Could Kate really move on from the events of her birthday weekend? As usual all comments and suggestions are most welcome. I have been very humbled by your support for my other stories. Thank you.

Choices

Kate put her coffee down in response to a knock at the door. As she reached the glass panel she could see a familiar figure standing, waiting.

"I just came to say thank you" Caroline said as she handed Kate a beautiful bunch of flowers.

"You didn't have to do that." Inside the thought was 'I wish you hadn't; it's too hard to have you standing on my doorstep; too many memories, too much pain, wanting, yearning and now nothing, just numbness'.

"Can I come in?"

What to do; hesitate, try to find the answer quickly.

"I can say it on the doorstep."

Decency , manners Kate; don't be childish.

"No, come in, come in."

Caroline breathed in the familiar atmosphere, the simple elegance of the cottage, the familiar smells. The memories came flooding back; it was their refuge, the only place they could ever guarantee they could be completely alone. It was in this sanctuary they first explored each other and gave way to the desires they had harboured for so long.

Kate motioned for her to sit down.

"How is your pregnancy going, Kate. Have you got a birthing partner?"

"My mum said she would, if I needed someone."

"What about Greg?"

"No he really never was part of the equation beyond." She cut the sentence short as her hand swept protectively across her now swelling belly.

"Anyone else?"

"Maybe."

Caroline could feel her heart miss a beat and her stomach start to turn itself into knots. She had no idea what to say.

Kate was just about to cut into the long silence that followed her statement when they both heard a key in the lock.

"Katie darling, I'm home, where are you."

Caroline froze to her seat.

A few moments later a thirty-something woman floated into the sitting room dressed in medical scrubs. She walked straight over to Kate and leaned in giving her a short but passionate kiss. Caroline watched; riveted to Kate's lips. The kiss was definitely reciprocated; accompanied by a softening of her face, which spoke a thousand words.

"Caroline, this is Isabelle."

"Oh please call me Issy, everyone else does. I've heard a lot about you Caroline. It's lovely to meet you in person." She extended a hand and warmly took Caroline's into hers.

"Please excuse my attire. I've just finished a long overnight fourteen hour stint. I'm in need of a hot bath and bed."

Caroline was stunned by the warmth and sincerity of the words and the handshake.

"Nice to meet you too. I won't stay as you two obviously need to catch up." She couldn't wait to get out; the shock was almost too much to bear.

"Oh no don't leave on my account. You and Katie should carry on. Can I make you a cup of tea before I slip upstairs and have a bath? Lots of baby smells from last night to wash away" she chuckled.

As she left the room to put the kettle on, Kate smiled at Caroline and said softly, "She's a paediatric registrar at St Margaret's. She works very long hours as you can imagine."

"How long have you err been" she couldn't get the rest of the sentence out.

Coming to her rescue, Kate said, "Nearly three months now. I had to have some special tests; being over forty and my first pregnancy. I slipped into the hospital cafe afterwards and Issy asked if she could share my table. We just got talking, and the rest is, well."

"Wow, that's quick."

"As it turns out she was looking for a place to rent a room as she was not enjoying the shared flat she was in. I needed some company and so it works well."

"Oh, so you're not in a," again Caroline couldn't get the words out.

"Yes we are, but we are taking it slowly. Issy works long hours and still has a lot of study as her finals are coming up soon. It suits us both."

"Right, right, I see."

"Caroline, you implied you have something you wanted to talk about when you asked to come in. What is it" Kate asked gently.

"Oh, oh, it's nothing. In fact it's quite redundant now. I'd better be going anyway as I need to go home and make sure Lawrence is OK."

She left the house and could barely walk to the car. Her feet felt like lead. Her head was pounding. Within seconds of closing the car door she began to sob uncontrollably. It took her some time to calm down enough to even think of driving home.

Kate stood at the window watching; feeling the pain searing her being as she saw Caroline crying.

Issy came up quietly behind her and put her arms around Kate's waist. "That was really difficult wasn't it?"

She knew only too well that the reason her Katie was 'taking things slowly' was because of the woman who had just been in their sitting room. Kate had been a mess when she first moved in. Once their relationship had started albeit in a very tentative way, she had told her everything about her relationship with Caroline and the roller coaster they had been on. Issy could understand it but not really empathise too much. Studying medicine had mostly been her whole life and any relationships she had, purely transitory. There had never seemed enough time to get too deeply involved.

This time was different. She could hardly breathe the first time Kate had kissed her. It was like nothing she had ever felt before, and it scared her.

Caroline pulled up outside her house. Somehow she had to pull herself together and get inside to be with her son. God knows he had suffered enough the previous night and had it not been for Kate it may well have been a much worse outcome. 'Kate'. She could barely think the name let alone say it.

Once she had spent some time with Lawrence and he was settled in front of the television, she escaped to her bedroom. Lying on the bed, it was as if all hope had been extinguished; like someone had burst a balloon she had carefully blown up ready to hand over in reconciliation. It was over. Done. Kate had moved on. Her worst fears realised.

