9 Boxing Day - Brunch
This morning it was Kate who woke first, her full bladder having roused her quite early. Only because it was so early and Caroline was sleeping deeply, Kate was able to slip away and return to the bed without wakening her beloved. Settling in as close as she dared in an effort not to wake the sleeper, Kate lay so that she could take in all of the loveliness, which was a sleeping Caroline.
Seeing the Mona Lisa smile, Kate mused that even in sleep there was no end to the expressiveness of this face. Long a student of the kaleidoscopic array of expressions which crossed these fabulous features at a staggering pace, Kate had often found herself marveling that use of all the same facial bits could produce such an infinite variety of looks and convey such a range of thought and emotion so captivatingly.
Kate had been taken with Caroline from the day they met, the first interview she'd had with her. Being keen to get the teaching position at this prestigious school, Kate had closely watched the face of her interviewer to gauge how to make the best impression on this intelligent, striking woman with the deep blue eyes which missed nothing. Later, working at the school there were plenty of opportunities for observing Caroline as she led assemblies and staff meetings, interacted with students, staff and parents. She'd learned to be careful in these observations having been given scrutinizing looks on occasion by co-workers who had been speaking to her while she was thus employed.
So, she had been cataloging and collecting 'Caroline Faces,' as she called them to herself, for quite some time. The thing was though; she really couldn't catalog them could she? There were simply too many and even when she managed to recognize an expression as one she had seen before, because the lighting was not the same or the hair worn differently, the head tilted another way she really couldn't make herself believe that it was the same expression. Realizing how school-girlish this was, Kate didn't care. Studying Caroline in all her infinite variety was something that Kate never intended to give up.
Resisting the impulse to touch the skin and hair so temptingly close, Kate contented herself with further inventory of the exquisite form beside her in the bed. The white gold hair had become for Kate a barometer of Caroline's emotions and state of mind. When Caroline was feeling low or tired or had had a bad day, it seemed to Kate that her hair was straighter, lanky, and lackluster. On days when things were going well for her, when she was happy, Caroline's hair tended to flip up, bounce when she walked, if Caroline was in high spirits, her hair would seem to take on a life of its own, literally flying out behind her, buoyant, shimmering in the available light. This bright head, on a frame taller than average for a woman, was what allowed Kate to so easily pick Caroline out of a crowd.
Kate's gaze traveled from the bright hair back to the face she found so fascinating. Strictly speaking this face should not be as beautiful as it was. Well, it wasn't beautiful in the classic sense but somehow the sum of its parts combined magically with the persona of its owner to form a uniquely engaging appearance. Kate wasn't the only one who thought this. Men and boys alike, not excluding Caroline's sons, visibly responded to the femininity of this enchanting tall blonde woman and her intelligent persona. They stood up straighter, were more attentive and alert than before Caroline Elliot entered the room.
Women too put their best foot forward when encountering Caroline, instinctively understanding that the bar was raised in her presence. Not only by her immaculate attire but by her amazing eyes which took in every detail and could pin a person in place making them feel that nothing they knew could be kept secret if this woman took the trouble to search them for it.
Caroline in motion was an arresting sight. There was something truly fascinating in the way she carried herself. It was more than the spike heels and pencil skirts that she wore. Kate had seen men and women turn to give Caroline a second look as she walked across campus or down the corridor. On Parents Nights, crowds could literally part to give her passage, closing behind her as people moved to get a better view of her retreating form. Caroline herself of course was oblivious to all of this. If mentioned, she would wave it away as imagination and this only made her all the more attractive to Kate.
Often the most intelligent person in the room one never had the impression that this is how Caroline saw herself. She had a talent for sharing her visions and engaging support for her projects in such a way that people almost thought the idea had been their own. Seemingly without conscious thought Caroline used to good effect a subtle charm and charisma to bring people into collaboration with her plans. Her capacities to see people and situations clearly and envision ways to improve them were what had made her so successful as a school administrator. Dr. Caroline Elliot had been the driving force for bringing Sulgrave Heath out of its fossil-like past and fully into the 21st century in seven short years. With natural integrity and a fine sense of fairness she wielded her authority in the school and at home with grace and kindness, always with the greater good of all as a goal, never stinting with her own energy and drive.
Kate herself had more often than she cared to admit, been charmed by Caroline's charisma. Even being quite aware of Caroline's powers of persuasion she had allowed herself to be convinced that Caroline's way was the best way. Following Caroline against her own better judgment had been one of the ways they had run into trouble in their budding relationship. Very often Caroline did have the best plan but not always. Kate knew she must discipline herself from now on to think clearly on her own and be willing to present alternative views for Caroline's consideration, defend these views vigorously if necessary. They needed to learn to talk through decisions together.
