Disclaimer: I do not own anyone in this fic, and all the ideas have come purely from my imagination! Rating: Most suitable for all, but some 15 and may contain strong language.
"Karen I just dont know what to do anymore, my marriage is a total failure, me and Jill barely talk and it's like she doesnt want me to see my own kids, wehn she goes out she just arranges for them to go somewhere else; its like i dont exsist..."
"Chris don't worry, you'll probably work things out your're a strong man and things will probably pull through, have you tried talking to Jill?"
"Yes plenty of times but she just switches off and ignores me, its like a pointless conversation if you ask me, " Karenn took hold of his hand as a friendly gesture and squeezed it tightly reassuringly.
"How long has it been this bad?"
"About the past year its just been getting worse and worse but she doesn't seem to notice its just awful..." Karen knew exactly where Chris was coming from as she'd been divorced from her husband Stephen for nearly 5 years even though it really didnt seem that long. When they made the decision Karen wanted Stephen totally out of her life but it wasnt that easy with two teenage daughters aged 13 and 15, they had both been affected quite badly by the family split but they soon got used to the fact and they were even closer friends than they were before.
"Chris you know just because my marriage didnt quite work out doesnt mean that yours wont... have you tried seeing a solicitor?"
"No no id rather not get anyone else involved and if Jill found out I'd been she'd kill me," Chris said really not quite with it compared to normal as she sat next to karen in distress tying up his skates as the pair of them waited for Jayne who was late as usual.
"Well if you want it sorted properly I suggest thats what you do chris, because I cant exactly give you expert councilling can I? and you sound like its really bothering you you're not your usual self"
"Ok the thing is... I dont know if I can sort it out... maybe I should just get a divorce? I've been thinking about it for a while I mean what am I supposed to do? I've not told anyone else this karen, and I'd love it if you could promise me you wont tell anyone? please? I trust you and thats why I've told you and no one else yet,"
Karen didn't really know what to say back to Chris's confession but she wanted to help and she wasnt sure she could keep it from jayne but she nodded anyway to make chris happy.
"Look, why dont you come round to mine after work and I'll see what I can do..I think I still have my solicitors number she might be able to help you and we can talk properly, how that eh?"
"Ok I like that idea, thanks so much Karen shall we get on the ice and wait for Jayne?"
The two of them skated round for a while whilst they waiting for Jayne to arrive so they could get to work with the celebrities; jayne was over an hour late and when she did arrive karen was bursting to tell her about chris but knew she'd have to wait until chris was too busy to notice if they went off to have a chat and share gossip like they normally did anyway.
After a while chris eventually went to go and get himself a coffee so Karen skated over to Jayne.
"Jayne I need to tell you something its about chris and its really urgent but you can't tell anyone because I'm the only one that knows and chris can't know that you know,"
"Ok right first of all calm down and take a deep breath because your talking really quickly," Jayne said with concern, wandering what the problem was.
"Well I've got to tell you quickly before he comes back! Him and Jill haven't been getting on lately and he wants a divorce!"
"Really a divorce? When did he even tell you all this?"
"While we were getting our skates on waiting for you. Also he's coming over tonight to have a proper chat and I'm giving him my solicitors number to see if he can get some help,"
"Karen is that really a good idea after last time?"
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on honey don't tell me you're just going to put all those feelings behind you all of a sudden and forget about them, it took you so long to put your feelings for Chris behind you before..."
"Jayne that was all three years ago in the past and it wasn't anything serious, nothing happened they were just feelings," Karen quickly changed the subject after that as it made her feel slightly uncomfortable and seconds later chris returned -mug in his hand ready to get to work again.
