A few fluffy notes on our favourite ladies, Caroline and Kate, as they embark on parenthood together. Everyone is alive and well! The characters do not belong to me, I have merely borrowed them. Thanks for reading.
–
"...so we're just awaiting confirmation, then we can start telling the students about the trip. Erm, that's about it, really."
All eyes moved from the speaker to the chairman of the meeting – who appeared to be fast asleep.
Beverley, perceptive and faithful as ever, picked that very moment to clear her throat at full volume. Caroline's eyelids snapped open as she pulled herself upright in her chair, stabbing the nib of her pen into her notepad.
"Right. OK. That's – that's – " The headteacher ran her eyes frantically up and down the agenda, trying to figure out where the hell they were up to. That was Phil Hartley's voice droning on a minute ago, there was no mistaking that adenoidal monotone, so... item 7. Yep. School exchange trip. That sounds about right. "Thank you, Phil," she said, trying to sound efficient. "That brings us to Any Other Business. Is there? Any?" Caroline peered over her spectacles, daring to make eye contact with the bemused group. A murmur suggested there was none, so she brought the meeting to a close.
As the teachers filed quietly out of the office, Caroline tossed her glasses on to the desk and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Busy night, was it?" Beverley asked sympathetically, albeit with a hint of amusement at her normally super-efficient boss looking so crumpled and sleepy.
"Mmmm." Caroline nodded, her soft fringe falling over her eyes. "Good God, Beverley. I don't know how Kate does it. She's up most nights with Flora and I insisted on taking a turn... just one night – one night – and I'm... I'm..." Her fuzzy mind grappled with several words, trying to select the most appropriate. "Useless," she eventually decided.
"Yes, but Kate can sleep during the day, she's not chairing four meetings back to back in a stuffy office, is she?" Beverley smiled kindly.
"Yeah, well, thank goodness you're taking the minutes, that's all I can say."
The secretary lifted the tea tray from the side table. "I'll make a fresh pot."
"You're a star. Thank you."
Caroline took the opportunity to switch on her mobile to check for any messages from home. Sure enough, there was a text from Kate.
"Hi, how are you holding up? Hope you've managed to stay awake xx"
She was about to text a reply, but decided on the spur of the moment to give Kate a quick call instead.
"Hello," Caroline croaked.
"Oh hello sleepyhead," Kate laughed. "Are you all right?"
"Mmm, nothing that a pair of pyjamas and a duvet wouldn't fix. How are my two ladies?"
"We're fine, she's just had a feed and she's having a nap now. Have you survived your meetings?"
"God, Kate, I don't know how anyone can absorb a history lesson in Phil Hartley's class. He turned my eyelids into lead weights. I tried digging my nails into the palms of my hands, but it didn't help."
"Oh, poor you! But seriously, Caroline, I think maybe you should leave the night duty to me, I'm fine with it."
Caroline shook her head adamantly. "No, no, I want to do my share. She's my daughter, too."
"Yes, well, school nights are out. You can do a night at the weekends, and during the holidays." Kate's tone was firm and Caroline knew better than to argue with her when she was that determined. Besides, she also knew her wife's suggestion made sense.
"OK." Caroline attempted to stifle a yawn, which made Kate smile.
"Better let you go."
"Yep. I'm missing you ...and my pillow."
"Thought we were one and the same."
"That's what I meant." Caroline yawned more audibly this time, her eyes watering. "I'd better go. Beverley will be in any minute with the tea."
"See you tonight. Love you."
"Love you. Kiss Flora for me."
Just as Caroline switched off her phone, a large tea tray entered the room, followed by Beverley. After thanking her secretary she checked her watch. Ten to four. Just one more meeting and she could get home to her wife, baby, and bed.
–
"Good morning, Celia," Kate said as she opened the glass door to let her mother-in-law into the dining room.
