A/N: Okay everyone ready yourselves. I have a surprise for you. I recruited my favourite author, Coming Back out of "retirement" to write a couple of Chapters for the Walter character storyline. In one of Coming Back's reviews Coming Back was curious about if I would include in my story Walter telling Caroline about the night she was born. That started the ball rolling and …voilà! I was lucky enough to convince Coming Back to write the Walter/Caroline chapters for me. Thank you, Coming Back for "breaking out of retirement" to help me with my story. I'm so very pleased! And I'm supposing those readers that followed your stories are also pleased to have you back…if only for a short bit.
Chapter 9 - Walter & Caroline
Caroline looked at the time on her computer screen, four o'clock; the days were dragging and the evenings felt endless. Kate had been gone for a week now and Caroline's nerves were frayed as it became more apparent to her that she depended on Kate's calmness and peacefulness to keep her in balance; she never thought it possible that she could feel so lacking.
Beverley suddenly put a call through. "Is that Caroline Mckenzie-Dawson?"
"Yes, speaking."
"This is Rena Watson, I'm the Director of Care at the "The Willows". I'm ringing you about Walter Higgins. His doctor admitted him to our home a couple of days ago as he needs more intensive care than he can have at home. I notice your name is down as his contact."
"Oh erm yes of course, has something happened?"
"He's not very well Dr. Dawson." Caroline winced at the omission of Mckenzie; she wasn't Dawson. She was half of McKenzie Dawson, and that meant something. "He's still with it and knows everyone and what's going on around him; but we are aware that he is getting very weak."
"Oh gosh well I suppose I should come then; should I?"
"I'm not fully aware of the actual relationship here; may I call you Caroline?"
"Yes of course."
"He doesn't seem to have any close family or even extended family who is interested in him. He only talks about you and someone called Kate and Flora. I'm assuming that's a photo of you all on his bedside table?"
"Yes Kate's my wife and Flora's our daughter."
"Oh I see. May I ask what relationship you are to Walter? We do have to be sure we don't give out information to people who don't have any legal rights."
"Well it's actually quite complicated. I'm not sure how well you know Walter and his history; we have no legal or familial relationship with him, but then again we do."
I'm afraid this is all a bit too complicated Caroline; maybe you could come in and discuss things with us. He's beginning to get rather agitated. He keeps telling us that he's got things that need to put right and when we ask him what he means, he simply says "Caroline will understand."
"Would you like me to come now?"
"Well if you can manage it, yes that would be wonderful."
Caroline walked into the Willows and asked for Rena. A rather beautiful woman appeared, dressed in a smart power suit which belied her soft and gentle demeanour. She took Caroline's extended hand and offered her a warm and firm handshake.
"Please come into my office, Caroline."
"Rena outlined what she knew about Walter, what was on the common record, but she admitted there were things about him that were private and deeply protected. Caroline assured Rena that she knew what it was Walter was so private about.
"Like you, I have no idea who Walter wants to confide in here; or how much he wants you to know. I think it might be better if you and I speak to him and you can get him to sign whatever papers are needed."
Walter's face lit up as Caroline approached his bed. "Caroline, my lovely girl, how nice of you to come; where's Kate and little Flora?"
"They're in New York Walter; remember Kate's mum isn't too well."
"Ah yes, of course. You must be missing them so much." Caroline's eyes filled; if anyone could understand fully it was this frail man lying in the bed beside her. He knew all about missing the person you love. She took his veined hand and lifted it up for a gentle kiss.
"Walter, as you know, we here at the home need your permission before we can talk to anyone about your care and we need that in writing."
"Yes, I've been meaning to do it; silly really but one always expects that day is a long way off." He smiled sadly at both women. "Caroline and Kate must know everything; they must make all the decision about me. Are you happy to do that Caroline?"
"Yes of course we are. Kate will be back in a week Walter and I know one of the first things she'll do is come and see you. She can sign things then."
Rena looked a little puzzled. Caroline was Walter's first and only visitor so far and she had no idea who she was. It troubled her; there had been other incidences of folk coming out of the woodwork when old people were sick and vulnerable; especially if, as was the case with Walter, they were well off.
