"Thank you Kate. If you would just indulge me for a few minutes, I would really appreciate it. So this is my vision."
And Caroline launched into her thoughts and ideas for the school's Christmas fete and the ambience she wanted to create. And 2 hours later, they were stood side by side satisfied that the plan in front of them would meet every expectation, objective and suggestion that had been thrown into the planning pot earlier that week.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am to you Kate. I would never have got this far without your input."
Caroline had a sudden desire to hug Kate but she refrained and gently touched he arm. Kate turned and smiled at Caroline.
"You are more than welcome. I think I will be in trouble for standing someone up but I feel, well, a sense of achievement in what we have just done. You know what would be the icing on the Christmas cake so to speak? My choir singing carols in the entrance hall, under the big Christmas tree. There will be a big Christmas tree won't there? I imagine one at the foot of the staircase, something large and ornate?"
"Indeed there will. We get one donated every year. And I love the idea of a choir almost serenading everyone into the building. Just perfect."
Caroline had heard the comment about Kate meeting someone and an unfamiliar twinge of jealousy hit her right in the middle of her stomach. She walked to the end of the table and started to roll the plan up, watching out of the corner of her eye as Kate picked up her phone from her bag. She had 3 missed calls and 2 texts from Sophie. She frowned at the screen and decided she would answer them later.
"Everything OK?" Caroline looked across with a mix of concern and interest on her face.
"Yes. I just have a few missed calls from the friend I was meant to be meeting tonight. I'll square things up with her later."
"It's only just after 9pm. Were you, err, who were you, erm where were you meeting?"
"At a wine bar in town. It's OK. She's probably not even noticed I am not there by now. There were a few of us meeting, a few of us from school. I'll just go straight home and ring her later. I am sure she will understand. Well, I won't say that we ought to do this every Friday night but I'm surprised how easy it was to …" She stopped talking.
"How easy it was to what?"
Caroline spun round and folded her arms across her body almost in defence.
"How easy it was to plan a Christmas fete. What did you think I was going to say?"
"I don't know Kate. Is that really what you were going to say? Or were you going to say something like "How easy it was to get on with you" or "How easy it was to be alone with you"? I know what people think about me, what they say behind my back. And I know what nicknames they give me in the staff room. Ice queen is probably the number one favourite."
Kate was shocked.
"Why are you being like this Caroline? I was merely going to say I was surprised how easy it was to spend 2 hours on a Friday evening planning a Christmas fete. I have given up a Friday night out for you, a night out with people who don't take themselves too seriously and know how to have a good time. I had enjoyed myself up until now and the company wasn't bad either. And if you don't believe that, then that's your problem not mine. And by the way, people call you frosty knickers. Don't flatter yourself by giving yourself a royal title."
Kate picked up her bag off the floor and walked towards the door. She tried her hardest to slam it behind her but the new carpet stopped her doing it and she went back for a second time. Unsuccessful once again, and ready to scream, she put her head around the door and stood looking at Caroline.
"Slam. This is me slamming the door. I am slamming the door and walking away from you. Enjoy your weekend Caroline."
Caroline lay awake, watching the moonlight shining through the gap she had left in the bedroom curtains when she yanked them closed. She angrily plumped up her pillow and threw her head back down. Why did she always manage to mess things up? Why could she never take a compliment and accept that someone would want to be in her company just because she was Caroline and not because she was Dr Elliott? A single tear escaped from the corner of her eye and she allowed it to run down her cheek. It was quickly joined by another one which she roughly wiped away.
It had been a very successful planning meeting and she was extremely grateful for Kate's input. She had felt comfortable with her and they had laughed and discussed and even disagreed. And then Caroline had turned cynical, unable to accept that Kate was being nice because she genuinely liked her and she had ruined it all.
She closed her eyes and the first thing that she saw was Kate. Sultry and dark, full of mystery and very pretty. She remembered the way she smiled and the friendly touch of her hand on her arm. If she was being honest with herself, she had probably ruined any chance of a friendship with Kate and who could blame her? How could she expect anyone to like her if she didn't even like herself?
In her own house, Kate was equally annoyed with how the evening had played out. She had texted Sophie and apologised profusely for standing her up. Sophie rang her sounding very drunk and she started shouting at Kate, calling her names because she hadn't met up with her. Kate got annoyed before spinning a lie and telling her that her neighbour had had a fall and needed someone to stay with her while her son arrived to take care of her. No matter how much she liked Sophie, she wasn't going to be spoken to like that. But that didn't stop Kate from thinking about her and wanting to get to know her better. She pictured her slim, boy-like figure and the way that she slouched in the chair in the staff room and she afforded her a small smile.
