I am so sorry for the long delay in posting this update.

Chapter 13

"Caroline hurry up, we are going to be late," Celia stood at the bottom of the stairs calling up to her daughter. She checked her watch for the umpteenth time and was about to call up to her again when Caroline appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Relax Mother, we have plenty of time." Caroline walked down the stairs, kissed her mother on the cheek and walked into the kitchen.

"You look beautiful love," said Celia as she returned the kiss.

"So do you," said Caroline, feeling grateful all of a sudden that her mother was here with her.

Nerves gripped her and she looked around the room at the champagne bottles and glasses that were lined up on the table like soldiers on parade. The table was full to bursting with food and the cake was sitting in its pride of place in the middle of the table. She looked outside into their garden to see the tables and chairs that she, Will, Alan and Lawrence had set up earlier. It had been a risk to have their reception outside and everyone had been keeping their fingers crossed that the weather would hold up. Mercifully it had and Caroline had woken up to sun streaming through the window.

Caroline couldn't help but think that this day was going to be perfect. She was marrying the woman she loved and in a matter of hours they would all be one family. Caroline, Kate, the boys and Flora. She smiled thinking of how far they had come.

"Caroline," Celia's voice brought Caroline out of her thoughts. She turned to face her and was surprised to see a serious expression on her face. Different thoughts flashed through her mind all at once. Was she going to tell her that she didn't approve of her marriage, that she hadn't accepted who she was after all?

Celia took hold of both of Caroline's hands. "I do love you."

Caroline didn't answer, she steeled herself for what she was about to hear.

"I know I haven't always been as supportive as I should have been, but I am proud of you and I am very happy for you."

Caroline paused as she took in her Mother's words. She felt a lump form in the back of her throat; her Mother had never said anything like that before. She pulled her into a hug.

"Thanks Mum" were the only words that she could say as she could feel tears sting the back of her eyes.

"Right, let's get you to that Registry Office," said Celia.

"Mum, we still have five minutes," replied Caroline.

"Yes, but it is better to be early. I bet Kate's Mum has got her to leave by now."

"I know what this is about," Caroline looked at her Mother through narrowed eyes, "you just want to see Flora," Caroline laughed seeing through her Mother's urgency.

"Well it would be nice to see her in her little dress."

Caroline smiled knowingly.

"You could have seen her in her little dress, I don't know why you insisted that we spend the night apart anyway," said Caroline, who had hardly been able to sleep due to the fact that half of the bed was cold. She missed Kate and she missed Flora jumping on them first thing in the morning.

"Its tradition," said Celia simply, as if this answered everything.

Caroline waited for her Mother to elaborate but she didn't. She was going to tell her that she and Kate had spoken on the phone last night but then she thought better of it. She suddenly felt like a teenager sneaking around behind her parent's back.

The doorbell rang and they both looked up. "That'll be William with the car," announced Celia as she went to open it.

"What do you want?" She said in a tone Caroline instantly recognised. She went to see who was at the door and causing her Mother such consternation. It was John.

"I just want to see Caroline," John said, looking rather pathetic as he stood on the doorstep.

"Caroline doesn't want to see you," said Celia, not realising she was standing behind her.

"Mum it's ok," said Caroline calmly. Nothing was going to upset her today, not even John.

"Caroline we are going to be late, we need to leave soon," said Celia, showing her contempt for her former son in law with one withering look.

"Mum its fine, I won't be long," she gave her Mum's arm a squeeze and Celia reluctantly walked back in to the kitchen, leaving them on the doorstep.

"You, you look lovely Caroline," said John as he moved forward to kiss her. Caroline moved backwards and held up her hand so he missed her. He stumbled slightly which confirmed to Caroline that he had been drinking.

"I want to talk to you."

"I'm getting married today, what could you possible want to talk to me about?" She asked again hoping he would get to the point.

"Judith has left me. For good this time."

Caroline looked at him incredulous that he would choose this day, this moment to come over and tell her this. She'd had enough of this, of him thinking he could just turn up whenever he felt like it. She knew she had to put a stop to it and she had to do it quickly, she could not leave Kate waiting.

"I'm very sorry for you John but I really don't see what any of this has to do with me. I am marrying Kate in about forty five minutes so I cannot talk to you now. In fact John you need to stop coming over whenever something happens to you. You need to move on like I have. I'm starting my new life today and it doesn't include you so I need you to leave." She could not make things any plainer.

He stood looking at her with a rather pathetic look on his face. At first he did not move and Caroline thought that she might have trouble getting rid of him. But then William turned up with the car.

"Is everything ok Mum?" He asked, always attentive to his Mother's needs.

"Fine love. Your Dad was just leaving." She put her arm around her son.

John took one last look at them and then turned around and stumbled back towards the road.

"He's not driving is he?" Asked Caroline.

