Episode Four, Scene One – Weekend Away Conversation
Kate sat on her settee and watched the flickering of the candles on the mantelpiece in front of her. Easy listening music played quietly from her stereo but she hadn't really been paying attention to it as she had been concentrating more on relishing the rare evening in with Caroline. The older woman was lying on the settee with her head in Kate's lap and one of each of their hands were clasped together round her middle. They'd come straight back to Kate's house after work and had something light to eat before they'd retired to the living room.
"I've been thinking…" Caroline started out of seemingly nowhere.
"Mmm?"
"Perhaps we ought to go away together, for a weekend?" Kate's eyebrows hit the roof and she had to calm herself down at the shock of it.
"If you want to." She couldn't help but remain cautious and tried not to get her hopes up. Caroline was just as likely to backtrack from the suggestion as quickly as she had said it.
"It's just…" Caroline shifted on the settee and sat up so she could speak to Kate face to face. She grasped Kate's hands in her own. "…we're always clockwatching with half a mind on not getting caught or I have to go home or there's work to do. It would just be nice to have some time together that wasn't going to be interrupted." Kate was stunned. It was a lovely suggestion although slightly ironic given that it was Caroline who had all the reasons for their relationship remaining a secret. But it was thoughtful and something Kate wanted very much to happen and sooner rather than later. She leaned in and kissed Caroline deeply.
"I think it's a lovely idea." Kate responded after they mutually broke off the kiss.
"Good. I'm really sorry but I'm going to have to go." Kate could see that she genuinely was sorry for cutting their time short and she slowly and reluctantly got herself ready to leave. At the door they kissed languidly before Kate was on the verge of either pulling Caroline upstairs to bed or pushing her out of the door. From the moment Caroline had left to the moment she called her later that evening Kate hadn't been able to stop thinking about them going away together. It was another significant step and if they did manage to sort something out she was sure that it would really help to establish what was going on between them. But, as ever with Caroline, Kate never really knew if she was going to follow through or if she would get cold feet and backtrack like she'd predicted. Perhaps if Kate could get Caroline to commit to something sooner rather than later then she wouldn't be able to back out of it?
Kate lost hope the moment Caroline had said that they should talk about it later. She knew that it hadn't been the best time to bring the subject up, but Caroline had only suggested it a few short hours previously and she had been excited despite her attempt to exercise caution. It sounded as though Caroline had changed her mind or that she needed more time to think it through. Kate put it to the back of her mind along with all the other things she wasn't certain she would get to experience with Caroline.