Kate was alone in the faculty room getting a cup of tea early Monday morning when Michael Dobson entered. She hated the interruption as she liked being alone to prepare for the start of her day with the students.

"Kate, I was going to come looking for you after third period. How was your weekend," he inquired with a glint in his eye.

"Quiet. I worked on the nursery a bit and tried to catch up on some much needed rest. How was yours?" She scooped the tea bag out of her mug and discarded it in the bin. She wondered why he wanted to see her but was too leery of the answer to ask.

"Interesting. I went out Friday night after the school show and you'll never guess who I saw as I was heading home." He reached past her to grab the coffee pot to pour a cup.

"No clue." She squeezed a little honey onto a spoon and began stirring it into the hot liquid.

"Caroline." He said as he poured some creamer into his mug.

"That's not surprising, is it?" She took a sip to test the sweetness.

"Well it was a little before midnight and she wasn't alone."

"I don't care Michael. You know that's over for me." She set her cup down and reached for a napkin, trying to look disinterested.

"Well good on you then. I'm glad you're over her."

"How was the rest of your weekend?" Kate asked in an effort to change the subject.

"Pretty quiet. I slept in Saturday and then caught up on some of my marking after my hangover wore off," he said trying to impress her with his diligence about grading.

"I hope you didn't drive if you had a few. Please tell me you took a cab."

"Of course I didn't drink and drive. My mate drove. What do you take me for?"

"Just checking," Kate responded with a deadpan expression.

"For someone who caught up on her rest, you look pretty tired this morning. How are you feeling."

"I was good until you mentioned Caroline. Okay, I'll bite. Where did you see her and who was she with?"

"She was coming out of Lucia's with Seb Dixon's mother. Do you know her? She's one yummy mummy," Michael took his first sip and winced at how strong it was. "God who made this? It tastes more like diesel fuel than coffee."

"That's why I drink tea instead. Portia's lovely. Was her husband with her?"

"That's the thing. I overheard Seb in the lunch room the other week telling one of his buddies that his parents are getting divorced and that his mum is now into women," he paused to let the words hang there for dramatic effect.

Kate said nothing and just focused on stirring her tea. It didn't need stirring but gave her somewhere to look other than at Michael.

"When you were with Caroline did she say anything about being friends with Portia?"

"I don't really remember. We talked a little about Willow but that might have been the only Dixon we ever discussed. Why?"

"I'm just wondering if she's the reason the marriage broke up. Maybe they're an item now. Didn't take her long to move on, did it?" he volleyed.

"Well, it's none of our business but I can assure you Caroline would never break up a marriage," Kate shot back. She was beginning to lose her patience with him and with the conversation. "I'd better press on; the bell's about to ring. Ta." She said as she turned and quickly headed out the door. She couldn't get away from him fast enough. As she left the faculty room, she muttered quietly under her breath, "Michael Bloody Dobson indeed."

As the morning progressed, Kate found she couldn't get the thought of Caroline and Portia Dixon out of her mind. She wondered if Caroline had indeed moved on. It bothered her that it bothered her.

By lunchtime, she decided to send her mum an email about it. She knew Ginika checked her home email while enjoying her breakfast and she hoped she'd get a quick response.

Ginika didn't disappoint. Her measured response arrived within minutes.

Good morning my love.

Since I never met Caroline, I can't say whether I think she's in a new relationship already. But from what you've told me about her, I'd say it's highly unlikely. Perhaps she's just friends with her and it was all very innocent.

It sounds like Michael is just trying to stir up trouble. Didn't you say he threatened to expose her when you first confided in him about your relationship? I wouldn't trust him.

What I find curious is your interest in what she's doing. That makes me think that you still care about her. Are you sure you don't want to give her a second chance?

One thing I do know is that if she's as wonderful as you say she was when things were going well between the two of you then someone else will eventually see that and one day, possibly very soon, she may be in another relationship and it will be too late for you if you change your mind.

I'm not telling you to give her another chance, I'm just suggesting that you think long and hard about what you want and not waste too much time deciding what to do about it if you do want to work on having a relationship with her.

I hate to think of you being alone and unhappy. If you want to talk, call me tonight before you go to bed. I've got to run now or I'll be late for my first class.

Love,

Mum

When the final bell of the day rang, Kate hurried out of school right behind the students. She needed as much distance from Sulgrave and Caroline as she could find. She was mentally exhausted from wondering about Portia Dixon and decided to head home so she had no chance of seeing Michael or Caroline until she had time to collect her thoughts.

Caroline looked up from her desk just in time to catch of glimpse of Kate getting into her Fiat. "Damn," she said out loud, followed by a long, deep sigh. Over the weekend she decided to take Portia's advice and try apologizing to Kate. She was about to head to Kate's classroom to see if she would talk with her.

Caroline had spent the better part of her Monday rehearsing in her head what she wanted to say. The hours seemed to tick by slower than usual and she got more nervous with each passing class period. She hadn't banked on Kate leaving earlier than normal and was more disappointed than ever at the thought of having to wait for another opportunity to apologize. She wondered if she had the intestinal fortitude to try talking with her the next day.