With apologies to our followers for the time it has taken to post this chapter. A slightly longer period of time has passed for our ladies since chapter 16.
Chapter 17
The bright July sunshine streaming in through the kitchen window showed a multitude of smudges on the glass. Rather than reach for a cloth to begin cleaning, as she would have done three months before, Kate stood and watched with pleasure as the bright light reflected patterns across the room. This was a definite advantage of having agreed to Caroline's suggestion for 'Maids 'R Us' to take over the larger cleaning tasks; a note on their to-do list and the job was as good as done. She smiled again at the name chosen by the two sisters who ran the company, feeling sure that this was a breach of some copyright or other. Just as well that the small Harrogate concern had not yet come to the attention of the original corporation!
The thud of the post dropping on the mat disturbed her reverie; a small parcel from Amazon addressed to Caroline and a re-directed letter for Kate. She had done her best to advise the relevant people and companies of her change of name and address but she was grateful for the Royal Mail service which ensured the remainder continued to reach her.
"Humphreys and Gilchrist, Optometrists." Kate read aloud as she opened the letter. "Of course. Goodness, two years since my last eye test." When she moved to Harrogate she had avoided the temptation to register with one of the Opticians offering a same-day service. Her father had been a stickler for good old-fashioned customer care and in this she followed his advice. Not that 'Humphreys' existed but Mr Gilchrist followed a school of thinking similar to her father's and continued with the name of his partner although long since retired from the business. A glance at her watch told her that they would be open and she seized the opportunity to phone for an appointment.
"No trouble at all, my fault for not informing you of my change of details. Thank you very much. I'll see you on the 28th at 2 o'clock."
Kate finished her call and in order to record the appointment she reached for the calendar which had been a belated Christmas present from William. She smiled as she recalled their conversation when he had given it to the couple, soon after their reconciliation.
"William, that's very thoughtful. I love Charlie Brown."
"I know, that's why I bought it. Well, plus it was in the sale! Look inside, Kate." The young man had insisted.
It was a family planner calendar and there across the top of each column for every month he had written their names: Kate's first, followed by Caroline, William and Lawrence. She needed no confirmation from that particular member of the family about his acceptance of her relationship with his mum but it was a thoughtful and kind action which had meant a great deal to her and Caroline.
As she wrote down her Optician appointment her eyes strayed to Lawrence's column for the current week. In large letters he had written 'SUN, SAND, SEX!' Then in smaller letters, 'two out of three won't be bad! Honest, mum!'
Kate chuckled to herself but she was not sure that Caroline would see the funny side. Her wife had been nervous at Lawrence and Angus spending a week on the Amalfi Coast with their young girlfriends despite the fact that Angus' parents, as well as William and Roxy, would be there as chaperones. But the reports from school had been admirable and his GCSE forecast was excellent and so the trip was agreed, arranged and paid for by a still nervous Caroline.
So, to make the most of the time to themselves, the women were packing up to go away that very morning. It was a surprise for Kate in that she did not know their destination but she did not care. It had been a busy four months since their wedding and they were both ready for the break from school and routine. Kate glanced again at the calendar and the clinic appointment for the following week almost appeared to shout out at her. The timing of the trip was perfect, enabling them to recharge their batteries before the first treatment. Kate's eyes focused now on the one remaining column on the planner, wondering if the next year would see a baby and another name on the pages.
Suddenly, there was a voice behind her.
"Kate! Have you seen my razor?" Caroline had obviously just got out of the shower and was wrapped in a towel which barely covered her torso. Kate resisted the temptation to reach out to hold her, knowing that it would delay them indefinitely.
"No, sorry. But you're so tidy, it has to be where you left it."
"But it's not. The weather forecast is good and I can't wear shorts with hairy legs like these."
"You have got to be joking, Caroline. There's nothing to see. Your hair is so fine and blonde that it's almost non-existent."
"Oh, I bet Lawrence has run off to Italy with my razor. He'll have forgotten to buy himself a new one for his bum-fluff, as he disgustingly calls it, of facial hair! I'll put money on it. I'd ask if I could borrow yours but you don't shave. I really don't know how you can put up with waxing. Beverley says that it's incredibly painful."
"No, it's alright, honestly. The first time was a shock to my system and I screamed a bit but I certainly wouldn't go back to shaving. You ought to try it although that won't help you now. Don't worry, whichever direction we're heading I am sure we'll pass somewhere that sells razors so that you can show those fabulous legs off to the world without fretting that people are just gazing at the growth of your leg hair rather than the loveliness of your calf muscles! Now, are we going today or am I following you upstairs?"
"Ok. Ok. I'm going. You stay here. Just to be on the safe side!" With that she planted a chaste kiss on Kate's cheek and hurried away to dress.
Within an hour the Jeep was packed and the house was secured. As if preparing themselves for the days when they would have an overwhelming amount of baby things to squeeze into the car, they had both packed economically. Caroline had suggested that they each take dressy outfits for the evenings but casual and comfortable wear for the rest of their three days away. She was still refusing to tell Kate their destination but once they headed of Harrogate Kate began to consider where they were heading.
"York, it is then." She smiled and look towards her wife, who returned the smile and shook her head.
"Would you tell me if I got it right?" Kate continued with her quizzing.
Caroline merely smiled and fiddled with the volume of the radio, quietly humming along to Lilac Wine.
"Elkie Brooks really is fabulous, Kate. She's long since reached retirement age, you know."
