A Chance Meeting – Chapter Ten
'Dear Flora,
Thank you very much for your lovely picture, what a special treat.
I have put it up on the wall in my office so I can look at it every day'
Caroline stared at the last sentence. It didn't sit well; it might send the wrong message.
She back spaced and wrote instead 'so I can look at it' Yes that's better.
Big hug for you,
Caroline. xx
She typed – 'A message for Flora' in the subject box and pressed send.
Helen closed the door gently, hung up her coat and bag and wearily climbed the stairs to her bedroom, each step bringing her closer to the warmth and comfort of Caroline. As she walked into the bedroom she smiled; Caroline was asleep with her glasses falling down her nose and a collapsed book on her chest. She quietly and quickly undressed, ducked into the bathroom and then slid into bed, after lifting the glasses away, and putting the book on the bedside table.
Caroline stirred; "Hello, you, it's very late, how come?"
"Oh God, next time I complain about stuffed shirts, remind me of the eccentricities and demands of my artistic community. The discussion around the exhibition in the Town Hall was endless; so many divas who want their work in a prominent position."
Caroline laughed and pulled Helen into her arms. "Come here my darling let me soothe your troubled brow."
"This feels good." As she snuggled against Caroline's breast and wrapped her legs around her. They stayed contentedly enjoying the warmth and comfort.
"Caroline, I've been thinking about Lucy's email and her wanting to come the weekend after next to collect some of Ruth's stuff. I think I'm just about ready, you know, emotionally."
"Are you sure? because it's a big thing and I don't want you to rush it if you aren't completely comfortable. I'm certain she'd understand that."
"Yes, I'm sure, but I am going to ask Abby to come home for the weekend; I want her to have a say in what goes and what stays. As soon as we open that loft, there will be a lot of other stuff that was Ruth's, not just her work notes, and Abby should be here for the decisions. It will be very emotional Caroline and I would like her beside me if that makes sense."
"Of course, would you like me there too?"
"Well it depends on whether you want Kate and the kids here as well."
"I'm still not sure. What do you think?"
"I can't make that choice for you my darling. I personally have no problem with it, but ..."
Caroline felt a sudden and overwhelming need to belong. She kissed Helen tenderly while leaving her in no doubt what she wanted. "Are you too tired?"
"Nope."
Lou looked up from her Ipad, "Kate, there's an answer from Helen about going up there next weekend. She's saying yes, she's fine about it and they would both like it if you and the kids could come too."
"Did they say when?"
"She's suggesting we go for the day on Saturday and they will have a BBQ . Helen's daughter will be there too as she'll help her mum to go through the stuff."
"Sounds good to me; I'm happy for me and the kids to come too."
Lou got up and walked over to her wife, lifted her to her feet and held her. "Are you ready for this? Playing happy families for a whole day; you do realise that I'll be caught up with Helen."
"I'll be fine. The kids will provide a good distraction for both of us and you know Lou, it'll be a test of how comfortable we are together. In the moments when I think about it, I remember that Caroline and I became friends before anything else happened and even if we hadn't fallen in love, I'm sure we would have stayed friends. She doesn't, or at least didn't, have a lot of friends and certainly none living close by, that I knew of. My hope is that we can somehow get to that point again."
"That's a big ask Kate; and you need to be sure that you are doing it for the right reasons. If you feel sorry for her, then forget it. That's no foundation for a friendship."
"I don't feel sorry for her like that. I just know that what I did caused her a lot of pain and I somehow want to make up for it."
"She caused you a lot of pain too." Lou was very aware that Kate was often too ready to take the blame for things.
"I know, but I'm in this great place now with you my love and our children." She stroked Lou's tummy as she said this.
"I think Caroline's in a good place too. Your meeting threw her around a bit, but from where I'm standing, Helen's a keeper."
Ten days later, and Kate and Lou were busy strapping children into their seats and loading the car. They were taking overnight bags in case they decided to stay somewhere that night. Once everyone was settled Lou hopped into the driver's seat and they set off.
Kate felt nervous and unsettled. "I'll just text Caroline to say we've left."
"Seeing that it's Helen's house we're invited to don't you think it would be better to text her?"
"Yes of course, that's a bit rude of me. I'll send them both a message." Lou smiled to herself, she knew her wife enough to know what was going on.
Caroline and Helen both picked up their phones and nodded to each other.
"I reckon they'll be about an hour and a half if the traffic isn't too bad."
Caroline looked out of the window into the garden, surveying all the preparation for the BBQ. "Yes I think so; I haven't told her that Will is here for the weekend. In fact I Haven't told him either."
Abby slouched into the kitchen, a little worse for wear after her night out with her Harrogate friends.
Helen kissed her, "Good morning sweetheart, did you have a good night?"
"Yep, but too many shots I fear. Mum, what time are we starting the clear out?"
"Kate and Lucy should be here in about an hour. Please get your breakfast out of the way and be dressed before then."
Preparation carried on and then there was a knock at the door. "Oh it's Will, I'll let him in." Abby had still to decide how she felt about having 'sort of' step brothers. Having no siblings had its advantages and disadvantages but she did rather like William, and the longer her mother and Caroline were together, the more she found herself liking the idea.
