Shocked and dumbfounded, Caroline looked up at Kate. Kate's words washed over her like an ocean wave that was strong enough to knock her over. No matter how she phrased it, Caroline understood she was being dumped and knew deep in her heart that she deserved to be. Struggling to come back to the surface, Caroline quickly realized she needed to find her words and fast.
"I know you've made your mind up about me, Kate, but there's something I should have said before now. I am ready to change my life for you and I want another chance to love you even though I know I don't deserve it. I've been wrong to think I could hide our relationship in the shadows. All those hours alone last night gave me time to think about us. I realized I am ready to risk everything for us to be together because that will be easier than living without you."
"It's too little too late, Caroline. I'm past the point of waiting for you to grow up and prove you want to be with me," Kate said in a flat tone with a deadpan expression on her face. She shifted her weight and wanted to bolt but suddenly felt as though her feet were made of lead.
Caroline seized the moment and stood, stepping up to stand face to face with Kate, taking her hands in her own. "Don't go. Not like this. We can't be finished just as we are getting started. I spent the last 18 years with someone I didn't love. You can't give me a taste of the happiest relationship I've ever known and then yank it away from me like this. I know I don't deserve you but I am ready to be who you need, give you what you deserve. Just help me lead with my heart instead of my head for a change."
In that instant, Kate felt her anger and disappointment in Caroline start to melt away. Against all her better survival instincts, she allowed Caroline to draw her into her arms for the first public display of affection she ever received from the disheveled blond. "Caroline, it's going to take more than a declaration and a hug to convince me you can really change," Kate said in a resigned tone. "But if you really mean what you are saying and this isn't just an empty attempt to keep me from leaving, I am willing to give you one last chance," she continued, pulling away from Caroline to look in her eyes to gauge her response. She saw the smile start in Caroline's eyes before it spread to the blonde's soft lips.
"Let's sit and discuss the way we go forward from here," Caroline said. "Then, afterward, let's find Greg and talk about the baby plan." Kate could hardly believe her ears. She looked at Caroline incredulously, not really understanding what she meant. Before she had a chance to speak. Caroline continued, "I think I just got bogged down in how you intended to get pregnant and unfortunately I came across as not being enthusiastic about having a child. I realized last night that I want to have a child with you but I can't abide the method you have chosen to get pregnant and I was wrong not to have said that to you before now. I think we need to talk with Greg about him being the donor and using the fertility clinic I found near Harrogate when I was doing some research on the topic last week. They have a great success rate, but more importantly, using it means I don't have to share you with him. I realized last night that my reticence in having a child was about the conception, not the idea of raising a child with you. What do you think?"
Just hearing Caroline ask her opinion, after sharing that she did some research into the clinic, made Kate's heart skip a beat. A smile spread across her face for the first time since they arrived at the front desk of the hotel yesterday. Perhaps Caroline really could change. This was at least a promising new beginning.