When the Swedish furniture and household goods store, IKEA, opened up a large warehouse two years ago in the South East of England Karen started work in the Purchasing Department. She was 30 years of age and many people had remarked on her likeness to the actress, Sandra Bullock. In other words she was gorgeous and this, added to the fact that she was also intelligent and sociable, made her extremely popular. One of the ways she had learned to put up the barriers against unwanted male attention in the workplace was to surround herself with her group of friends.
Her friends in the group numbered four: Jenny, Melanie, Trish and Sharmila. Both Sharmila and Trish worked alongside Karen in Purchasing while Jenny and Melanie worked on the floor as Assistant Managers. They were all very pretty with ages ranging between 25 and 40, Jenny being the oldest. Melanie, at 25, was an aspiring amateur athlete and in her spare time she trained hard to try and knock off the point five of a second for the 100ms sprint that would get her a trial for the Olympic team.
Once a month they made an effort to meet up in one of their houses on a Saturday for a meal and some drinks and maybe a DVD. Several times some of them had stayed over owing to the fact they had maybe drunk too much to drive. They were occasions to look forward to and usually they'd be talking about the menu and choice of DVD for a couple of days beforehand.
This time it was the turn of Karen to host the event. Yet, strangely, she had seemed very thoughtful all week as though there was something heavy weighing on her mind. Sharmila had said she would cook the dinner at her place if that was the problem but Karen assured her she was happy with it being her turn. She simply answered that she had to tell them something important on Saturday but she was working her way round it. Naturally enough the four women believed she was going to use the get-together to announce her engagement. Trish stirred the waters a little more by thinking aloud that she might announce that she was pregnant. The one announcement they didn't want was to hear that she was leaving work. Jenny, being the eldest and possibly the wisest, said it would be better to trust Karen and let her tell everyone on the Saturday.
The end of the week slowly came and it seemed that Karen's seriousness hadn't lessened. In fact, twice at lunchtime on the Friday Karen had been miles away when the others were speaking to her. On Saturday Karen sent a quick text to each of them to remind them of the time and to say she was looking forward to seeing them. She also let them know that she was providing the wine so they weren't to bring anything.
Sharmila and Trish arrived first in Sharmila's car then five minutes later Melanie and shortly afterwards Jenny. One of the rules of these nights was that casual wear was the only acceptable form of dress. So the women came in their jogging gear or loose cotton pants and cotton tops.
Karen had prepared a simple but delicious plate of roast chicken, baby potatoes, pear and polenta mash with a side salad that included avocado. It went down really well with a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon. The conversation during the meal wasn't strained but there was little said, in large part due to the success of the cooking. It deserved to be eaten in tranquillity.
"That was magnificent, Karen!" Jenny spoke for them all.
"Just excellent," smiled Melanie. "It's my turn next month and I'm sure I can't follow that!"
Karen smiled too, "Nonsense, Melanie!"
"So?" Sharmila looked enquiringly at Karen.
"Dessert, anyone?"
"Oooh. What is it?" asked Melanie.
"Pavlova or blueberry cheesecake."
They all made their choices and again ate relatively quietly. Then came the coffee.
"Shall we get started on the wine?" suggested Trish, with a wink in her eye.
They all looked at Karen because it was her home and she had to decide.
"Just before we do that," sighed Karen in a voice tinged with sadness, "I want to tell you all something. Something I should have told you before."
The look on the faces of the other women showed their concern. Melanie reached for Jenny's arm.
"And if any of you or all of you want to leave immediately after I tell you I certainly won't hold it against you. You're my friends and you're all very special to me and I won't begrudge your choice."
"God, will you get it out, woman!" Sharmila almost yelled.
"I'm a lesbian! There! I've said it!"
For a moment or two there was a deep, resonating silence and Karen couldn't lift her face to look them in the eyes.
"Is that it?" Jenny's voice was angry. "Hell, Karen, I thought you were going to tell us you had a terminal illness or something."
Karen glanced up to gauge their reactions and shook her head at Jenny's thought.
Melanie laughed, "On the way over I was thinking maybe you'd murdered someone in the past."
That changed the mood. Laughter broke out. Even Karen giggled.
"Anybody here want to leave?" asked Jenny. She was answered with a chorus of no.
"Thankyou! I really mean that. You've no idea. I've been worried all week since I decided to tell you."
"Sure we're your friends," Sharmila said and reached for Karen's hand.
"Why were you worried about declaring your sexual preference anyway?" enquired Trish and the others nodded too, as it was a valid question.
"Er, I don't know," answered Karen. "Maybe because it's the first time I've declared it to anyone. Even myself. I don't really take rejection well and I thought that was what would happen."
"Us reject you? You should know us better than that, Karen!" Trish spoke for everyone.
"We need wine!" Jenny stood up and fetched the tray with glasses and a bottle that had been left open to breathe. "Everyone scoot into the living room!"
Karen's living room comprised a three seater and a two seater sofa, from IKEA of course, and several large bean bags. There was also a standard-sized TV in one corner and a music system in the other. Melanie went straight to one of the bags and made herself comfortable while the others chose the sofas. Jenny sat next to Karen on the larger settee.
As part of the unspoken tradition too, Karen poured the wine and made the first toast. "To you, the best friends I've ever had!"
Melanie couldn't resist: "You haven't had us yet!"
Everyone burst out laughing. Loud and long.
The second toast ten minutes later, made by Jenny, praised Karen's meal and choice of wine.
"How many bottles do we have, by the way?" asked Trish with a smile.
"I got twelve in," said Karen
