Beverley caught up with Kate at lunchtime.
"Dr Elliott would like to see you after school Kate if you are free. Shall I tell her that you will be in her office at 3.30pm?"
Kate nodded and continued down the corridor to the staff room. Beverley hadn't said what it was about and she suddenly felt queasy. What if Caroline knew that she and Sophie had kissed earlier? What if Sophie had told her because she was secretly annoyed at the brush off she had been given? Or what if they had been seen?
Kate was very flattered that someone as young and as beautiful as Sophie was attracted to her but she simply wasn't her type. Judging by her demeanour and her childish behaviour, she guessed her to be about 24 years old. She knew that Sulgrave was her first job and that she had recently finished her Postgraduate Certificate in Education at University. There was no denying that there was a physical attraction – the kiss earlier that day had told her that – but it had to be about more that for Kate. A quick roll in the sack was not Kate's style and as far as she could see, that was all Sophie had to offer her. From their conversations, they had nothing in common, no shared interests or views on things. They didn't even like the same genre of film or television programmes.
Kate spent the rest of the day on tenterhooks and felt quite sick by the time the bell rang at the end of the day. Standing outside of Caroline's office, she tucked her blouse in her trousers, straightened her cardigan and smoothed her hair. She knocked and entered, having learnt from the last visit that knocking and waiting was too formal. Caroline stood up and walked around her to desk to greet her.
"Kate! Miss McKenzie. How have, err, how was your day?" She waved her hand towards a chair that was around her conference table.
"Very good thank you." She felt the heat rising up her chest. She was convinced that Caroline knew about her and Sophie and that she was just acting cool and waiting for her to trip herself up.
"Good. Did anything happen today that you want to tell me about?"
Kate sat down on the chair and placed her hands under her legs. She looked down at the floor. Another trick question perhaps?
"No. Nothing that would be worthy of sharing." She bit her bottom lip. It was no good. She couldn't keep this from Caroline. "Except perhaps this morning when I was"
"When what?" Caroline was teasing Kate who was getting increasingly uncomfortable. She stood up from her chair.
"Look Caroline I'm not sure how to say this. It's just that"
Caroline smiled and walked over to Kate and stood in front of her to stop her leaving. She sensed that Kate was feeling uncomfortable and was a little bemused. Then she opened her mouth and Kate heard her gasp.
"Oh, Kate, I am so sorry. You have hay fever don't you? It is all part of this allergy thing and the flowers I sent you are sat in the back garden on the table. Why am I such an idiot? Why do I never think things through properly."
Kate started to laugh, the relief proving too much for her. She put her hand up to her mouth and laughed again. Her shoulders dropped and she relaxed, smiling widely at Caroline.
"The flowers! Oh, were they from you? Only the note didn't say much. No, no, I don't have hay fever. They are beautiful, thank you. Such a lovely surprise too."
"Well that's one thing anyway. Erm, who did you think they were from Kate?" Caroline furrowed her eyebrows.
"I'm kidding! Of course I knew they were from you." And she held out her arms and hugged Caroline. As the 2 women pulled apart, Kate leaned forward and kissed Caroline lightly on the lips. Caroline didn't flinch and Kate felt her lips pucker up beneath hers in response. She looked at her and smiled.
"So, the reason why I wanted to see you. I want to chat to you about the choir and the Christmas Fayre."
"What a shame! I thought you wanted to seduce me in your office. You made a good start as well."
Caroline smiled at Kate and her stomach turned over. She had a way of simply looking at her with her sparkling blue eyes that made Kate want to ravish her there and then. But she knew that she would have to take things slowly with Caroline.
"I would err I think that I erm I do quite like the idea of you and me, you and me err but well it it it, it just isn't something that I err anyway, the choir. Have you come up with any ideas as to how you are going to get members?"
"Well, if we are going to forget that I just kissed you and go back to being professional and business like, I wouldn't mind sharing my thoughts with you. Not that they are very detailed. I would like to start by perhaps saying something at the next school assembly if that is the sort of thing you allow. I could stand up and tell the children what I had in mind and ask anyone who was interested to pop along and see me after school and I could hold some open auditions. I could also complement this by putting some posters up on the general school notice board and outside the music rooms. And I thought that I might speak to Mr Howarth, the head of drama to see if he would promote this to his students. How does that sound for a starting point?"
"These all sound like very good ideas. I would be more than happy to help out. I have the advantage of knowing the students so I could always give you an insight on their suitability. You know, advise whether I think they would turn up for rehearsals and that sort of thing. Does that sound agreeable to you?"
"I think that is a very good idea Caroline. I like the idea of you and me working together on a project."
"So do I. So were you really pulling my leg about the flowers? Did you not know they were from me?" Caroline stood with her hands on her hips and was smiling at Kate, her head slightly to one side, her eyes taking in everything in front of her.
"Of course I knew they were from you. Well, I didn't but I wasn't expecting anyone else to send me flowers so I just sort of guessed and hoped I would be right. I did ask the courier if she had got the right house though. They are truly beautiful Caroline, and such a wonderful, thoughtful gesture. Thank you."
