Chapter 11

Not considered the most observant individual Lawrence excelled himself that morning while preparing his breakfast as he noticed the green light flash to indicate the end of a washing cycle. Also not one to volunteer or contribute in any way to domestic tasks without direct encouragement or bribery, he surpassed expectations and actually opened the machine door.

"That's odd. Empty. Oh well. What do I care?" Not concerned enough to speculate on his discovery he returned his concentration to fried eggs and toast. Once they had been devoured in a very few mouthfuls, he continued to astound even himself by making a large pot of tea and carrying two steaming mugs through to the lounge, where he coughed loudly before entering. The door was open and the clothes strewn around the room and the iPod playing had been obvious to him as he had walked past earlier on his way to the kitchen.

As Lawrence stood in the doorway he was not surprised to see that the room was occupied. Caroline was laying on her back with her head propped up on a large number of cushions. Very little of Kate's head was visible but the four intertwined feet and lower legs poking out from the end of the throw gave no doubt as to how the two women were positioned.

"Oops, bras the same colour as carpeting are a serious trip hazard to the uninitiated! Morning mum. Morning Kate." Blue eyes stayed tight shut but Lawrence had more than a sneaky suspicion that the ladies entwined underneath the blanket were very aware of his presence and his words. He closed the door as he left the room and listened with some satisfaction to the guffaws which erupted.

"Mission accomplished! The cups of tea alone MUST ensure some special favours come my way! Today might be a good day to ask mum if I can have an upgrade on my phone when the contract ends next month!" Lawrence chuckled and smiled to himself as he headed back to his bedroom.

Caroline and Kate continued to snigger while drinking their tea.

"Bloody hell, Kate. I feel like a teenager caught snogging on the doorstep."

"Lighten up, my lovely. The throw hid our blushes! His comments about the bras on the floor tell me that he took it all in his stride, and more, most likely. He'll laugh his socks off but be too embarrassed to share his secret. Anyway, we've got work to do. Your mother and Alan are back this afternoon and we did say that we would invite them to dinner. We ought to make that something special. Also, we've got those forms to complete ready for our appointment at the clinic tomorrow, so let's set to."

"Not quite yet! If I'm going to feel embarrassed and guilty, I'd like a little something more to feel embarrassed about! Or, to put it another way, I'd like to feel a bit more of you!" Caroline matched her actions to her words and wandering hands soon found their target.

After a brief resumption of the activities of the evening before the women were more than in need of a shower and within the hour they were dressed and downstairs once again. So their day started and the women enjoyed sharing the responsibilities for shopping and preparing the meal. By seven that evening the table was set and the food was ready to serve as Celia and Alan knocked the side door.

"Wow, that smells wonderful," was Alan's opening greeting before he kissed both women on each cheek.

"It certainly does. Hello Caroline. Hello Kate. Thank you for inviting us. I have very little food in the flat so the invitation was very welcome. But more than that, it will be nice to catch up with you and your news." Celia surpassed expectations with the warmth of her comments.

The steaks were succulent, the sweet potato fries melted in the mouth and the salad was crisp so it was with some satisfaction that Kate cleared empty plates while Caroline carried the crème caramel to the table. As Kate was about to sit down she recalled that the raspberries and peaches had been left on the kitchen worktop. Sitting opposite Caroline, who was about to serve, she reached over to stroke the back of her wife's hand.

"Hold fire, sweetheart. I'll fetch the fruit."

Caroline had been alert to any sign of Celia's usual censure during the meal and this outward display of affection caused the blonde's antennae to twitch even further. While attempting to appear nonchalant, she watched out of the corner of her eye to see the smile drop from her mother's face. She waited then with bated breath for some negative verbal response. The long and the short of it was that she was expecting and fearing the start of a confrontation. She was pleasantly surprised and rather amazed that this was restricted to a slight tut, followed by a sharp intake of breath and before Kate had returned to her seat, the smile was back in place. Not only that, Kate was greeted with a compliment.

"Kate, the dinner was spectacular but I have to say that this pudding looks as if it is going to beat it. I know that praise will be due to you as Caroline couldn't put a crème caramel together if her life depended on it."

Kate blushed and very briefly looked lovingly at Caroline before turning to Celia.

"Thank you in advance, Celia. But I suggest you taste it before you give out too many compliments. It's a new recipe and I'm not the best pudding chef either so it really was a joint effort. If there's any praise due, it's the luscious Nigella Lawson who deserves it! Now, shall we all tuck in?"

"Yep. The luscious Nigella!" Lawrence drooled. All four adults looked up from their plates to see the dreamy eyed young man staring into space.

"I'd do anything to lick her spoon, give her a good basting and pluck her..."

"….that's enough Lawrence!" Caroline, in perfect headmistress mode, soon brought the daydreaming youth back down to earth.

"As much as I also like Nigella I don't need to see or hear you slobbering around the table and especially not when we're eating."

"Mum! You were the one the other day who said you wouldn't mind her teaching you a thing or two in the kitchen!" a shocked and slightly hurt Lawrence retaliated. He deliberately turned his head in Kate's direction and nodded knowingly at her.

"Oh would you now?" Kate piped in. The two women were beaming at one another and obviously in good spirits.

Seeing the newly-weds exchanging coy smiles and Lawrence still having lustful thoughts was too much for Celia.

"Disgusting, the lot of you. You two should be setting a better example to the young lad. Mind you, if you were to marry a Nigella look-a-like Lawrence, you'd have the most beautiful children. And, I have to say if I were a bloke, I would!"

Now it was everyone's turn to look astounded at Celia; Caroline opened mouthed, Kate with her hands covering her mouth, Lawrence blinking and Alan with his eyes wide open. Soon all five were laughing uncontrollably around the table, looking at one another in turn. Lawrence high-fived Kate, who in turn took Caroline's hand and pecked her on the cheek.

When they eventually settled down, they ate enthusiastically. The sighs of appreciation were disturbed by Kate's mobile bleeping as a text came in. She exchanged a sly glance with Caroline and appeared eager to leave the table.

"Coffee or tea, anyone? Or more wine?"

"Oh, coffee please. I can't drink as much as I used to, as much as I'd like to be able to!" Alan joked.

Kate pottered in the kitchen making coffee while taking the opportunity to check her mobile. She had allocated notification sounds for certain numbers and she knew without looking that the text had come in from the fertility clinic. She read the message, finished making the coffee and took it through to the table. Her excitement was palpable and, pleased to see that Alan and Celia had moved their chairs around the table and appeared engrossed in looking at photos on Lawrence's IPad, she risked a whisper across the table.

"The clinic. Reminder of the appointment in the morning!"

"Clinic? Are you unwell?" Celia was never one to miss anything and throughout the meal her antennae had been as switched on as her daughter's.

"No mum, I'm fine and so is Kate," a slightly annoyed Caroline answered. The last thing she wanted was to explain their intentions. As much as Celia had been on her best behaviour, she knew that an ignorant comment was never far away.

"So what's all this talk about clinics then? If you're ill you can tell me, you're my one and only child and I have a right to know."

"Mother will you stop panicking and take a breath." Caroline looked at Kate with raised eyebrows as she spoke. Kate knew what she was being asked and didn't like it. This baby (when it was eventually conceived) would be about her and Caroline. She didn't want Celia or anyone else involved until a) she was pregnant and b), she was safely beyond the twelve week stage.

She returned Caroline's plea with a stern look and a slight shake of her head.

"Well, why do you need an appointment at a clinic? She definitely said a reminder about the clinic."

"And who are you referring to as 'she'? Now come and have your coffee before it gets cold."