"Hey there. Sorry I didn't get to check in with you before I left. Did you get them?"

"I assumed you stopped by and I missed you. My meeting ran long. Yes, I got them. We're looking forward to it," Angela said with a conspiratorial tone in her voice. "So where are you Nikki?"

"I'm about an hour outside of Harrogate. Thank Heavens for the sat nav. Send me a photo of them please so I can show her."

"Will do. How's the new car?"

"It rides and drives like a dream. I'm pleased so far. Of course trying to park this thing is ridiculous," said Nikki as she checked her rear view mirror.

"I still can't believe you got rid of that cute Jag convertible for a four door. What's Caroline going to say?" Angela loved that classic car that had belonged to Nikki's parents; she knew it was unreliable but envied it all the same.

"I'm a little nervous about what she will think but I figured if I asked her for her opinion beforehand she might get spooked. I just couldn't think about hauling a family around in that car even though I loved it since I was a kid. When I was with Pat I had my little sports car and she had the family van which I refused to drive. I'm not going to do that to Caroline. This time I want to be all in."

"I hope she knows how lucky she is that you care so much. I bet that if it weren't for Jaguar coming out with the F Pace you would still have that little vehicle."

"Hmmm. I'm not going to justify that with a response." Nikki said with a laugh. She loved the back and forth banter with Angela; only a good friend could know her so well.

"So are you ready for this reality weekend?" Angela twisted the cord of her office phone around her right index finger as she talked.

'Ready or not, here it comes."

"What's on the agenda?"

"Actually, we decided to play most of it by ear. She's cooking tonight and I said I wanted to cook for her tomorrow night. Sunday her family will come over for an early brunch before I head home. I think I'm going to meet everyone who's anyone. I've heard so much about this cast of characters it should be interesting." Nikki put her turn signal on and changed lanes to get around a slow driver.

"How can you seem so calm about everything? I think I'd feel like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs if I was going under the microscope like that."

"She tells me that everyone is supportive of her dating again and I already know her mum. I can't wait to get to know Flora better. I'm just worried about how she will feel with me being in Kate's bed."

"That's what I'm talking about. Just take your cues from her and give her space if she needs it. I'll bet she's already thought about having to face that issue and has a plan. Good luck and have fun."

"Will do but please keep your phone close in case I need you this weekend and don't forget to send me that picture. Bye."

"You'll be fine but I'm here if you need me. Bye."

Nikki noticed the cloud cover getting thicker the closer she got to Harrogate. A light rain started to fall as she navigated her exit off the motorway. She hoped that wasn't an omen.

The rain was still falling when she pulled into the drive. Caroline pulled in minutes before and was on the lookout for her as she wanted a chance to greet her alone outside. Nicola was relieved to see that she had the biggest grin on her face as she opened her front door.

"New wheels?" It wasn't what she expected to say in greeting, but she was stunned to see the shiny white car that made her Jeep look a little dated and small.

"I thought it was time for a grown-up car. I wanted something more reliable than the old Jag. Do you like it?"

"It's gorgeous. I never would have pegged this as your style though. Wow. It's got that new car smell." Caroline wondered what was really behind the purchase but didn't ask. She knew Nicola had a penchant for convertibles so this was definitely out of character for her.

"Enough about the car. Come here and give me a proper hello," she said in an attempt to change the subject. Caroline dutifully melted into her arms as all her nerves about the weekend settled down.

She helped Nicola carry in her bags. Although she was curious why she had two of them for just a two-night stay she didn't ask. After introductions were done, Caroline asked Lawrence to take the bags upstairs, but before he could do so, Nicola stopped him in his tracks as she had presents in the one bag for everyone. Lawrence received a classic, collectible Spiderman comic book that instantly made him smile and Greg received a classic Dick Tracy comic book. They quickly took their leave to go devour their comics together, leaving the ladies and Flora alone.

"I have something for Flora too," she said, reaching into the bag and pulling out a large gift-wrapped square box. Caroline opened it to reveal a Beatrix Potter set of plates that looked both old and pristine at the same time.

"If I didn't know any better I would say these are original issue. They are beautiful. Where did you find them?"

"Well, they were mine as a child. I discovered them when I was cleaning out the folks' house last year and kept them for sentimental reasons. Ever since I met Flora I have wanted her to have them."

