It was too late for lunch and too early for supper when an indecisive Kate stood at the counter of her favourite café. Everything was tempting but Kate had made so many decisions while marking student work during the morning that her mind was fatigued. Sick of dithering, she chose her favourite coffee and the food nearest the tongs — a quiche. She paid and plonked herself in her usual chair by the window so she could watch the town pass by, the lovely spring day encouraging her mind to wander. There seemed to be more activity on the high street today and she presumed the warmer weather was enticing more people outside.
There was something very human in her need for company in the busy cafe. It was a break from the solitude of her home and cheered her up after the misery of having to fail one too many students' Italian tests, which told her she needed to find another way to get through to 9F. She sighed and distractedly rotated her cup, letting herself become absorbed by the patterns of light and shade visited upon the liquid.
A bright light flashed across her eye and she looked up to see a shiny black SUV being awkwardly squeezed into a parking space across the street. She narrowed her eyes, silently judging the environmentally-unaware dolt driving. She preferred her little fuel-efficient Fiat, which had the added attraction of being easy to whip into the tight parking spaces so common around Harrogate.
Expecting to see a muscle-bound bloke or a plaid-shirted woman erupt from it, she was surprised to witness an elegant high-heeled shoe and shapely calf emerge as the door swung open. Further judgement sabotaged by the seductive form on view, Kate apologised quietly in her head to the woman. When the rest of the attractive body emerged from the car, she was shocked to find its owner was her very married boss. She may not have recognised the car but she should have recognised the legs considering how often she checked them out. She ruefully chuckled to herself even as she felt something stir inside. Watching Caroline was better than any jolt of caffeine and her body was more awake than it had been all day.
From the safety of her perch, Kate continued observing Caroline until she disappeared into a small jewelry store on the other side of the road. She admired how well put together her boss always seemed and was curious to find what the enigmatic Caroline might be like away from Sulgrave Heath. Postulation about Caroline's home life was an intermittent pastime of hers, and she doubted if Caroline's husband appreciated just how hot his wife was. Kate had once met the disappointing bloviate at a parent-teacher night and it had only taken a few minutes to become completely mystified as to what Caroline might see in him.
Kate took a couple of bites of her quiche, the peppery notes clearing her sinuses. She had another sip of her coffee to soften the spices when the mobile in her pocket began vibrating. She knew even before looking that it would be a call from her mum. No matter how many times she assured her she was fine, she knew her mum worried and always checked in on weekends. Not in the mood for a long chat — she'd hate to miss the opportunity to study her boss in action during the weekend — Kate quickly texted that she would call her mum once she was home. She resumed scanning the street for another glimpse of Caroline. Not that she was a stalker, but if Caroline happened to be passing, then she'd happily enjoy the view.
Sulgrave Heath was a wonderful private school but it was a big shift from her more secure position at the state school in Leeds. It was Ginika who'd encouraged Kate to leave. Ginika had been concerned about Kate moving away from her friends and support system, but Kate had been relieved not to be continually faced with all their friends' children as a reminder of her inability to carry her own to term. It had hit Richard just as hard, and their combined grief had shipwrecked the marriage. The split had been sad rather than bitter, but they'd come to realise that there wasn't much left between them once children weren't an option. She lifted her cup, cradling it in her hands for a moment before taking a sip, thinking about her ticking biological clock. She listened to the scrape of well-worn china as the cup found its place on the saucer again and turned her attention out the window to push away the dull, empty ache.
Unaware of her audience across the street, Caroline discovered she was the only patron as she entered the jewelry store. Her watch had died that morning and needed a new battery. Getting it replaced during the afternoon seemed like a clever move to ensure she avoided her prick of a husband — due to drop Lawrence home at 4pm — while she was still so tempted to throw heavy objects at the adulterous shit. She was happy the jeweller could offer prompt service, but it left her in a quandary about where to go next to kill some time.
