"Oh I thought we'd never get away" Caroline laughed "Mum and Allan have really settled in with Gillian haven't they?"
"Yeah, they seem to have and I think that's the happiest I've seen Gillian in a while, that and the fact that Robbie seems to be around a lot more now, don't you think?" Kate offered
"Mhm yeah Robbie" Caroline muttered
"What?" Kate asked "A mention of Robbie and you always frown, what's up with him? He's a nice guy and from what I've seen, he loves Gillian, couldn't do more for her"
"Yeah well…oh it's nothing, I just worry for her that's all, she doesn't always make the right decisions, Gillian, does she?" Caroline made an attempt at explaining.
"No Caroline, none of us always make the right decisions," Kate pausing for that little nugget to sink in "but that doesn't explain why you don't seem to like Robbie…or should I say Robbie and Gillian being together more to the point…do you want to tell me about it?"
Caroline bit her bottom lip, torn once again about holding back the secret she held. She worried, vacillating between telling Kate the tale and keeping it between her and Gillian, not for the first time. She decided. "I don't ever want to keep anything from you, about anything I do, except this…I don't think it would be right to say anything to you …I promised. It is really just between me and Gillian, ok? Can you trust me on this?"
Kate stared at Caroline seeing the serious expression on her face, knowing so well, the morals Caroline lived her life by. If she promised Gillian, swore to keep a confidence, then that was enough for Kate. "Of course, I trust you" She leaned over and squeezed Carolines knee.
Caroline squirmed, letting out a giggle "Oh, you know I've got sensitive knees" the tension broken. They carried on to their destination, a weekend to themselves, a retreat, just the two of them, or three counting the baby, away from their everyday lives. They were both looking forward to this.
Entering the hotel lobby, Kate holding on to Caroline's left arm, the other arm occupied by the bags Caroline held, they approached the desk. Caroline exuding confidence as she spoke to the receptionist
"We have a booking made, for a double, in the name of MacKenzie" She smiled broadly, no hesitation, no shying away, no hint of embarrassment, she didn't know if it was having a much pregnant Kate on her arm or just the passage of time that had relaxed her. She tended to think that it was Kates presence that made her bold, she would never let her down again, she delighted in the freedom, was proud to make a statement, proud to have Kate by her side.
"Yes of course, I took the booking myself," the receptionist smiled "I'll get the porter to carry your bags up, I hope you enjoy your stay," she lowered her voice and said conspiratorially "I've put you both in one of our loveliest rooms" Giving Caroline the key, she addressed Kate "It looks out over the lake, it's a beautiful view to wake up to and just let me know if you need more pillows, you know for the baby, we need to make sure mum is comfy don't we?"
Kate grinned "Thank you, Lauren, you're an angel"
Walking behind the porter on their way to their room Caroline asked Kate "What did you say to the receptionist when you made the booking?"
Kate smugly answered "Oh we just got talking,"
"Yes it seems so" a slightly stunned Caroline answered. Secretly she was in awe of Kate, the way she could so easily talk to people, strangers, be so comfortable and open. Kate was right when she told her she was the winner, because she had Kate. She had hit the jackpot.
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Waking in the morning Caroline rolled onto her back and propped herself up on the pillows, to gaze at Kate standing by the window overlooking the lakeside, cradling her bump with both hands a serene smile on her face.
"Good morning princess, don't I get a kiss then?" Caroline asked
Kate turned "Come over here and I'll grant you your wish, my queen"
Caroline couldn't resist
"La vue est une vue pour contempler" Kate said in a dreamy voice.
Caroline wrapped her arms around Kate standing behind her, encircling her, leaning her head on her shoulder "You said something about the view, I got that much"
"The view is a sight to behold" Kate translated.
"Wow it is, isn't it?" Caroline placed a kiss on Kates cheek "Almost as gorgeous as you. Have I told you lately, how much I love you?"
"You tell me every day Caroline, every day". Kate answered.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At breakfast resting easy after having eaten, sipping tea looking out over the lake once more, Kate said "This has been our best anniversary ever."
"Our what? Anniversary?" Shocked, Caroline blushed and stared at Kate "Did I miss something?"
Kate laughed "It has been two years to the day since our first kiss, don't you remember?"
Caroline was stunned, thinking, her mouth moving but no words coming out.
"Don't worry, I remembered for us, it was a red letter day for me, you just need time to catch up" Kate smiled over. "I will never forget it, I marked it in my diary"
Caroline replied "I remember the kiss, I will never forget the kiss. It changed my life…ok it might have taken a while for me to realise it, but I got there in the end didn't I?"
"Yes you did" Kate stated.