And then there was Caroline. There was something about her that was cold yet inviting, superior yet friendly. And Kate had started to imagine them being friends, sharing a bottle of wine or going out to the cinema together. Until Caroline had made the assumption that Kate was with her out of a sense of duty and the whole evening had been blown up, shattered. And with it, the idea of any sort of friendship.
She couldn't work out why Caroline had acted that way. She was a successful and professional woman with a husband and 2 sons. Conversation with her was very stimulating and she was easy to talk to. Caroline had a very commanding air about her that was somewhat sexy and Kate found herself drawn to her, almost spellbound by the way she smiled, the way that her head tilted slightly when she laughed, the innocence of some of the things she said. It would take something extraordinary to undo this but Kate made up her mind there and then that she would do whatever it took. She had a feeling that her and Caroline could be friends.
The next time Kate looked at the clock it was 9am and she felt terrible. She had been tossing and turning all night and had had practically no sleep. When she finally managed to drop off to sleep, the person in her dreams was Caroline. She was stood at the top of a hill but no matter how fast Kate ran or how long she ran for, she was always just out of her reach. She had awoken with a jolt and spent the rest of the night lying awake, her thoughts alternating between Caroline and Sophie.
Succumbing to the idea of sleep, she decided to get up, shower and go into town. Perhaps a bit of retail therapy, followed by a large slice of cake would be just what she needed and would take her mind off the delightful Caroline who was suddenly stuck in her mind and seemed to be all she could think of.
That same morning, Caroline had also woken up feeling terrible. She was still more angry than upset at how Kate had seen fit to end the evening and she played over the events in her mind. How dare Kate storm out of her office! Had she really wanted to thank her for a nice evening or was she just being polite? And had she overreacted to what Kate had said, and misread the situation or did she have every right to fly off the handle? Whatever the answer was, she was tired of trying to analyse it. But Kate kept interrupting her thoughts and she lay staring at the ceiling, remembering the way that she had smiled at her and thanked her.
Most weekends, Caroline went into town on a Saturday morning with her mother. This week, she managed to slip out of the house unseen. She was in no mood for making small talk and agreeing with some of the rubbish that came out of her mothers' mouth. She made a few impromptu and decadent purchases from the homeware section of her favourite store and made her way to the café. Paying no attention to anyone, she selected a table along the back wall and waited for service, taking a book out of her bag and quickly getting immersed in the story.
3 hours after leaving the house, Kate was also entering a café. She was all shopped out and in desperate need of a sit down and a coffee. She had planned her trip so that the last port of call was a shop where she knew they did great cake. She found a seat in the corner and flopped down into a comfy arm chair, slipping off her shoes and picking up a menu from the table. Attracting the attention of the waitress, Kate ordered carrot cake and a large latte.
Spending money on things for the house had really cheered Kate up and she was imagining her bathroom adorned with the little shelves, trinkets and pictures she had bought. She had always wanted a beach themed room and she was excited to be able to whitewash the wooden panelled walls and dress the room.
Picking up the cake, Kate took a bite and put it back down on the plate. She licked the crumbs off her lips and then suddenly brought her fingers up to her mouth. Something wasn't right. She reached out and grabbed the apron of the waitress as she walked past.
"Excuse me. Does this cake have nuts in it?" Her voice was raised, full of panic and fear.
The waitress looked from Kate to the plate then back to Kate.
"The carrot cake? Does it have nuts in it? It's a simple question."
Kate was getting scared and her face was turning red, her breathing becoming laboured. She shouted as loud as she was able.
"Please. You have to tell me. I am allergic to nuts. I have anaphylaxis."
At the other side of the café, Caroline lifted her head from her book and peered over the top of her glasses in the direction of the commotion. She tutted, annoyed at being interrupted. Then she placed book down on the table and uncrossed her legs. The woman who was causing a fuss looked like Kate. Getting up, she quickly made her way over to the table.
"Kate? Oh my God! What's happened?"
Kate was unable to speak and her face was getting red and swollen. She motioned to her bag.
"Pen." She whispered.
The waitress was crying and through her tears, Caroline made out the words "allergy" and "nuts" and suddenly realised what was happening. She grabbed her bag and tipped the contents onto the table, scrabbling around for the Epi-pen.
