A Chance meeting – Chapter Fourteen

A/N This chapter is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Lots of tears writing it. There is a problem at present with reviews. Be assured I am getting them by email and am enjoying them.

They held on tightly to each other for what seemed like forever; in fact just a few seconds. Caroline brushed her cheek close to Kate's ear, "You're not just pretty; you're stunningly beautiful."

Kate whispered in return; "And you're still magnificent." Then she pulled apart and they both smiled. "Just don't get any ideas about pushing me into the door and putting your hand in my bra." This broke the ice and they both laughed at the memory of that day.

Caroline sat down and patted the chair next to her for Kate. Just then, Kate's phone rang. "Sorry, I'll have to take this, it's mum."

"Kate, Flora wants to speak to Caroline, something she forgot to ask her; she's driving me crazy." Kate handed the phone to Caroline. "It's Flora, apparently she forgot to ask you something."

"Caroline?"

"Yes chicken?"

"Mo told me there are Kola bears and Kanaroos in Australia; she got a book from the library"

"There are, yes, Koa...a..las and Kan...gar...oos."

"Yes, Caroline will you take a picture for me and one for Jack please? Thank you."

"Of course I will, as soon as I see them." She handed the phone back to Kate. "Did you say thank you to Caroline?" "Yes mummy." "Ok darling be good for nanna and I'll see you soon."

"I told you, she's besotted; it's quite something the connection she feels with you."

"Well apart from you, I saw her first." Caroline looked down at the carpet as soon as the words were out of her mouth. "Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, you did. I told you, when she's old enough to understand, I'll explain it to her; I have no problem with that. We're going to have to tell them about Greg's nvolvement. I'm waiting for the day, which I suspect will come soon, when she'll ask me about her daddy."

"What will you tell her?"

Kate sighed; "Thank God I'm married to a psychologist; Lou's got that one."

Caroline felt Kate's fingers slowly reach over and cover hers. "Are you ready for your big lifestyle change Caroline?"

"Yes and no, mostly yes. I'm very happy for Helen; she's so looking forward to this challenge. I think it's an indication of how well she's doing now."

"A lot of that must be down to you."

Caroline smiled; "I'd like to think that, but whatever I might have done for her, Helen's done more for me." Kate let that one go through to the keeper.

"Caroline, I'm glad we've got this bit of space to be with each other for a while; I know it's the same for you, but the last few months have rocked me. Of course I knew you were still at Sulgrave because that's one thing Beverley would have told me if you'd moved on. I suppose I'd built up a storyline for myself that there was a new partner and the two of you had found somewhere lovely to live and the boys were both happy with it. It's what I wanted to believe."

"Well you're not far off are you. Helen's wonderful and because Lawrence had already gone to university when we started seeing each other, it wasn't the chaos that you and I had to deal with. It's not in his face and so he's fine; no more schoolboy crap to deal with. William, bless him, just wants his mother to be happy. Abby was the biggest problem to start with, still too much grief around Ruth dying; she found it hard to think that Helen might want to love someone else; but we took it very slowly with her and she eventually came round."

"Just the house I got wrong then."

"Well I thought a lot about it and I decided that seeing you'd gone, Lawrence and mum and Alan were my priority and it's worked out well in the end. I have to say though, my fantasy for you was that you were a single mum, climbing the promotion ladder."

"You mean not with anyone else?"

"Selfishly, yes; I didn't give up hope of getting you back for a very long time Kate." A silence fell over the two of them as they both retreated into their own thoughts.

Kate lifted Caroline's face up to meet her eyes. "From the moment I knew I was pregnant, it was all about Flora, Caroline; me and us had to go on hold. When you've been through what I went through trying to have a child, well if the miracle happens, it's all you think about, and live for; keeping that baby safe and happy."

Caroline's intercom buzzed; "Caroline, Helen just rang she'll be here in half an hour."

"Caroline, we could talk endlessly about the past, all the happy times we had and then what went wrong; but I think I just need to know how you want to go forward with this, with us, if there is an us."

"The truth is I don't know Kate. I'm facing a huge change in my life; different country; no real job; leaving the kids and my mum. I should have been dealing with all that but instead I've been battling my demons after finding you again."

Kate felt as if she had been hit over the head with a sledgehammer. "Of course Caroline; see I'm doing it again."

"What?"

"Expecting you to get everything together and hurry up about it because I want an answer."

"Don't say that Kate."

"Why? It's what happened before; it's how we lost each other." Her eyes welled up and her grip tightened around Caroline's hand. "I'm so sorry Caroline; all the pain I caused you."

Caroline got up and walked over to her desk; she came back with a large whiteboard marker. "See this?" she drew an imaginary line in the air; "Enough now we're drawing a line under everything. We've both got a new life and we are loved by two very special people; they deserve for us to get out of the wallowing misery and move on."

Kate was stunned, excited and relieved by Caroline's assertiveness. She stood up and kissed her gently; "Consider it drawn and just know that whatever happens, I love you."

