Hello again all you fabulous readers. I am so glad that you are back again. As stated yesterday your comments have inspired me to write another chapter. This one is dedicated to each of you that read my story and comment. It makes me feel great that you think my story is worthy of your time. Because you guys are the reason I continue to write this...besides my obsession with Derek and Karen. So here you go...
Derek slowly walked into the lobby of his apartment his spirit shifted, knowing the full extent of what happened with Karen. After a year of faithfulness he cheated on Ivy with Karen. It was only a goodbye kiss, but in his mind, he knew that his heart felt more. Maybe this was the way it would always be. Maybe he was meant to stay in a relationship where he was unhappy as a punishment for all of his Casanova actions. It wasn't that he was miserable with Ivy; he enjoyed her companionship and their intimacy. He respected her as a colleague and a friend, most of all as the mother of his child. But there was always something missing, and if he was honest with himself he knew that she felt it too. Maybe it really didn't matter, Karen was on her way to France, and God knows when he would see her again. If he was lucky she would answer his call. The one shocking thing about the whole ordeal was her kiss; that kiss was the best moment of the last six months. Besides Max being born he couldn't thing of a single better moment.
As the elevator opened Derek could feel something wasn't right. He couldn't hear his son playing, or Ivy's soap operas on the television. It was two o'clock in the afternoon; she usually didn't leave his place until five or six in the evening, depending on who was keeping Max. He sat the bags that he had gotten from the store on the counter.
"Ivy" he called, but there was no answer.
He walked upstairs to his bedroom and walked into something that he wasn't prepared for. Sitting on his bed was Karen's Tony dress from last year. And next to it was Ivy, holding his phone and tear streams running down her face. Derek could recognize the signs of rage.
"Hey" He said trying to elevate some tension. He failed.
"I was looking for Max's onesies, but there were no more in his room. I looked in your closet to see if you had any, and look what I found."
"Ivy I can explain." Derek said walking to his closet and throwing his suit coat down.
"Explain what exactly? How the night I told you I was pregnant, you came home to sleep with Karen? This is the dress she wore to the Tony's. How did it end up here Derek? Oh I know, she was here. When you left my place that night claiming that you something very important you forgot, it was KAREN!" Ivy yelled standing up.
'Ivy sit down please." Derek tried to reason with her. "That's not what happened. She was here, we talked, she left end of story."
"Don't tell me what to do Derek. Am I supposed to believe that her dress just magically fell off of her body? You loved Karen, of course you did. You probably still do. I bet you have been carrying on an affair with her since she 'disappeared'."
"Ivy I haven't seen Karen in a year. The only woman I've been carrying on with is you." Derek said in a calming tone sitting down on the bed.
"Then where were you today Derek?" Ivy questioned.
"What do you mean where was I?" Derek questioned furrowing his brow. He did want to lie. But he didn't want to give more information than he needed to either.
"Max and I came to bring you your phone to rehearsal this morning. Imagine my surprise when you weren't there." Ivy said looking at him with disgust.
"Ivy…" Derek started.
"No! Let me finish." She said harshly interrupting him. "SO…..you weren't there. I thought maybe you had a meeting so I looked in your phone to find your schedule. You would never guess what I found." She said sarcastically. "You had a message from an unsaved number…..I just wanted to let you know that I will meet you at the café as planned…." Ivy read the text.
"So what Ivy? I met someone at the café." Derek frowned. He was trying his hardest not spill out everything that just happened knowing Ivy wouldn't handle it the right way. He couldn't blame her.
"So I went to the café around the corner and you weren't there. I figured I must have missed you. I came back to your place did a little cleaning. Your phone had an alert for a text message from the same unknown number as before…Derek thank you for a lovely breakfast, I misplaced my plane ticket so I guess I'm stuck in New York for a few more days. I would love to see you again. Karen…." Ivy was crying tears so big that began to flood her shirt. "You were with her…did you sleep with her?" She inquired.
"Are you serious Ivy? No I didn't sleep with her! I met with an old friend of mine, someone that I cared for deeply. I hadn't seen her in a year, and wanted to catch up. So we did, and now she's gone. Or so I thought." Derek said trying to hold back the smile that was dancing behind his eyes and tickling his lips; knowing that Karen was still in New York made his heart flutter. "Ivy, where is my son?" Derek asked growing tired of the conversation.
