CHAPTER SIX
Sarah looked up from the chair next to Kate's bed to see Caroline walking in. She noticed that Kate had seen her too.
"Caroline, thank you for coming," Sarah said getting up.
Caroline only had eyes for Kate. Sarah sensing that they needed time alone decided to make herself scarce.
"I think I'll go and get a coffee, Caroline can I get you anything?"
Caroline shook her head; she was still looking at Kate. Sarah left the room taking Flora with her.
As soon as the door shut, Kate started crying. Caroline immediately walked over to her and gathered her up into her arms. She wasn't attached to any machines but she still had to be gentle with her because she didn't want to hurt her. Kate clung on to her as she recovered her composure. Caroline gently stroked her hair as Kate lay back. Caroline got up and pulled the chair closer to the bed. She took hold of her hand in both of hers and looked at her closely, checking to see she really was okay. She looked very drawn but that was understandable given what she had gone through.
"You didn't have to come," Kate's voice sounded so small and she didn't really mean what she said. She was glad Caroline was here. Sarah had been great especially with Flora but Kate had been keeping a lid on her emotions and now Caroline was here she could release these emotions.
Caroline gave her a sceptical look. "Yes I did," she said simply.
"My Mother sends you her love," Caroline said with a glint in her eye.
Kate laughed instinctively and then had to stop because it hurt so much. She had bruised her ribs so it was painful when she laughed.
"Caroline don't make me laugh," she held her ribs with her other hand. "Is that where you were when Sarah rang?"
"Yes," Caroline nodded, "Sunday lunch at the farm."
"The farm. You mean Halifax? You came all the way from there. Caroline you shouldn't have," Kate started to lean forward but Caroline made her lean back and stroked her cheek to calm her down.
"Ssshh," she said, "I had to come so no arguments," she would have moved heaven and earth to be here no matter where she had been.
"Bossy," said Kate quietly and they both smiled.
"So what has the doctor said?"
"I've broken my leg, bruised my ribs and I have concussion. Caroline what if Flora had been with me?" Kate said fearfully as tears started rolling down her face.
"She wasn't, she is fine and so are you," Caroline soothed her again. "You need to rest now Kate, you've had a shock and you need to look after yourself. How long are they keeping you in?"
"They aren't, I'm going home today," she said as she fought to keep her eyes open.
"Today!" Caroline was surprised. Kate didn't look well enough to go home; she thought they might at least keep her in overnight especially with concussion.
"The doctor said they wanted to keep me under observation for 24 hours but I can't do that."
"What, why not?"
"Flora. I have to be home for her. She can't look after herself." Kate seemed very determined but Caroline doubted she could even make it out of bed let alone go home.
"Kate you have to stay here. You're not well enough to go home yet, you can't even keep your eyes open."
"I can't expect Sarah to look after Flora, she's got exams coming up and that would be unfair on her."
"No you can't expect her to do that, which is why I'm going to look after Flora," she hadn't planned it but she knew it was the right thing to do.
"Caroline I can't ask you to do that."
"You're not asking me, I'm offering."
Kate didn't look convinced but the pain was starting to overwhelm her and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep. She had to admit that Caroline looking after Flora made sense.
"What about work?"
"Don't worry about that, we can plan everything around that."
"I know how you like to organise," Kate said sleepily.
"Are you saying I'm a control freak?" Caroline said in mock indignation.
"Yes," Kate smiled.
"We'll have fun, she can stay with me until the doctor lets you out," it made it sound like Kate was in prison.
Kate was a bit worried that after everything she had said to Caroline about not wanting to expose Flora to her house here she was agreeing to letting her stay there. She had no choice and she was grateful to Caroline for helping her. Especially in light of their last conversation. She winced at the thought and from the pain.
Sarah and Flora came back into the room. Caroline took charge of the situation and as she told Sarah of what had been decided and then spoke to Flora telling her she would be coming home with her for a sleepover, Kate was reminded of why she fell in love with Caroline in the first place. Watching her take control she really was magnificent.
Caroline had dispatched Sarah and Flora out after lifting Flora up so Kate could kiss her goodbye. She instructed them to meet her by the lifts.
"Don't worry Kate," she said when they were alone again. She wiped away a stray tear, "she'll be fine and I'll look after her."
"I know you will, it's just I've never been away from her overnight before."
Caroline's heart broke when she saw the anguish on her face and tried to reassure her.
"Close your eyes get some sleep and Flora and I will be back here before you know it."
Caroline made to leave but Kate grabbed hold of her sleeve to stop her.
"Thank you Caroline," Kate's voice cracked and she spoke so low Caroline struggled to hear her.
"There is no need for that," she said softly, "get some sleep now." She stroked her hair and waited until Kate closed her eyes. It didn't take long and she suspected she would be asleep soon.
oOo
Caroline dropped Sarah at her halls and then went to Kate's house to collect some of Flora's things. Flora had been asleep since they had left the hospital which Caroline was glad about because staying in unfamiliar surroundings could be difficult for her and she wanted to make her as comfortable as possible. It was still early evening so Flora would need something to eat. She also knew that questions would be asked as to why she had acquired a baby but she didn't care. Let them ask their questions, all that concerned her was Kate getting better and making sure Flora was being looked after.