"Changing the subject, are you? Not very subtly if I may say so! But, if that's the case, two can play at that game. Have you heard how the wedding planning is going? You mentioned that Gillian phoned you a couple of days ago but then we were diverted by something or other and I forgot all about it."
"We were diverted, dear temptress, not by something or other but by you coming out of the en-suite with the smallest towel around your hair and nothing else!" She glanced towards Kate and reached across to place her hand affectionately on her lap. "Yes. We had what might be called an interesting conversation. She's getting cold feet because she thinks that Robbie is having second thoughts. Well, that was what she told me. They're still planning ahead as if it's what they want."
"Why did you say that was what she told you? It sounds as if you have other ideas on the matter. What's Celia said?"
"Oh she's not said anything other than to give me chapter and verse on everything from the pattern on the napkins to the colour of the ribbon for Calamity's hair. My mother has invested a huge amount of time into this wedding and expects me to be equally involved. I don't know if I'm reading more into it than is actually there."
"You're not making sense. More than is actually where?"
"It's just that I've got to know Gillian quite well, as you know. Let's see how many affairs she has had since I met her." Caroline tapped her fingers against the steering wheel as she spoke. "Robbie, John, Paul, Ollie and goodness knows how many she has not got around to tell me about. She sleeps with one for a while and when it looks like she's beginning to settle, it's as if she panics and moves on to another but not necessarily finishing with the other one first, if you get my drift."
"Yes, and none of that is news. Are you just assuming that she has another one lined up or did she say something?"
Caroline turned the radio down and squeezed Kate's hand again.
"She didn't tell me about someone else but she DID mention that she has decided not to give up the supermarket job despite not needing the income now that Robbie is contributing to the farm and family. Then she mentioned a new colleague, Adam or Andy or whoever, at least four times during the phone call. If you ask me, the long and the short of it is that Robbie's having second thoughts for a very good reason and I don't mean what he thinks she may or may not have done to his brother. He must know her predilections as well, if not better, than me!"
"It's all very sad, really, Caroline. I feel sorry for Gillian as she seems stuck on a roller-coaster of self-destruction. It will, no doubt, end in tears, as my mum would say!"
"Yes, sadly, I think you are right, Kate. I just hope that mum and Alan manage to steer well clear of any fall-out. Hopefully we'll have more than enough on OUR plate in the next few months and I think we'd both prefer mum and Alan to spend more time in Halifax than Harrogate!"
"Um, I would prefer not to answer that question on the grounds that I might incriminate myself! To change the conversation yet again, did you see what Lawrence had written on the calendar?"
"Yes I saw it! Two out of three isn't bad! Heaven help us, Kate. Mind you, I am planning that we'll achieve a better score!"
"That would be four words beginning with the letter s then! Sun, sea, sex and Scarborough! I haven't been there for years. There's a lovely walk between the bays."
"No, not Scarborough!"
"If it's definitely the seaside and we're on the York road, dare I hope that it is Robin Hood's Bay?"
Caroline could keep the secret no longer. Kate's mum had told her how Kate had loved the Bay's cliff walks and scenery even as a young child. As always, Caroline loved to find ways to make her wife feel special and Kate's smile, which came when Caroline nodded her head in confirmation of their destination, was worth the world to the blonde.
…
Their few days away were magical. The hotel had been recently refurbished and the new owners, a young couple in their thirties, were eager to please and nothing was too much trouble. The food was divine and they ate extremely well at both breakfast and dinner, despite the cream cakes, ice creams and coffees taken at frequent intervals during the day.
On their last day, just as they settled outside a teashop for mid-afternoon treats, Caroline received a 'phone call from Celia. Kate looked on and listened, trying to fathom the gist of the conversation from Caroline's responses and her facial expressions. A frown slowly spread across the blonde's forehead.
"Hold on, mum, what's the problem? It's their money."
Caroline raised her eyes sky-ward in exasperation.
"Yes I know that you had helped with much of the preparations."
She held the 'phone away from her ear and put it on speakerphone. Fortunately the nearby tables were unoccupied and Kate could listen without disturbing others.
"Well, it's not fair. I am sure Alan was looking forward to giving Gillian away. It's much more appropriate a situation than the first time Gillian got wed. It's very selfish of them, that's all I can say.' Celia in full disgruntled flow continued to instill some apprehension in Kate even when the ire was directed elsewhere.
"I wonder where they got the idea from, Mum?"
Kate quickly put two and two together and came up with the right answer. Gillian and Robbie had married in secret, despite having made elaborate plans for a 'posh do' later in the summer.
"I'll ignore that remark. Alan and I had our own reasons for getting married without a fuss. Anyway, the point is, it seemed that the planned wedding was just a smokescreen and they had booked today's Register Office ceremony some weeks ago. Raff's angry. Calamity is disappointed and hasn't stopped crying."
Caroline laughed.
"Mum, Calamity is barely eighteen months old. I suspect she has no idea what any of this is about let alone feeling disappointed. If she's crying it's because the adults around her are upset and not because she's aware of the reason. Personally, I think I understand Gillian's thinking. She's not one for a fuss and certainly not into posh frocks and high heels. She'll have felt much more comfortable in a more casual setting. What is important is what Gillian and Robbie want, not the placating of other people."
Caroline wrapped a napkin around her mobile.
"What's that you say? Sorry, mum, we're in the middle of nowhere here. I think I'm losing the signal. I don't know if you can hear me. We'll be home tomorrow and I'll ring you then. Bye. Bye, bye."
The women shared an affectionate smile and as one turned their attention to the menu.
"I don't know about you, Kate, but I rather like the sound of this Lemon Drizzle cake!"