In the Beginning – Chapter Ten
The Intervention
I always thought SW gave Celia a 'get out of jail card'. She got rid of Kate and brought the baby's father in. All she had fought about she won; she never had to face up to her negativity and hurtfulness. Caroline got all the pain - again! She won't get away with it that easily here.
Caroline walked back into the house having safely delivered her sons to their destinations and picked up some milk. Kate and Iya were in the lounge talking; she could hear their soft words and gentle laughter. It lifted her spirits in one way but saddened her in another; the longer Ginika stayed the more obvious the divide between her love for Kate and Caroline, and Celia's steely determination to stay detached from what was going on, became.
"Is that you Caroline?" "Yep, I'll be there in a second."
"Kate, I'm going to leave you two for a while now. I've promised to pop round and see Celia this morning and I'm sure you would like some time to yourselves." She passed Caroline in the hall and gave her an impromptu kiss. "Have a nice few hours together; I'm going next door."
Ginika took a deep breath and knocked on Celia's door. Celia let her in and asked her to sit down.
"Is Alan not here Celia?" "No he's gone to see his old friend Harry; he'll be a while yet."
"Good, it means you and I have time for a nice chat together." Celia smiled but the smile covered the fact that she'd been expecting this and wasn't exactly looking forward to it. After exchanging a few pleasantries and having the inevitable cup of tea, Ginika changed the subject and launched into what she had really gone there for.
"You know I married Kate's father when I was still quite young, he was twenty years my senior but I was dazzled by his intelligence I think Celia. We were happy for quite a while and we tried hard to have children. After two miscarriages I had Katherine." Ginika stopped talking for a while to assess how Celia was taking the information. She didn't speak, but she was taking it in.
"Kate was the apple of both our eyes. She was a great kid; intelligent, happy, creative but above all gentle and kind. I was proud of her as she grew up; she made her father and me very happy. It was hard for her when we eventually separated and divorced and I went back to America."
"How did she take the fact that you were leaving her behind?" Celia stepping in thinking she may have found an Achilles heel in this otherwise perfect mother.
"Oh it was her choice all the way. I was offered at job at Columbia and I wouldn't have taken it unless Kate was happy or would come with me. She was at Durham and she wanted to stay behind. It worked well for us, we were always in touch and she came to New York whenever she could."
"Well I don't think I could be away from Caroline like that, Oxford was far enough away for me. I used to count the days to her coming home; even if only for a weekend. My marriage wasn't happy at all and she was the one thing that kept me going."
"Yes. Caroline did tell me a bit about her father and his playing around. I'm sorry to hear that Celia, it must have been tough for you. My husband on the other hand had affairs with his books and his study. Once we had Kate, he lost interest in being married I think."
"Well at least he wasn't mucking around and humiliating you."
"No I guess not." This was the moment Ginka knew she must say what she needed to; the small talk had to finish.
"Celia, I love my daughter very much as I know you love yours. They're all we've both got; they and our grandchildren. I want Kate to be happy; that's all I've ever wanted for her. I didn't really take to her husband but she assured me that she loved him and he was a good man. So I embraced him and tried to get on with him."
"Well, yes I do love Caroline and you may or may not have had the pleasure of meeting the nit wit that she married. But that's what we do isn't it? We accept them and get on with life."
"Now, I've never seen Kate so happy. She loves Caroline so much and I can see why. I love Caroline, she's becoming like another daughter to me and I'm calm and content knowing that these babies of ours are going to have two wonderful mothers."
"Yes, but no father."
"Well that's true. I agree a child should know its father if possible. But life isn't always straightforward and two loving mothers is what our grandchildren will have; and two older brothers who will hopefully be male role models for them.
Celia, it hurts me to see how you treat Kate. I can't tell you how to treat your own daughter although God knows, she's hurting a lot right now. My daughter is a sweet and gentle person she wouldn't hurt anyone knowingly and Caroline has told me that it's Kate who stops her from getting angry with you; who is always pleading your cause and telling Caroline to be patient. I don't understand what she's done to you to make you treat her with the obvious indifference you do, apart from marry your daughter."