She carried a still sleeping Flora into the house. It seemed quiet and she hadn't seen John's car so she assumed he must have taken Lawrence out for dinner. She left her sleeping while she tried to organise the items that she had brought from Kate's house. She knew she would be awake soon and wanting food so the first priority was to put her highchair at the head of the table.
She then woke her up and put her into her highchair, gave her one of her toys to play with and set about making her something to eat, all the while talking away to her. If she was honest she didn't have any idea what sort of child Flora was. She didn't know if she cried a lot or was happy, or if she was a good sleeper. Every time she had seen her she had always seemed happy but her time with her had been limited so it was hard for her to judge. Caroline thought it must be difficult for her to be without her mother so she was determined to do everything in her power to make sure that she would have the minimum disruption to her life until her mum came home.
Caroline and Flora were eating together, Caroline chatting away and Flora responding by giggling and gurgling and Caroline thought how good tempered she was. She was a credit to Kate.
The front door opened and John and Lawrence came in, full of pizza and noisily arguing about rugby. Caroline steeled herself for the inevitable questions that were bound to follow. John and Lawrence came into the kitchen.
"Hi Ma," Lawrence headed straight for the fridge without even looking in Caroline's direction.
"Caroline did you have a…" John stopped halfway through his sentence when he saw Flora. He stood there with his mouth hanging open.
"Close your mouth John, you look like your catching flies."
"But you've got, I mean that's a…. a baby," John stammered.
On hearing this Lawrence looked up from the fridge and walked over to see what his Father was talking about.
"It's good to know your powers of observation are still as strong as ever," Caroline deadpanned.
"But where did it come from?"
"She not it," Caroline said determined not to get irritated by John. "Lawrence, John this is Flora. Flora this is Lawrence and John." Flora gurgled happily and went back to playing with the napkin Caroline had given her.
"Why have you got a baby?" Lawrence asked who unlike John was able to string a sentence together.
Caroline stood up; she had been prepared for this.
"I'm glad you are both here because it is very important that you listen to what I have to say. Flora is Kate's daughter."
"Kate!" John exclaimed.
"You mean that dy…."
"Lawrence," Caroline put her hand up to her son to stop him saying anymore, "if I ever hear you talk like that again or use that word in this house again you won't know what's hit you."
Lawrence looked sheepishly at his shoes; he knew from his Mum's voice that she was serious. She was in headmistress mode so she meant business.
"Kate was involved in an accident and has to stay in hospital for a couple of days so I said I'd look after Flora. I don't want to hear any comments from either of you okay," she stood there hands on hips waiting for an agreement from both of them.
They were like two schoolboys being admonished by a teacher. Lawrence nodded his head and disappeared up to his room and his X-Box. Caroline turned her attention back to Flora leaving John standing there still clearly stunned and trying to process what he had just heard.
"Are you seeing her again then?" He asked as he hovered near the table not wanting to get too close to Flora.
"We met up again yes," she replied not wanting to give him any details.
"Why can't her Father look after her?" He waved his hand in Flora's direction.
"John she's here for a couple of days and I would appreciate it if you made Flora feel welcome. Okay."
"Of course," John said as he stepped away to pour himself a drink. He needed one after hearing Kate was back on the scene.
oOo
The next day Caroline carried Flora into Ward 8. Kate had been moved from her side room into a bay with three other patients. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw Flora and Caroline was relieved to see that she looked much better, she was sitting up and she didn't seem in so much pain. She put Flora into Kate's arms and pulled up a chair and sat down.
"You look better."
"It's the morphine." They both smiled. "How has she been?" Kate asked as she stroked Flora's head as she cuddled her.
"She's been absolutely fine. In fact more than fine, we've had fun haven't we sweetheart," she took hold of Flora's hand and Flora squeezed her fingers and laughed at her. Kate watched their interaction with interest. There was a time not that long ago when Kate wanted Caroline involved in Flora's life, the scene being played out before her made her heart swell.
"Did you have much trouble at home?" Kate knew only too well what Caroline's family was like.
"Oh nothing to worry about. I made it clear in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't stand for any nonsense."
Kate stifled a laugh.
"What," said Caroline smiling.
"Nothing, just you bossing everyone around."
"So what did the doctor say, when can you leave?"
"Hopefully tomorrow."
Caroline sensed Kate wasn't telling her the whole truth. "Hopefully," she said wanting Kate to elaborate.
"I need to learn how to climb stairs on crutches before they will let me go."
"That won't take long will it?"
"I'm having a session with the physio tomorrow morning so I'm hoping that I can leave tomorrow afternoon."
"What will happen then?"
"I'll go home and you'll be relieved of Flora, not that I don't appreciate what you've done." Kate shifted slightly so Flora wasn't lying directly on her ribs.
"Kate I'm going to suggest something and I just want you to think about it."
"That sounds ominous," said Kate intrigued as to what she was about to hear.
"Why don't you and Flora move in with me, just until you are back on your feet? I mean think about it you won't be able to walk around much which will make it hard to look after Flora."
"Caroline," Kate's voice was tender.
"Just think about it. Let me look after you."