The tired and worn down headmistress stood at the kitchen bench; a baby on one shoulder and making a cup of coffee with her other hand. Flo had settled minutes before hand having refused for quite some time to settle. Lawrence crept into the warm kitchen and grabbed himself a bowl whilst putting two slices on bread into the toaster 'Morning Ma' he whispered kissing her cheek and stroking his baby sister's head. Caroline briefly smiled lovingly at him before taking a gulp of her steaming mug.
Walking up the stairs with the youngster she pushed their bedroom door open to rouse her wife. 'Kate-Kate, Florence could do with a feed.' She spoke rather loudly as Kate pulled the duvet further over her head in an attempt to shut out the world around her. Knowing she was running out of time he continued, knowing she was getting nowhere with this line of conversation 'Right, well I'll drop this little one of with my mother on my way into work. I'll see you tonight'
Lawrence was, unusually, sat in the car without his mum even having to ask him once. Caroline slotted the baby car seat into the backseat of the Jeep and double checked to ensure it was safely secured in. 'Right let's go!' she cheered as the car rumbled out of the driveway.
'Where's Florence going mum? She isn't coming to school with us, is she?' questioned the curious boy who was peering over his shoulder to the car seat.
'No-no. Granny and Alan are going to have her for the day'
'All day?!' he exclaimed 'Where's Kate going? Why can't she have her?' he was well aware of the tension at home but was scared of being direct. He felt shallow questions were far easier.
'You mean why can't she look after her own daughter? It's a very good question Lawrence, and one I can't answer' she replied, raising her voice slightly agitated that her wife had put her in such a situation. 'Kate seems to have forgotten that the world doesn't just revolve around her and that she does in fact have a baby to take care of. But no, good old Caroline will take up the slack and run a household, look after her own son, a newborn baby and a school'
Lawrence looked at his feet for several moments unsure of what to say. Even he, a mere school boy, could see how upset his beloved mother was 'You're not going to get a divorce are you, mum?'
The words hit Caroline much like that of a freight train. They were words she had hoped her children would never have to ask her again. Looking at Lawrence and placing a hand on his knee she aimed to reassure him 'Absolutely not! I love Kate, Lawrence. With a new baby around it's just a lot for her to handle. These things sometimes happen to new mothers. I promise you we will sort it, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. I'm sorry darling'
Lawrence smiled back, his eyes full of love for the respected woman. He was pleased to hear such words. The growing boy wasn't sure he could handle watching his mum fall apart from yet another divorce; she deserved so much more and he knew deep down Kate could give her that. And secretly, he had come to love Kate in a similar way to that of any other family member.
Later that evening after a phone call from Celia saying they would drop baby Florence off a little later Caroline knew that this was her only real chance to talk some sense into her wife. It was the only time they would have a child free house.
Walking up the stairs and entering the bedroom she found Kate still lying in bed, in the same clothing she had been wearing that morning. The cup of tea Caroline had bought up before leaving for work had been untouched and left to go cold.
'Kate' she uttered to which the woman was unresponsive 'Kate!' She raised her voice. It was rare for Dr Caroline Elliott to lose control but she was really being pushed to the edge 'I don't know what you think you're playing at but this had got to stop!' recalling her earlier conversation with Lawrence who had appeared so worried about their home life her blood started to boil 'How long are you going to leave me to run a house, look after Lawrence and a newborn baby as well as go and run a school full-time? As well as worry about you! I think I've been patient and understanding for long enough. I've done the night feeds for more than a month. I've been at her every beck and call whilst you just lie here! She needs you. She needs her mother to care for her.' Pulling the duvet off Kate, Caroline looked at her sharply. Her hand motions doing a lot of talking and expressing for her 'IF I'D HAVE KNOWN IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS I WOULDN'T HAVE ENTERED INTO A BLOODY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KNOWLEDGE YOU WERE PREGNANT! I THOUGHT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED?! YOU TOLD ME YOU WANTED TO BE SOMEBODIES MUM AND NOW THE CHANCE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU YOU'VE DECIDED TO HIDE AWAY AND LEAVE ME WITH THIS CHILD!' her voice quietened a little 'What am I meant to do? Stand here and watch you fade away before my very eyes? Because I'm not going to allow that to happen. I love you, Kate and I know that if we can get over this then we have a positive future ahead of us.
As Caroline had got wound up shouting at her wife, Kate had sat up on the bed, her legs hanging over the side. Caroline never raised her voice, she knew that. She was always cool and collected; it was who she was. The last time Kate had witnessed her wife respond in such a way was over a year ago when John had lit a cigarette which resulted in the well mannered woman chucking a bucket of water over her ex-husband. Offering her hand to Caroline, Kate offered her the chance to enter her darkened world. 'I'm sorry-I'm so sorry' she murmured, only realising now the true extent of what she had caused. Together they sat on the bed encased in one another's arms weeping quietly.