This determined, her scrutiny moved admiringly down the long slender neck, peppered lightly with freckles Kate found this sight adorable. She'd often studied the cords and muscles in Caroline's throat fascinated by the way they worked in conjunction with the mobile face to convey nuances of emotion. In moments of tranquil intimacy Kate loved to trace these vertical lines down to the exquisite collarbone and back again making delicious shivers run through Caroline's body.
Suddenly, Kate could feel an energy shift and knew she would look up to find blue eyes on her. With some trepidation, Kate moved her gaze up to find amused eyes looking out from under raised brows. "Miss McKenzie, were you undressing me with your eyes?" then peering down over glasses that were not there, "Again?"
Kate, embarrassed to be caught at it by Caroline once more, put on a cheeky look, replying, "I was trying not to wake you. I had to occupy myself somehow, didn't I?" At the same time she moved closer entwining her legs with Caroline's. As Caroline's leg gently came into suggestive contact with Kate's taut underbelly, eliciting a sharp intake of breath, they heard a cry of outrage from Emily Jane in the next room.
Making eye contact and seeing the amorousness fading from one another's face by the sound of a baby crying, both burst into laughter that they quickly stifled. "I suppose that is something we will become accustomed to before long." Caroline said tenderly, fingers pushing back a lock of Kate's hair.
Kate, melted chocolate eyes scanning soft blue ones trying to read if this tone spoke the whole truth asked, "Will you mind terribly?"
"Well, at moments like this I might have to complain, at least a little," she continued to tease. Then, seeing the seriousness in Kate's expression Caroline quickly changed her demeanor to match. "Actually, I am getting eager to have a turn carrying her." As Kate's face softened Caroline added, "I fell in love with her, you know, right there on the screen that day. Been thinking about her ever since."
"Have you? You never told me."
Giving Kate an imitation of Laurence's 'Duh!' face, then quickly, tenderly, "We've hardly had time have we?"
Hearing a door slam down the hall, Caroline kissed Kate on the nose saying as she rolled directly out of the bed onto her feet "Right, there's me going into 'hostess mode' again, for a few more hours." Then looking decidedly happier, "Once we see Laurence off on the bus it will be just the two of us."
Kate rolled onto her back so that she could watch Caroline select underclothes, jeans and a casual top to take with her to the ensuite. Watching until the tousled head disappeared behind the closed door she curled up again, facing the door through which Caroline would reappear, thinking how glad she was to once again be in such intimate proximity with the woman she loved.
Brunch
Caroline entered her kitchen to find Gillian with a newspaper dissected and scattered over the entire window end of the island, enjoying tea and toast with her morning news. Gillian, seeing that Caroline had stopped short, quickly began reassembling the paper saying, "Morning. Cup of tea?"
Caroline was unaccustomed to being offered tea in her own kitchen, but nevertheless, simply nodded. "You're up early," Caroline observed.
"Farmer's habit. Can't seem to sleep past sunrise, winter or summer," said Gillian placing a cup of tea on the island for Caroline.
Sipping her tea with a grateful nod to Gillian then moving to the refrigerator, "I'm going to put the soup on to heat and get this kedgeree into the oven."
"What can I do to help?" enquired Gillian.
"Empty the dishwasher?" Seeing Gillian moving immediately to her task she continued, "We'll need most of it again for brunch. You can lay it out buffet style as we did yesterday."
Both women went to work companionably, Gillian asked, "So, Kate's pregnancy. Everything going OK?"
Caroline looking up quickly, "Why?"
"I didn't mean to be nosy. Just that at this stage of life pregnancy can be more difficult."
"No, no, course. It's just that she did have something of a scare recently. Some bleeding, but it turned out to be OK. She tells me she's fine. She does tire easily. Sees the doctor again next week." Caroline hesitated, then, busily chopping fruit for a salad, went on to say, "I've offered to go to the doctor with her."
Gillian glanced up then returned to her work, "You'll be raising the child together?"
Caroline stopped chopping and gazing off sightlessly, "yes, it appears so, " she said wonderingly.
Gillian hearing the tone and seeing the expression on Caroline's face had a pang of envy. Not that she wasn't pleased for her friend, but seeing Caroline so happy yesterday with Kate had only pointed up the difficulties in her own situation. Pushing past this, her face softening, "Yes, there are rewards to having a baby in the house again. You kind of forget just how adorable they are when they're little."