"Walter, I need to ask you how you are related to Caroline; where she fits into the picture."
Walter looked wistfully out through the window as if he were making a decision that would bring all kinds of heartache tumbling out. Caroline felt him slip his hand into hers.
"Caroline is the daughter of my partner; Kenneth." He began to cry. "There it's out now. I'm a homosexual man. Caroline's father and I were lovers for many years before and after she was born. It's only since I knew my days were numbered that I found courage to contact her. There's so much I want her to know about him before I die."
Rena's mouth had involuntarily dropped as she grasped the revelation. Caroline had noticed and was feeling all kinds of panic on Walter's behalf. She needn't have worried.
Rena gently picked up Walter's other hand. "Walter what a story; I'm so happy that you've found Caroline and she and Kate can be here for you now. I don't want you to worry anymore. I'll see to it personally that everything is organised in your file." She got up and left the two of them together. "Caroline will you call into my office before you leave?"
Walter lay silent, the tears trickling down his cheeks. Caroline slid her arm under his shoulder and lifted his thin frail body close to her. "It's OK, I'm here, we'll be here."
"Will I tell her or wait until she gets back?" Caroline had a lengthy conversation with herself as she drove home from seeing Walter. Kate was focused on looking after Ginika and this would only add to her worry. On balance she thought that Walter would probably still be ok and able to spend time with them when Kate and Flora got back.
Part Two
Caroline arrived at Walter's to find him looking much more peaceful and rested. He was sitting out in a chair in the large sunlit conservatory a half drunk cup of tea in a delicate china cup, on the table beside him and a photograph she had never seen before, placed so that it was looking directly at him. It was a picture of a young and handsome Kenneth.
She kissed him on the forehead and pulled a chair up close.
"That's my dad isn't it?"
"Yes my darling girl it is; do you know what it feels like to at last be able to take it out of the drawer and put where the whole world can see the man I adored."
"Oh Walter, I do, I really do. I was so happy to be able to put photographs of Kate and me around the house."
"Would it surprise you if I told you I also have an envelope with pictures of all stages of your growing up? Your baby photo; first day in your school uniform. The list goes on. In the times Kenneth and I were able to be alone for a few hours, he would spend a deal of it telling me about your escapades. He loved you so much Caroline, but there was always such a sadness in him."
"I can imagine."
"He tried hard to live a secret double life, but in the end shared his secret with your mother. She found it impossible to understand or accept, and so she continued the charade that there were multiple affairs with other women. This she said was to protect herself and you; but of course it hurt your father immeasurably."
"Did you and dad ever think of stopping your relationship?"
"Oh yes, many times; we tried, knowing we were hurting people. Why do you think I'm a lonely man now Caroline? My family disowned me; that prejudice has been handed down the line and in their eyes I'm now just a dying old poofter to be avoided."
"You told them?"
"I did, I was under immense pressure to get married. For me that was impossible and one day I lost my temper and blurted out the reason; my life changed that day, in an instant."
Caroline stroked the paper thin skin of his arm and squeezed his hand.
"Then I met Kenneth; it was love at first sight for both of us. I knew I had met the man who would give my life meaning and hope."
"That was before he and mum were married?"
"Yes, but then your father started to come under the same pressures and for him that also included his employers wanting him to be seen as a solid, married man. Your mother was on the rebound from someone her sister had "stolen" from her and she saw an opportunity to catch a man with "good prospects". The rest as they say, is history. The one wonderful thing that came out of that loveless marriage was you."
Caroline felt emotions she could barely contain. To be the child of a loveless couple; to grow up in a house with parents who barely spoke except individually to her. Now her beautiful Kate was slowly replacing all that lost affection and security. She thought she'd loved John and they had provided a happy home for the boys; but what she felt with Kate was what Walter offered Kenneth.
They stayed chatting for some time and before leaving, Caroline assured Walter that the next time she came, Kate and Flora would be with her. "Walter, if you are feeling upset or unwell please get Rena to call me straight away, day or night; we are here for you."
To be continued
End Note: Thank you Coming Back for your contribution to the story. See you again in Chapter 11. Chapter 10 is me again.
