Celebration (for Karen)

[lavendetta]

Thomas still felt like pinching himself. Three years of hard work paid off and he was offered a promotion. His uncle arranged a celebration at the hotel and Thomas immediately called his girlfriend to give the good news and to invite her.

"Hey, baby. I just received some great news." He's smiling all through the call. "You're speaking to the new assistant manager. And I'd love to have you here for the celebration."

Comments

[secondshift]

"Congratulations." Karen was sitting in their apartment finishing up lunch when he called, smiling just as much. She had started to do some work for the local police but his career was still far more important than hers. "And is this a formal kind of thing?"

She hadn't packed formalwear when she'd left New York. She hadn't really expected a need for such a thing on what had become several months away from home. She might need to go buy a dress.

[lavendetta]

"Just a casual gathering with colleagues, loved ones, and plenty of good food and drinks." And having her there would make it perfect. She had been a source of support and courage, and he wanted to do the same for her with her new work. "Not that I'd object to seeing you in a dress. Looking beautiful as ever."

This put a new spring in his step and gave a new purpose to his life in Venice.

[secondshift]

"I don't own a dress. Well, I do, but back home." Karen chuckled. "Remember I've been living out of two suitcases for the last three months."

At some point she would have to decide either to go home, or to put down permanent roots and start buying more things to make Venice home. But that was a talk they'd have later when he didn't have something to celebrate. Tonight was his night.

"I'll be happy to be there. I'm interested to meet your coworkers as your girlfriend and not as a guest of the hotel. Anything I should know? Or that you've told them about me I should know?"

[lavendetta]

He'd go anywhere with her. As much as he enjoyed his job, he wanted to build a life with Karen even more.

"I've told them only the things that you'd be okay with them knowing. Nothing too personal."

Thomas had been so giddy to let everyone know he and Karen were an item.

"Be yourself. They'll love you, I'm sure of it."

[secondshift]

"I'm glad you are!" Karen laughed. She was a bit more nervous having been so much older than him and wondering if the fact she'd been a hotel guest when they met might look bad on him professionally. It would be something to find out when she went to the party.

"Congratulations again," she said, not wanting her worries to ruin his mood. "What time do you need me to be there?"

[lavendetta]

Thomas was certain that his uncle and his wife would welcome Karen with open arms. Their story was similar to theirs in a way.

"7pm. I'll finish up some work and then I'll be free."

And he'd be more than happy to introduce her properly to everyone.

[secondshift]

"Okay, I'll see you then." Karen smiled at his enthusiasm; she was glad he was so happy after everything he had been through.

She showed up for the party just a few minutes after seven hoping she wasn't underdressed and went looking for him as she moved through the room.

[lavendetta]

Thomas spotted her soon enough and went to greet her with a kiss.

"You're so beautiful, baby. Come, they're eager to meet you." He took her by the hand, leading her to meet his family properly. "Everyone, I'd like you to officially meet my girlfriend Karen. The love of my life." There was a constant smile on his face when he saw the warm welcome they gave her. His uncle gave her the traditional Italian greeting of two cheek kisses.

[secondshift]

Karen wasn't one to get flustered often but she definitely was now. She hadn't met someone's family in a long time and it meant a lot to see how happy they were to meet her. "This is all so lovely," she said quietly, looking at her boyfriend. "Now I see where you get your big heart from."

[lavendetta]

"Must be that Italian blood," Thomas chuckled. "You're part of the family now. Uncle's already decided it." And he couldn't be happier about it. Everyone embraced Karen so quickly. He planted a kiss on her hand, smiling affectionately.

[secondshift]

"Well, then I'd better brush up so I speak more than passable Italian." Karen chuckled. She knew enough to get by but she wasn't fluent. And it made her mind wander to how long she would be here. He had an important job now, and his family would expect her to be around. Packing up and going back to New York was seeming more and more impossible.

"But this night isn't about me, it's about you, Thomas," she reminded him. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

[lavendetta]

"Celebrate with you. And continue it back home."

Thomas didn't want to cause her any pressure in staying in Italy. All of this happened so unexpectedly, but he was still more willing to build a life with Karen in a place where she'd be happy.

"Maybe have a glass of Champagne." He grinned, taking a glass for her and him. "And I'd be happy to teach you some Italian, baby."

[secondshift]

"You might have to, if I'm going to stay here. I know enough to get by as a tourist, not to permanently live here!" Karen replied with a laugh. "But sure. Do you want me to go get you a drink? And I might go find some food. I haven't eaten since lunch."

A smile. "How does it feel to be the boss now?"

[lavendetta]

"No need, baby. I have some right here." He handed her a drink before sipping his own. "You should try some of the catering here. It'll be plenty to fill you up."

"Unexpected, but nice. It's nice doing something other than stand behind the desk. It's like you've brought some good luck with you."

