The sunlight streamed through the curtains and the smell of the sea air drifted in through the open window. Caroline turned over, reaching out her arm. It found Kate and she smiled softly and draped it over her sleeping form. She loved lazy mornings in bed and planned to do very little this holiday except spend it with her family relaxing and enjoying the beautiful part of the country where they were spending the next 7 days.

The apartment in Logans Court was in a quiet area of Carbis Bay just along the coast from St Ives. Kate had been very lucky to get it: the people letting it said that they had had a cancellation at very short notice. It had spectacular views across the bay and on a clear day, they were told that they would be able to see the lighthouse at St Ives one way and the Godrevy Lighthouse in the opposite direction. It was in a perfect tranquil location and they were only a 10 minute walk away from the beach.

Kate stirred and shifted position and Caroline nuzzled into her neck, pulling her closer. She breathed in the musky scent of Kate's perfume and kissed her neck.

"Good morning Mrs McKenzie-Dawson."

She could hear the smile in Kate's response.

"Good morning Mrs McKenzie-Dawson."

She chuckled.

"Good lord. That still sounds strange you know, hearing our names said together."

Kate turned over and kissed Caroline softly.

"I love my new name. Thank you for sharing yours with me."

"No, thank you for sharing yours with me. A new name and a new beginning."

Caroline sat up and strained her neck so she could see the cot at the other side of the room.

"Look at her, still fast asleep and snoring. The journey yesterday and the fresh air has really knocked her out. Let's make the most of the peace and quiet while we can."

Caroline cupped Kate's right breast in her hand and rubbed the nipple through the material of her pyjamas. Pressing her hand over Caroline's she moved slightly so that they were spooning very tightly. Caroline started to caress Kate's thighs, paying particular attention to the front.

"Mmmm Caroline."

Kate moaned and turned in towards Caroline so she was laying on her back. Caroline supported her own weight on her elbow and with her other hand she started to trace the contours of Kate's face.

"Have I ever told you how happy I am? I mean truly happy?"

Kate smiled and took her hand in hers and gently kissed her fingers.

"Me too. That day, when you called and I came round and sat in the garden. Do you remember? I think you had thrown a bucket of water over John or something."

Caroline laughed.

"God. I had forgotten that. Oh it was funny. You should have seen his face."

"I can imagine. Well I hadn't forgotten that day. I never will. I'd had feelings for you for a long time, you know that. But that day I started to see the real you. The vulnerable side. And I began to fall in love with you. I even optimistically started to think that we had a future together, you and me."

Caroline's eyes started to mist over.

"Really?"

"Yes. And I know that the journey hasn't been an easy one and that we have both had to put up with a lot from each other. But we are here now and the real journey is just beginning. You, me and the baby."

Kate sat up a little bit and pulled Caroline's face towards her. She kissed her with a passion that she had never known. And Caroline kissed her back, her tongue slowly exploring Kate's mouth as her senses heightened.

Moving her weight onto her arms, Caroline's mouth moved slowly down Kate's body, gently nipping at her breasts. Kate lifted her top up and over her head allowing Caroline access to her bare skin. She sucked lightly on her left nipple then worked her way along to the right one, flicking her tongue around the nub, gently fondling the fullness of them.

When she reached her belly, Caroline felt Kate stiffen and she stopped briefly, taking time to kiss and caress the scar that Kate was still so conscious about. Reaching up for Kate's hand, she squeezed it to reassure her and felt Kate relax into the bed one more.

Caroline slipped her hands inside Kate's shorts and started to pull them down, all the while kissing her mound and her thighs. Kate lifted her bottom off the bed, allowing Caroline to remove them. They were quickly on the floor.

Within seconds, Kate had parted her legs and Caroline was between them, her tongue expertly pleasuring her, her fingers slipping gently in and out. It was a very slow and sensual encounter demonstrating the love that Caroline had for Kate and when she finally climaxed, Caroline's kisses and attention travelled back up her body until their faces were level.

"Wow, what a way to start the day."

Caroline laughed and kissed her on the nose.

"Wow indeed."


Caroline served Kate breakfast on the balcony and they sat with the sun on their faces looking out to sea.

"What do you want to do today? We could take the train to St Ives. It isn't far away.

Kate put down her cup.

"What? You on public transport?

Caroline laughed.