"You are very welcome. I just wanted to let you know that I, well that I enjoyed the time we spent together last night. And to tell you that I want to, I would like to perhaps do it again sometime."
Kate smiled at Caroline who felt weak at the knees. She stared at Kate, at her smooth and dark complexion and at her long graceful neck. Her eyes moved down her body and she suddenly wanted Kate in her arms like she had never wanted anyone before. Moving forward, she placed her hands around Kate's waist and pulled her towards her. Kate giggled and draped her hands around Caroline's neck, moving her face forward so that their foreheads were together.
"We need to make it soon."
Caroline nodded.
"Yes, yes I think we do."
It was all that Kate needed to hear and she cupped Caroline's chin in her hands and brought her mouth up to hers. Tentatively, she kissed Caroline with all her being, tenderly stroking her cheek. She started to explore her face with her fingertips and she rubbed her ear lobe between her thumb and forefinger. A soft moan escaped Caroline's lips and she felt her weight on her arms as she almost collapsed.
"Hey, steady on. Are you OK?"
She stumbled a little and regained her balance.
"I'm sorry Kate, I don't know what came over me. I just sort of, well you made me, I don't know really. I just went all weak."
Kate wrapped her arms around her.
"You're safe, trust me, I won't let you fall." And she walked over to the chair and gently lowered Caroline down onto it.
"Have you eaten today? I bet you haven't had anything since breakfast have you?"
"Erm, I don't remember. I had a bagel at home and then I had a, I had a, no I didn't have anything for lunch."
"Come on, I'm taking you for something to eat. I won't take no for an answer. I will not have you fainting on me Dr Elliott."
They went to a quaint little Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of town. It was one that Kate had found while she was exploring the neighbourhood and it was authentic and the food was excellent. They drove there separately, Kate leading the way.
The restaurant was quiet and they had their choice tables. They decided to sit near the back of the room.
"I hope you like Chinese food Caroline. I should have asked. It is one of my favourites."
Caroline nodded.
"I love Chinese food as well. I would eat it every day if I had a choice. Well, I do have a choice because I do all the cooking at home but Lawrence, well, he prefers the more traditional food. His favourite is a roast dinner. You'll have to come for dinner one evening and tell me whether Lawrence is right about my Yorkshire puddings. He says they're just about the best in the world."
Kate laughed.
"I would like that Caroline."
Conversation was easy and intelligent and they chatted about their childhoods and about what they had wanted to be when they grew up.
"I always wanted to be a teacher. I used to line up my dolls and teddies and play school with them."
Caroline laughed.
"Oh my goodness, me too! I never wanted to be a teacher though. I always wanted to be a doctor but my father was very old fashioned and he talked me out of it. He said that ladies couldn't be doctors because it was a job for a man and ladies had to be nurses or stop at home and look after their babies. So I did the next best thing and went into science, into chemistry. The job at Sulgrave Heath was an amazing opportunity, one that probably wouldn't come up again in my lifetime and I decided to have a shot at it. I didn't expect to get the post in a million years but when I was offered it, John persuaded me that I would be a fool to turn it down so I accepted."
"I think you are a brilliant head teacher. I love the way you are with the children and it is clear that they respect you."
"Thank you Kate. That means a lot. I have worked very hard to win the children over and get them on side. It isn't easy for William and Lawrence you know being at the same school. But I don't treat them any differently to the others. And I would like to think that I don't embarrass them too much."
"I'm sure you don't."
By the time they had finished their meal, they were feeling very relaxed and at ease with each other. At one point, Caroline even reached over and took hold of Kate's hand across the table. The butterflies awoke in her stomach and she sat there with a wide smile on her face.
They paid the bill and left the restaurant, laughing at the absurdity of the sayings within their fortune cookies. They walked around the back of the building to the car park.
"Thank you for a lovely evening Kate. I have enjoyed myself immensely." Caroline fastened her long coat and pulled her scarf tighter around her neck. "We must do this again soon."
"No need to thank me. I have had a lovely time too. And yes, we could make the middle Monday in the month our date night. Oh, not a date date night but a date night." She laughed. "All this is so strange and so nice."
Caroline smiled and took a step forward.
"I want to kiss you Kate but I, well, I don't know if I should."
She looked around her to check if there was anyone around, anyone watching and Kate sighed.
"I thought we had been through this. I thought that you were OK with us. We are in the middle of a car park and it is getting dark. Who is going to see us? Who is going to even care?"
Caroline moved her weight to her other foot and shifted her handbag onto her arm.
"I am alright with this Kate. Well, when I say I am, I am but I'm not. I have to think about what might happen if we are seen."
"But James needs to know sooner or later."
"His name is John. And yes he does but I need to tell him myself. And I need to tell the boys. And, oh God, I need to tell my mother. Goodness knows what she will say, what she will think. But until then, I think we need to be very discrete about this and not do anything, you know, anything that might attract attention."