[secondshift]

"Oh, you can't thank me for that." Karen chuckled. "This promotion is the byproduct of your hard work, not me." She wasn't going to let him sell himself short especially since she knew how it wasn't easy to be promoted from making Sergeant with the NYPD.

She took a long drink before she continued. "We should talk at some point, when all this calms down," she added. "With you moving up the ranks here, it's time for us to have that conversation about what we're going to do. Or I guess what I'm going to do more than anything."

[lavendetta]

"I felt stuck before we met. I'd lost that spark with everything that happened.. But you're right. I need to recognize my own part in this too."

Thomas nodded. "We should. There's a lot to figure out." He leaned in to kiss her cheek before drinking some more. "I'm so glad you're here, baby. To share this moment."

[secondshift]

"I'm happy to be here. I'll always be here to support you," Karen added. "But I'm going to keep needling you until you find your own confidence again because you are just as important in this relationship as I am."

She would too. She was stubborn like that.

[lavendetta]

"And I appreciate that. I was young and naïve and that woman used me. It left a mark."

Thomas smiled, looking at her fondly. He didn't want to dwell on the past tonight.

[secondshift]

"Let's not talk about it anymore. You should enjoy tonight. Go talk to your family and your friends," Karen encouraged. He was the guest of honor after all and this party was about him. "I can wait for you. Could always go see if anyone's in my old hotel room," she joked since that was the place they had first hooked up.

[lavendetta]

"You're right. The past has no place here." The mention of her old hotel room made him grin. "It's my new favorite room in the hotel now. So many memories."

He gave her a kiss, lingering in it before he went to join his family and friends.

"I'll see you soon. I love you."

[secondshift]

"Love you too."

Karen let him go mingle, contenting herself with wandering through the hotel's many common rooms. It wasn't as if she could break into her old hotel room; even if she could physically do it, someone else could be in there. So she got herself something to eat before she wandered back up to the library and made herself comfortable on a couch in front of that roaring fire. It was a nice place to spend a cold evening and think about the future.

Not to mention they'd had sex on this couch once which made her snicker.

[lavendetta]

"Thought I might find you here."

Thomas entered the library, carrying a bottle and two glasses. He wanted to have a private celebration with his girlfriend.

"Remember the last time we were on this couch?" He smirked as he sat down.

[secondshift]

"My options are kind of limited now that I don't have a key anymore," Karen pointed out as she moved over on the couch. "And yes, I do. Very well. We were pretty lucky that your family didn't walk by and see us both naked."

[lavendetta]

"That's true."

He opened the bottle and poured some wine for them.

"Yeah.. That would've been awkward to explain." Thomas chuckled. "Now they all know about us and we can be as affectionate in the open as we want to be."

[secondshift]

"Except for the being naked part," Karen corrected gently. "No one, no matter how much they love you, would want to see us having sex. There is basic decency!"

But she took the glass from him and took a long drink.

"Should we start having that conversation now or wait until tomorrow? I understand if you want to put it off, I don't want to ruin your night."

[lavendetta]

"Of course. That's one thing we'll keep hidden from them."

Thomas took a drink from his glass before responding.

"No, we can talk now. It's important. And I want you to know that this promotion hasn't changed my desire to build a life wherever you are."

[secondshift]

"Well, you know I can't stay here forever. My tourist visa's going to run out. I either need to apply for citizenship and find a permanent job, or I need to go home."

A sigh.

"I probably need to go home anyway. I've been living out of two suitcases for the past three months. Most of what I own is in New York."

[lavendetta]

"I get that, baby. And I'm willing to come with you. You're a part of my life now."


Thomas had that determined look on his face. He loved her more than anything.

"We could go visit my uncle."

[secondshift]

"If you wanted to. I'm not going to make you go someplace you don't want to just so I can go back to my place and go through all of my stuff." Karen chuckled. She knew his family situation was complex and didn't want to add any stress. "It's really up to you. If this is where you want to build your life, then I need to look at moving here. Otherwise, the NYPD is going to want me back at some point soon."

[lavendetta]

"It's okay. I don't mind going back to New York for a while, now that it's safe again."

It could give him a fresh perspective on things. He loved his job but he wasn't sure if he could see himself doing it for his whole life.

"We'll figure it out."

[secondshift]

"I think it's something you have to figure out with this job. I can always go by myself if you need me to. I'm not going to upset things for you here just so I can go clean out my closet." Karen chuckled. "The important thing is you have a life now, and I'm proud of you for it."

[lavendetta]

"I'll think about it." He smiled softly, his fingers dancing gently on her thigh. Thomas had gone from having almost nothing to finding the love of his life and advancing in his career in a short time, and it was a lot to digest. "I never expected my life to become this good after everything." He leaned in to kiss her softly.