CHAPTER 9

"Hello Caroline."

"Mum! What are you doing here?" Caroline was visibly shocked to see Celia standing on the doorstep, she was the last person she was expecting to see.

"That's not a very nice way to greet me."

"No I didn't mean it like that; I meant I thought you were in Halifax."

"We came back today. Can I come in?"

"Well it's…Kate's here."

"I know she is, it's her house," Celia didn't wait for a formal invitation as she stepped into the house passing Caroline on her way.

Caroline knew why her mother was here, she wanted to find out information and interfere in her life. She felt frustrated that their evening had been ruined. She followed Celia into the living room.

"Kate it's my Mum," she said in an altogether too cheery voice.

"Hello Celia," said Kate who if she was surprised certainly wasn't showing it.

"Hello," replied Celia, "its dark in here I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" She knew very well that she was but she wanted both of them to feel as uncomfortable as possible. It seemed to be working on Caroline as she hovered behind her but Kate looked an oasis of calm as she sat serenely on the sofa.

Caroline switched the light on and then sat down next to Kate. Celia sat opposite them.

"Caroline would I be able to speak to you in private?" Celia asked.

"Whatever you have to say you can say in front of Kate," replied Caroline who was determined to remain calm even though she could feel her anger rising.

"I need to talk to you about private family business and I hardly think it's appropriate that she is here."

Caroline was about to explode over her mother's rudeness but Kate put a hand on her arm.

"I think I'll go to bed," said Kate as she got up.

"Kate you don't have to."

"Yes I do," Kate smiled at Caroline who was now standing beside her.

"Celia, it was lovely to see you again," Kate said as she walked out of the room and stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

Celia said nothing.

"Goodnight," Kate said softly to Caroline who had followed her. She squeezed her hand.

"Goodnight," said Caroline feeling more relaxed just from Kate's touch.

She watched her climb the stairs marveling at how polite she had been in the face of her mother's rudeness. She walked back into the living room and resumed her position on the sofa.

"I can't believe how rude you were to Kate," said Caroline.

"I wasn't rude," Celia protested.

"This is her house and you practically ordered her out of the room."

"I didn't, she said she was going to bed," Celia said, still not believing she had done anything wrong.

Caroline could see she was fighting a losing battle so she decided to change tack.

"What are you doing here Mum?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Celia replied.

"You know why, I'm looking after Kate and Flora until Kate is back on her feet."

"I thought she was staying with you. How do you think I felt when I turned up today to discover you weren't there? You could have told me."

"Yes okay I'm sorry about that, I should have let you know but that doesn't give you an excuse to come over here and be rude to Kate," Caroline was not going to let her mother try to make out she was in the wrong.

"Does Lawrence know you've gone AWOL?"

"Stop being dramatic mother and yes he does know. As a matter of fact he came over for dinner yesterday."

"Lawrence did," Celia sounded surprised, "he spent a whole evening here with you and and," Celia gestured towards the ceiling.

"Kate. Her name is Kate and yes he spent the whole evening with us, he had a great time," Caroline was sounding defensive and she didn't want to be.

"Did he," Celia said unable to believe a word of it.

"So what is this private family matter that you have to talk to me about?" Caroline asked getting more and more fed up with the way this conversation was going.

"It's John."

"I thought you said family," Caroline scoffed.

"He's upset," Celia carried on ignoring Caroline's jibe, "he says that you and him were getting back together until Kate showed up. He says he wants you to stop being silly, he understands that it was probably some sort of mid-life crises but he forgives you and he wants you to come home."

Caroline laughed. "He forgives me, oh that's very generous of him," she said sarcastically. She could not believe the words she was hearing coming out of her own mother's mouth.

She stood up and Celia got up as well. They both stood there looking at each other in the middle of Kate's living room.

"Number one," Caroline said holding up one finger to emphasize what she was saying, "I am not having a mid-life crises or going through a phase or conducting an experiment. I'm a lesbian." Celia visible winced at Caroline's use of the word but Caroline took no notice and carried on. "I like women, always have, always will and it's time you accepted that because I am not going to change. Number two; there is no way John and I are ever going to get back together. I don't know what nonsense he has been telling you but we were not close to a reconciliation and I can't believe you would believe him of all people. Number three, I love Kate and I am going to do everything in my power to prove to her that I have changed. I would like you to accept me as I am Mum and I'd like you to respect the people in my life." Caroline stopped; she hadn't raised her voice because she didn't want to disturb Kate and Flora.

