Chapter Two – Well look who's here!
The Jeep crunched down the driveway as the two women drove off for their brief getaway. Kate leant over and kissed Caroline's cheek. "This is a lovely surprise thank you."
"I only wish we'd stuck to our original idea of a little function room; we could still have done that for our reception after the registry office, and had the whole weekend at a hotel away from everyone, especially my miserable mother."
"Don't think of her Caroline, let it rest and let's have a Celia free twenty four hours or so."
"Well you certainly started that well for me last night." Smiling sideways at Kate, she could feel her body stirring at the sheer mention and memory of their night. Making love to Kate was like the culmination of years of waiting for something she knew was bubbling inside her. Even the early passionate days of her marriage to John bore no resemblance to what she always felt with Kate.
After a while, Caroline pulled into a posh cafe in Harrogate and they ordered a champagne breakfast. The young waitress who took their order was pleasant and asked "is this a special occasion?"
Kate waved her hand towards Caroline and beamed, "Yes we got married yesterday." The young woman seemed momentarily stunned but soon broke into a wide smile and congratulated them. Moments later she returned with two glasses of bucks fizz and proudly said; "These are on the house, we all hope you'll be very happy." The Maitre D' smiled and waved over as Caroline gestured to him in gratitude.
"How nice Caroline, a lovely start to our day."
After their delicious breakfast Caroline asked, "Kate, would you like to do some baby shopping before we go to the spa?"
"No I would not. Much as I love this little one," rubbing her tummy as she spoke, "I'm only interested in us today."
They drove out to Middlethorpe where Caroline had called ahead and asked for an early check in; she had also booked a massage for them together, before lunch. She dropped Kate at the hotel entrance and then went to park the car. As she walked through the doors with their luggage, she saw Kate was waiting at reception to complete their paperwork. Caroline also noticed a tall forty-something man some metres away staring at Kate. She thought nothing of it at that moment.
"Good morning ladies, are you here to check in?"
"Yes please, Dr and Mrs Mckenzie-Dawson." The young fellow behind the desk looked from one woman to the other. "Er, yes of course Mrs McKenzie-Dawson;" looking directly at Caroline. Grinning, Kate cut in; "Actually I'm Mrs McKenzie-Dawson and this," she nodded to Caroline, "Is my wife, Dr McKenzie-Dawson." The young man redeemed his nervousness and simply said, "Of course, wrong of me to presume."
Once checked in they both turned from the desk and Kate bent over to pick up her bag. As she stood up, the man who had been staring at her, strode over to them, Caroline looked at him, but he had eyes only for Kate, which momentarily sent a shiver down her spine.
"Kate, well look who's here, fancy meeting you," holding his arms open for a hug.
"Kate moved into the hug, but Caroline could see it was not entirely positive.
After quickly pulling away, Kate looked at Caroline, "Darling, this is Richard."
Hearing the word 'darling' Richard's face lost its colour as he turned and looked at Caroline. There was an uncomfortable pause before his manners kicked in and he held out his hand. "Hello I'm Richard." Caroline took his hand and through a rather wan smile simply said, "Hello, I'm Caroline."
"Well, look at you; you're obviously having a baby Kate."
"Yes" she pointed to her tummy, "this is a bit of a give-away."
He let out an unconvincing titter. Sensing his discomfort, Kate explained, "Caroline is my wife Richard, actually this is our honeymoon, we were married yesterday, and our baby is due next month."
"Wow, erm well erm congratulations both of you. I had no idea you were erm you know."
Kate cut in here; "Dating a woman? In another relationship? Pregnant? What Richard?"
"Well all of the above, if I'm honest. Last time I heard you were teaching at some posh girls' school and living alone."
"Both of which were true until eighteen months ago. Caroline is the Principal of the posh school. That's how we met."
At that moment a slightly younger looking woman walked towards them and slipped her arm through Richards. "Sally this is Kate my ex-wife and her new wife Caroline." Handshakes were exchanged all round.
Richard suggested that they might all have coffee together once Caroline and Kate were settled. At this point, Caroline chimed in, "Oh we'd love to but I'm sorry we have a massage booked in at the spa in fifteen minutes." Kate smiled; she could usually rely on Caroline's quick response in such situations.
"Oh well, Ok but I would like to catch up Kate, if that would be possible."
"Richard, under any other circumstances, I might be tempted, but I am on my honeymoon; remember?"
"Yes, yes of course, I'm sorry." There was an uncomfortable pause.
