Chapter 1
As the music changed, Caroline was aware once more of the room around her. Kate moved back slightly, slipped her hands down to meet Caroline's and held them. Their eyes were locked in recognition, an understanding that in that moment, everything had changed. Caroline felt a hand on her arm and looked down. Gillian.
"Go," Gillian whispered. "I'll sort this out, here" gesturing to the party, the guests. Caroline smiled. She and Gillian had come a long way since their first meeting and this thoughtfulness and care from her new step-sister was touching.
"Thank you." Caroline covered Gillian's hand with her own and gave it a squeeze before her attention was caught by William, smiling broadly from across the dance floor. Caroline pointed toward the door and he nodded. Her eyes flicked to Lawrence and back and William nodded again. Kate squeezed her hand.
"Come on." Kate's arm curled around Caroline's waist and she began moving toward the door.
"My mum.." Caroline began, looking in Celia's direction and then back at Kate. Kate nodded. Caroline took Kate's hand and stepped towards Celia and Alan. Alan broke away from Celia and took Caroline's hand, gripping it in both of his. He beamed at her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Night Caroline love. Thank you, for all of this, for today."
"You're welcome Alan. It was our pleasure." She kissed his cheek in return. "Night." Alan repeated the gesture, kissing Kate's cheek this time, and Caroline couldn't help feeling proud of her new family. Her attention turned to Celia and, expecting to see animosity, Caroline met Celia's gaze. She knew that her mother had moved forward in her views about Caroline's 'choices', but she didn't imagine that kissing Kate on the dance floor in front of all of their guests would elicit an entirely positive response. Whilst there wasn't a complete absence of hostility, Caroline could see warmth in her mother's expression. Celia reached up and stroked Caroline's face.
"Night love." She spoke warmly and Caroline relaxed, grateful to not be putting Kate though any more family drama. Celia smiled at Kate.
"Thank you. For inviting me, Celia. It really was kind of you." Kate's voice was soft and conciliatory; genuine.
"No, love. Thank you." Caroline was surprised by Celia's unexpected warmth toward Kate and more than a little moved. Kate and Celia shared a brief but sincere embrace before Kate recovered Caroline's hand and met her eye.
"Ok?" Kate's thumb stroked the back of Caroline's hand.
"Ok." Caroline nodded and took a deep breath. She looked at the door and back at Kate. "Do you want to...I mean...shall we...?" She wasn't entirely sure what the next step was; she didn't want to assume anything and she definitely didn't want to mess this up.
"Let's get some tea and go upstairs shall we?" Kate seemed to understand Caroline's uncertainty and led her out of the ballroom.