CHAPTER 8

"Where's Caroline?" Celia asked as she walked through the back door to find John cooking something on the stove. She noticed the glass of red wine and half empty bottle on the island and wondered how long he had been drinking. It was only just after 5pm.

"She's not here Celia. How was Halifax?" He replied.

"It was fine. Where is she?"

"Didn't she tell you?"

Celia was getting more and more frustrated, this was like trying to get blood out of a stone.

"Tell me what?"

John stopped what he was doing and turned to face her. "She's gone to live with that woman," John said, making sure the word woman was said with venom to make it clear to Celia how he felt about the situation.

Celia's heart missed a beat when she heard his words. "What woman?" She asked even though she knew very well who he was referring to, she just didn't want to admit it because if she did she would have to admit who Caroline was and that was not going to happen if she could help it.

"Whatshername, Kate," John said Kate's name as if the very mention of it would strike him down.

"I thought she was staying here."

"She was but then they left and do you know what hurts me Celia," John was holding a wooden spoon and started to wave it around to emphasise his point, "she didn't even have the decency to tell me she was going. She left in the middle of the night back to that that Kate's place." John was being overly dramatic and Celia, who would usually treat anything he said with short shrift, believed everything he was saying.

"The middle of the night!" She exclaimed imagining a midnight flit.

"Yes, she told Lawrence where she was and he told me. Can you believe that? Her and that that woman. God she's really got her claws into Caroline, just as we were starting to get back together as well."

"Get back together," this was the first time Celia had heard this.

"Things were just starting to get back to normal for us and then she came back on the scene and that was it, Caroline didn't want to know me. Maybe you could find out what's happening, tell her that I miss her and want her to come home," John said knowing that Caroline would never listen to him but she would listen to her mother.

Celia was feeling sceptical listening to what John was telling her, Caroline would have told her if she was getting back with John. She would usually want nothing to do with this nitwit but the alternative to him was Kate and Celia was going to prevent that happening at all costs.

"I'll phone her tonight," she said as she left already thinking of a plan to get Caroline away from Kate.

oOo

Caroline lifted Flora out of her car seat. It was Friday but also the last day of term so she had many reasons to be happy. The last few days had been wonderful, she could not remember the last time she felt so content. Kate had not needed much looking after, all Caroline had to do was the cooking and making sure Flora was looked after. Neither of which Caroline looked on as chores as she loved cooking and getting to know Flora better had been a joy and she found herself looking forward to the moments during the day when they had time together, in the car to and from the crèche, and putting her to bed every night, she loved reading her a story, a different one each night and she found she took great delight in choosing them and looking for new ones in the local bookshop. Caroline had forgotten how much she had loved having a baby in her life, Flora was so unlike her boys, and she never seemed to get upset, hardly ever cried and was always happy, giggling and babbling away in her language to them both. It had only been a week but Caroline already knew she loved her.

Lawrence had taken the news of her moving into Kate's house surprisingly well, he had even been over for dinner during which Caroline felt so proud of him as he actively made conversation with Kate, laughing and joking with her about various things. What a long way he had come since the infamous dinner party when Kate met Celia and Alan for the first time. He also made sure he played with Flora and he seemed to have an enjoyable night, saying he wanted to come back soon. Finally her little boy was maturing and becoming a man.

"We're home," she said as she carried Flora through the front door.

"I'm in here," Kate's voice was coming from the dining room

When Flora saw her Mum her little legs started kicking and she started making happy gurgling noises, almost saying Mummy but not quite. Caroline put her into Kate's arms then stood back and watched them. She smiled as she took in the scene of the two of them having a conversation that consisted of Flora talking nonsense and Kate making out she understood every word she said.

Kate looked up to see Caroline smiling and she smiled back, a simple action which caused Caroline's heart to start beating faster, as it always did whenever she smiled at her.

"I I'd better start dinner," she said as she walked into the kitchen trying to regain her composure.

Kate put Flora into her chair and hobbled in after Caroline.

"I thought I would make dinner tonight," said Kate as she looked at her.