"Our anniversary?...How fateful is that, how apt, how tremendously auspicious, that we are having this weekend, together on the same date two years from then, when we first kissed. I can't believe it …it's .it's"
Caroline fumbled to find the words to finish
"It was written in the stars Caroline, we are meant to be here, now, together. I believe it." Kate finished for her.
'Caroline, my Caroline, my queen, my lady, my saviour, my everything.'
"Well, it seems only right… fitting… that on this day, I ask you something" Caroline began, once she had pulled herself together.
Kate shook her head interrupting "Oh no, Caroline, I hope you are not going to ask me…."
"What? Just hear me out, you don't even know what I'm going to say yet." Caroline replied in surprise
"I can guess" Kate said stoically.
Continuing on; despite the resistance; Caroline said "This wasn't the moment I was going to pick but…you've forced my hand, and I was going to discuss this with you beforehand, although, thinking about it, that doesn't seem so romantic now… I was going to ask you … while we were here…if you would do me the honour …of being my wife" she finished with a flourish, her head held high, her pride intact, reaching for her handbag, which was rather awkward in the position she was in.
She delved into the bag reaching for the ring box she had there and proffered the ring to Kate "Will you…will you make me the happiest woman on Earth and marry me?"
Kate took the proffered box and was silent for a moment, unable to break the spell, holding on to Caroline's hand.
"Caroline, don't take this the wrong way, I think I need to explain… I don't need a piece of paper to show people how committed we are to each other, how much we love one another, but I will wear your ring … if that's what you want... I will eternally be yours and you mine, in here," she motioned to her heart "that is enough for me. Do you see that?" Kate said softly with the most loving look.
It melted Caroline.
"I just thought….well it would make it official, legal, for the baby, for us" Caroline continued "I just wanted to do the right thing, do what normal people do…I…"
"We aren't the norm, Caroline, Lawrence told us that, but that doesn't mean anything, we don't have to conform to be like other people. We are us. I will wear your ring though, to show that I am yours, forever. Marriage is…well to me it doesn't mean anything, not if the commitment isn't there and it is with us, just between the two of us". Kate finished, hoping she had explained herself.
Caroline understood now, she got it. A piece of paper, standing in front of some officious stranger, would never proclaim their love to all. Join them. Bind them. Their actions, their support of each other, in their everyday life did that. She nodded "Yes, I see it"Kate then opened the box exclaiming "Oh Caroline, it's beautiful, I would be proud to wear this, for you"
Caroline sighed, relieved that she had got at least one thing right "I got them made to my design, I have one for me too, a matching set, just like us. Titanium and Gold, they blend well together, giving each other strength, tough, able to withstand anything. Can I place it on your finger? Make you my unofficial wife?"
Kate smiled "Of course, nothing would give me greater pleasure."
Caroline placed the ring on Kates hand saying "Now, unofficial wife, I think this is the part where I get to kiss you, is that OK"?
Kate answered by leaning in and kissing Caroline tenderly, saying. "Love you, unofficial wife."
"Oh and we can still have a party if you like…it will give you the opportunity to break the news to your mum" Kate giggled.
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"Would you like to go for a walk later?" Caroline asked "We can go down by the water, we don't have to go far, I don't want to tire you out, just get some fresh air"
"Yes sure that would be good, I wouldn't mind seeing if we can take one of those row boats out onto the lake too" Kate replied straight faced
Caroline, stunned, tried to reply "You want to…well I…"
Kate burst into laughter "Oh Caroline you are so easy to fool, it never fails to amuse me"
"I do not get the respect I once used to from you do I"? Caroline said, then laughed herself.
'Kate, my Kate, my truest love, my world, my rescuer, my all'
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lying in bed that night after having had a lovely day by the lake, lunching in a local café and a relaxing dinner in the hotel restaurant, Kate sighed.
"Are you tired"? Caroline asked
"Surprisingly not" Kate answered "I was just thinking what a day we've had. It can't get better than this can it?"
"Oh I don't know, I think every day from now on will get better and better." Caroline answered.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A peaceful Sunday morning arrived.
"Good morning wife" Kate said, kissing Caroline, as they lay face to face.
"Good morning my beautiful wife" Caroline replied returning the kiss.
"You always have to go one better don't you" Kate teased
"I only speak the truth" Caroline replied.
"You have a silver tongue you know" Kate said
"Only when it comes to you" Caroline retorted.
"Shall we go down for breakfast or…?" Caroline asked
"We can go down for breakfast soon, but I've got something else in mind right now, probably the same thing you have too …am I right?" Kate questioned
"Well, I don't mind waiting for breakfast for a while, I may be thinking we could do something else first" Caroline said with a cheeky grin
"Great minds think alike" Kate finished before placing her hand behind Carolines head drawing her in for a deep, loving kiss.
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