"My brother is taking him to my mom's in Connecticut. We're are going to stay out there for a couple days." Ivy stated maliciously.
"No, I don't think you're just going to pop off with my son every time you get upset. So call your brother or whatever you have to do and get my son back here Now!" Derek was livid. He was able to remain calm through the entire confrontation. But he wasn't about to let her use their son as a token.
"No, we're going to stay at my moms." Ivy said firmly.
"I don't give a bloody sod where you stay Ivy. But if you think I am going to stand by and watch you take my son, then you've got another thing coming. So have him back here tomorrow morning. Period." Derek was fermented he snatched his phone out of Ivy's hand. He went downstairs and immediately left out of his place.
Derek had no Idea where he was going as he walked down the streets of New York. He looked at his phone and scrolled to the message from Karen. He smiled, happy that she contacted him. He was scared too. What did this mean? He thought that while there time together was wonderful, that she didn't want to see him again. He thought that he would never see her again. But what if what he thought was closure was actually a new beginning? He wasn't going to waste time speculating. After all she did say she would love to see him again. He decided that he would reply to text her and see when he could meet her again.
D: I must say that is the best news I've heard all day, besides the fact you're not married that is.
K: Well I thought it was pretty crumby myself…I spent a lot of money on that ticket J. My marital status shouldn't matter. Don't you think you should focus of Ivy? Who knows maybe you'll be the one married and I'll be the one jealous
D: I should…. but I can't. I don't think marriage is in the cards for us. The universe won't let me stop running into you. I need to see you.
K: Okay, when? It's not like I have anything else to do.
D: Now. Where are you staying?
K: Waldorf Astoria.
D: Fancy! I should write a book.
K: You make more directing one night only concerts, than I did with both my book deals.
D: You can have it all, if I could just spend one night with you.
K: Pay me for one night? What kind of girl do you think I am Derek?! Lol
D: The kind of girl that any man would give up everything to spend one minute doing nothing with. J
K: You're still full of it I see. I didn't realize how much I missed that. I tried to forget you.
D: That's funny I tried to forget you too. But everywhere I turned someone asked me about Karen Cartwright, and our next project. Didn't you miss the stage?
K: I missed Broadway mostly because I got to work with you every day. After losing the Tony, I didn't really have the passion anymore, and maybe not even the talent
D: Don't be silly, you are a star love. You can come back anytime; anyone would be dying to put you into a production.
K: Not a good choice of words Derek. Anyways, when will you be here?
D: Darling I'm in the Lobby.
K: Okay do you want to come up while I finish getting ready.
D: I'm not sure that is a good idea.
K: Don't worry I won't bite.
D: Okay, but I can't promise I won't.
Karen laughed at the mindless flirting they shared. It wasn't at all innocent, which made Karen apprehensive. She didn't want to step on Ivy's toes, and she definitely didn't want to break up a family. But there was something about Derek she couldn't resist. They always flirted with each other, even if they were just friends. Besides they were just catching up with each other, they were still interested in each other, were they? Karen shook the thought from her head as she heard Derek knocking at the door.
"Coming" she yelled from the bathroom. She walked to the door and let him She was wrapped only in a towel.
As she opened the door she laughed at Derek's expression as his mouth hung open. She ran back to the bathroom. She couldn't believe that she did that.
"Nice to see you like that." Derek jested. He sat on the bed and waited for Karen to come out.
"I know I have to stop teasing you." Karen laughed.
"Teasing implies that I will never get it." Derek joked.
"That's right, even if you weren't in a committed relationship." She quipped coming out the bathroom in la black and white cotton short sleeve dress.
"You look great." Derek said clearing his throat.
"Thank you. Are you ready to go?" Karen inquired.
"Where exactly are we going? Do we have plans?"
"As a matter of fact we do." Karen retorted grabbing her phone and red purse. "Well I can't stay in New York for another week with nothing to wear." She smiled.
"You couldn't get another ticket for a week?" He was confused as many flights that left for New York.
"Well it turns out that Ana, is coming back from tour in a few days, so I am going to stay to see her."
"Oh." Was all Derek could muster up enough will to say. He was secretly hoping that she had stayed for him.
"So what was the rest of rehearsal like?" Karen inquired.
"I decided to go home early and once I got there, it was the last place I wanted to be." Derek said exhaling.
"Well they say home is where the heart is." She smiled as they stepped onto the elevator.