"I know that, and it goes without saying that I love you. Just give me time, let me get settled with Helen in Australia and when the time is right I'll tell you if and how I can go forward. Now, before Helen arrives I need you to read over my little farewell speech and see if it's OK."

Kate excused herself before helping Caroline, citing the need to go to the bathroom. She was desperate for a bit of space; her emotions were high and she was aroused; neither a particularly good feeling at that moment. As Kate left the room, Caroline slumped into her chair; she too felt emotional and aroused but very alive and in control.

Helen waltzed into the office to see Caroline and Kate on opposite sides of the desk pouring over her speech. She walked straight to Caroline and kissed her then turned to Kate; "How are you Kate? It's lovely to see you again; congratulations on Grace's arrival; you must both be over the moon."

"Thank you, yes we are, she's a little treasure and so far a good baby." Helen walked round and kissed Kate on the cheek.

"What are you two up to deep in conversation?"

"Oh I was just showing Kate my little speech for the party. The Board will expect me to say something of course and I'm trying to choose my words carefully." Both Helen and Kate laughed knowing what she'd like to say to them. "Then of course there's the staff, that's a little trickier, emotional."

"God forbid you get publicly emotional Caroline; we wouldn't want them to see that would we?" Helen said as she winked at Kate.

"Caroline I'm going to leave you two now. I want to go back to the staffroom; I didn't really get chance to see everyone, Flora stole all my thunder. I'll see you in the hall when the party starts."

Caroline nodded and smiled; deep down she knew this was it, the last moment with Kate before she left the country. Helen knew it too; "I'm just popping to the bathroom Caroline." She closed the door as she left the room.

Caroline got up and walked over to Kate, she put her arms out but Kate didn't walk into them. With a breaking voice she said, "I'm sorry Caroline, I can't, it's too much. I wish you both all the happiness in the world and I will think of you a lot. I'm not sorry I went to the conference, it's been hard but I'm so glad I found you again and now know that you're happy. I'll just wait to hear from you; or not." with that she left the room.

Caroline swallowed back the lump in her throat.

Kate met up with Helen in the corridor; it wasn't difficult for both women to know what the other might be feeling. "Look after her Helen; she loves you dearly and you both deserve to be very happy."

"I will. I promise, Kate I'm under no illusion about what you mean to her. She and I both have history, and that's why we work."

Kate didn't turn right to go to the staffroom, instead she headed to the stairs and out to the garden, finding a quiet spot to sit and let it all sink in.

The staff and guests all began to assemble in the hall; the caterers and Beverley had done a splendid job making it all look special. William and Lawrence were there with Celia; Alan a little too frail to go out in the evenings. Kate had attached herself to her old friend and colleague Mary, needing some distraction. Lawrence had greeted Kate warmly, given the relationship they had before; William as usual, happy to see her and chat. Celia had greeted her with a kiss and asked after the children and her mother.

Everyone had a glass of champagne and a canapé in hand; Gavin chinked his glass to bring them to attention. "Well everyone, this is a day I have dreaded. I know Caroline is on leave for twelve months, but I have horrible feeling she may fall in love with her new life and we've had it then." Everyone tittered and smiled appropriately; especially Caroline's favourite stuffed shirts. One or two of them quietly glad the lesbian was leaving; they could get back to some normality now.

He went on to outline all that Caroline had done for Sulgrave, putting the school back on the map and making it an innovative learning space while at the same time offering care to all students and staff. Michael Dobson had long since gone and so there were no dissenting voices. He wished her well and asked her to be open about coming back and then thanked the deputy for stepping up for twelve months. He then turned to Caroline and asked her to speak. Before she began, she looked for Kate and nodded to her; she reached out and pulled Helen to her side.

"I must begin by saying I have my wonderful partner Helen to thank for all this excitement. Many of you have met her already and know that she is a vibrant and forward thinking woman who has opened up all kinds of possibilities. So if you are cross with me for going, take it out on her." There was a laugh and a clap around the room.

She then worked her way steadily though those who needed to be mentioned, not missing out her family of course; managing to illicit quite a few laughs and not an inconsiderable flow of tears.

"There are two other people in this room I must mention specially. The first being Beverley; she is my PA, my confidant and my friend. Her loyalty is a rarity in life. I've depended on her wisdom for years; she has a warm and loving heart and is one of the few people in life who get me. Thank you and I will miss you.

Last but by no means least, is Kate, who has taken the time away from a brand new baby to come to my farewell. I know many of you have enjoyed catching up with her and Flora today. You all know that some years ago my marriage broke down and I had two teenage boys caught up in it all. I had to be strong for them and I had this school to run. Kate stepped up and offered me love and support like no one outside my family had ever done before. She carried my pain with me and got me through that time in my life. She showed me what true friendship is. There are no words to thank her, none that would do justice except to say that you will always be in my heart Kate.

Thank you everyone; please carry on enjoying yourselves."

Helen slid her hand into Caroline's and squeezed it. "You did well darling."

Once the madding crowd had mostly dispersed, Caroline scanned the room for Kate. She was no-where to be seen. "Beverley have you seen Kate?" Beverley looked resigned. "She left about twenty minutes ago Caroline."