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Kate had to admit Caroline seemed to have more Will power than she had given her credit for, she had been sauntering around the bedroom naked for the past 20minuites and although she had looked over at her, she had yet to move. Caroline sat a little smugly on the bed watching Kate slip her dress over her head, it had been two days and Kate was fast losing her resolve. Both desperate for the other to cave, neither willing to loose against the other however painful.
Caroline chuckled as she made her way downstairs, she had to admit seeing Kate trying to be a temptress was rather amusing, Kate hadn't known her long enough to know she never lost. Kate would loose this battle of the wills, she just hoped it wouldn't take her too long.
Caroline stood in the kitchen glancing out the window she hadn't seen her mum for 2days either, and although they fell out often something about this felt more awful.
"You thinking about Gran?" A soft voice snapping her back to reality "um yes I just had hoped she would love me enough not to care". William held his mothers waist he was a few foot taller than her now, she hadn't realized he had grown so much time passing quicker than she liked. "She does love you mum, it will be ok". Caroline nodded a tear leaked down her warm cheek, swiping it away quickly as if it had never been there.
"William I've asked Kate to move in, I know this is happening really fast but I love her and..." William giggled at her flustered bumbling "stop worrying I don't mind, I'll be leaving for uni soon and in the past week she's barely left the house so she may as well have her things here". "Really?" She couldn't hell her surprise at his relaxed response "yeah she nice, and she makes you happy". A soft smile crossed her lips "I'm so proud to be your mum, you've turned into such a lovely caring young man, at least I've done something right!". He laughed "well don't let Lawrence hear you say that, I'll never live it down" she tilted her head a small smirk across her lips. "I suppose I just have to check he doesn't mind then", she left the kitchen to find Lawrence playing on the play station. "Hey you, you ok I know it's been a mad couple of days", "yeah I'm getting used to it, Kate's cool I'm sorry about Gran you didn't deserve that". She sat next to him on the sofa watching him shoot all the men in black outfits in the screen, "I was wondering what you would think if Kate ..." She paused scared once more of rejection of his reaction "moved in?".
Throwing the control onto the table "Lawrence don't throw that or you will break my coffee table" she turned to see his grinning face "what?". "Nothing it's just nice to see some things never change", a shy expression on his face "I'm still your mum whatever else ever happens or changes and I love you so much. So if you would rather kate didn't, move in that is ok ill respect that for now". "Thanks mum, but I don't mind I want you to be happy and well Kate seems to do that, and well it doesn't really affect me". "Yes it does" she sat up a little taller "you and William will always be my priority, do you understand that always".
He nodded "I don't mind mum as long as the whole school doesn't find out" her heart sinking her mouth drying he was still embarrassed of her. Well what could she expect it had been days since he knew and he had been very accepting, she couldn't except him to be happy about a massive change like Kate moving in. He saw her face "no mum not like that, I mean it will totally ruin Kate's rep as the coolest teacher if she's shacked up with the head teacher". "Oh" Caroline laughed the weight in her stomach dissolving "so you really don't mind", "nope if it had to be anyone you couldn't have picked anyone I'd prefer". "Thank you sweetheart" she pulled him in close smelling his fruity clean hair as if he was still six and small enough to sit on her lap, she felt a little sad for all the years she had just gone through the motions, missing all the little things.
"Mum" William entered the room "Gran wants you to go to hers she just rang", she looked up apprehension filling her with her mother she never really knew where she stood. Was she going to be told she was sorry or to be given more derogatory comments and told what a let down she was. Well only one way to find out, she breathed out calming her "will you tell Kate where I am when she comes down, I won't be long" he nodded.
"Caroline I'm sorry we are going to stay with Gillian for the time being, I can't pretend that I approve when I don't. That would be dishonest I think it would be best if we had some space" Caroline looking to Alan for support for him to talk her down.
He observed her his daughter in law lost in her pain as Celia's words echoed around the room. "If you choose to be with her" "Kate mum, her name is Kate" well if you choose to be with her I can't be here. It's not right Caroline two women together like that, it's not right for the boys either I can't be ok with it I'm sorry". Caroline's head lowered at her defeat "when will you leave" , Celia's eyes wide as if this threat she thought would make her change her mind had failed. "Tonight" Celia turned abruptly from Caroline "I'm sorry darling", "so am I" Caroline's words so fragile as if a child had spoken them.
Celia left the room leaving Caroline aloft in her thoughts, in front of Alan "I'm Sorry Caroline, I'll speak to her she will understand it will just take her some time. She's a good woman she will see that your happy and leave this ridiculous notion that its unacceptable behind. Give her time I know it's hard, but as for me I think it's great you deserve some happiness, your mum has told me lots about you and you've had it tougher than you let on". She smiled at his warm comforting face "than you", he patted her shoulder "as I always say love is love Caroline, nothing else is relevant".
Caroline had watched her mother pull away down the drive, part of her hadn't expected her to follow through on what she had said, but she had she had left her. Her own mother had found it so disgusting so repulsive she couldn't even stand to be around her, her fears of prejudice were founded obviously. She sat the table shuffling her food around the plate her stomach lurched at the thought, of swallowing anything. she had sat wordless with Kate on the sofa most of the night numb, she couldn't believe her mum could do that, to leave her after everything how could she do that.
As they climbed the stairs she remained silent "are you ok Caroline your worrying me", "fine" was the only reply as they slipped into bed. Kate felt her distance herself, felt her untangle herself from her until she lay alone on her side of the bed, was she losing her was this going to end in heartbreak. She loved Caroline but was this fair to her to choose her or her family, she had been selfish she had wanted Caroline and now she had her, but at what cost to this spectacular woman who had spent her whole life fighting through.
Caroline hadn't slept much and finally at 5am found herself walking through the deserted orchards, reliving every nasty word that had left her mothers lips, everything her mother had said it was all the things she had been scared of. She knew her mother she was set in her ways but she also knew she stuck to her beliefs, she doubted she would come round like everyone was promising. She past the gentle stream that trickled past her watching the moon light reflected in the ripples of the water, it was so peaceful here she felt calm again.
Kate had woken to find her missing, but not wanting to crowd her had laid for an hour awake staring at the ceiling, before finally going down the stairs to find a ice cold Caroline sat hunched on the sofa. "Oh Caroline come here" Caroline immediately melting into her arms, "this was what I was scared of Kate" "I know I'm sorry it will be ok, I'm sure of it".
Caroline looked up at her "how can you be sure? You can't!" Her words harsh cold "I'm sorry Caroline i just meant that your mum loves you she will come round to the idea even if she is never thrilled about it". "Sorry" a whispered word as Kate cupped her face "don't be sorry you've done nothing wrong". Silence filling the void once more what could be said, nothing was going to change the fact her mother had left, or heal that feeling of a ball knotted in her stomach. The spark that had been alighted when she had let. Kate in was slowly fizzling out under the weight of her thoughts.
This carried on for two days the silence filled the house the boys were uneasy too, even at work Caroline was quiet and whenever Kate held her she would cry. Kate couldn't stand it "boys we have to do something" they nodded "this is awful", William grimaced "I've never seen her like this, but what can we do?".
"William do you know Gillian's address?" "Yep", "well I suggest we go visit your Gran and try and fix this". "I want to come" Lawrence spoke defiantly "ok well your mums got a meeting tonight so if we leave at 4 she won't miss us, meet you at my car". They both exchanged a look to one another "ok", Kate's mind racing what would she say, how would she fix this. What if she couldn't?, well she had to try .