Celia stood there shocked; Caroline had never spoken to her like this before.

"She is using you Caroline," Celia was not going to drop this.

"No she is not. Kate is the kindest, most gentle person I have ever known and she never has and never will use me. I think you should leave now," Caroline decided she had heard enough so she walked to the front door to make it clear she wanted an end to the conversation.

Celia thought about continuing but then decided against it. Caroline seemed adamant and she wasn't going to be persuaded that what she was doing was wrong so she would leave it for another day.

"I do love you you know," Celia said as she paused on the doorstep. Caroline didn't respond so Celia turned and left.

Caroline locked the door and turned off the lights before making her way upstairs. She stopped outside Kate's room. All she wanted was to go in and hold her; she wanted to feel the comfort of her body against hers. But she didn't go in; she convinced herself that Kate would be asleep so she went to her room.

She opened her door, the light was already on and Kate was sitting on the bed. When Caroline saw her she couldn't hold back the tears any longer and they fell down her cheeks. Kate held her arms out and Caroline sat down next to her and buried her face in her neck. She was grateful that Kate understood how she was feeling without any words needing to be exchanged. Kate rubbed Caroline's back which soothed her and she waited patiently until she regained her composure.

"I'm sorry I ruined your evening," Caroline said as she rubbed her eyes.

"No," said Kate as she grabbed her crutches and stood up, "you have nothing to apologise for." She spoke so softly Caroline felt like bursting into tears again. "Come to bed."

oOo

Caroline opened her eyes and saw Kate looking at her. They had spent the night together, nothing had happened because Kate was still in pain from the accident. They had snuggled together in bed and talked. Caroline had told Kate what Celia had said and how that had made her feel. The tears had flowed again and Caroline was glad Kate was there and she understood. She was able to soothe her and make her feel that she wasn't alone. She had fallen asleep in Kate's arms and managed to have a good sleep.

"Morning," said Caroline.

"Morning," Kate replied thinking how adorable Caroline was when she was all sleepy.

"What time is it?"

"Just after six. Don't worry Flora will be asleep for a while longer," Kate said as if she was reading Caroline's mind.

Caroline closed her eyes again feeling more content than she had in a long time.

"Caroline."

"Mmm."

"We need to talk."

Caroline's eyes flew open at Kate's words. All sorts of thoughts were going around her head as she sat up in bed and waited with trepidation to hear what Kate was going to say.

"That sounds ominous," she said, trying to sound upbeat but failing.

Kate sensed her mood and sat up as well. She rubbed her back, "its not bad sweetheart."

"Oh, I just thought…" She trailed off feeling silly for jumping to the wrong conclusion.

"I wanted to ask you, well you see the thing is Flora needs two parents, but I don't mean that is the only reason for you to..." Kate stopped.

Caroline looked very confused.

"That did not come out the way I had rehearsed it in my head."

"Kate why don't you just tell me what you need to tell me."

"Okay. Will you move in with us?"

Caroline was not expecting to hear that.

"Having you here these last few weeks has reminded me how much I have missed you. I always wanted Flora to have two parents and I don't mean a Mum and Dad, I mean two parents in a committed relationship. You and Flora seem to have developed a strong bond, but Flora isn't the only reason I'm asking you. I want to wake up next to you like this every day for the rest of my life. So that's all I have to say," Kate mentally kicked herself for getting her words all mixed up, she had rehearsed this over and over but it had felt like she had spoken gibberish.

Caroline got out of bed and stood looking out of the window.

"Caroline I can't follow you at the moment," Kate would be glad when the plaster came off and she would not be so restricted in her movements. "If you hate the idea just tell me."

Caroline turned around and Kate could see there were tears in her eyes. She walked back to the bed and got in.

"I'm sorry I forgot about you leg," she wipe away a stray tear. "I don't hate the idea Kate; I would love to move in with you and Flora."

"Really," said Kate unable to keep the grin from her face.

"On one condition," said Caroline, "we buy our own place together. I'll sell my house and you sell yours and we can buy something that is ours. Something for you, me and Flora."

"Okay that is a deal."

Caroline smiled and then said, "we have to seal the deal with a kiss." They leaned in and kissed deeply.

"Kate," Caroline said as she pulled away slightly, "I love you."

"I love you too."