A Chance Meeting – Chapter Six

A/N As we come to end of the conference, so we come nearly to the end of this chance encounter. It's still a bit of a bumpy ride but hopefully love, love of all kinds will overcome. Thanks again for your kind messages.

As Caroline and Kate filed out of the auditorium for the coffee break, an imposing woman strode over to Caroline and positioned herself between her and Kate.

"Caroline, how lovely to see you again, come on let's go and get a coffee together and have a catch up." Cradling Caroline's elbow she ushered her off without a second look at Kate. There was a brief backward glance of helplessness, but Caroline it seemed was lost for the duration of the break. Luckily Kate spotted a colleague from an old school before Sulgrave and headed in his direction. Try as she may, Caroline was unable to extricate herself from this woman who had scuttled her time with Kate and she was getting angrier by the minute. The conversation was inane and she had far better things she wanted to be discussing.

The convenor called for everyone to return, and at last Caroline was able to rid herself of the intruder. As they settled into their seats, Kate asked, "Who was that?"

"Busy body Brenda! Everyone calls her that." Kate sniggered, "Why?"

"Oh she's only interested in the 'goss' from everyone's schools."

"What goss did she want from Sulgrave?"

"You wouldn't be happy if I told you."

"Go on."

"She wanted to know if I was better these days after my major 'upset'."

"How the hell did she know about you, about us?"

"At one particular meeting, after you left, I was not looking my best and I was talking to another friend, you remember Julie, Head at St Brigid's?"

"Vaguely."

"Well anyway I was sharing with Julie that I had split up with my partner and Brenda rocks up, inserts herself and wants to know all about it."

"What did you tell them?"

"Very little, but Brenda's always been good at embellishment. It wasn't long before people were asking me all the time, 'How are you Caroline? Are you coping?' It nearly drove me mad."

Kate shook her head in disgust and then they both had to settle down as the lecture started; she couldn't help but reflect on how bad things must have been if people were noticing how upset Caroline looked. Without realising it, her leg had somehow 'accidently' found its way into contact with Caroline's. She left it there, hoping it might provide some comfort for the ordeal Caroline had endured.

As they emerged for the lunch break, both were conscious that they would have to leave each other until two o'clock. "I hope you have a nice lunch with Alec, I'll wait with you if you like until he arrives." Most of the other delegates left the foyer and headed for the dining room.

Suddenly there was a shout and a small child running towards them. "Mummy, mummy!"

Caroline looked at Kate and saw her eyes widen with excitement. The child put her arms up as she reached them and Kate swept her up, burying her face in the child's neck and peppering her with kisses. As she looked away, she saw a tall, striking woman pushing a stroller towards them with another little one who was screaming and holding his hands out. Bringing up the rear was Alec. Caroline was choked.

"Lou, what are you doing here?" She let go of the stroller and pulled Kate into a tight embrace, kissing her several times.

"It was a spur of the moment thing; dad rang me and said he was on his way to Manchester and hoping to catch you for lunch. I decided I would keep Flora home and we'd follow. I'm staying here with you tonight and dad's taking the kids home. We can drive back when we're ready tomorrow.

Now, I'm assuming this is Caroline, so introductions please." She turned to Caroline and held out her hand; the shake was warm and sincere.

"You must be Lucy. Kate's told me about you. It's lovely to meet you and the children."

She bent down to Flora's eye level, "Hello Flora, I'm Caroline, one of mummy's friends. I saw you when you were a little baby. What a pretty girl you've grown into."

Flora looked up at Kate who nodded to her. "Hello Caroline." and opened her arms for a hug. Caroline hugged her, close; it was at once beautiful and excruciating. She then turned her attention to Jack who had been lifted out of his stroller and was hanging on to Lucy. She took his podgy little hand and kissed it gently; he giggled and pulled it away, stretching up for Kate to pick him up.

Alec nodded to Caroline and reached over to kiss his daughter in law. "Shall we be off then?"

Lucy turned to Caroline, "You must join us Caroline. I'd like that and I'm sure Kate would."

"Oh I couldn't do that, it's family time."

"Nonsense. Come one let's get those drinks in." Kate smiled widely at Caroline in a bid to let her know she too would be happy.

"No really, it's kind of you all but I'll take a rain check. My partner Helen is coming down this evening and so I might just have a nap this lunch break. Enjoy, and I'll see you later." She really couldn't contemplate playing happy families today. It was all a bit too full on. She watched as they left. Lucy and Kate hand in hand; and grandpa with a tot on each side of him.

She had little appetite for lunch or company and so she grabbed a wrap from the buffet and took it to her room. She lay on the bed and flicked the TV on to news twenty four. Her phone buzzed. Helen. "Hi there is it your lunch break?"

"Yep, are you on the train?"

"Just about to be it's due in ten minutes. I get in at three o clock and Abby will meet me. She wants to go shopping, that will be a shock to the credit card no doubt. How are you sweetheart?"

"I'm OK, I didn't get much sleep last night so I opted for a light lunch in my room and I'm going to try and have a nap."

