CHAPTER 7

Caroline pulled the Jeep in to the drive and came to a stop outside the door. Kate looked up at the house, thinking how it hadn't changed since she lived there, the plants outside were the same, and the front door was the same colour. It was as if time had not passed at all and yet she had irrevocably changed in the time that had passed.

Caroline turned the engine off and looked at Kate.

"Are you ready?" She asked softly, understanding how Kate must be feeling.

"No," said Kate plainly.

"Look there's no rush. We can take our time."

Kate was touched that Caroline seemed to understand how difficult it was for her to come back to this house. She had tried to convince herself that she would be fine, now she was here confronted by it she felt anything but fine. 'Why did I agree to this?' She thought to herself, she should have said thanks but no thanks and gone home to her house, she would have felt safe there and she would not have had to deal with any of the bigots that surrounded Caroline. She turned to look at her; Caroline was watching her with such concern in her eyes, those beautiful blue eyes. She had missed them so much. She mentally shook herself, she could not think about that now. She could not allow thoughts of the proximity of Caroline over the coming days to enter her head.

"I'm ready, we should get Flora inside," Kate said as she took her seatbelt off and made to get out of the car.

Caroline took the crutches from the back seat and then helped Kate get out of the car. She then picked up a sleeping Flora and carried her up to the door. She turned to say something to Kate but then realised that she wasn't there. She had a momentary burst of panic as she thought she may have fallen over but then she saw her standing by the car. She walked over to her still carrying Flora who was now beginning to stir.

Kate stood there staring up at the house not moving.

"You promise me there aren't going to be any people in there to see me," Kate still hadn't moved.

Caroline stepped closer to her.

"I promise the house is empty, Lawrence is staying with Angus, Mum and Alan are in Halifax and John is out. It's just us okay." Caroline's words were soothing and Kate seemed to gain strength from them as she started to make slow progress towards the door.

Caroline opened the front door and the three of them made their way inside. She led Kate into the front room and got her settled on the sofa.

"The doctor said you need to keep your leg elevated," she said as she gently lifted Kate's leg on to the sofa. She then put Flora into her rocker. "Right I think we need tea," Caroline said with a much brighter tone than she felt. It was difficult to see Kate in so much pain and also to see how hard it had been for her to walk back into this house. This used to be their home, they had some happy times here and yet she had struggled to put one foot over the threshold.

While Kate was here she was determined to prove to her that she had changed. She had already told Lawrence and John that Kate would be staying here for a couple of weeks until she was back on her feet. They had both understood from her tone not to make any comments about it. She spoke to Lawrence on his own and told him to make Kate and Flora welcome while they were here. He had asked her if they were getting back together to which she replied honestly that they weren't but she had been miserable without Kate. She had been impressed with his maturity when he had told her that she should try and get her back because she deserved to be happy. She had been so shocked by his words that she had tears in her eyes when she hugged him. Her little boy was finally growing up. John on the other hand was a different story, she hadn't seen much of him since she had told him about Kate and she was glad about that, the less she had to do with him the better.

After dinner Caroline put Flora to bed and then helped Kate upstairs.

"You and Flora are in here," she said as she led her into her own bedroom, the room they used to share. As Kate hobbled into the room her mind was flooded with images of Caroline in various states of undress. Everywhere she looked in this room she was reminded of the two of them together, their bodies pressed against each other on the bed as they made love. All of the times Caroline had pressed her against the back of the door and kissed her deeply because she couldn't wait to get her on her own.

Kate shook her head to try to remove the images but it didn't work.

"Lawrence helped me put Flora's cot in here, I wanted you to be near her so I hope that's okay," Caroline said as she peered down at a sleeping Flora completely oblivious to how Kate was lost in her memories.

Kate cleared her throat, "Caroline I can't stay here, in this room, I mean it's yours."

"Of course you can. I thought it would be the best one for you because it's the biggest and you've got the en suite which will be better for you, so you don't have far to go," Caroline thought she sounded like an erstwhile estate agent hoping for a house sale. Kate was looking at her with a strange expression on her face.