"Such a Cliché Ms. Cartwright." Even though he wanted to tell her that his heart was in her hand. He couldn't.
There was brief moment of silence before Karen spoke up. "Derek, I'm sorry." She spoke softly.
"For what love?" He was caught off guard.
"For the kiss, at the airport. I shouldn't have done that. I just, I just got caught in the moment." Karen admitted starring at him intently.
"Don't be sorry, that was beautiful." Derek said touching her hand.
"It's just the wrong timing as usual." She smiled a broken smile. "but we'll always be friends. I won't run away again."
Derek looked at her and his heart melted. They kind of danced around the subject all day, and he knew this was probably the only moment he would get her to open up like this.
"Karen honestly, you didn't deserve the drama, I couldn't put you through that. But I'm glad your back now. I can't tell you how shocked and excited I was to see you at the wedding. I had no idea you and Julia kept in touch." Derek said carefully. He didn't want to cross anymore boundaries.
"Julia and I talk every week. She actually turned out to be the one person that could understand what I was going through. I wasn't going to come actually. I didn't know how I would handle seeing you again. But Julia begged me, she said you would be thrilled to see me. When I got there and seen you with Ivy, well I couldn't lie, I was really upset…..jealous actually." Karen said walking out of the elevator.
"Karen Cartwright was jealous? And to think I spent the larger part of the prior year going insane over you and jimmy." Derek chuckled. "You know I had no idea you kept in touch with Julia. I'm glad you did or I may never have seen you again."
"Well everything happens for a reason. I suppose that I would've run into you somehow, if it was meant to be." Karen stood at the corner hailing a cab.
Derek looked on in awe, he couldn't believe they were being so open and casual. He had dreamt about this moment for such a long time. It was always a dramatic and painful experience in his mind. But in reality it was quite simple.
"I had always wished things turned out differently. Don't get me wrong I love my son, and wouldn't tray him for the world. But I use to envision myself being with you forever. " Derek slightly blushed. He never blushed.
"Well I tell you what. You can spend as much time with me as you would like this week. But I won't sleep with you, and I promise not to kiss you anymore." Karen said half joking.
"I'd really like that. Even though I must admit that I wouldn't mind a kiss or two" he chuckled.
"Derek!" Karen hit him on the arm.
"On the cheek." He cleared up rubbing his arm.
They got in the cab talking more about France, and London. Karen was so comfortable. But she felt a pain in her chest knowing this wouldn't last forever. She wondered what would've happened if she never left in the first place. She often thought about what would've happened in their relationship if it wasn't for Hitlist and Jimmy. But that was all the past. There was nothing she could do about it. They got out if front of Macy's on 34th st.
They spent three hours doing nothing but trying on clothes. Karen tried on sundress, crop pants and tank tops, all modest of course. She didn't want to break the vow she just made. Plus it was fun watching Derek suffer. Then she tried shoes on and matched bags. They were all over the three acre building before they left. They were each carry ten bags filled with stuff that they probably didn't need. But they couldn't resist the one day sale. Derek could've done without the massive charge on his credit card bill. By the time they'd left he spent $10,783.42. It was worth it. To see the smile on Karen's face when he said he would pay for everything was priceless. She picked out $1,500.00 worth of things for Max. She even picked out a few things for Derek. As much as he hated shopping, he enjoyed their experience. Derek kept looking at Karen from the side of his eye. He was happy to see so much joy in her presence. Every so often when she wasn't paying attention he would look at her behind in a not so 'friendly' way. He couldn't help himsel, she was gorgeous and oozed sex appeal. Something about her was different now; there was a drop of adolescence left in the twenty six year old but somehow she retained a bit off innocence. He could see it every time she smiled. She had such a beautiful genuine smile. She appreciated everything that Derek did for her, and that made him happy.
Derek called a car service to pick them up from the mall since they had so much stuff. As the boarded the car the driver listed off the two destinations. But that didn't sit well with Derek.
"How about I stay the night with you?"
Yes theaterdreamer15, this is another cliffhanger! Thank you all for reading!
Special thanks to (in no particular order): theaterdreamer15, gleekmeg, theirishchuckaholic, treecyp, dwkc0207, alexceasar, Lisa, Maureen, babymomo79, nicoledavis815, polks87 and smashed. Sorry if I missed any other regular readers. You guys are all awesome! :)