"Yes," agreed Caroline, "Emily Jane is quite lovely."
"Did I hear her earlier?" inquired the grandmother.
"Yes, but I think she must have settled again."
"So, Mum and Alan and Ted are off to yours tomorrow?"
"Yes, they will be spending at least one night on the farm, maybe two while they plan their 'old home week' pilgrimage to the haunts of their youth" smiled Gillian. "Ted was hardly on the place last week before I brought him over here. He wants a look around. Robbie will be rested from his double shift in time to join us for dinner." Gillian froze, horrified at what she had admitted to Caroline.
"Robbie." A statement. Caroline remembered Gillian and Robbie on the dance floor at the wedding. Fixing Gillian with an intense expression not unlike the one she'd given when they'd discussed Robbie in the hotel car park last fall after they'd retrieved Caroline's telephone when Gillian had promised to move on beyond Robbie with her life.
Gillian, managing to look both guilty and defiant at the once said, "If it were you and Kate? Would you? Could you 'just move on'?"
Caroline opened her mouth to speak, then, closed it. If her situation were the same as Gillian's, would she have been able to resist taking Kate's hand at the wedding dance? Her native sense of fairness kicked in and her expression and body language changed to helpless resignation. With heart felt intensity she said only, "Gillian, please be careful."
Gillian nodded, meeting Caroline's eye, grateful for the understanding. She realized that she had often underestimated Caroline. Had only been willing to see the façade of successful Head Mistress rather than the woman Caroline really was. After all, Caroline had forgiven her for sleeping with John who was still Caroline's husband at the time. She'd facilitated a reconciliation between Celia and herself and thus between her and her Dad and had been amazing after Gillian had dumped her burden of guilt about Eddie onto her. Caroline truly was a friend. Gillian hadn't had many women friends in her life. Finding herself with a lump in her throat, holding back tears Gillian quickly turned to the sink, rinsing the dishes accumulating there.
By this time the sounds of young humanity stirring above stairs could be clearly heard in the kitchen. Raff came in carrying Emily Jane, kissed his Mum on the cheek and handed over the baby saying, "Mum, can you feed her while I take my turn in the shower?" Gillian opened her mouth to ask where Ellie was, thought better of it and simply nodded, nuzzling the warm cheek still flushed from sleep.
Kate had followed Raff down the stairs and moved toward where Caroline was finishing her fruit salad preparation. Seeing Kate, she put down her knife and held out one arm to pull Kate in for a quick kiss of greeting. With her arm still around Kate, Caroline looked across at Gillian, defying her to smirk or make a comment and asked if the fresh pot of tea was ready yet.
At Gillian's nod, Kate gave Caroline a squeeze and moved around the island offering to hold the baby while Gillian prepared the little one's breakfast. Seated on a stool Kate took Emily Jane on her lap, they had made good friends last evening during the Christmas festivities. Gillian, seeing that Calamity was content, first placed a cup of tea within reach of Kate before moving on to the baby's breakfast. It wasn't long before the group from next door joined them and the youngsters one by one descended. Boxing Day was in full swing.
By late morning the Greenwoods were packing their belongings into the back of the Land Rover and heading off for the farm with warm thanks for a wonderful Christmas. The boys promised themselves to get together again during the holidays before William had to return to university.
William and Roxy went in from waving the Greenwoods off to bring down their luggage as Kate had offered to drive them to the station to catch the train for Liverpool. They were to spend the weekend with Roxy's family since she had spent Christmas Eve and day with the Elliot's. Laurence would have headed off to the flat with Alan and Ted to watch the game had his mother not asked if he were fully packed for his trip with the school rugby team. Receiving a negative reply, he was sent up to complete this task before joining the men until it was time to leave.
Celia and Caroline returned to the kitchen for a peaceful cup of tea before they each went to pack for their own weekend. As the Greenwoods had been gathering their things, William and Laurence had done a fine job of returning extra chairs, games paraphernalia and DVDs to their normal storage places while Kate and Celia had wiped surfaces in the sitting room and gathered stray dishes from around the house into the dishwasher. Caroline had helped her departing guests find and pack all that they had brought with them. In short, the house was more or less returned to its normal appearance. Once Caroline's weekly service put in a day at the house tomorrow, the linens would be changed, bathrooms would sparkle and the rest of the house would once again be spotless, ready for an impromptu showing by the estate agent and/or the family's return on Sunday.