"I mean I'm not, I won't be, erm, I'm staying in the spare room next door."

"Oh," said Kate feeling silly she had jumped to the wrong conclusion.

There was an awkward pause between them.

"Well I should go. Do you need anything?"

"No I should be okay thanks."

"If you need anything just shout. Night night."

"Goodnight."

Caroline left closing the door behind her.

Kate lay there in the darkness wondering how on earth she was going to sleep when every time she closed her eyes all she could think about was Caroline. If she had known this was where she would be sleeping she might not have agreed to this. She listened to Flora's breathing as she slept and found it soothing.

Suddenly the sound of the front door slamming echoed through the whole house making Kate jump. It must be John, she thought, and when she heard him shouting Caroline's name as he climbed the stairs she knew it was him. She felt herself tense, she didn't want Flora to wake up but if he carried on making a noise like a herd of elephants were running amok through the house, she would.

"Caroline, I need to talk to you," he shouted as he banged on the bedroom door.

Kate sat up unable to move because of her leg. He was banging on her door, he obviously thought Caroline was in here. Kate sat in the bed and the events that took place around her seemed to unfold all at once. John came charging in to the room clearly drunk shouting Caroline's name again. This in turn woke Flora up, who started crying upset by all the noise. Then Caroline appeared behind John looking annoyed and practically dragging him out of the room and telling him how insensitive he was being. He went downstairs while Caroline went over to comfort Flora.

"Give her to me," Kate said and Caroline handed her over. She watched as Kate cuddled Flora which seemed to soothe her.

"Kate I'm so sorry about that, I'll go and talk to him." Caroline walked down the stairs seething at John's behaviour. She found him slumped on a stool at the island.

"What the hell were you doing?" She said hands on hips.

"I thought you were in there."

"I told you Kate and Flora would be here."

John looked at her with a pathetic expression and for a brief moment she felt an urge to hit him. She had to turn away.

"I can't believe you're drunk, not with Flora in the house."

"Who is she the bloody queen?" He sneered. "I wanted to talk to you, how was I to know you were playing musical beds with her."

Caroline stared at him, he was unbelievable and it was like dealing with a spoilt teenager and she was fed up with it.

"Well I don't want to talk to you." She turned on her heel and walked back upstairs.

She knocked softly on the door and then walked in. Kate and Flora were still cuddling on the bed. Flora looked like she was asleep. As she looked at them she couldn't help think that this could be her family not just house guests. She could feel tears forming at the back of her eyes.

"I'm so sorry Kate; that was unforgivable."

Kate patted the space next to her on the bed and urged Caroline to sit down. She then gently picked up Caroline's hand.

"Why do you put up with that Caroline?" Kate said softly.

Caroline couldn't answer and those tears that were threatening earlier started to fall.

"You are worth so much more than this Caroline."

Caroline wiped her eyes.

"I've been a coward. I feel stuck and I don't know how to change it."

"Yes you do," Kate squeezed her hand. "Would you drive me and Flora home tomorrow morning?"

"Home, is there something you need because I can get it for you."

"No, we're going home. I can't stay here Caroline, there are too many memories, good and bad. I'm not subjecting Flora to any more drunken outbursts."

Caroline winced at the thought of John's antics.

"How are you going to cope on your own? Kate you can't walk."

"I want you to come with me."

"What."

"Come with me, just until I can walk again. You said you wanted to look after me but what about you? Who is going to look after you? John or your mother. This atmosphere is toxic Caroline and it's not doing you any good, so come and stay with us."

Caroline looked down at her hand that was entwined with Kate's as she absorbed her words. It would be nice to have a break from John.

"What about Lawrence?"

"He's eighteen, he can look after himself. Besides he can come over any time. What do you think?" Kate squeezed her hand again to emphasise her words.

"Okay, I will."

The next morning Caroline put her bag next to Kate's in her car. She had texted Lawrence to let him know of the new arrangements and she hadn't seen John since last night but she didn't care about that. He could do what he liked as far as she was concerned. She was looking forward to spending time with Kate and Flora. Kate had been right someone needed to look after her for a change.