Episode Three – Exam Hall
As she drove to work, Caroline couldn't help but think about her mother's new found sex life and wondered how, at the age of 74, she had more courage than Caroline could muster in her own life. There Kate had been, all these months quietly supporting her and loving her, despite barely receiving any acknowledgement that she had felt the same. And yet she still came round at the drop of a hat yesterday after having been unceremoniously dumped the week before. Caroline glanced in the rear view mirror at her boys; William stared off into space, no doubt worried about his exam that morning and Lawrence bopped away in time to whatever inane music played on his personal stereo. She loved her boys dearly and all this to-ing and fro-ing between her and John wasn't good for either of them. And she realised that it probably hadn't been particularly good for Kate either. Caroline made up her mind to continue where they had left off yesterday and ensure that she did things that left Kate in no doubt of her intentions from now on. She was unlikely to make big overtures, there was still a long way to go before she could completely immerse herself into something new and she couldn't cast off the shackles of her strange childhood overnight. But she vowed to make the effort, if nothing else, for the time being. It was what prompted her thoughtfulness as she pulled Kate to one side later that morning after the staff briefing.
"You're invigilating the A-Level English exam this morning aren't you?" Caroline shot Michael Dobson a withering look over Kate's shoulder as he pulled a face in their direction. He could think what he bloody well liked; she was fairly certain he had only been making empty threats about spreading gossip around the school.
"Yes, ten o'clock. Why?" Kate wasn't quite sure where Caroline was going with this conversation and it was highly unusual she would speak to her so openly in front of the other staff.
"I know you're going to see your dad later, I'll take over at eleven so you can catch up on your paperwork and leave on time tonight." Kate looked at her friend with evident surprise on her face.
"You remembered? You'd do that for me?" Caroline couldn't contain her grin and a little warm feeling settled itself inside of her. So that's what it felt like to please the person you lo...cared about.
"Yes I did, didn't I? I promised I would try." The look of wonderment still hadn't left Kate's face.
"Thank you, you don't know what this means to me." Caroline had a fair idea if Kate's complete and utter shock was anything to go by.
Kate hadn't been able to stop thinking about Caroline's gesture all the way through the first hour of the exam. She found herself growing nervous at the prospect of her walking into the quiet hall and changing places. Something had definitely changed between them and although she was reluctant to get her hopes up just yet, her feelings were obviously not one sided this time around. She felt so much more secure about things now; no matter how long it took for it to develop into a full blown relationship. She heard the door as it opened behind her and the click-clack of Caroline's heels on the parquet flooring as she approached. Her heart thrummed wildly and it was nearly her undoing when Caroline put her hand on the backrest of her chair and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Check your pigeon hole before you leave today." It made no sense but Kate would do as Caroline had asked before the end of the day. She turned to smile gratefully at Caroline, uncertain if they would see each other again that day and they shared an intense look for a few seconds. Caroline was conscious of her son sitting only a few feet away and tried to secure her usual no-nonsense look back on her face. But she hadn't been able to help turning to watch Kate walk out of the room at the last moment.
Kate had left it until the very end of the day to check her pigeon hole and almost cried at the gift that had been left there for her by Caroline. Her favourite chocolate bar had been wrapped in a simple ribbon and a tiny cardboard note had been tucked underneath it. 'For after your visit, C x' the note read, and it lifted Kate's spirits enough to get through the next couple of difficult hours with her ailing father.