William walked over to Caroline wrapping her in a great bear hug. "Hi mum, and no, I haven't brought you my washing." She laughed. He walked over and hugged Helen and rather shyly, Abby. Looking out of the window as he let go he noticed the outdoor table set up and the BBQ uncovered; "What's the occasion?"
"Well, you remember I told you I'd bumped into Kate at a meeting," he nodded, "She and her partner, er wife, are coming today to have a look at some of Ruth's research papers."
Will looked over at Helen and saw a sadness in her eyes. He was a sensitive young man and he knew this would be a big heave for her and Abby. "Oh right, well yell out if you want a hand with anything Helen."
"Thank you dear boy, we will. You could help Caroline with the BBQ."
Kate could feel her stomach tightening as each kilometre brought them closer. Lou could feel it too. She reached out Put Kate's hand onto her thigh, stroking it. "You'll be fine." Kate took her hand away and stroked the back of Lou's neck as she drove along. "I love you."
"I know." The car had thankfully lulled both children to sleep which was good as it meant they were likely to be far less cranky when they arrived.
The car crunched on the gravel drive and came to a halt. "Wow, what a lovely cottage." Kate looked around at the old stone building surrounded by a cottage garden. The front door opened and they all trouped out like soldiers in single file. Kate got out and her eyes immediately widened as she saw William. He broke into a massive and welcoming smile and walked over. Without thinking, she opened her arms and he slid seamlessly into them. "Kate, it's so good to see you again."
"Well, look at you, what a handsome young man you've become. Answer me one question first, are you still singing?"
"Absolutely, I'm part of St Paul's Cathedral choir."
While this was going on, Lou was busy unfastening and lifting out two sleepy children. Flora woke up almost immediately and stood down; Jack rubbed his eyes and after looking around, buried his face in Mo's neck.
Caroline stepped forward and hugged Kate, "I'm glad you decided to come." Kate smiled gently, "Me too." Soon all the introductions were complete and they went inside.
"Helen, this is a beautiful home."
"Thanks Kate, we like it don't we nodding to Abby. "Yes, it's homely."
They stood in a wonderful country kitchen; an open space, with an AGA and wooden fronted cupboards; terrazzo tiles on the floor, and a huge wooden table, enough for eight chairs. The windows faced out on to the patio and garden where Kate noticed the BBQ set up. "God I'd sell my soul for a kitchen like this."
"Yes well my darling, when our three children have flown the nest, you might get one." Lou chipped in.
Caroline busied herself putting the kettle on and then she felt a hand on her leg. Turning round she encountered Flora who was holding on and gazing up at Caroline with her big brown eyes.
"Caroline, did you like my picture?"
She let go of the kettle and bent down, "It was lovely Flora, you are very clever to draw that for me and to write on the bottom. " Flora smiled shyly, "Mo helped me to write." Caroline looked up and looked Lou in the eyes, a grateful look, grateful for her understanding. By this time Jack was running round the kitchen table, Abby chasing him and hiding. He giggled away as she jumped out at him.
The conversation was easy as they sat around the table, mostly about the children and Lou's pregnancy; all the women comparing notes; Will and Abby rolling their eyes at the mundanity of it all.
Caroline left the table to go outside and Will excused himself and followed her. Abby got up too but Helen gently pulled her back and shook her head, "Leave them for a minute."
Will stood at Caroline's side as she fussed with the BBQ tools. He slid his arm around her shoulder. "Are you OK mum. I'm guessing this is hard for you."
"Yes I'm OK darling, the last few weeks have been hard but I'm getting there. Today is about Helen, we must make sure we look out for her. It's the first time she's been though Ruth's things since she moved here. My issues are not important today."
Will knew his mother enough to know that she was capable of swallowing whatever emotion she might be struggling with and would indeed be there for Helen, who he had come to be very fond of. Kate was special to him too. She'd always taken an interest in and supported him . He'd missed her a lot when she left.
William and Abby stepped up and cooked the BBQ with Jack's help. He begged to be lifted up so that he could turn a sausage. It was a lovely sunny day and the garden was a delight. The food and wine went down a treat. Flora had insisted on sitting next to Caroline and chattered away a mile a minute. Jack had managed to get bits of sausage and tomato sauce in just about every crevice of the table and himself; Abby appeared besotted with him and played a great game with a wet flannel as she attempted to clean him up.
As the meal came to an end, Caroline watched on as Lou leant close to Helen's ear and whispered something, Helen smiled a wan smile and nodded. Lou put her hand over Helen's for a moment and then they both excused themselves from the table. Abby noticed and she handed Jack over to Kate and excused herself, following them into the house.
The three of them stood at the bottom of the stepladder to the attic, Helen turned to them, tears in her eyes. "Ok let's do this."
William left Caroline and Kate and busied himself clearing the table and cleaning the BBQ.
"Would you like a walk around the garden Kate?"
"Yes, but I'll just put Jack down for a nap if you can give me a quiet spot. Caroline showed her the downstairs guest room and five minutes later Kate emerged, dirty nappy in hand, announcing that a toddler was down for the count.
They set off around the garden, Flora walking between them, a hand firmly in each of theirs. It was a scene not lost on either woman.