"That's a good idea, I wouldn't want you falling asleep on me tonight Caroline. I have things on my mind."

Caroline smiled. "I was kind of hoping you might. I'm in need of some serious loving as you rightly pointed out yesterday."

"At your service; I'll have a fairly early dinner with Abby and then make my way over. Can't wait to see you darling, I've been worried."

"I know; I'm sorry; as soon as you get here, I'll make excuses to leave the dinner. Ask someone at the desk to come and find me. Have a good trip down and a hug for Abby. Bye."

She was woken by the ringing of her room phone.

"Caroline, it's two o clock. I wasn't sure if you wanted to go to the lecture or not."

"What are you doing?"

"I was hoping to spend the time with you."

"OK, sure I'd like that. I'll meet you downstairs in ten minutes."

"Do you fancy a walk Caroline? We found a park at lunchtime, it's only ten minutes away and it's such a lovely afternoon"

"Sure, let's go. Can we pick up coffee to take away first?"

They got their coffees and set off. A few minutes later they found a bench under a large chestnut tree and sat down.

"Sorry about lunch Kate, I just couldn't do it, too much too soon; and I felt weary and needing a sleep."

"It's OK, they were fine about it. Actually Lucy suggested that maybe we could have a quiet nightcap together at the hotel, after dinner tonight, just the four of us."

"I'd have to see how Helen feels. She's worried about me and is having a quick dinner with Abby and then coming to stay the night here."

"That's why Lou's here as well." They sat quietly sipping their coffee, letting all the upset of the past twenty four hours ease up.

"Flora's gorgeous Kate; and little Jack of course, you're obviously both wonderful mothers."

"Caroline there's something I want to tell you about Flora."

"It's not going to be gut wrenching is it? I can't take too much more Kate."

"No, I hope you'll be pleased. Flora has a middle name, it's Elizabeth."

"And you're telling me because?"Her heart fluttered in anticipation.

"Because it's your middle name; it felt like the thing to do when she was born. Lou knows and she's fine with it. I've made a promise to myself that one day when she's old enough to understand relationships properly, I'll explain why."

Caroline turned sideways to face Kate, without any hesitation she leant over and kissed her gently on the lips. "Thank you."

Kate reached into her pocket and pulled out a tissue to dab the tears on Caroline's face. They slipped their hands into each other's and finished their coffee.

"Does Helen know what's been happening while we've been here?"

"Some of it yes, enough to know that she wanted to come and be with me. What about Lucy?"

"Yes, everything; I've shared all that we've done and spoken about."

"Even things like this?" she nodded down to their entwined fingers.

"Yes. I told you, no secrets; she's incredibly understanding. I guess in her line of work she walks the full gambit of relationships and all the emotions that go with it. All she ever asks of anyone, including us, or me I should say, is trust. I know at some point in the next twelve hours she will ask me up front if I'm wavering in my commitment to her and the kids."

"What will you say?"

"That's between Lou and me Caroline. It has to be."

"Yes of course, I'm sorry."

"Helen's partner Ruth was a university lecturer in philosophy and psychology. She was actually quite well respected in academic circles, if I recall. They had a wonderful marriage, as Helen likes to call it. She died before they could be legally married of course. Anyway the point I'm trying to make is that she and Helen did a lot of work on their marriage and it was a kind of blueprint for some of her work. That of course made me feel rather inadequate when we first got together."

"Caroline don't say that."

"No it did, come on Kate, you know how emotionally stunted I was, perhaps still am. But, Helen learned a lot from Ruth and she's been incredibly nurturing of me and patient as I stumble my way back to happiness."

"I'm glad to hear that. I wasn't very gentle and patient with you, and I'm forever conscious of it."

"Maybe, but you'll no doubt have realised that I'm still stuck in many ways. Job, house family; all that."

"And John?"

"Ah, John; he's one of my victories. He pursued me unmercifully for two years after you left. Then I just snapped, I let him have it, both barrels and then I changed all the locks on the house and blocked his calls on my phones. He was livid for a while but eventually got the message. I hardly ever see him now, just the odd time when the boys are home."

"Do you mind me asking how Celia is about Helen?"

"Philosophical I suppose. She knows there's nothing to be gained from trying to oppose it. I don't flaunt it but Helen is around for family functions and she's civil to her. You know, one day not long after you left Sulgrave my mother asked me if I blamed her for you leaving me."

"What did you tell her?"

"I just said that she hadn't helped and could we please leave it. She just sighed and assured me that you were a lovely person, the problem was that you were a woman."

"Yes I am." Smiling resignedly.

"We should get back Kate; I need to be at this last session as I have to report back to the Board on this particular issue of discussion."

"Yes, sure. So Lou and I are going to go out and have a bite to eat and if you and Helen feel like a nightcap, text me and we can meet in the bar. It won't be a late night for either of us I suspect."

Caroline lifted Kate's hand and kissed the back of it. "OK I'll do that."

They walked briskly back to the conference and resumed their seats.