Kate pointed her key at the car and unlocked it.
"I can't work you out Caroline. I can't decide if you want to be with me or if you find the whole idea a bit of a novelty. Either way, you need to make up your mind because you are not treating me like this, blowing hold and cold. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight Caroline."
"Kate, I do like you. I like you a lot. But this is all strange for me. Kate, please wait."
But Kate didn't wait and she got into her little Fiat and drove it out of the car park, remembering only to turn her lights on when she indicated to turn left onto the main road. Caroline closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Great. You really know how to ruin a good evening." And she put two fingers to the side of her head and made a sound like a gun going off. "Nice work Caroline."
Kate had been tossing and turning for the last 2 hours and had only been asleep for about 10 minutes when she was awoken by the sound of a phone ringing. She picked up the house phone at the side of her bed.
"Hello? Hello?" She cursed and put it down again only to realise that there was a phone still ringing. It was her mobile.
Without looking at the screen, she picked up her phone.
"Hello?"
"Kate, it's Sophie. I'm sorry to ring you so late but I couldn't sleep and I wanted to talk to you."
"I couldn't sleep either until about 10 minutes ago when I finally dropped off. And then someone just woke me up. What is it Sophie? I'm really not in the mood."
Kate pulled herself up in bed and turned on the bedside lamp. She was still annoyed at how things had panned out with Caroline and was yo-yoing between the anger she felt with herself for driving off and the anger she felt with Caroline for not being accepting of their situation.
"I was just thinking about you. I couldn't help remembering what happened this morning in your classroom and how you kissed me and, well, it got me all excited again and I wanted to hear your voice. Did you know you had a sexy voice?"
"No. And I really don't care. Did you want something?"
"No, like I said I just wanted to hear your voice. What are you wearing Kate? Tell me what you are wearing. Describe it in detail for me so that I can imagine it."
Kate was starting to lose her patience.
"Sophie, if you don't want anything, I am going to hang up the phone now. I am very flattered by your attention but I am a little too old for all this. I have already told you that I am not interested. There is someone else."
It went quiet and Kate took to the phone away from her ear and was just about to hang up when she heard Sophie's voice.
"Are you turning me down? Because if you are you'll regret this Kate, you mark my words." And then the line went dead.
Kate stared at the screen and threw her phone on the bed. She turned over onto her side and closed her eyes. What a night! First, she had kissed Caroline in her office and then Caroline had blown cold in the car park. And now Sophie had phoned her up and issued her a veiled threat because she told her she wasn't interested.
Kate wanted to be with Caroline but she had the feeling that Sophie would do whatever she could to throw a spanner in the works. And she also had a feeling that she would stop at nothing to spoil any chance of happiness that they had.
"Hello? Can I come in love?"
Caroline was stood at the breakfast counter eating her toast and thumbing through the newspaper. She looked up over the top of her glasses and watched her mother walk through the dining room and into the kitchen.
"Do I have much choice?"
Celia kissed her on the cheek and stood back, her arms folded and her eyes scrutinising Caroline's face.
"You look tired. Didn't you get much sleep last night?"
"I err I no, no, not really."
"Late night was it? And where were you early evening? I came round to see you but Lawrence said you were out with a friend. Which friend?"
"I was out with one of my new teachers if you must know. She had some ideas about a competition choir and I had some ideas about using them at the Christmas fayre and we decided to chat about them over dinner. Is that alright with you mum? Did you actually want something or have you must come around to ask questions and make glib comments?"
Celia lifted herself onto one of the stools around the breakfast bar.
"Oh, you really didn't get much sleep last night did you? There's no need for you to get snippy with me. Is there any tea in the pot?"
"Yes there probably is. Why don't you help yourself? In fact, why don't you help yourself to the rest of my toast while you're at it. I need to go to work."
She picked up her bag and walked towards the door.
"Boys! Boys! You have exactly 10 seconds to be ready, downstairs and in the car because I am leaving for work."
She shouted up the stairs and back tracked to where Celia was sat. She hastily kissed her on her cheek and walked briskly out of the kitchen.
"See yourself out mum. Oh, and if you actually did want something, text me or ring me."
And she slammed the door behind her. Sitting in the front seat of her jeep, she felt like crying. Her lack of sleep was because of the evening with Kate which she had managed to ruin and that in turn had put her in a foul mood.
"Why do you have to always act so damn uptight and prissy and perfect Caroline Elliott? If you stand any chance with that woman, that needs to change. Push your shoulders back, hold your head up high and face the fact that you could very well be"
"What mum? What could you be?"
William slipped in beside her.
"Oh, nothing love. I was just err running through erm practicing what I was going to say to Sam Claydon's parents when they come in later this morning. I am going to say "He needs to change that boy or he could very well be out on his ear." I have it covered now I think."
William huffed, fastened his seatbelt and seconds later, Lawrence came hurtling of the house and threw himself into the backseat.
"Come on ma, let's go. We don't want the head being late for school."