"Morning, love. Just thought I'd look in on you, I haven't seen Flora for a few days, and – " Celia stopped mid-sentence. Caroline was sitting on the small sofa, holding the baby... but she had nodded off. "Don't drop her, whatever you do!"
"Mmm, what – what?" Caroline woke with a start but, thankfully, the baby was oblivious. "Oh, good morning, mother."
"I'll put the kettle on," Kate said, continuing up the two steps to the kitchen.
"How are you, mum?" Caroline sounded more awake now.
"I told you, I warned you," Celia said, sitting next to her daughter.
"Told me what?" Why did Celia have to throw curveballs so early in the morning?
"That you shouldn't be going having a baby, not at your age. Look at you. You look haggard." With that, Celia leaned over and took Flora's hand, waving it up and down gently.
Caroline had long given up trying to figure out her mother's idiosyncrasies. How she could say something so offhand and scathing whilst playing with the baby was beyond her.
"Mother, have you just come here to boost my morale, or did you want something?"
"I came to see this little sweetheart," she replied, extending her arms so that Caroline would pass the baby to her. She duly obliged.
"I don't look haggard, that's a bit – you shouldn't say things like that," Caroline sighed. "I've just had a heavy week at work, that's all. And besides, I didn't have the baby, Kate did. So."
"That isn't the point! You know perfectly well what I mean." Celia was bouncing her knee gently for Flora's benefit.
"Look, mum, I've got news for you. Not every couple has to consist of a man and a woman who happen to have their children when they're in their 20s."
"Well, that was you the first time around."
"Yes, and what happened? John ran off with a neurotic alcoholic and the boys have all but flown the nest. So now I have a second chance. I am happily married, to my wife, and we have a gorgeous daughter." She wasn't in the mood for her mother's carping. "And why is it that older men, elderly men, can have children and nobody turns a hair?"
"Don't say I didn't warn you. Oh, thank you, love." Celia handed Flora back to Caroline and accepted the mug of tea from Kate, who could sense from the atmosphere – and Caroline's forlorn expression – that Celia had been 'on form' with her comments this morning.
–
"One hot chocolate, madam."
Kate sat up in bed and carefully took the large mug from Caroline. "Mmm, thank you – oh, you've put cream on top. That's perfect! Thanks darling."
"You're welcome." Caroline kissed the side of her wife's head as she settled into bed with her own hot drink. They each took a sip of their cocoa, then Caroline said, pensively,
"Kate."
"What?"
"My mum was having a rant this morning."
"I guessed as much." Kate sighed. It was too much to hope that Celia would change her ways. "Did she – what did she say?"
"Oh, that I was too old to be a mum again and that I look haggard."
"Haggard? The cheeky – " Kate took a breath. "You know that's not true, don't you? I mean you do look tired this week, but not... God, she takes the biscuit, your mother."
Both women set down their drinks and Kate put her arm up to allow Caroline to snuggle into her favourite position, with her head on Kate's chest. "You're beautiful. Inside and out," she said, stroking Caroline's hair.
"So are you," Caroline replied in a whisper. "I do worry – well, I didn't, but I'm beginning to worry – that I might not be able to do certain things with Flora."
"What things?"
"Climbing frames, bouncy castles, that sort of thing."
"Caroline, this is just your mother spouting nonsense, putting these daft ideas in your head. You do realise that, don't you?"
"I suppose."
"Well, did you do climbing frames and bouncy castles with the boys?"
"Err, nope. No, I didn't, actually."
"There you are, then." Kate continued stroking Caroline's hair. "We'll raise our daughter our way. We'll take her to music concerts and the theatre and galleries and science lectures..."
"and she can play with other children on climbing frames and bouncy castles."
"Exactly. Age has nothing to do with it, Caroline. Our daughter will be raised in a home full of love."
"Mmm."
"Let's have our chocolate while it's still hot."
Caroline sat up and looked admiringly at her wife. She loved her courage, grace, and quiet determination. If Flora grew up to be half the woman Kate was, she would be very proud indeed.
–
Thanks for reading.