Episode Three – In The Garden
"I'm sorry if I've hurt you or taken you for granted. I will endeavour not to do that in the future because I do value your friendship and I'm sorry if I've not said that or made that clear or done what normal people do to express these things. So I'm sorry, thank you." Caroline looked intently at Kate and tried to express with her eyes what her words may have failed to do. Kate smiled back at her friend and surreptitiously slid her hand across the space on the bench between them. Caroline saw the movement from the corner of her eye and covertly moved her own hand to rest on top of Kate's.
"Is there a future?" Kate whispered, not wanting to push her luck but desperate to know where she stood at the same time. "For us?" Caroline laced her fingers through Kate's and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"Things are so up in the air here…" excuses were on the tip of Caroline's tongue but then she felt Kate try to withdraw her hand and saw the sadness creep into her expression. She couldn't bear to make her feel that way again. "…but yes, slowly and discreetly I think there maybe hope for us yet." Caroline hoped it had come across more confident than she felt. Kate turned their hands over so that she could squeeze Caroline's in return.
"Thank you, for giving us a chance. I've missed you." Caroline chuckled lightly but not unkindly.
"It's barely been a week! But yes, I've missed you too." They went back to small talk and Caroline, as promised, did bother to ask a few questions about Kate's personal life. They even managed to have a spontaneous giggle fit here and there and by tea time they both felt lighter for having made the effort. Unfortunately Caroline was still left with the problem of John being in the house but she'd deal with him later.