"Well Gary, I suppose he's just Gary. A real tightrope, you know, that one. Thanks for asking, Caroline." Alan always seemed so happy to be part of any conversation.

"He does seem a somewhat delicate flower. Hope it all, stays on the level, as it were." Caroline made a balanced teeter-totter motion with her fork.

"Don't we all?" Celia smiled over at Alan. They had reached a homeostasis with Gary, set preliminary boundaries. It seemed acquiescence was the easiest way to keep him happy.

"Well Raff's sure happy he took him back for the summer, once school breaks. It was nice of him, find a place for the lad."

"Absolutely."

"Speaking of, Lawrence do you have anything in particular lined up for the summer?" Celia inclined her head next to the boy on her right.

"Me n Angus – "

"Angus and I," interrupted Caroline.

"Angus and I are thinking maybe we might hang around where Greg's comic publishes."

"Is that so?" Caroline smiled at Greg, head tilted and voice even. "You didn't mention it. That would be quite good, for the boys to learn at the publishing house."

"Well I think it'll be OK. It's just over in York, they can sort of get the 'ins and outs,' as it were." Greg looked from the boys to Caroline. "If it's okay with you, of course, Caroline."

"Seems a perfect idea." Why in the world shouldn't Lawrence take up comic books. Or firefighting, or anything. Any vocation at all, if it would get any kind of spark out of him.

"Really, Mum?"

"Really, Lawrence. Assuming your grades stay high the rest of term."

"All right. All right." Lawrence smiled, and Caroline liked the way it made him look, and the way it made her feel. She liked the feeling of many things, actually, at the moment.

"So Caroline – Gillian was telling us your date went quite well last week? Celia's tone did not exactly convey enthusiasm.

Caroline made a mental note to flog Gillian when they next met. And – which date had Gillian spilled about? She'd gone on about Eleanor, and it was recent -

"Ah, well, yes. It's good to reconnect with school chums."

"Jane went to school with you as well?" Alan's eyes twinkled and Caroline loved him dearly. Just not at the moment.

"No – no, I meant, I had another engagement with a friend from Sulgrave Heath, who did graduate Oxford my year."

"Mmmmm. No – the football date, right? I remember her. Auburn hair, makes you look like you buy your clothes off the rack – no offense, Caroline." Now Greg had something to add. Lovely.

Eleanor had stopped by last week with pastries, of all things. Which were, to be quite honest, some of the best scones she'd ever had. But Greg must have mixed them up.

"Ah, no actually, Greg, that was Eleanor." Caroline paused to take a bite and emphasize her casual response. "Em, Eleanor Strathclyde, she's on our Board of Governors, at the school. Just by for a chat and to grab a friendly spot of tea."

"Are you seeing her too, then, dear?" Celia again, now sounding enthusiastic.

"Well, again, mum, I don't know that I would put it in those exact terms. We are good friends."

"Caroline honestly. Carrying on like that."

"Like what, then, Mum?"

The men at the table fell into a particular stillness. Forks could not be heard touching plates. Even Flora seemed to sense the coming storm and ceased her happy mumblings.

"Well I don't know."

"I don't think you do know, Mum, so let's drop it." Caroline's tone had not yet hardened, but she took a generous gulp of wine.

"Now there's nothing wrong with 'making friends,' as it were, you know, if it's all out on the table with everyone." Right on cue Alan stepped in to broker a peace.

"Thank you Alan."

"So you going to keep seeing both of them, then, Mum?"

"This is not a discussion, Lawrence." Caroline shot her son an 'I mean it' look.

"Well I think it's a perfectly good question. I'm rather curious, myself." Celia did not make eye contact with Caroline as she spoke.

"OK. I see that I am not getting out of this." Caroline set down her fork and picked up her napkin. "In an attempt to be respectful to all parties, I will say that I enjoy spending time with both of them. They are each wonderful, vibrant women, and that can be that." Caroline drank again, for emphasis.

"Well Jane, she's a police officer, what's the other do?" Unlike her mother, Caroline believed Alan's interest to be genuine.

"Eleanor is the Chief Operating Officer at Anadyne, a pharmaceutical company headquartered here in town."

"Pharmaceutical? Whip smart I'll bet." Alan nodded and smiled, offering approval.

"She is rather brilliant, I think. I've actually known her most of the time I've been at Sulgrave Heath. She has two charming girls at the school."

Celia didn't look up from her salad as she spoke. "Must have been a shock to her, when you took up with Kate."

Caroline closed her eyes, briefly. "I did not, 'take up with Kate,' mother. But yes. I think she was surprised. And she's been chasing up my skirt ever since." 'Oh shit. Why did I say that? My goddamn temper.'

"That was indelicate. I'm sorry boys. That is not to be repeated." Caroline cast a warning glance at Angus and Lawrence.

"That's oaky Ms. Dawson. No worries." Angus's voice was a little high as he responded.

Lawrence elbowed him and laughed.

"So, Jane. She was the one who nabbed those bastards that ran down Kate?" Again, Alan nimbly shifted the conversation.

"Yes, we met at the precinct."

"Well she did seem nice. Very polite." Celia did her best to muster a compliment, for which Caroline was grateful.

"She is. And really a breath of fresh air." Caroline smiled.

"Plenty of fresh air at that football match she dragged you off to."

"Yes there was, Mum, and it was really a good time."

Alan nodded, brokering on. "Don't mind a match myself, now and again. Just not up in those insufferable boxes. Everyone putting on airs. Not there for the match, just showing off to each other."

"Quite." Celia smiled at Alan. No one could really forget the morass of misery Gary had foisted on them in an attempt to buy Alan's love.

"Well I haven't met Jane, yet, but I will say Caroline, that Eleanor, she's a looker." Time for Greg to join the fray once again. He smiled at Caroline, gave a hint of a wink.

"Can I repeat, for the record, that I find this conversation extremely uncomfortable."

"Ah c'mon, Mum, can't have it both ways. Mad we don't care enough about your love life, mad when we do." Lawrence did not make eye contact.

Caroline's temper flared and she prepared a scathing rebuke.

'He does have a point, Caroline.'

Seriously, Kate, you pop into my head at the oddest of times. Well he's completely inappropriate, but - completely correct.' Caroline extinguished her flare.

"Alright Lawrence. Point made."

"So then. Yes. Fine. I, ah, I am 'seeing,' all very appropriately, mind you, Jane and Eleanor." Caroline looked down at her plate. "And, you know, to be quite honest I'm having a hard time with it all. I like them both very much. And this dating thing, well, it's not my forte."

"An embarrassment of riches?" Celia actually gave a warm smile, genuine. Alan reached across the table to squeeze her hand.

"Well it's just that I don't know what to do. They're both very different."

Again the men kept quiet.

"Well, if I can offer a piece of advice," Celia looked over to Alan. "Just follow your heart, love."