More to come shortly x
-- Edited by Sk8tingGleek on Sunday 30th of October 2011 09:37:01 AM
-- Edited by Sk8tingGleek on Friday 30th of December 2011 11:26:20 PM
Once they'd finished skating for the day Chris said he'd make his way over to Karen's a while later maybe after he'd eaten, and on her way driving home Karen couldn't stop thinking about what Jayne had said, she'd not thought about Chris in anyway other than just a very close friend in so long, but who was to say all her passionate feelings wouldn't come rushing back? She couldn't help thinking that if Chris did end up getting a divorce then maybe she would have a chance with him. she tried to push all those thoughts out of her mind but it was easier said than done, they just kept creeping back in unexpectedly. When she got home she put dinner in for her and the girls, just a quick and easy one. Laura at 18, was still fully living with Karen and every other weekend she would go and sty with her dad, much less now than how much she used to see him; Emma at 20, lived with Karen most of the time but lived partially with her long term boyfriend and rarely saw Stephen due to the fact that she had no interest to.
"Girls, Chris is coming over shortly to sort some things out for work okay?"
"Okay I'm going over to Josh's after dinner anyway but I'll be back later I think."
"Okay baby take overnight things with you and text me if you're not coming back," Karen said seriously as she was very protective over both girls.
"Yep," came the reply.
"And I've got tonnes of college work to do so I'll be in my room."
They all ate dinner together and then Emma went out to her boyfriend's while Laura took a whole large bottle of diet coke with her and disappeared upstairs, leaving Karen alone to wait for Chris and clear away the dishes. Just as she'd sat down to watch some TV Chris knocked the door; she got up and checked she looked okay in the mirror on her way to the door before letting him in, and then grabbing them a glass of wine each. Chris took a seat while Karen began routing around for the solicitor information while Chris told her about what happened when he got home.
"Jill never looked at me, she just put dinner on the table so i took mine upstairs and ate because I just couldn't bare the tension,"
"And does she know you're here?"
"No she doesn't I'm sure it would make her very happy to hear I'm at another single woman's house for some counselling advice," Chris said sarcastically.
"What did you tell her?"
"That I'd gone back to the rink for something I thought I'd lost, so it doesn't matter if I don't come back with anything because I'll just tell her I didn't loose anything after all."
"Okay you've thought about this a lot considering it's been not even an hour... Right here's the folder of all the stuff I kept from my divorce, all the numbers you need should be in here somewhere... are you really sure about this Chris?" Karen said gently putting her hand on his thigh for a few seconds before removing it.
"Yes I am, I can't cope with this anymore Karen, I hate it - I need to move on from Jill!"
"What about the kids though, they need you," Karen said softly.
"Well I'll only be moving local won't I? We'll make some kind of arrangement so I'll be able to see them whenever I can and whenever they want to see me," Chris said as he analysed the whole situation in his head. He looked deeply into Karen's eyes, his own filled with sadness and they shared a warm friendly hug. Then Karen began to sort through the papers and direct Chris, but he interrupted her by leaning in and romantically kissing her on the lips, gentle but loving.
Thanks for the feedback guys :) I have written plenty more of this and will be writing even more, but I'm only going to post it in small sections, so keep the comments coming :)
Karen pulled away after a couple of seconds she was a bit taken by surprise to say the least. "Chris what are you doing? Are you sure you want..." but she was abruptly cut off by Chris again who leant in for a second, more passionate kiss longer than the first but certainly answered Karen's question and this time she kissed him back as all the feelings she'd felt a few years back had all flooded into her mind except this time she didn't mind because for the first time in years she actually felt loved back in return. They snuggled into each other's warm bodies, a new romance slightly unexpected was hovering in the atmosphere around them.
Laura had just come downstairs to get herself a snack to concentrate and she heard kissing coming from the living room, she was confused as she thought it was just Chris coming round, but just assumed her mum had a date over instead and didn't want the girls to find out yet, so she just went back upstairs thinking nothing of it.
"Karen I love you, I want you more and more every second," Chris said continuing to kiss Karen passionately for the next few minutes. "I love you too but..." Chris put his finger to her lips to stop her saying anymore. "No, no buts!" and kissed her again not knowing what he was doing except that it felt incredible, something he'd only ever dreamed of, yes Karen was not the only one that had had previous feelings in the past that had suddenly come rushing back.
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?"
-- Edited by Sk8tingGleek on Sunday 6th of November 2011 07:18:11 PM
"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?"