Caroline was touched. So much so that she leaned over to kiss her. "You're very thoughtful. Are you sure you want to part with them since they are a part of your childhood?"

"Absolutely. I have something for you too," she said as she retrieved the last package from the bag. "It's just a silly thing I wanted you to have."

As Caroline opened it, she found a robe from the spa they stayed in the first time they made love. "It's not a silly little thing at all, it's a very thoughtful," she replied, swallowing hard to remove the newly formed lump in her throat. She didn't realize Nicola was so sentimental, but the gesture made her feel loved and it was a feeling she wanted to get use to again.

They moved into the kitchen so Caroline could check on dinner. "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"You bet. What a great kitchen, Caroline. It has such clean lines and just seems like you. Did you design it?"

"Yes. It's one of the main reasons I didn't want to sell the house after the divorce. I struggled so much to keep it but lately I've been getting into a head space where I am thinking of selling it after Lawrence goes off to college. I realize it's much bigger than I need, particularly now that Alan and Mum are spending more time at Gillian's."

"Well, I wouldn't make any rash decisions. It's a beautiful place and I sense you've been happy here."

"I have but I've come to realize it takes more that just a house to make a home."

"Hmmm. Do you need help with anything?"

"I think dinner is about ready. Why don't you call the boys in and I'll get everything to the table."

As they settled into the salmon dinner Caroline prepared especially for Nicola, Caroline sat back in her chair and listened to Nicola and the boys getting to know each other. She noted how at ease everyone seemed from the get go.

"Nicola, I'm dying to know what Caroline was like back in her school days. What can you share?" Greg was his usual inquisitive self.

"Please call me Nikki, Greg. Everyone does." Before she had a chance to answer, Caroline put up a bit of protest about being the main subject of conversation. Completely ignoring her plea for leniency, Nicola responded, "If you think she was a serious, hardworking, teacher's pet, well, you would be correct. But she was also playful and had a wicked sense of humor." She went on to recount the tale of the infamous pasties they baked and fed to the boys one day when they were particularly bored in class.

Lawrence seemed to hit it off with her as well. They talked American football and he was impressed to hear that she had been to a couple of Super Bowl games as she was a huge New England Patriots fan due to her years in graduate school in Boston.

As the night unfolded, the four of them settled into the lounge to watch a movie after Flora was tucked away in her crib for the night. Part way into the movie, Caroline found herself watching Nicola instead of the flick. She marveled at how right it seemed to have her in the house. She had been nervous about having her in Kate's space but found it comfortable instead of awkward. After a bit of waiting for Caroline to turn her focus back to the movie but didn't, Nicola made eye contact and whispered, "Are you all right?" Caroline took her hand in hers, nodded her head and leaned in for a surreptitious kiss. "Everything is more than all right."

Just before midnight they all headed upstairs. As they were saying goodnight, she learned that Lawrence and Greg planned to head out early to attend a Comic Con while the ladies would be spending the day with Flora. Caroline was no longer left to wonder how Greg persuaded Lawrence to clean his room and be on his best behaviour.

As they entered Caroline's bedroom, Nicola felt some butterflies in her stomach. She was amazed at how relaxed Caroline seemed all night and figured this was the make or break time.

Caroline seemed unaffected. As soon as they were in the center of the room, she wrapped Nicola in a bear hug and started a long, deep kiss. As they came up for air, she said, "I've wanted to do that all night."

"You'll hear no complaints from me if indeed you do that all night," Nicola teased. Caroline released her and moved to the dresser. She opened an empty drawer and suggested that Nicola use it so she wouldn't be living out of her weekender bag.

The next kiss they shared was when they met in the center of the bed a few minutes later. The rain was starting to fall again and they could hear the drops pelting against the window.

"What is it about the sound of rain when I'm with you that makes me go all weak in the knees?" Caroline reminisced. There was something about the rain that she found more relaxing than any playlist she could think of at the moment.

"I know what you mean," she responded. "A little bit of rain and all my hesitancy seems to just get washed away." She pulled back to see if Caroline caught her double meaning. It was her way of gauging how she was coping with her being on what she assumed was Kate's side of the bed.

Caroline rolled away from her to turn out the light on the nightstand, making the room dark. As she rolled back, she let out a soft sigh as she was suddenly filled with a sense of belonging. "I was afraid I'd tense up but there's no hesitancy on my end tonight. In fact, I'm all in."