Chapter 10
Caroline walked into the house on Conway Drive. The house she loved so much but also the house she knew she had to give up because she loved Kate more. She was grateful that she had been given another chance to prove to Kate that she was the most important person in her life and in the scheme of things a house did not matter as much as Kate did.
She walked into the kitchen, John was waiting for her. She had texted him to say she wanted to talk to him but she hadn't told him why.
"Hello John," she said civilly.
"Well well well, if it isn't her Royal Highness," he said sarcastically.
Caroline instantly recognised that this was not going to go well and wondered if he had been drinking.
"We need to talk," she decided it was best to get straight to the reason she was here and not to rise to his bait.
"That is why I'm here, you snap your fingers and I come running. Have you got her trained as well?" He sneered.
"Her name is Kate and I asked to meet you, you didn't have to come."
"So what is it?" He said in the manner of a stroppy teenager.
"Kate and I have decided that we are going to live together, which means we need to sell this house."
"What! First you run out on me to go back to to your fancy woman and now you want to make me homeless." Caroline almost laughed when she heard Kate described as her fancy woman. "You are unbelievable do you know that," John was now red with rage.
"John we are divorced so I didn't run out on you."
"Eighteen years obviously meant nothing to you."
"You were the one who cheated so it obviously meant nothing to you," Caroline kicked herself for being dragged into this argument. "Anyway we have been over this before. Kate and I are going to build a life together and that is all that matters to me now. You have a choice John, you can either buy me out of the house or we can sell it and I'm sure you can find something suitable with your half of the money," Caroline was proud of herself for remaining in control in the face of John's petulance.
"What about William and Lawrence?"
"They both know and they are both very happy with the situation." Lawrence had been told over dinner the previous night and he had seemed genuinely happy for both his mother and Kate.
John was rapidly turning a darker shade of red as his anger threatened to overwhelm him. Why should he have to move his life just because Caroline and her little girlfriend wanted to play at living together?
"Right, well I think that just about covers everything John; I'll be in touch so we can go over the details."
She left and as she was getting into the Jeep she could hear John shouting at her from his position at the front door.
"That's right you go you snotty bitch. Leave me homeless."
She shut the door to drown out the sound and drove off thanking her lucky stars Kate was back in her life and wondering what on earth she ever saw in him.
oOo
"Hi, it's just me," Caroline said as she walked through Kate's house. She found both Kate and Flora sitting on the floor of the living room playing.
"It's never just you sweetheart," said Kate as she flashed her sparkling smile.
"What's going on here?" Asked Caroline as she bent down to kiss both Kate and Flora.
"We are having a picnic; do you want to join us? We were going to have a proper picnic outside but it is raining so we decided to have it here instead," Kate patted the ground next to her.
Caroline threw her bag onto the sofa and gratefully sat down. Kate leaned over and kissed her properly.
"Mmm, I can get used to this," murmured Caroline.
"Well prepare yourself Caroline because after a certain little person goes to bed later we'll be able to have some fun if you know what I mean."
"You mean?"
Kate nodded, "yes the doctor gave me the clean bill of health today," she tapped her leg to prove there was no plaster and then leaned in for another kiss.
"Are you sure we can't put a certain little person to bed early?" Whispered Caroline smiling against Kate's neck.
"I don't think we'll be able to get away with that," said Kate.
She picked up a little plastic cup and handed it to Caroline.
"First a cup of tea. Cheers," Kate poured some imaginary tea into her cup. "How was John?" She asked.
"Oh he was drunk," Caroline pretended to take a drink much to Flora's amusement, "but I did give him the choice of either buying me out or selling the house. He didn't take it at all well but then I didn't expect him to."
Kate rubbed her thumb over Caroline's hand which she was leaning on. Flora then decided to crawl over to the two of them. She lay down across both their laps with her head in Caroline's and her feet in Kate's. Both of their hearts melted as they looked at each other. Their little family was taking shape and the moment was not lost on either of them.
oOo
Caroline opened her eyes to be greeted by Kate's beautiful face gazing at her lovingly.
"Morning," Caroline said sleepily.
"Well hello," replied Kate.
Caroline rubbed her leg up and down Kate's leg and Kate pulled her in closer so their bodies were touching from head to toe.
"You're amazing," said Caroline, remembering the glorious night they had just spent together.
"So are you," said Kate, noticing Caroline's eyes fluttering shut. "Are you tired?" She asked as she kissed her forehead.
"Mmm. This woman kept me up most of the night."
"I wouldn't stand for that," Kate said smiling.
"I'll have to lie down for it then," Caroline said cheekily, opening her eyes and returning the kiss.
They lay wrapped in each other's arms, enjoying the peace and quiet.
