Hello my friends. A rather heart rendering message arrived this morning saying that someone was upset that there hadn't been any updates for a while. So I apologise and this is for you. You know who you are. However, please be kind, I am very tired and there may be typos or errors. Sorry. Oh and also – because it has taken so long to update I thought I would give y'all a straight forward love story without too much angst. Hope it's not too disappointing. Thanks for reading.

Chapter Six

Caroline was smiling.

Celia noticed it during Christmas dinner. Not that she was complaining. Lord alone knew that there had been enough tears around this place to last three lifetimes but the smile was dreamy and distracted. Caroline pushed her roast potatoes around her plate with a demure look on her face.

As they were clearing the plates up Celia nudged Alan.

'Her highness is in lust,' she whispered.

'Who?' Alan looked around blankly.

'Caroline,' she hissed. 'I know that expression on her face.'

Alan was about to say something but then stopped short.

'Celia,' John walked up behind them. 'Do you think Caroline is alright?'

Unable to be civil, Celia pursed her lips and said curtly, 'why wouldn't she be?'

'It's just that… well,' he ruffled his already messed up hair. 'She seems a bit distracted.'

'That is none of your concern anymore,' Celia said in a no-nonsense voice.

'Well, I am still the father of…'

'I don't care what you think you are,' Celia was snarky. 'But I am telling you that you're not welcome here,' she suddenly plastered a fake smile on her face as Caroline approached with the water glasses.

'Everything alright over here?' Caroline asked.

'Of course darling,' Celia said. 'We're having a lovely time, aren't we?'

'Yes, yes,' John blustered. 'You still do a wonderful Christmas.'

Caroline looked at them suspiciously but did not have the energy to investigate further so she went back to the table and scooped Flora up.

'I think we're going to go for a nap,' she said.

'Alright, love,' Celia said. 'We can clear up. Can't we John?'

He looked pissed off but then put his mask back on. 'No problem.'

Caroline kissed both of the boys and went upstairs with Flora in her arms.

The child was already sleepy as Caroline laid her down and then climbed on to her King size bed and pulled a blanket over her.

She picked up her mobile and read through a few text messages that were there and then her heart jolted as there was a number but no name.

Merry Christmas.

Edward wants to take

his new bike to the park tomorrow

if you would like to join us?

S. xx

Caroline smiled and began typing a reply.

Merry Christmas to you.

What time tomorrow? X

The reply was instant.

11am?

Caroline typed back.

Perfect. X

It was a couple of seconds before the next message came through.

Do you make a habit of

kissing women beautifully

and then running out on them? ;-)

Caroline took a deep breath. Her brain could not think of a clever response she was so exhausted but she smiled that Sarah thought her kiss was nice.

Do you mean, kissing

beautiful women and running out on them? X

Shit! Caroline thought as she pressed send, was that too much?

A blushing emoji appeared and Caroline laughed.

I usually leave the mistletoe up

until New years eve. X

Caroline grinned. That was a little bold and presumptuous but she would definitely kiss Sarah again if she got half the chance.

Good to know. Looking forward

to seeing you both tomorrow. X

Caroline put her phone on the nightstand and closed her eyes and fell asleep with an ease she never thought would return.

000

Sarah grinned at her phone under Finella's interested gaze.

'Well?' Finella dragged the word out.

'What?' Sarah shrugged and poured her friend some more wine and then filled her father's glass up as well.

'You know,' Finella narrowed her eyes playfully. 'You know.'

000

The park had been a bit of a bust thanks to an incessant rain that poured down. Sarah still allowed Edward to ride his bike around but even he was put off by the downpour and eventually admitted defeat and rushed back to the car where Sarah invited Caroline back for a coffee.

They had just pulled up at the house and Caroline was getting out of her vehicle to join Sarah at the gate when Finella turned up and asked Edward if he wanted to go shopping with her and then to the cinema.

He immediately agreed and ran into the house got changed in two minutes and was out the door, his hand in Finella's.

'You owe me,' Finella turned to Sarah with a little wink as she led Ed down the garden path.

Sarah closed the door and was suddenly overcome with nerves.

'We're by the mistletoe again,' Caroline whispered seductively.

'Technically, we're not under it,' Sarah smiled.

'Oh, I suppose that means I can't kiss you then?' Caroline said.

She wondered where this new boldness was coming from but it all felt right.

'Caroline, I…' Sarah was going to say something about waiting, taking their time to get to know each other but nothing came out of her mouth.

'I don't want to think about anything,' Caroline said and slid off her coat and hung it up.

She reached for the sleeve on Sarah's coat and helped her out of the winter garment and hung it next to her own.

'Don't you think..?' Sarah tried again.

Caroline pulled Sarah to her and kissed her. Sarah melted against her body and kissed back. It was impossible not to. A woman like Caroline was hard to resist and why should she resist? She had wanted this for so long and had tried to fight it, tried to do the right thing but the woman of her dreams was standing kissing her in her hallway and she was going to make damn sure she enjoyed it.

Hands wandered over Sarah's hips and across the small of her back.She sucked her breath in between her teeth at the intimate contact.

'Caroline,' Sarah whispered. 'You are so beautiful.'

'Hmm,' Caroline nuzzled her ear. 'You are gorgeous and I love the feel of your skin,' to emphasise how much she liked it she traced her fingernails up Sarah's spine.

'If you keep doing that you're going to be in trouble,' Sarah tilted her head to give Caroline better access to her neck.

'I like the sound of that.'

She gently bit Sarah's shoulder and then kissed her collar bone and her hands went up the front of Sarah's jumper and cupped her breasts, relishing the feeling of the flimsy material that barely separated her palms from Sarah's nipples that were hardening in a painfully erotic fashion that sent a surge of desire right to Caroline's abdomen.

'Shit,' Sarah breathed. 'I am so turned on.'

'Good,' Caroline crashed her mouth to Sarah's and kissed her again and squeezed her breasts gently.

'Oh God,' Sarah moaned. 'I… I…'

'Talk an awful lot,' Caroline teased and before Sarah could retort, she managed to maneuver Sarah's sweater over her head with ease.

Seeing her breasts in the flesh sent Caroline over the edge and she lowered her head and licked the soft mounds, tracing a line from cleavage up to Sarah's neck and then to her mouth before kissing her passionately once more and then in another swift motion tore the bra straps down Sarah's arms, freeing her gorgeous breasts.

'You're right,' Sarah agreed as Caroline massaged her skin. 'I talk far too much, I should just shut up and OH-MY-GOD!'

Caroline took Sarah's nipple in her mouth and teased it with her teeth and finally Sarah was rendered speechless and breathless.

TBC