Kate
"How likely is that ?" snapped Caroline bitterly but her face fell and she immediately followed it up with "I'm sorry. You have a nice Christmas too."
Kate turned and left the function room, through the beautiful arch of Christmas decorations. She hadn't responded to Caroline. There was nothing to say she mused as she proceeded to get in to the car and exit the car park.
It really had been a beautiful evening she thought. Alan and Celia looked so happy throughout the day and in truth she envied them. Whilst she had had her run ins with Celia in the past she had no doubt that the couple were lucky to find each other and that they would be very happy together. Alan was such a sweet man, who mellowed Celia in many ways. As "Driving home for Christmas " started to play on the radio Kate felt strangely melancholy and put it down to both her hormones and possibly the festive season.
She switched stations to radio 2 to try and improve her mood and burst out laughing at the song that greeted her – "If I said you had a beautiful body would you hold it against me ". Alan's wedding song! What were the chances of hearing it again so soon? Her mind immediately drifted to the uproar the song had caused, Celia's look of pride and Caroline's initial look of shock and her fits of giggles at Alan's antics. God! Caroline was so gorgeous when she laughed! Magnificent was the word that came to mind most often when she thought about Caroline, despite how things had worked out between them.
Kate shook her head – Don't go there she thought, but it was easier said than done. She flashed back to when Caroline walked Celia down the aisle, Proud and Happy. Kate had watched her closely as Celia and Alan exchanged their vows, her face betraying the emotion that she felt and Kate had found it hard to look away. Caroline's expressive eyes were what had drawn Kate to her in the first place. Her speech as daughter of the bride was confident, charming, funny and sincere. Beautiful really. Finally she pictured her face as Kate had wished her a Happy Christmas before she left. Stoic and proud, stand offish almost. She had half expected Caroline to say something further– to ask her to stay but the older women had just let her walk away.
The road was relatively quiet and the 15 mile journey took no more than 25 mins, she pulled in to her drive and opened her front door. Immediately her heart dropped and the loneliness hit her. How she wished things had worked out differently and that Caroline had remained in her life. Kate put her bag down and turned to lock the door behind her. She flashed back again to Carolinas face as she left the function room, thinking of Caroline's apology for snapping at her. That wasn't arrogance, or stand offish behaviour- it was self protection Kate realised. Caroline is in pain.
Kate sat in to the car again – hardly able to believe what she was contemplating doing – no,what she was actually doing !
Was she loosing her mind ! Was the fact that today was such a romantic sentimental day clouding her judgement? Was she letting her hormones get the better of her? Mile by mile slipped by and an hour after she left the wedding reception she parked in the hotel car park,fully cognisant that what happened over the next hour or so would have a material impact on her life and that of her baby. She sat in the car with the engine turned off to steady her nerves. What If she was mistaken? What if she had left it too late?What if Caroline had moved on ? What if Caroline wanted nothing to do with the baby? What if – God she was exhausted with what ifs ! Why did she drive all the way back here if she was just going to sit in the car? She needed to face the fact that for her Caroline was worth one more try. She had tried to ignore what her heart was telling her . Magnificence was worth fighting for!
As she walked once again through the arch of Christmas decorations into the function room she registered Roberta Flack playing softly. She could see Alan and Celia on the dance floor swaying slowly and she spotted Caroline sitting at a table by the fireplace, alone and with her eyes cast downwards. She looked forlorn and Kates heart ached for her. She walked resolutely towards her and was almost at the table when Caroline looked up surprised.
" I got in, closed the door then turned around and came right back " Kate said, turning to place her coat and bag on an adjacent chair. She looked at Carline who simply stared at her and had yet to open her mouth. Kate stretched out her hand and asked "Do you want to dance?
Time seemed to stand still for a minute or maybe a second, but what felt like an hour and Kate thought Caroline might refuse. However Caroline took her hand and slowly stood. Her face though was full of reluctance, and for a moment Kate thought she was going to change her mind - Is this ? Caroline said –like forever?" and immediately Kate felt her spirits lift. It was going to be ok she thought and she answered Caroline with a Prince quotation "forever is a mighty long time ! In theory! Caroline at last smiled and followed Kate's lead to the dance floor. A surge of confidence flowed through Kate – she placed Caroline's hands on her hips and pulled her in, relishing the closeness. The music seemed to fade away into the background and it felt as if they were in their own little bubble. She looked into Caroline's eyes and couldn't look away. They leaned their foreheads together and Caroline closed her eyes. The gentle kiss that ensued was initiated by neither and both, and escalated quickly. Kate could hardly believe that Caroline was willing to be publicly intimate but to be honest her heart was racing so fast that conscious thought was difficult.
Neither woman was aware of how long they danced or how interesting their encounter proved to be to the other dancers until they heard Celia exclaim beside them "oh no – I thought she'd gone". Kates heart dropped, and she looked into Carolines eyes. Would she bolt she worried? Caroline simply smiled , turned to Celia and said " Yes Mum she had , but if I have my way she is never leaving my sight again. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Kate and I have some celebrating of our own to do" and with that she took Kate by the hand and returned to the table, leaving Celia lost for words.