"I'll have you know that I have been on that train many times. When John and I …. Oh sorry Kate. Anyway, we could do that or we could to go the Barbara Hepworth sculpture garden. I have never been there."

"Ooo, that sounds interesting. And Caroline, you don't need to keep apologising for talking about your past with John. I make no apologies for bringing Richard into the conversation. During my time with him, I realised who I really was and what I really wanted."

Caroline reached across the table and took her hand.

"I know but there is a lot I feel I need to apologise for where John is concerned believe you me. I feel like most of my married life was spent apologising to people for his behaviour. Sending letters and flowers to colleagues and friends the morning after the night before. Anyway, that really is all in the past now. The sculpture garden it is then. I'll go and pack Flora's bag which you finish your coffee. Will you be OK with walking?"

Since the accident, Kate had been having physiotherapy on her leg. It wasn't badly damaged but she had lost quite a lot of muscle tone when she was in hospital. Since she had returned home, she regularly took Flora out for small walks to the shops and back to increase her physical activity. She was even contemplating joining the local gym.

"No, I'll be fine. A walk will do me the world of good. I don't want to get out of the habit just because we are on holiday."

Caroline kissed her lightly on the lips as she leaned over and picked up some plates from the table.

"Just as long as you are sure. We can always take the car."

Kate laughed.

"What you mean is YOU would rather take the car. Let's compromise. You drive to the sculpture park and we will walk around the gardens a while."

Caroline bent down and kissed her again.

"You know me so well!"


By the end of their tour around the sculpture garden, Kate was starting to tire and Caroline tactfully gave over the pushchair to her so that she would have something to support her a little bit. She covered her left hand with her own and stroked the back of it with her thumb as they walked towards the exit.

"This is a remarkable place. Barbara Hepworth has to be one of the twentieth century's most important sculptors."

Caroline was flicking through the guide book and looking at the illustrations. The look on Kate's face told her she had had enough and she made a decision to leave.

"Right, I think we have seen them all. How about a drink and some late lunch?"

She looked at her watch.

"Gosh, it will be a very late lunch. I can't believe Flora hasn't woken up yet. She will be ready for her bottle by the time we get to the café."

Leaning into the pram, Caroline swept her hair off her tiny face with her finger and smiled down at the sleeping baby.

After a brief look at the menu boards, Kate chose a table in the corner of the café and unstrapped Flora from the pram, taking off her cardigan and smoothing down her dress. Caroline went to get their food.

"Caroline? Caroline? Oh my God. I thought it was you."

As she looked around, Caroline was staring into the face of Dan, the partner of Elizabeth who had nursed Kate back to health.

Caroline was speechless and stared open mouthed.

"What what what err good lord. Dan!"

She opened her arms and embraced Dan, kissing her on both cheeks. She scanned the room for Elizabeth and the boys.

"What are you doing here? Are you here alone?"

Dan smiled coyly.

"I would love to say no but the truth of the matter is yes, I am here on my own."

"Here here or just here at the museum?"

Dan smiled.

"No just here at the museum. Elizabeth and the boys at back in St Ives. I couldn't face another day on the beach. Isn't that awful? I mean I love the boys and I love playing with them. I just don't love the sand. It gets everywhere and in everything. So I came here. It was on my list of things to do and they would have absolutely hated it. How about you?"

"Do I like the beach? Not much."

Caroline pulled a face and Dan laughed.

"I didn't mean that. I meant are you here on your own."

As Caroline shook her head, Dan looked around and spotted Kate in the corner.

"Do you mind if I join you? I am craving some adult conversation. There are only so many times that you can pretend the minions are funny."

"I know! What is that all about? Little yellow men dressed in dungarees."


As Caroline placed the tray on the table, she whispered to Kate through pursed lips.

"You will never guess who is here. Here as in this café. Don't look now! I said don't loooo oh, you did! Yes Dan. You know Dan. Brain surgeon. Lives with Elizabeth. 2 small boys."

Kate opened her mouth and then snapped it shut again. She craned her neck to look around the restaurant.

"Yes I know which Dan you meant. God Caroline, she's coming over. Pretend you haven't seen her."

Caroline shrugged.

"It's a bit late for that now. She spotted me and spoke to me. Smile and be nice to her."

"Kate! How lovely to see you."

Kate half rose from the chair and extended her hand.

"What a lovely surprise Dan. Of all the places in all the world."

