did you read it?" Karen timidly asked.
"No, but I will, and when I do…..I let you know." Derek responded as their breakfast was brought over.
"So what about you Derek? How has this year been treating you besides winning your 5th Best Director Tony?" Karen inquired while savoring the first bite.
"You've kept up? I am impressed. I've been well working with Julia on a workshop. Trying to keep busy." Derek was trying to avoid the personal aspect of things, he didn't want to scare Karen away.
"And you and Ivy? How is your son?" Karen asked as if she could tell exactly what he was thinking.
"Ivy and I take it one day at a time. She thought without" he stopped to clear his throat. "without distractions, that our relationship would thrive. But it didn't exactly happen that way. Our son Max is sixth months old and he keeps me quite busy as well. He is one of the best things that has ever happened to me." Derek smiled at the thought of his baby boy.
"Awwwwwe, I am so happy for you." She cooed, and stole a piece of bacon off his plate like she used to. "I would love to see him, do you have a picture?" Karen was excited. In a twisted way she was relieved that Derek had a baby and it wasn't by her. She didn't know if she would've been able to handle the drama. But at the same time she was hurt.
"As a matter of fact I do." He said handing over his ipad.
"Oh he is such a cutie." She said upon first glance. She started to hand the ipad back. "Wait does he have brown eyes?" Karen questioned with surprise.
"Uh….yeah he does. Why do you ask?" Derek was slightly confused.
"No reason, that's just unique." Karen said trying to back her way out of the conversation.
"Over seventy percent of the world has brown eyes, and this is unique? Please do tell." Derek said with his signature sarcasm.
"Well it's just that you have green eyes, and Ivy blue. But that's neither here or there. This was nice…..we should do it again when I am back states side." Karen said changing gears as soon as possible. She knew exactly what the eye color meant about the boy, but she didn't feel it was appropriate to share.
"What do you mean?" Derek frowned. "You aren't staying?"
"No, I was actually leaving yesterday morning, but I traded my plane ticket for this afternoon." Karen admitted. "For some strange reason the thought of seeing you, made me want to stay." Karen admitted bashfully.
"Karen we don't have to pretend the past didn't happen. I've missed you, and somewhere deep down I know you missed me too." Derek picked up her hand and kissed it.
"If were being honest I did miss you. I didn't think it made a difference to you whether I stayed or not." Karen said as she suddenly felt the conversation shifting exactly where she didn't want it to go.
"Oh darling, you cease to amaze me. You really thought that you weren't a prominent part in my life. You were, actually I still consider you my best friend. Not an 'Obscure vision of beauty, talent and mystique that was only meaningful as an Idea, but not truly worthy of love. A Muse for the music, and nothing more' as you so beautifully put it." Derek smiled quoting the text from her book. He smiled as he watched her pupils dilate and her smile widen.
"You did read it!" She exclaimed tapping his arm across the table.
"Is this what you thought my thoughts were? Is this what you think I thought about you?" Derek said in a serious and perplexed tone.
"Well who said it was about you?" Karen inquired with a smirk.
"Hmmm…..maybe it's the ending where you wrote and I quote 'The director grabbed the young woman by the arm pleading her not to go with his sparkling green eyes. They didn't share a word as their lips intertwined, she pulled away realizing it was never her that he loved, and never would be'. What does that remind you of?" Derek questioned.
"Okay, so maybe I drew off of real life experiences, so what? " Karen was trying to brace herself for the mocking that was sure to come.
"Karen, this is some of the most beautiful writing I've read, but I don't remember it happening that way. I cared for you more than I thought possible. If I remember carefully, you were the one who didn't care for me that way." He said starring at the table.
"Derek that's not true." She said softly caressing his hand. She stopped and looked at his watch. "Oh my gosh, is your watch right?" Karen gasped.
"I believe so, it's 11 am now." Derek proclaimed.
"Oh my gosh, I'm never going to make my flight. I can't believe that we've been here for two hours." Karen exclaimed. "I only planned on one. I have to go Derek." She said with regret.
"Let me see you to the airport." Derek offered. He took a hundred dollar bill from his pocket and laid it on the table. It was more than enough for their thirty dollar bill.
"If you wouldn't mind…..Then I guess that would be great." Karen said with a smile.
The caught a cab back to Karen's hotel to pick up her bag. Her phone was turned in by housekeeping and they were off to the airport. Derek was filling Karen in on the details of the workshop he and Julia were working on. It had been such a longtime since he talked about work with Karen, that he'd forgotten how talented and creative she was on the production side. She gave him some of her thoughts and takes on his project until they arrived at the airport.
Karen was regretting her decision to leave so soon when they arrived Derek walked her in to the airport with his hand on the small of her back. Having him so close to her brought back so many emotions. She delighted in his fragrance and the heat that radiated from his body.
"Thank you for bringing me Derek. But I think I better take it from her." Karen turned to face him smiling.
"Anytime love." Derek smirked at her. "Do you know when you'll be back?" Derek asked hopelessly.
"I'm not sure. But you can call me, it would be nice to hear from you." She could feel the mood changing around them. If she wouldn't have missed her flight she would stayed and talked forever.
"Okay love, you better go, I don't want you to miss your flight." Derek said leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Karen couldn't help herself; she turned to meet his lips with her own kissing him gently, slowly and sweetly. She placed her hand on his cheek as the affection continued. It was a sensual hello and goodbye all at once. After about thirty seconds she pulled her face registering regret.
"I'm so sorry Derek. I should go." She said with a half smile touching her lips.
Everything about what took place invigorated Derek, but he knew that there was nothing he could do to make this moment last longer so he let her go. "Have a safe flight darling." He said turning to walk away.
Karen walked over to the counter to check in for her flight. She searched in her purse for her plane ticket, but it wasn't there. It was strange because she thought she left it out. But she checked in her carry on, and it wasn't there either. She scratched her head in confusion. She stepped out of the line to a small table and chair and poured out the contents of her bag. She searched frantically through the contents, but the ticket was gone. Suddenly it hit her that she left it in her hotel room. She dropped her hand in her head exhaled deeply, mumbling under her breath all of her frustrations. Something about Derek had shaken up her life once again making her crazy.
Derek walked down the street smiling about everything that just happened. He wished that Karen would've stayed longer. He could've spent all day talking to her, just being around her. He heard an alarm on his ipad go off. It was a reminder that he needed to get milk for Max. He'd managed to forget all about the milk. And definitely all about Ivy, now the guilt was coming. He exhaled and shook his head mumbling his frustrations under his breath. Something about Karen had shaken up his life once again making her crazy.
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