Recognising the quiet rumbling of her empty stomach as she stepped outside onto the footpath, her attention was drawn to the little cafe across the street. It had been hours since breakfast and with the adrenaline of buying her new car wearing off, she needed some sustenance.
Caroline crossed the street, entered the cafe with purpose and bowled straight up to the counter, focused on food and coffee. Kate had clocked Caroline breezing past her, the scent of Caroline's expensive perfume lingering bewitchingly in her wake. Kate's pulse quickened, as riding alongside the tantalising aroma came the anticipation of chatting with Caroline outside the school grounds. They'd never had a discussion about anything other than work, so she had no idea what Caroline would be like. She turned to watch her boss with open interest, waiting for her to finish ordering so she could flag her down.
Caroline gave efficient instructions to the pimply young chap behind the counter before pivoting on her heels to take in the rest of the establishment and look for a seat. It was then that Kate, waving an invitation to join her, caught Caroline's eye. Caroline smiled and waved back, and walked over to give Kate a proper hello. Caroline was secretly pleased to have someone to sit with, even if only for a few minutes. The endorphins from having just bought the Jeep were still galloping through her veins and she wasn't entirely sure she could contain her excitement.
A keen observer of all things Caroline, Kate could tell there had been something different about her boss during the last few days. Her step had been less sure walking down the aisle during assembly yesterday, and she looked like she hadn't been sleeping well. Today, however, she looked much more spritely. Kate was inclined to ask about it but the thought disappeared in a flash of distraction as Caroline removed her suit jacket and hung it over the back of her chair. She was wearing a soft pink blouse that pulled a little tightly over her chest and Kate's eyes were drawn down the gentle line of exposed flesh towards its nadir. There was the added bonus of one less button in use than usual and Kate was trying desperately not to be mesmerised by the enticing cleavage on display, dragging her eyes up to Caroline's face only a millisecond before Caroline would have noticed. Blinking rapidly, she shifted nervously in her seat while Caroline settled into hers.
"Fancy meeting you here at this hour. Late lunch?" Caroline asked, feeling a little awkward as her stomach rumbled again, impatiently waiting for her coffee.
Trying to act nonchalant, pretending she had no personal agenda, Kate responded brightly, "I had a late breakfast so this just might be more like a really early dinner. How about you?"
"Just killing time," Caroline found herself admitting. "I'll have to get dinner for the boys in a bit so it's just a shortbread and a decaf to tide me over." In truth, the late night oatmeal biscuits had restarted her insatiable sweet tooth. She knew she was sublimating her emotions but she was too thrilled with her new car to care. She almost shimmied in her seat at the sight of it across the street, all gleaming and solid.
"If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your Volvo? Did you get a new car?" Before Caroline could answer, the young lad placed her order on the table and Kate, hoping to extend their chance meeting, took the opportunity to ask him for another espresso.
"That's what I've been doing all day," Caroline chirped, her excitement obvious. "Selected, negotiated and purchased, all in a day."
"Well done!" Kate almost clapped, but managed to pull herself back from this embarrassment. "It took me almost a month when I bought my Fiat." Her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own and dropped down that seductive cleavage again before she quickly rescued them. She noticed a hint of lacy bra this time and it nearly undid her. She gripped her legs tightly, knuckles white with effort, willing her mind to forget. "Does that explain the outfit?"
"Guilty," Caroline confessed. "You know what salesmen are like..."
Kate nodded slowly before allowing herself to look appreciatively at Caroline's clothes, enjoying how the expensive cloth was filled by the curves underneath. Reflexively she swallowed before jumping onto the topic of the car again to avoid making a total git of herself. "I thought it looked brand spanking new. It's impressive. Did you trade in your Volvo, or John's car, or did you keep one for William?" Thrashing her way through her discomfort, Kate jumped into fairly personal questions but to her relief, Caroline didn't seem to notice.