"Well that's just it. She's married my daughter, my daughter who is a highly regarded Principal and educator; who is admired by her colleagues and bosses. Who stands to lose a lot of that because she's making herself a public spectacle. Flaunting this so called marriage in everyone's faces; she'll be marching down the street next with two babies that aren't even hers. It's ridiculous and I can't pretend I think it's alright."
"Don't you want Caroline to be happy?"
"Of course I do, but she'll not be happy when this all blows up in her face and the sex stops being great." Ginika looked shocked. "Oh don't look at me like that; they're at it like rabbits at the moment but it won't last and then what? Our Caroline will be saddled with two small children to provide for the rest of their lives."
Ginika felt the anger rising in her. How dare this woman speak about her daughter like this as if she was some money grubbing tart. She was beginning to see the intransience that Caroline spoke of.
"I think this conversation is over Celia. I'm not going to fight with you. However neither will I let you hurt my daughter; I shall do everything in my power to encourage them to come to New York. I can get Caroline a top job. Lawrence can come to school there if he wishes, and I'll help them bring up the babies."
Celia sat stone faced and silent. Ginika left and crept quietly into the house and up to her room. She needed to calm down and relax. She couldn't afford to let Kate see her like this.
Taking it all in
Kate and Caroline had been lying on the sofa together since Ginika left.
"Yesterday was perfect Caroline, I was so nervous; I don't even know why really. I've never wanted anything more in my life."
Caroline kissed the top of her head. "If you'd asked me even twelve months ago if I thought it would all get to this, I would have told you 'nope'; but here I am and I couldn't be happier"
"Why did you think like that?"
"Just not on my radar not until I realised that I was in love with you; I suppose I kept thinking it was like a grown up crush. If anything I thought you'd be the one to end it; taking on all my agenda and baggage. I just assumed you'd run a mile."
"What about my baggage? God me wanting a child and wanting you to have it with me at your age; I really thought you'd walk away that night I told you."
"Well thank God we didn't and here we are my beautiful wife." Caroline put her hand under Kate sweater and onto her stomach; she loved to feel her babies moving and kicking. It was somewhat surreal for her; this was so different to when she had the boys; to feel so connected to her babies, but not be carrying them; hard to comprehend.
"When I woke up this morning and you weren't there I couldn't really take in the momentary feeling I had. In my half asleep state, I felt a horrible dread. I didn't tell you this at the time, but a couple of weeks ago, I had a bad, very bad dream that you died. I lost you. It was really vivid, and it took me all morning to shake it off. I could hardly concentrate at work."
"Caroline; why didn't you tell me?"
"Because, because I didn't want to frighten you; I could hardly bear to think about it then, let alone talk about it."
"Well I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. These two," pressing Caroline's hand more firmly on her tummy;"need both of us." Kate pulled Caroline's face gently into hers and kissed her.
They stayed together on the sofa for quite some time; talking, kissing and revelling in the feeling of being married.
Caroline called up the stairs, "Iya, are you up there? Would you like some lunch?"
"Yes thanks Caroline, I'll be down in a moment."
Kate was busy putting a salad together and setting the table; Ginika walked in and when she looked up at her, Kate knew there was something wrong. Her mother's face had always been an open book.
"Mum, what's the matter?"
"Nothing darling, why would there be?"
"I know you, something has upset you, what's happened?"
Ginika's eyes filled with tears; she tried hard to deflect their concerns but neither woman was going to let it rest. Then, in an instant, Caroline knew the likely cause.
"You've been with my mother haven't you?"
"Yes, yes we spent a couple of hours together."
"Well, what did she say? It's obviously something that upset you."
"Oh you know I tried to talk to her about Kate, to explain to her that my daughter is no threat to you or her; she's a good and gentle person. She wasn't able to accept what I had to say. She just wouldn't or couldn't respond. I'm ashamed to say Caroline that I walked out on her after threatening to encourage you two to come to New York."
