No, Greg reassured himself, he was none of those things, but he felt that if you wanted something to work, that if you were dedicated to making something work, you took the necessary steps. But Karen had replied that there was no longer anything to make work, before adding something that cut him to the quick.
‘Greg, it wouldn’t be worth it. To either one of us. It would be like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.’ Then she frowned. ‘That’s weird, I have no idea where I got that saying from.’
But Greg knew. It was one of his mother’s expressions. And, just like that, it had all come full circle. It was a sign. He and Karen were finished.
Which was reinforced ten-fold when she simply stood up and said that she thought it best if she went to a hotel, in order to ‘create some distance’.
As she went back to the bedroom, Greg had stared numbly after her, looking around the room like a shell-shocked war survivor. That is, until something buzzed on the couch. Karen’s iPhone had fallen out of her robe pocket. He picked it up, meaning to call after her, but then he read the text message displayed on the screen.
Think you can get away for a while today? I’m at the Plaza and I have nothing to do but think about you.
From someone named Jack – who was at the Plaza. Probably the same hotel Karen was headed to now for her ‘distance’.
He had simply laid the phone on the coffee table, and when Karen re-entered the room, resplendent in skinny Versace jeans and a pair of Manolo Blahniks, he motioned towards it, stating, ‘Jack says he’s at the Plaza.’ Karen’s cheeks pinkened a little until she regained composure. She didn’t even attempt to explain, she simply picked up the phone, offered a quick ‘thank you’ and left.
She was so calm and cool and collected about it all. But really, was it any surprise? Karen would only get upset if she wasn’t prepared for something. It wasn’t in her nature to have emotional outbursts.
Which was so unlike him. And his family. They laughed, they cried, they argued, they talked about their dreams and hopes, they disagreed, they loved, theylived.
Greg wanted to be mad, and he was sure that there was a part of him that would fume and be angry later, but right then, after all that had happened, he simply couldn’t. He was exhausted.
‘Here you go kid. I thought you might need something stronger than the wine.’ Jeff handed him a crystal glass filled with Scotch, which he had brought over for what he had believed would be celebratory drinks.
Greg uncovered his eyes. ‘Thanks Dad.’ He took the glass and threw the majority of the liquor back in one gulp.
Jeff grimaced. He had to admit that, when he arrived, he hadn’t been altogether shocked that Karen had said no. What had struck him more deeply was the realisation that he was happy she had done so.
Not that he wanted to see his son hurt; no, not by any stretch, but rather, he realised now that clearly Greg and Karen just weren’t right for each other. There should be no second-guessing when it came to a marriage proposal and, if anything, he admired Karen’s honesty in the matter. Her bluntness would probably save his son from a world of hurt later.
Plus, if the tart was cheating, which it appeared that she was, then so long, farewell and don’t let the door hit your skinny ass on the way out.
Jeff turned his attention to Greg as he struggled to sit up on the couch. He was sure that he had a nice little buzz on, if he wasn’t completely drunk. But, no matter, a break-up was a break-up and the guy was entitled to a couple of drinks.
Greg groaned. ‘I’m such an idiot. That stupid proposal. How could I have thought that was a good idea? I’m a laughing stock.’
‘No, you aren’t, and besides, save for you, me, Karen and your buddy at theTimes, no one knows that it was from you. There are probably a hundred, if not a thousand Karen Bennets in this city. At least you didn’t work your full name into the puzzle.’
Greg shook his head. ‘At least.’ He paused. ‘I just don’t know how I could have been so blind. Why couldn’t I see that there were cracks?’
‘Because you are your mother’s son. As savvy as your mom could be, she was always a sucker for romance. You get that from her. Plus, well … you like to see the best in people.’
‘But Mom always had reservations about Karen … ’ he ventured questioningly.
Jeff exhaled. ‘Perhaps. But she also resolved to accept something - or rather someone - who apparently made you happy.’
Greg put his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘She said that if we stayed together it would be like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm. I swear , when she said that, I was convinced Mom was in the room, standing right behind me.’
‘To all things there is a purpose,’ Jeff said. ‘More Cristina words of wisdom. And indeed, and maybe you don’t know it right now, but maybe that purpose will reveal itself to you soon, Greg. Your mother always had a canny knack of knowing what’s best for you and me both. Even before we knew it for ourselves. I always teased her of having a secret crystal ball, the way she could always work out what the future held.’
Greg chuckled. ‘OK then. Maybe part of that purpose was making sure we didn’t have to eat any of Karen’s cooking today.’ His laugh grew. ‘You know, she really was completely terrible in the kitchen, and completely beyond cooking anything remotelyedible.’
Jeff laughed heartily. ‘Amen to that. So then, what do you say for Christmas dinner? Chinese or pizza?’
51
The following day, Holly listened to Carole outline down the phone all the reasons she should stay home with Danny and not worry about coming back to work for a few more days.
Even though she was still a little concerned about him, she felt guilty for rushing out on her boss a few days before, leaving her short-staffed for the Christmas rush.