"Caroline," said Kate after a few minutes, "are you still awake?"
"Of course," she answered, opening her eyes at the same time.
Kate stroked her cheek.
"I love you Caroline," Kate's voice cracked as she said it.
"I love you too," Caroline said and she could feel tears stinging the back of her eyes. She had waited so long to say those words to Kate and now she couldn't stop saying them.
"Do you remember that day when you asked me to sell my house and move in with you?" Kate asked.
"Yes," Caroline thought back to that day when they walked through the corridors of Sulgrave Heath. She hadn't covered herself in glory that day; she always regretted laughing when Kate told her she wanted a baby.
"That day you told me you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me."
"I remember," Caroline smiled at the memory.
"I want that Caroline; I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. I've never felt for anyone the way I feel about you and I want to spend every day for the rest of my life with you."
"I feel that way too Kate," Caroline said softly as she tried to absorb the enormity of Kate's words.
"Will you marry me Caroline?"
"I'd love to marry you Kate," Caroline smiled as tears formed and fell down her face. Kate wiped them away.
"They're happy tears," Caroline said.
Kate pushed her on to her back and they spent the next hour celebrating their newly engaged status.
oOo
Caroline grabbed Kate from behind and kissed her neck.
"You'll have to hurry up, my fiancée is upstairs," Kate said as Caroline's lips roamed over her neck.
"Very funny," Caroline said into her ear.
"Do you want some breakfast?" Kate asked.
"I'd love some, but I can do it."
"It's almost done, go and sit with Flora and I'll bring it in," Kate instructed.
"Okay bossy," Caroline ducked out of the room before Kate could throw a tea towel at her.
"What are you up to today?" Kate asked as she joined them at the table.
"I need to speak to my Mum today about the house."
"Good luck with that," Kate deadpanned.
"I'll have to leave soon; they are due back from Halifax this morning so I want to catch them before John can say anything to them."
Kate reached over and took her hand to convey to her that she knew this was difficult for her but she was here supporting her no matter what. Caroline smiled appreciating her gesture and knowing exactly what it meant.
"Why don't you invite your Mum and Alan over for Sunday lunch next week?" Kate suggested.
Caroline goggled at her unable to believe what she had just heard.
"Are you mad? You seriously want my mother back under this roof after the way she treated you last time."
"Caroline she is your mother and she needs to accept who you are. Yes she has said some terrible things and she needs to understand that is not acceptable but if she comes over and sees how happy you are she'll have to change her mind about you."
"You really don't know my mother do you," laughed Caroline, thinking how amazing it was that Kate was so forgiving and accepting of people.
"Ah you are forgetting we have an ace in the pack."
"Do we?"
"We have Flora. As soon as your mother meets Flora she will fall in love with her."
They both looked lovingly at Flora who delighted by all the attention giggled at them.
"I know I did," said Caroline kissing the top of Flora's head and then grabbing Kate by the waist and pulling her in for a hug.
"I should get going," she said reluctantly.
"Or you could stay and see your Mum later," Kate suggested as she nibbled her earlobe.
Caroline was enjoying Kate's attention.
"Kate I need to go before John gets to her," Caroline's resolve was being seriously tested, "besides if we don't stop now I won't be able to."
Kate kissed her one more time, "well if you are sure," Kate's eyes were glinting and full of desire.
"No I'm not sure," Caroline said as she reluctantly let go of her waist but kept hold of her hand.
"Don't tell them about our engagement just yet," Kate said.
"Oh," Caroline felt disappointed. She wanted to shout their news to the world and felt really surprised by Kate's suggestion. It must have been written all over her face because Kate knew something was wrong.
"Hey I didn't mean we should never tell them. I just thought it might be better if we waited until next week so we could tell them together. If you want to. I mean support in numbers is better isn't it? Three is better than one."
"Three?"
"Yes. You, me and Flora," Kate lifted Flora out of her high chair as she said it.
Caroline was so touched by Kate's words that she was momentarily speechless. She wasn't used to having such support from her partner. In the last few years of her marriage to John they lived separate lives, she made all of the decisions regarding the boys and the house and he went along with it for an easy life. He was so self absorbed, only thinking about himself and how things affected him, never considering Caroline or her feelings. Kate was so different, always thinking about Caroline and putting her first. It was something she wasn't used to. Life with Kate was going to be so different than her life with John.
Kate carried Flora out to Caroline's car. Before Caroline got in she gave them both a kiss.
"Good luck, I'll be thinking of you," said Kate knowing how hard it was going to be for Caroline to tell her mother that she was selling the house. "Just think, when you get back we can celebrate properly.
As Caroline drove away she could see Kate and Flora waving in her rear view mirror and she couldn't help thinking how lucky she was to have them both in her life.