Celia collapsed onto a stool at the island with a sigh, clearly still tired by the excitement of the week just past. The merriment of family gathering for the wedding last week, final preparations and the wedding itself with Christmas the very next day had taken their toll on her.
Caroline, seeing her fatigue, wondered out loud whether the trip to the farm tomorrow was the best idea for her, let alone Alan with his heart condition. Celia thought it would be fine, the three of them planned to simply rest today, watching TV or napping as the spirit moved them. "You've given me enough leftovers that I won't need to cook. We'll be ready for more adventures by tomorrow."
Caroline still unconvinced told her, "Gillian will understand if you put off your visit by another day if any one of you is not feeling up to the trip yet tomorrow. I hope you won't push yourselves. She wouldn't want anything to happen to any of you either, you know."
"No, no, I know," replied Celia, "we'll see how we feel tomorrow." Then looking speculatively at Caroline. "So your spending the weekend at Kate's while the boys are away?"
"Yes, we've barely had a moment to talk since," Caroline paused looking into her tea briefly then into her mother's eyes and continuing, "since Tuesday night. There are things to discuss."
Celia, scrutinizing Caroline's face finally said evenly, "so, you are getting back together?"
Caroline having allowed her face to be searched remained composed looking back at her mother, "Yes, I think it's likely. I certainly hope so." Seeing how it was with Caroline, Celia finally looked down and took a sip of her tea. "Look, Mum, I know you aren't overjoyed about this. I did hear what you said on the dance floor. 'I thought she'd gone' I also heard the tone of voice you used." Even though they had touched on this yesterday, Caroline knew she needed to make clear with her mother where she stood.
Celia had the grace to look embarrassed, "I was hoping you hadn't heard that. I thought maybe you hadn't." Seeing the doubtful look on Caroline's face she went on, "I think it was the surprise that made me say it." Then unable to keep censure from her voice, "And seeing you snogging like that, before everyone we know." Seeing that Caroline was about to break in, Celia held up a hand, "No, I think I would have felt much the same even if it had been a man that you behaved like that with. I didn't raise you to put on public displays like this. You know that."
Caroline hearing the earnestness in her mother's voice realized the truth of what she'd said about her upbringing and softened. "Mum, I am sorry that this is so hard for you, hard on you. I do love you, you know."
"I know you do." Celia allowed the deep love that she felt for this only child of hers to show on her face then. Caroline continued in a conciliatory tone, "It seems I don't know how to be happy without Kate."
"And the baby?" questioned Celia gently, not wishing to break this tender moment between them but needing to know.
"She is a part of Kate now. I have to accept everything if we are going to move forward. We both have to accept all that comes with the other in order to build from here. That is part of what we need to discuss. Why we are taking a weekend apart, some time for ourselves the next few days."
Celia, continuing to regard Caroline lovingly said softly, "You've become an remarkable woman, you know." Seeing that Caroline was turning her head to discount this statement, Celia took her hand causing Caroline to look back at her mother. "You have a child and do your best to raise them, but the truth is that most of it is up to the child, who they become. I can't take credit for the intelligent, caring, woman that you are, so respected and successful in your career, a wonderful mother to your sons. I'm in awe of you, you know. I know, I don't say it to you, but I do think it more often than you might believe."
Caroline had her mother's hand in both of hers now. With tears in her eyes she reached over and pulled her mother into a hug. Finally, releasing her Mum a little she grinned cheekily and said, "You're only saying that because of my speech at the wedding."
Celia smiling and giving her daughter a playful swat on the backside as she sat up straight again said, "Aren't we a pair."
"A pair of what?" asked Kate smiling a greeting to Caroline as she came into the kitchen, still removing her gloves and coat.
Celia finishing her tea. She smiled at Kate saying "Hello love" Then to Caroline, "I imagine you have some packing of your own to do. I know you have to get Laurence over to school to catch the bus by 1:30. I heard him slip out the door to join Alan and Ted a few minutes ago. What time do you want me to send him over here?"
Both women stood up, "Twenty minutes should be about right." Caroline smiled into her mother's face before once again giving her a hug and saying, "I hope you will get really rested before you head off to the farm, all of you. Promise me?"
"I promise, we'll be fine," Celia said breezily as she started down the two steps toward the door. Turning back, she grinned and said impudently, "I won't even call you unless it is something dire."
Caroline, trying to suppress a grin said, "Well, you had better call me if it is something 'dire'."
Watching Celia out the door Caroline took Kate's hand pulling her toward the stairs saying, "Come, tell me about seeing William and Roxy off while I pack a few things."