"John's old wreck? I don't imagine they'd give him a quid for that mobile rubbish tip but John loves it. Says it keeps him real. Misguided idiot." She'd meant the last bit to be unspoken but as soon as it was out there she knew she couldn't take it back. She took a sip of her coffee to regroup before continuing, although traces of sarcasm bled through. "He says it gives him the everyman view of the world to channel into his writing." She looked up again at Kate, adding more cheerfully, "William won't need a car until after university so I traded mine in."
Kate was enjoying seeing this side of Caroline and wanted to know more without appearing to be nosy, so she shifted the conversation back to the car. "What's it like driving something that big?"
"Parking it was a little intimidating," Caroline confessed with a self-deprecating laugh.
"I noticed," Kate cajoled as she gave Caroline a sly smile.
Caroline chuckled and nodded wistfully. "It is nice to be up that high though. It has its advantages," Caroline continued, a vision of the woman's sensuous legs in the convertible popping into her mind. She shook her head quickly to clear that little recollection. "It feels safer somehow, like I'm more in control." Caroline slowed her words as she spoke, realising just how much her need for control was controlling her at present.
"Bet it will come in handy soon when you're ferrying William to and from university," Kate said with a smile. She always smiled when she thought about William as he was one of her favourite students, not just because he was a link to Caroline, but because he was so smart and considerate.
"I'm in a bit of denial about that; it's coming way too quickly for my comfort," Caroline conceded. "I just don't know where the last 18 years have gone. Seems like only yesterday we were chasing him around in his paddling pool." She dropped her eyes to her coffee, temporarily lost in a fog of memory.
"You and John must be very proud." Recognising Kate wasn't giving lip service, Caroline beamed in response.
The rattle of an approaching cup on its saucer heralded the arrival of Kate's coffee before Caroline could answer. They both sat back and waited for Kate to be served, which gave them a moment to pause. There was an inchoate sense that they liked one another but the possibility of a more genuine connection lay just beyond reach. Caroline nibbled on her biscuit before jumping in to breach the slightly awkward silence.
"I always marvel at people who can drink regular coffee at this hour of the day. I'd be up all night if I did that," Caroline shared. She had visions of even less sleep than she was currently getting and her body momentarily sagged.
"Caffeine has never bothered me." Kate grinned, poking a little at her boss "Of course, I'm hoping to finish my marking tonight so I can have tomorrow off — the extra caffeine might be really welcome."
Caroline snorted. "I'll think of you tonight while I'm reworking the budget for the sports department for next term."
Kate's gaze bore into Caroline, her mind a whirlpool trying to interpret additional layers of meaning in the simple line.
Caroline continued on obliviously. "I don't remember the last time I had a totally free day. I'll take Lawrence to his rugby and then it will be the endless housework." She finished her coffee and shifted in her seat. "Speaking of which, I'd better go."
Caroline stood, a hand brushing crumbs off her skirt while Kate looked on, trying not to imagine her own hand in its place. Caroline pulled her jacket snuggly into place before picking up her handbag. "It was lovely to see you Kate. I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow."
Kate was so distracted that she had to vigorously shake herself back to the present. She sprang out of her chair, trying to remain on a somewhat even footing with her boss. "Thank you. Good luck with your budget."
"Thank you Kate. I'll see you on Monday. Bye bye."
One minute Caroline was there, and the next she was gone, the door closing slowly in her wake as if it too felt the loss of her presence as acutely as Kate. Kate watched Caroline dash across the road to her shiny black car, blonde hair flying in the breeze.
Once Caroline disappeared into the Jeep, Kate sat down with a heavy thump, her mind grasping at several strands of their conversation simultaneously. Unexpectedly, the dizzying effect Caroline had on her was even more pronounced outside work and she didn't quite know how that was possible.
Thinking about their exchange after getting home, Kate couldn't untangle everything that had happened, but she knew desire had boldly trumpeted its way through the time she'd spent with Caroline. She guessed they had things in common though, so when Kate finally called her mum, she told her she might have made a new friend. A friendship was definitely possible. Highly likely. Well, conceivable. At least she hoped so.