"Ring an ambulance now. Quickly. Everything will be OK Kate. It's going to be fine." And with strength and gentleness, she moved Kate onto the floor and placed her feet on the chair. Tearing the top off the pen, she stabbed it into Kate's thigh.
"Control your breathing Kate. Deep breathing. In and out. In and out. The ambulance will be here in no time. Relax."
Caroline wasn't feeling the confidence which she was emitting and she focussed on Kate, gently running her fingers across her brow, crooning and reassuring her. She had been on enough first aid courses to know that she was doing the right thing but it didn't make it any easier, especially when the training had to be put into practice on a patient who was known to you.
"Kate, I know it isn't the right time, but I just wanted to say, well I need to let you know err I am sorry for the way I reacted last night. It's just that I am not used to people wanting to be with me. Most people find me overbearing and, well, I can be a little domineering. And I am sorry"
Despite the distress she was in, Kate smiled.
Kate opened her eyes and tried to focus. She removed the oxygen mask from her face and lifted her head slightly from the pillow, moaning gently before laying back down again.
Caroline put her book down and walked over to the side of the bed, gently taking hold of Kate's hand. She smoothed the hair off her face and smiled down at her.
"Hello."
Turning her head, Kate looked at her, slightly confused.
"I see an angel looking at me. Have I died and gone to heaven?"
Caroline laughed.
"I am hardly the vision of an angel. I have been sat in this chair for 3 hours, scrunched up and unable to get comfortable. Not that I am complaining. But I hardly think that I look like an angel. How are you feeling?"
"A bit rough. My throat is sore but that always happens. I haven't had a reaction like this one in a long time though. There must have been some big nuts in that carrot cake."
"Is that what you were eating? Didn't you check?"
Kate scowled at Caroline.
"I'm normally so careful but I have eaten that cake there before and never had a reaction. I wonder if they have changed their chef or their bakery supplier or something."
"Well, I will be having words with them the next time I go in there, I can tell you. That poor girl waiting on didn't have a clue what to do. And you gave me a real fright." She smiled again and placed her other hand on top of Kate's. "I am truly sorry for the way I reacted last night you know. I couldn't stop thinking about it all night."
Kate squeezed her hand.
"Me neither. It's ok. Well, it isn't but I accept your apology. Let's not dwell on it now. I'd like to move on and forget it ever happened."
"Did you err how did, did you go out last night?"
Kate thought for a few seconds before you answered.
"I wanted to but the group had moved on and I am not familiar with town so I decided not to join them. There will be other nights I'm sure. I don't think Sophie will be too angry at me today. I don't think she will be angry at anyone other than herself for drinking too much. I should imagine she is feeling as bad as I am but for a very different reason."
"What is she like, Sophie? I haven't really had a lot to do with her since she started at Sulgrave. She seemed nice enough when I met her on her first day. Not really my type. Well when I say my type, I mean the sort of person I would, you know, befriend. Too athletic for my tastes!"
Kate let go of Caroline's hand and pulled herself up so she was sat upright.
"Sophie is nice, I like her. She is amusing, carefree, not too uptight and she can laugh at herself. I like someone who doesn't take life too seriously and can have fun. She is a proper joker you know."
She stopped to look at Caroline. Her mouth was set in a thin tight line and her eyes were starting to screw up. If she didn't know better anyone would think that Caroline was jealous of her friendship with Sophie.
"She sounds like, err, like she would be a fun friend to have if that's what you like, what you want. You know, to be untroubled and childish and, well, not very grown up."
There was an awkward silence before Kate spoke.
"You don't have to wait here with me you know. I can always get a taxi back into town to pick up my car. Oh god, the car! I bet I will have a ticket on there by now. I only put 4 hours on it. What time is it?"
"I know I don't have to wait but I want to, I would like to. And it's almost 4-0-clock."
Kate shifted her legs round so she was sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'm going to see if I can find someone to discharge me. Can you take me to pick up my car please, if it isn't too much trouble? It's in the car park at the side of the town hall. I think I've wasted enough of your day."
Caroline watched her walk out of the cubicle. This was the second time in 2 days that Kate had walked away from her and both times, it was her own fault. She still wasn't sure why she was reacting like this because she truly did want to get to know Kate, to be her friend. But being with her was stirring feelings that Caroline had long since buried and ignored and she was suddenly feeling very vulnerable and frightened.