Kate lay on her bed too; she however was in Issy's arms. They would often spend time together after a long night shift, it helped Issy to calm down before trying to sleep a few hours. Kate loved the warmth and security it brought her. It was healing her slowly, she knew that. Today was different. Issy had loved her with a desire and passion she had not felt before and she knew why. Kate looked at her lover as she held her, and thought, 'I can't hurt her, I mustn't '.

Her eyes drifted to the ceiling and she remembered in mind and body the days and nights she lay here with Caroline. There was no comparison.

Monday morning arrived and as she drove to Sulgrave, Caroline wondered how she would cope if she laid eyes on Kate. 'Katie', what was that? She was her Kate. So many questions; no right to ask them.

Kate was tortured as she drove to school. She had witnessed the pain and grief Caroline, her Caroline, had shown as she sat in the car outside the cottage. What to do. Talk to her, not talk to her. Issy had noticed her retreating in to herself over the weekend.

"Katie, you need to sort this out; for my sake, your sake and by the looks of it the other day, Caroline's."

Morning assembly started and as Kate played the organ, she watched Caroline strut down the aisle towards the stage. She had seen this hundreds of times. Today she could hardly bear to look, but not looking was impossible. Caroline stared up at the organ briefly and their eyes locked for a nano-second. It was electric.

Assembly finished and Kate packed away the music. She had a free period first off and being on her own in this organ space was just what she needed.

Footsteps; she heard the distinct click clack of Caroline's heels; getting closer. Her heart started to beat so hard she could barely suck in enough oxygen.

"Kate, I'm sorry to intrude but we can't really avoid each other and so I was wondering if you felt it would be better to clear the air?"

"I don't think I can do it at this moment Caroline. I need to be on my game for class. Issy is on an afternoon shift today. I could stay after school if that's OK with you?"

'Issy' Caroline thought. 'Do I ever want to hear that name again'?

"Er yes that will be fine. Shall we say four o clock?"

"Yes but neutral territory Caroline. Not your office." Too often she kept a desk between her and Kate at school and that would not do today.

"Ok. Coffee shop, or pub?"

"Coffee shop, our usual; I'll meet you there."

Did she really just say that?' Our usual'. She was astonished at how quickly and naturally that came out.

The hours passed slowly for both women. Neither really sure what and how they were going to say what needed to be said.

As Kate sat at her desk in the lunch break, her phone pinged; a message.

'Katie, I love you. Issy xx'

Kate felt an overwhelming sadness come over her. This was for sure a no win situation.

Caroline pulled up outside the coffee shop and was immediately drawn to the sight of Kate sitting at a window table. She looked deep in thought.

'I've got one chance at this, just one, get it right this time.' Caroline told herself as she slipped out of the seat belt and opened the door. Kate noticed the movement and gave her a small wave and smile.

After ordering, they both sat in silence, just looking deeply into each other's eyes.

Caroline broke the silence. "Kate, I did come to tell you something the other day. I realised over the weekend while at Gillian's that I had lost something very precious. I could see clearly how and why that happened. I don't blame you at all. It's all down to my fears, inadequacies and inability to show my feelings. I came to ask for the last time, for another chance."

Kate's eyes welled up with tears. She took a moment to compose herself.

"It's complicated Caroline. You must see that now."

"If it were just about me and Issy, then I it would be a straight choice; but it isn't just about Issy. There's your mother, John, the boys. It's like a whirlwind. There's so little peace a lot of the time. I'm having a baby Caroline; I need to have a quiet, loving home for it. There has to be stability and acceptance. Your home is sometimes so full of venom I can hardly bear to be there myself, let alone a new baby."

Steeling herself against an argument, Caroline responded, "I know. I'm a coward. I told you that at the hotel. I just don't deal with things. There's a lot of baggage, I know that."

"Being with Issy these past few months has been so different. She's uncomplicated, gentle, open and proud to be with me. Her family are welcoming, happy people."

Caroline was at last faced with her inability to stand up for what she truly wanted. Stand up for her Kate. She too felt she was living in a whirlwind a lot of the time. However every time she rallied herself to face the battles, she always found a reason to pull back.

"But she's not you Caroline."

Caroline reached over and put her hand over Kate's; who immediately pulled away. "That's not an option Caroline. I started a relationship with Issy because I really believed you and I were over. I won't ever give her cause to doubt me. It's all or nothing you know that about me.

Before you say anything, Greg was different. If you had not treated me the way you did that weekend, I would never have slept with him without us both being OK with it. You forced my hand."

"Then you must tell me what to do now. I've put my cards on the table and told you I want you back. The decision is yours."

"No Caroline; putting your cards on the table is not the same as making choices about what you have to do to win the hand. "

Kate too had a very difficult choice to make.