Dan pulled up a chair and peered at Flora.

"Aww, how pretty is she? Does she sleep at all the right times?"

Kate smiled.

"Usually but she has slept for the last 3 hours so she will probably be up half the night with colic or something."

Caroline rolled her eyes and groaned.

"Tell me about it! So Dan, what brings you here? To St Ives I mean. It's a long way to travel from Harrogate."

Dan shifted in her chair and crossed her legs.

"I could say the same to you. I don't know. Elizabeth wanted to come. Said she had heard some nice things about it and that it was the place to holiday this year. She came home just last week and said she had booked something. It was a nightmare to get the time off work at such short notice. How about your two?"

Kate jumped in.

"That's funny. I only mentioned to Elizabeth a couple of weeks ago that I was thinking of booking a week here at the start of the summer holidays. I wonder if I put the idea into her head. It seems like a strange coincidence that we are both here at the same time."

Caroline opened her eyes at Kate to indicate that she had said too much and cut into the conversation. Kate pretended not to notice and she picked up the bottle that was warming in the jug of hot water. Flora greedily sucked at it.

"Err well, I used to come here a lot with the boys when they were little and Kate always wanted to see the place. So she surprised me didn't you Kate?"

"Something like that. Excuse me. I think Flora needs changing."

Kate slammed the bottle back into the water, causing it to splash everywhere. She stood up and grabbed the bag off the back of the pram and headed towards to the toilets leaving Caroline feeling a little embarrassed. She could hear Flora wailing long after she had closed the toilet door.

"Sorry. She must be tired. Kate I mean. The baby is just hungry. We have walked a fair bit today and she's just not used to it after the operation and everything."

Dan held her hands up.

"No, it's OK. Don't apologise. I imagine what she must feel like to have someone interrupt their holiday. She might even feel a little threatened."

The hairs on the back of Caroline's neck rose.

"Threatened? Why would Kate feel threatened?"

Dan leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees and her hands clasped together. She was surprisingly close to Caroline's face.

"You tell me Caroline."

Caroline shot back in her chair and crossed her legs. She started playing with the spoon on the table.

"Come on, don't go all shy on me."

Caroline looked up, trying to avoid Dan's stare.

"Well well I I erm could could mmmm could you be suggesting, oh my god you really are not suggesting that you and me, me and you ..."

Dan stood to leave.

"I am not the one who brought it up Caroline, you are. Say goodbye to Kate for me."

Caroline watched Dan leave, almost too shocked to shout after her or to respond.


When Kate returned with Flora, she was relieved to see that Caroline was sat on her own. She placed her hand on her shoulder as she passed.

"Was it something I said because I certainly hope so."

She sat down and handed Flora to Caroline who took the bottle of milk from the jug and continued to feed her.

"I'm sorry Caroline but I just don't like her. I know that you got on OK with her when we met but there is just something I can't quite fathom."

Caroline was stroking the back of Flora's hand, playing with her fingers. Her gaze never met Kate's.

"Well I've changed my mind. I don't like Dan either. I don't like her at all."

Kate sensed a chill in her voice.

"Caroline, has something happened?"

Caroline lifted her head.

"What makes you think that? No, no, nothing's happened. Just something she said that's all. It's not important."

"It clearly is. She has upset you hasn't she? Caroline?"

She shifted uncomfortably in the chair, lifting Flora up over her shoulder. She gently rocked her backwards and forwards, rubbing her back.

"Wind. If I don't get it all up, she won't rest. You know what she is like."

"Caroline, stop avoiding the issue. What exactly did Dan say?"

She wasn't going to let it lie and Caroline stood up and walked over to the window.

"I think she has, that she has a a thing for me. That she likes me."

There was silence and Caroline waited a full 2 minutes before she slowly turned around. Kate was staring at her.

"She didn't say as much but she said that you might feel threatened by her being here and when I said, when I asked her if she was suggesting what I thought she was suggesting, she made out as though it was all my doing. As if it was me that was coming on to her. But I'm not Kate. I find her interesting but I am not mildly attracted to her."

Kate stood up and took her coat off the back of the chair.

"You do believe me don't you?"

Kate let out a short laugh and kissed Caroline full on the lips.

"Of course I do. You wouldn't have told me all that if you were interested in her. Now, I don't know about you, but I have had enough here. Come on, let's head back. A little afternoon siesta won't do any of us any harm."