"Well if you'll excuse us then, we need to go to our room. Have a good weekend." with that, the two women picked up their bags and walked towards the lifts.
Once in the lift, Caroline exhaled deeply, "Wow; that was a bolt out of the blue. I saw him staring at you when I came in but I didn't think anything of it except, eyes off mate, that's my wife."
Kate grinned and squeezed Caroline's hand. "Well he's the last person I would have expected to meet, we haven't been in contact since all our legal business finshed. In fact I don't think I still have his phone number."
They reached their hotel room and Caroline swiped them in. It was a lovely large room overlooking the garden. It was too cool to open the window completely but Kate pushed it slightly to fill the room with fresh air. As she looked out, she saw Richard and Sally deep in conversation; almost as if they were arguing about something. Looking at him, Kate felt a bit torn. She certainly didn't want to lose or spoil any time with Caroline, but part of her wanted to ask him how he was and fill him in on how happy she was.
She felt Caroline's arms slide round her waist and her lips kiss the side of her face. "Are you ready darling? Shall we go and start our massage?"
Kate took one last look at Richard and turned and followed Caroline out of the room and they headed to the spa.
"Sally, I think it's only fair that I tell her." Richard pressed as he stared at his wife. "What good will it do? She's pregnant now so I don't see the point, and I don't want to see the pity in her eyes."
"Trust me, I need to do this, and it's probably better in that case that you don't come with me."
"Oh no you don't; I want to be there Richard; I want to see her reaction; I need to know that it really will still be over if you tell her."
Coming from the spa, the two women were walking out of the front door to have a stroll in the garden before lunch when Richard and Sally appeared again.
"Kate, Kate, wait a minute, I really don't want to intrude, but could we have ten minutes together?"
Caroline stared at him in disbelief. Kate looked at her as if trying to ascertain how her wife would feel if she agreed.
"Well, I suppose ten minutes, if you really want to, but I would ask that Caroline and Sally join us."
"Of course Kate. Shall we sit over here in the garden and I'll ask them to bring us a drink. Could I tempt you both with a congratulatory champagne?"
"No, not for Kate, obviously, and I try not to drink until the sun goes down." Caroline stated.
"Of course, sorry, that was unthinking. Would you like tea or coffee?"
They all ordered a coffee and exchanged pleasantries about the hotel until the waiter brought their drinks.
Caroline could sense that Sally was uncomfortable with this little tete-a-tete. She looked on the verge of tears.
"Kate there's something I think I should tell you. I want you to know, especially since you are pregnant now. I've thought long and hard about trying to get in touch with you; I guess this chance meeting has become an opportunity."
Kate's brow furrowed. "What."
"Well you know that part of the reason our relationship failed was because we kept losing our babies?"
Kate looked down into her lap. Caroline felt incensed. "Now wait a minute, do you really think Kate wants to drag all that up when she is so close to the joy of delivering a healthy baby?"
Richard looked ashamed but carried on regardless. "I understand you feeling protective Caroline but just bear with me please."
Caroline put her arm around Kate's shoulder and pulled her close. Kate whispered, "It's OK darling, let him say what he needs to."
"Kate, Sally and I have been trying for a family too; however we have also suffered two miscarriages." Sally's eyes filled with tears. Kate felt such sadness on her behalf.
"I have been to have the tests recently, the ones you asked me to have and I refused, to my shame now. The genetic specialist has discovered that I have a rare chromosomal deformity which causes problems in the foetus and in most cases ends in a miscarriage."
Kate's mouth fell open as did Caroline's. No one spoke for several seconds. Sally was dabbing her eyes; Caroline was fixed on Kate and held her even tighter, Kate looked only at Richard.
"I don't know what to say Richard. This is a lot to take in."
"I know, but I thought it was only fair to at last lay the blame where it should be, and say I'm sorry I put it all on you."
"Thank you." A tiny whisper through Kate's now flowing tears.
At this point, Caroline stepped in; "I think we might end this conversation for now. It is obviously very raw and I can't have Kate upset, not today of all days. If you'll excuse us." With that she lifted her wife out of the chair and taking her hand gently got her back to their room. She helped Kate up on to the bed and lay beside her. They didn't talk; just held on to each other tightly. Kate cried gentle tears; tears of sadness and loss; not so desperate as before, but none the less for what might have been.
Up until this day, Sally had never seen her husband cry the way he did that morning in the garden, as Kate walked away.