"It's fine Kate I don't mind, really."

Kate moved closer to her, "you need a night off."

Caroline concentrated on keeping her breathing normal, which was not easy when Kate was this close to her.

"I've been slaving away all afternoon making it," Kate smiled mischievously.

Caroline looked around and saw no evidence that any food had been made.

Kate saw her puzzled expression and laughed, "I've ordered a pizza."

"That's cheating," laughed Caroline as she hit her lightly on the arm playfully.

They stood in the middle of the kitchen staring at each other. Caroline knew she should remove herself from the situation because she could not trust herself, but she didn't move.

"I should go and get changed," she said as she made to leave.

"Caroline," Kate said and Caroline stopped and turned around.

Kate hobbled up to her and then let her crutches clatter to the ground. She reached a hand up to caress Caroline's cheek.

"I've always found you incredibly sexy in your headmistress clothes," Kate whispered.

Her words were Caroline's undoing as they brought their lips together in a kiss which started slowly but then grew more and more heated. When they pulled apart they were both holding on to each other. Kate couldn't help wincing when she tried to hold Caroline tighter because her ribs were still hurting but she didn't care about the pain, she wanted to be as close as possible to Caroline.

"I'll go and get changed, the pizza will be here soon," she said softly as she kissed Kate again and bent down to pick up the crutches.

The three of them spent a lovely evening eating pizza, sharing stories of their day. Caroline told Kate what the crèche had said about Flora.

"Now prepare yourself," she said, her blue eyes flashing with excitement, "today Flora played in the sandpit for the first time," Caroline made it sound like Flora had won the Olympics and Kate laughed which in turn made Flora laugh.

The dishes were done and Flora was in bed, Caroline having read a story to her. She walked into the living room and saw Kate on the sofa holding up a glass of wine. She sat down next to her and gratefully took the wine.

"I think you have found a new hobby," said Kate, "reading Flora bedtime stories."

"I love it," admitted Caroline, "I have got all of our books lined up for next week."

Kate laughed, "that's what I love about you, always so organised. I bet you've alphabetised all of Flora's books."

"Those books were in a complete state, besides you are never too young to learn good organisational skills," Caroline laughed along with Kate but all she could think about was that Kate had said she loved her.

Kate put her glass down and then took Caroline's glass out of her hand and set it down next to hers on the table. She then took both of Caroline's hands in her own and turned, as much as her leg and ribs would allow, to look at Caroline.

"Does it still hurt?" Caroline noticed the look of pain that flashed across Kate's face and was concerned.

"I think the painkillers are starting to wear off."

They sat in silence but it didn't feel awkward, it felt so natural.

"What do you miss the most?" Kate asked softly.

"About what?"

"Us. What do you miss most about us?"

Caroline didn't need to think, she knew instantly.

"Everything. I miss being with you, the way you smile at me as if I'm the only person in the world. I miss kissing you and making love to you and waking up next to you and coming home knowing you'll be there. So I miss everything Kate," once Caroline started she couldn't seem to stop.

They were both lying back on the sofa lost in each others eyes, both absorbing what Caroline had just said. It was as if they were in their own little bubble and nothing else mattered.

"Do you know what I've missed most," said Kate as she kissed Caroline softly, "kissing you. I love kissing you." Caroline's mind vaguely registered the fact that Kate had used the word love again, but all that was lost as they kissed each other hungrily.

Caroline had to position herself carefully because she didn't want to hurt Kate; she ran her hands through her hair as they kissed. Kate let out a sharp intake of breath and Caroline stopped what she was doing, she knew she was in pain.

"Let's go upstairs, you'll be more comfortable," Caroline whispered and Kate shivered at her words. She nodded her agreement and they began to get up.

Caroline helped Kate up and it was while Caroline was straightening her clothing that the doorbell rang. They both looked at each other, Caroline thought about just ignoring it but then it rang again.

"I'll get rid of whoever it is, don't move," she said as she kissed Kate and went to open the door grinning from ear to ear thinking about Kate's lips on her.

The smile was wiped off her face when she saw who was standing on the doorstep.