"Right! That's it. I'm not standing for this."
"Caroline darling, please wait to talk to her when you are calmer."
"No Kate. My terms this time. You've given her enough benefit of the doubt." With that Caroline stormed out of the kitchen door.
"I'm sorry Kate, I shouldn't have said anything."
"Mum, don't blame yourself; Celia is a hard nut to crack. I just don't want my marriage to Caroline to be the cause of an irretrievable breakdown."
"How can you be the cause of it? You've done nothing wrong. She's an old bitch."
"Mum! That's not like you."
"Yes well even old lionesses can get feisty if their cub is threatened."
The Final Showdown
Caroline tapped on the window and as Celia looked up she knew trouble was on its way. She got up slowly and let her daughter in.
"Mum! What the hell have you been saying to Ginika?"
"Just the truth. No-one seems to want to face the truth. All this dancing around pretending that everything is lovely. It's not what people really think Caroline. They just won't tell you."
Caroline sat down and put her head in her hands; sitting that way for some moments. "I don't know what else I can say mum. I've told you that this is what I want. I've told you how happy I am. I've told you that nothing is going to stop me from being with Kate; forever."
"Well love, you'll just have to accept the consequences. I won't condone it."
"Ok then there's nothing left to say except we're going; as soon as the babies are old enough to travel, we'll go to America. In the meantime, stay away from us mum. Keep away from Kate when I'm at work. If you need to come to the house for anything, ring first. You're not welcome anymore."
"Caroline, please don't say that."
"Sorry, that's the way it is. Your own fault. Now I'm going home for lunch." With that she left the flat; not looking back; not seeing Celia's distraught face.
Caroline walked into the kitchen, her face flushed and shaking. Kate jumped up from the table and pulled her close. Caroline allowed herself to be held for a few moments and then said. "You two have lunch, I just need some space for a while." With that she went upstairs.
Gillian
Caroline lay on their bed trying to take in all that had just transpired. It was beyond her to understand why her mother was behaving like this. She'd seen her stubborn side many times and had to deal with her moods but this was something else. Suddenly her phone rang. She saw it was Gillian.
"Hi what's up?"
"Caroline what the hell is up with Celia? She's just phoned me dad bawling her eyes out saying summat about not being allowed to go to the house anymore."
"That's right, she's not." a resurgence of anger filled Caroline.
"What's goin' on?"
Caroline explained what had happened and how upset Kate's mum was. "Gillian, I can't for the life of me fathom why my mother is being like this; it's getting worse. I can't let Kate get hurt. I can take it for me, but not Kate, especially not in her state."
"Bloody hell Caz, I thought she'd come round once you were married."
"Well she hasn't. God Gillian, I've only been married a day and this is the shit I have to deal with. I knew we should have gone away for a few days but we didn't want to leave Ginika."
"How many days has she got left with you?"
"She leaves tomorrow."
"Well, why don't you two take off for a few days, somewhere nice? Just forget about it for a bit. Lawrence can spend a bit of time with his dad."
"I can't Gillian; I have to go back to work tomorrow. Don't forget I'll be taking maternity leave for a few weeks when the babies arrive. I can't have any more time off."
"Yes you can. Tell 'em yer sick or summat, just do it." Caroline sighed. She did have a point. They wouldn't be able to go far in case Kate went into labour; but the thought of a few days alone was very tempting.
"Caroline, just be careful me dad doesn't get too upset won't you? You know with 'is heart and everything."
"I will Gillian, don't worry. I think I might take up your suggestion. I'll ring Beverley and tell her I need the rest of the week off. I've got loads of leave so I'll just do it."
"Okay, well take it easy, don't get yourself all uptight. Leave Celia and me dad on their own for a bit; he might be able to talk some sense into her. You've got me on your side so I'll try my best too; see if we can't bring her round."
"Okay, thanks." Caroline hung up and suddenly felt the dark clouds melting. Just the thought of being alone with her new wife for several days was enough to bring on the silver lining. She got up off the bed and went to tell Kate.