Another update hope you enjoy, thank you to anyone who is reading and commenting It's always nice to know what you think :)X
As Celia had arrived at Gillian's she desperately wanted to go to her room, she was fed up with being seen as the bad guy. Alan had continued to tell her the whole way here that she was wrong, that she should respect her daughters choices and love her regardless. Of course she loved Caroline that was never in question but this relationship it wasn't natural, she couldn't pretend like it was fine when it wasn't. Caroline was just confused looking for comfort in all the wrong places because of what that prick John had done,she would get over it. As she met Gillian on the top steps she could tell she was concerned "what are you two doing here?" She helped her dad with their bags and into the kitchen.
"I've had a little falling out with Caroline, that's all love. Is it ok if we stay for a bit" Celia moved to settle on the sofa "what about dad?" She turned to her dad for answers. "Well love Caroline said you knew about her and Kate, well Celia didn't take the news well" he finished grimacing.
"Celia" Gillian groaned "do you know how hard it was for her to admit how she felt. Can you not just be happy for her, she's told you about John I presume .Bastard".
"she did yes", curt she was not in the mood to talk she hoped Gillian would take the hint, she didn't. "So what's the problem it's not like it was when you were our age, people are more accepting. If Caroline can take the leap" then you should support her" Gillian smiled at her dad knowing he'd have said the same thing.
"I can't it's just not right dear, they shouldn't be together not like that it's not natural Two women. It makes me feel Ill to think about it, I just can't support her in this it's just a mid life crisis. Anyway love I really don't want to talk about it now, I'm off to bed it's been a long day".
"Celia! Gillian's voice more firm louder filled with outrage, "How can you be like this?.
How was Caroline when you left?" Celia lifted her chin avoiding the question, "she was very upset I didn't like to leave her" Alan chorused in. Gillian's concerned face travelled from Her dad to Celia "shame on you Celia. I suggest you go upstairs because right now I don't think very highly of you, how could you treat Caroline like that. Your her mother how could you make her feel like that, I'm glad your not my mother she's deserves more from you" She snipped.
Gillian watched Celia huff and puff to argue and then caved into lowering her head and heading to bed, "she's so different to you dad. I'm so lucky to have you" she kissed her dad on the cheek and he headed up the stairs. Celia sat on the bed she couldn't help it she had never really been close to Caroline and this it , just didn't sit right with her, she couldn't just accept it.
"Caroline are you ok, I was just heading over to yours with the boys and your mums turned up. What's happened are you ok?" the concern etched in her voice.
"Yeah fine" Caroline sobbed in half gasps down the phone trying to catch her breathe, "it's just mum, I knew shed... She'd react like this". Finally catching her breathe, "are you sure you are ok to bring the boys back? Or I can come and get them in the morning it's an inset day I'm home most of the day".
"Whatever you would prefer, Caroline is Kate with you?" A long pause as Caroline calmed her breath, "no I didn't handle it well, she's gone home. Oh Gillian I don't know what to do , this is harder than I imagined and I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park. I don't know if im strong enough for this" the sobs escaping her once again.
"Caroline pull yourself together your Dr Caroline Elliot you can do anything, and don't you bloody forget it. Now it's easy at this very moment what do you want the most?" A simple enough question but one that left Caroline speechless. All thought gone all practical reasoning aside "Kate" she whispered, "that's what I thought. Now stop worrying about things you can't change I've given your mum a piece of my mind. She will come round, but right now you need to put that to one side, now get off your backside and go and find Kate".
Caroline sat up a little straighter wiping her eyes "I don't know what to say to her I was awful about it all". "Caroline I'm saying this because I love you, but shut up and just go swallow your pride, you want her in your life you are going to have to prove it. Now come on I'll stay on the phone while you walk over". Caroline chuckled "Your right, you are. God what did I do all these years without you" Gillian could hear the smile on her lips.
Caroline stood at Kate's door "I'm here. Thank you Gillian what do I say to Kate?", "try hi" she suggested sarcastically. Kate opened the back door a soft smile "Hi" Caroline smiled Kate's tearful face smiled back "I wondered if you'd come" Kate spoke softly.
"I've got to go now Gillian. I love you" she pressed the red button and fell into Kate's arms "I'm so sorry I just got scared. My mum she has this power over me to make me feel so small and inferior, I've never learnt to stop it hurting. Kate I'm sorry I pushed you away, this is just", "complicated" Kate suggested Caroline nodded.
Kate's lips pecked Caroline's "you were very brave, I could hear you shouting at her in your scary voice" She smirked. "She was being rude about you" Caroline said logically "can I stay the night?" The words spontaneous. Kate's smile becoming wider "of course you can. Do you want to go lock yours up or we can stay at yours?" Kate smiled.
Caroline pulled her close "just don't let me go, ok!" She whispered as she sank into Kate's embrace, "it will be ok" Kate soothed her running her hands calmly up and down her back.
Lawerence and William sat on their sofa bed in the downstairs utility room, where they had slept at Gillian's they had been packing the bags ready to go home. They had heard the muffled argument as their grandmother had come into the cottage, although they had been a little confused About what was being said.
It had taken until Gillian had been on the phone to their mum before they understood what had caused the upset. Lawrence perched on his bed "did you know?" His face serious watching his brothers reaction. "I had an idea, nothing for sure" William admitted "I'm not bothered are you? If she's happy", his brother shifting uneasily On the bed.
"Well I'm not relishing the prospect of it being public knowledge at school. Can you just decide to be a lesbian then, I mean why did she marry dad? I don't understand is it just because she's angry at dad?" Lawerence trailed off in thought. William sat next to his brother "no I'd imagine she might have always known and now dads acted like a prize prat, she's got close to Kate and well things happen. Have you not noticed she's been happier since Kate moved in next door and they became friends?".
Lawrence rubbed his head trying to take it in "well I heard her singing in the shower and stuff, she seemed to chat more, she was in her study less. But I never really linked it to Kate... I thought maybe her and dad were..you know".
William stood up "we need to be there for mum ok, shes had a hard enough time with dad cheating and before that. She deserves to be happy and Kate seems ok doesn't she? We need to back her up, especially against gran. Yes?".
Lawerence looked up at his brother "I still don't understand how she can you know just decide she's a ..." . "Well you can ask her, but the important thing is it doesn't change anything does it?" William asked seriously.
Lawrence shook his head "of course it doesn't. I'm still friends with Robbie I still play rugby with him and he's gay. I'm not that shallow William it's just a bit of a shock! That's all.
"Right boys change of plan your going home tomorrow now, if that's ok with you?" Gillian called as she knocked and opened the door.
Both boys nodded as she made to close the door, "we heard you and gran" Lawrence blabbed. Gillian turning to face him with a guilty look on her face, "I'm sorry you shouldn't have heard all that. What did you ..hear?" she surveyed both boys "about mum and Kate" William volunteered. Gillian nodded "Ah I see, are you ok?, you need to speak to your mum, but your mums happy she needs your support" Gilliam smiled. " We know Gran was out of order, we just want mum to be happy! Don't we?" William nudged Lawrence. He smiled shly he did want his mum to be happy but it wasn't the easiest situation to take in right this moment, he lay back onto his bed. "I think Ill go to bed now" he suggested and lay down silently on his bed, "yes me too" William got into bed. "Well night boys. Don't worry we will sort it all out tomorrow" Gillian tried to calm them before leaving them and switching off the light.
"Never a dull moment in our family is there?" Lawrence voiced his thoughts, "maybe I should write a book like dad. I think it would be a best seller, what do you think? I could call it The last tango in halifax" He suggested, "can't see that being a hit but you'd have enough material to write about any how William laughed.