Again, apologies for the delay

x x x x

Seed of Doubt

Sara tilted her head back, letting the afternoon sun warm her face. She was vaguely aware of people staring at her but she honestly did not care.

"I can't believe she's here." Laura tutted, shaking her head.

"Oh, speaking of unwanted visitors, Madeleine at 2oClock." Karen hissed conspiratorially, nodding her head in the direction of the approaching mother. The three women all turned in tandem as the bleached-blonde wandered into their group, her piercing blue eyes fixed on the mysterious new brunette.

"Who's the newbie?" She asked suspiciously.

"That's Catherine Willows' new girlfriend." Laura said with a smirk. Madeleine's head whipped around so fast she nearly got whiplash.

"What?" She barked. "Catherine Willows? She's…"

"Yep." Karen agreed proudly. "She's switched teams."

"No way!" The blonde howled, spinning on her three-inch heels to marvel at the brunette.

Suddenly the school doors flew open and a mass of children started pouring out into the sun-drenched yard. Lindsey skidded to a halt in the doorway, scanning the area for her mother. When her eyes settled on Sara her little face lit up and she launched herself at the woman.

Sara, lost in her own little world, looked down just in time to catch the whirlwind, swinging her onto her hip elegantly.

"Hey munchkin." She grinned.

The women watched her easy motions with a strange sense of awe.

"Mommy?" William whined, tugging on Deborah's jacket. He held his arms out to be picked up like Lindsey had been but Debs shrugged him off.

"Not now Billy, Mommy has a bad back." She lied, her gaze still fixed on Sara.

"I can't believe it's serious enough for Catherine to let her pick her up from school." Karen scoffed. "Something's gotten into that woman, I swear."

"You know," Laura said thoughtfully, her eyes following Sara as she walked out of the school gates hand-in-hand with Lindsey, "maybe we should take Cath up on her offer; get to know Sara better."

"What?" Karen asked in shock. "You're not serious?" Laura sent her a look, a devious smirk spreading across her lips.

"It can't hurt. After all, who was it that said knowledge is power?"

"Shakespeare?" Debs guessed, earning her a glare from the others.

X x x

"So, Cath." Karen said after an awkward silence. "How's work?" Catherine sent her an odd look.

"You've never asked that before." She pointed out. Karen shrugged uncomfortably, glancing around the room. They rarely met at Catherine's house for coffee; it was usually in Laura's modern individually-designed kitchen or Deborah's converted manor house with the heated outdoor pool.

But they had met at Catherine's today with the sole intention of scrutinising this new-fangled relationship of hers. Cath was initially thrilled when they had agreed to get to know Sara better before dismissing it, however now she was starting to regret it as her friends scanned her imperfect home and sipped her cheap coffee.

Sara, oblivious to the discomfort she was causing inside, was tinkering with her motorbike on the driveway; with Lindsey's assistance of course.

"You know, I heard that Stephanie James' husband went on a 'business trip' with his assistant to, get this, Hawaii." Deborah jumped in excitedly to ease some of the tension.

"Doesn't he work in finance?" Cath asked, relieved to be out of the spotlight for a while.

"Yep. And Stephanie has no idea."

"She must suspect something." Laura scoffed. "Why would an investment banker need to go to Hawaii?"

"She thinks they were in Kansas." Debs laughed gleefully. "I don't know how he explained the tan."

"Well, if a man isn't getting what he wants at home …" Karen let the sentence trail off, suddenly recalling Catherine's failed marriage. And once again they were plunged into an awkward silence, until the pattering of little feet sounded and Lindsey arrived covered in oil and sporting a big grin. Catherine burst out laughing, looking her filthy daughter up and down. Sara followed behind wiping her hands on her jeans, her face streaked.

"Don't mind me," She waved briefly. "The oil tank threw a tantrum." The women all looked at her in a mixture of shock and bemusement, while Catherine seemed greatly amused by her appearance.

"Is it all fixed now?" She asked between giggles, following her girlfriend into the adjoining kitchen where she was washing her hands.

"I hope so." Sara grinned, looking down at Lindsey. "I suppose I should clean up." Catherine hid a smile, nodding in agreement.

"I'll make you some coffee." She promised, watching Sara swing the child onto her hip and disappear upstairs. Laura pursed her lips, watching the brunette walk away.

"Cath, can I use your bathroom?" She asked politely.

"Top of the stairs, on your right." Cath directed, too busy pouring Sara a drink to notice the smirk on her friend's face.

X x x

She glanced briefly into the bathroom, out of pure nosiness really, before creeping up to Catherine's bedroom. The door was ajar and she could see far enough inside to observe what was going on without being seen.

Sara was half-dressed in clean jeans, rifling through her clothes for a shirt. Lindsey was sat on the bed attempting to get changed. Laura heard a squeal from the girl as she got her head stuck in the t-shirt. Sara laughed at her struggle before helping her to get free. Laura smiled with glee as she watched the brunette re-dress the little girl, a twisted idea planting itself in her mind.

Silently and unnoticed, she slipped back downstairs.

X x x

"Hey Catherine," Laura asked lazily once Karen and Deborah had gone to collect their respective children from the overpaid Nannies. "How well do you really know Sara?"

"What do you mean?" Cath frowned at her.

"Well, I … never mind, it's probably nothing."

"What?" Catherine pressed, intrigued. Laura sat forward, trying to hold her serious expression in place.

"I was just thinking that it seems a bit odd that she's so interested in spending time with Lindsey."

"What?" Cath laughed softly. "She's just getting to know her. That's a good thing. Isn't it?"

"Yeah, I'm sure it is. It's just … earlier she was helping Lindsey get dressed and … it just seems weird that someone without kids is so keen to hang around them."

Catherine's face fell as she realised what Laura was implying. She threw a brief glance to the kitchen were Sara and Lindsey were baking cookies. Lindsey was sat on the countertop and they appeared to be having immense fun with the flour, both in a fit of giggles.

"No." She said instantly. "Whatever you're thinking you're wrong."

"Look, I'm not accusing her of anything." The blonde promised softly. "All I'm saying is be careful."

"Sara and I have worked together for years. I know her." Catherine insisted.

"Okay." Laura sat back in her seat dismissively. "But look at it this way: if she were a guy, would you still trust her?"