"I didn't see his car," said Will. "Are you ready?"

"I am love. I'll just get your Gran and then we can get going."

OoO

"Do you want to dance?" Asked Kate as she held her hand out towards Caroline.

"Always," she said in that sexy tone of voice she reserved only for Kate.

The tables had been pushed to one side and a makeshift dance floor had been established in the middle of the garden. Caroline and Kate were dancing together surrounded by their family and friends. There had been long discussions about where the reception was going to be and when they decided on having it at their new home they both had reservations about it but everything had turned out perfectly, including the weather.

"I have to say Kate, you were right."

"My god Caroline, it's a good job you're holding on to me or I would have fallen over," Kate said laughing.

"Ha ha. No I mean about this place. We did need a change; we did need a place of our own. I love our new house, I love our new garden and I love you."

Kate's heart melted at her words. The song they were dancing to finished and they both sat back down. Kate took hold of Caroline's hand as they both looked at Flora dancing with Lawrence.

"A little bird told me that you had a visitor earlier," said Kate not taking her eyes off of Flora. Caroline turned to look at her; she instantly knew the 'little bird' was her Mother.

"What do you mean?" She asked, even though she knew what she was referring to but she did not want anything to ruin their special day.

"Well, it's just your Mother mentioned that John turned up," replied Kate as she turned around to give Caroline her full attention.

"Did she now. I told her not to say anything," Caroline said, failing to keep the irritation from her voice.

"What did he want?"

"Oh nothing important. Let's have another dance." Caroline stood up and tried to pull Kate up with her. She stood up but did not make a move towards the dance floor.

"I'm getting another drink," she said as she walked inside the house, leaving Caroline standing there. She knew Kate wasn't happy. Maybe she should have told her what John had wanted, but she didn't want him to ruin their day.

She was trying to protect her. She followed her into the house.

She found her in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of champagne.

"Do you want one?" Kate asked as she held up an empty glass.

Caroline didn't reply, instead she walked straight up to Kate and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her in close. Kate responded and they stood they for a few minutes, neither of them wanting to break their embrace.

Caroline eventually spoke.

"I'm sorry, I should have told you about it but I didn't want John to ruin our day."

"No don't apologise," Kate said, gently running her fingers across Caroline's cheek. They shared the gentlest of kisses, their hands never loosing contact.

"He came over to tell me that Judith has thrown him out."

"Again," said Kate.

"He wanted to talk to me about it."

"What did you say?"

"I told him I loved him and that all this was a mistake and when could he move back in."

Kate's mouth was hanging open and Caroline suddenly burst out laughing.

"Oh Kate I'm sorry but your face is a picture," Caroline said.

"That's not funny Caroline," Kate said smiling.

"He was drunk, as always, I told him where to go. I also told him not to come back. This is our home not his. Now would you like to dance?" Caroline held her hand out.

"I thought you would never ask."

They headed back outside hand in hand. Flora came running up to them squealing with delight, asking them to dance with her, which they duly obliged.

OoO

Kate rolled over and put her hand out expecting to feel her wife but she wasn't there, the bed was empty. She got up, put her robe on and headed downstairs to the place where she knew Caroline would be.

She stood for a moment in the door way of the kitchen, watching her. She was cleaning something in the sink and had her back to her so hadn't heard her come in. Kate walked up behind Caroline and put her arms around her waist. Caroline leaned back against her as Kate kissed her neck.

"What are you doing?" Kate said softly.

Caroline shivered as Kate's breath tickled her ear.

"I'm just making a start on the cleaning," Caroline said with her hands still in the sink.

"I thought we agreed last night that we would both clear up later today," said Kate.

"I know we did, but I was awake and I thought I would make a start."

"But it's 6.30 Caroline. How long have you been up?"

"Oh since about 6," she said as if it was the most normal thing in the world, "you know what I'm like Kate, I couldn't stay in bed knowing all this was still here."

Kate pondered on what Caroline had said. Then she turned her around so they were face to face. She opened Caroline's robe and started running her hands down her body.

"Kate," Caroline said slowly, "what are you doing?" She asked as she felt her body respond to her touch.

Kate stopped what she was doing and looked her in the eyes.

"Caroline, this is the first day of our married life and I don't want to spend it with you doing the dishes and me having a lie in."

"But," Caroline couldn't continue her protestations because Kate kissed her.

"Now," continued Kate, "the boys are at the farm, Flora is with your Mum and Alan, which means we have the whole house to ourselves for the whole day. Are you really going to spend it washing up? Or are you going to come back to bed with me?" Kate kissed Caroline again and then headed back upstairs.

Caroline watched her go. She had a choice to make, stay and finish cleaning the kitchen or go back to bed. Her warm bed. With Kate. Decision made she hung up the tea towel she had been using and followed her wife upstairs. That was the easiest decision she had ever made.