It was still dark when Kate opened her eyes and it took her a few minutes to realise where she was. The weight of Caroline's arm across her chest reminded her and she turned over and snuggled closer to her. When she kissed her neck, Caroline stirred and wrapped her arm tighter around Kate. She kissed her again, this time on the lips and Caroline slowly opened her eyes.

"Hello."

Kate smiled at her.

"Hello. What time is it?"

Caroline glanced over Kate's shoulder and looked at the clock on the bedside table.

"It's just turned 4am. It's still too early to get up but I am not sure that I could go back to sleep. Kate, I keep thinking about that meeting I had with Sophie. I really ought to tell Gavin about it. What if it comes back to bite me on the behind?"

Kate pushed herself up onto her elbow and looked at Caroline.

"I thought that Sophie wanted to forget about this? I thought that she was happy to say that it was a mutual thing and that she didn't want to formalise it?"

"She did but I really feel that I ought to record it somewhere and get her to sign something. And you for that matter. Then I could just file it away in the safe or something. What do you think?"

Kate walked her fingers up Caroline's arm and started to play with her hair.

"I think that you need to look and see if there any rules about this in one of those files on your overloaded bookcase. You know, sexual harassment or at least accusing someone of it. And then you need to speak to Gavin and see what he thinks. And whatever you do, don't go getting yourself into trouble on my account. What I did was wrong. It was very stupid but it was very wrong. You need to do what is right. Which is exactly what I am about to do."

And she pulled Caroline closer to her and started to explore her body, slowly moving down her belly and onto her thighs. She rubbed the palm of her hand across Caroline's mound and felt her shudder under her touch.

"Surely you can't want to, Kate, we did it at least err, aren't you tired? Oh good Lord."

Kate laughed and her head disappeared under the covers. Her voice was muffled as she ventured in between Caroline's legs. As Kate's tongue expertly flicked in and out, tasting Caroline and bringing her to new heights, Caroline's back arched and she closed her mouth tight to stop herself from screaming. The orgasm was quick and intense and she tensed her body up and let it wash over her. When she was sated, she pulled Kate back up the bed and held her close, playing with her breasts and pinching her nipples until Kate was writhing and moving her body. Caroline slipped 2 fingers inside of Kate, delighted at how wet she was and started circling her thumb. Slowly and tantalisingly, she brought Kate to full climax.

She lay quietly in Kate's arms looking up at the ceiling and gently caressing her stomach.

"You know what? I can't remember a time when I have felt happier, except when I had the boys that is. Oh, and when I bought my jeep."

Kate swatted her.

"Oh thanks. I don't mind playing second fiddle to your boys but your car? You are such a romantic Caroline."

Caroline smiled.

"You know what I mean! This just feels so right. I am err, I think I am, Oh Kate I"

And Kate silenced her with a kiss, not needing to know what she was about to say.

When the alarm went off at 630am, Kate pulled the covers over her head and curled up into a ball. Caroline laughed and jumped out of bed, taking all the covers with her and leaving Kate exposed and naked. She ran into the ensuite bathroom with Kate quickly behind her.

"You shouldn't have done that, you really shouldn't."

And she pushed her into the shower cubicle and turned on the shower. The cold water rained on Caroline's head like sharp needles and she screamed, the shock proving too much. Kate giggled and she grabbed the duvet from her hand to save it getting too wet. She wrapped it around herself and stood and watched Caroline as she acclimatised to the water.

"Mum? Mum? Are you OK? I heard a scream. What's going on?"

There was a loud knock on the bathroom door.

Caroline opened her eyes wide and gasped.

"It's William" she whispered and she turned off the shower so she could hear him.

"Nothing, erm, nothing William. Just a big spider. A big hairy spider in my shower. It's OK now. It's gone down the plug hole. Nothing to worry about."

Kate was giggling and Caroline was pulling faces at her, trying to get her to be quiet. The last thing she wanted was for William to catch her in the shower with another woman, another naked woman who happened to be one of his teachers.

"As long as you are OK."

"Yes love, yes yes err yes I am fine thank you."

Caroline turned the shower back on to drown out their voices.

"God that was close. How the hell are we going to explain you being here?"

"We don't explain it. Why do we need to explain it?"

"They will see the car outside when we leave for school. Unless you leave now. Unless you leave before they get downstairs."

"I thought we had gone over this Caroline. No more hiding."

"But I don't want them to find out about us like this. Can we just tell them that" but before she could finish, Kate joined her in the shower. She bent forward and took one of Caroline's nipples in her mouth, nipping it gently and teasing her with her tongue.

"Oh, oh, err we could oh, yes perhaps we could just talk about it later."

When they were both showered and dressed, Caroline headed downstairs into the kitchen. William was already there.

"I've put the kettle on and I have got 2 cups out. One for you and one for Miss McKenzie."

Caroline blushed and turned round to look at William who was looking at her.

"I saw the car." And he smiled. She knew there he didn't need any explanation as to why Kate was still in their house.

"Thank you William. That is so thoughtful. Miss McKenzie, Kate, will be downstairs in a minute. She was just finishing getting dressed when I erm, when I knocked on the guest room door."

Right on cue, Kate walked through the door and stood at the side of Caroline.

"Good morning William, Caroline."

"Good morning Kate. Did you sleep well?"

"I slept very well thank you. I did wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where I was but then I fell asleep again. Your bed is very comfortable, that is the one in the guest room."

Caroline quickly turned away and busied herself with making coffee.

"Is coffee ok with you Kate? You can have tea if you want it. I have Early Grey or I have peppermint tea. Or I have some green tea if you would rather."

"No, coffee is just fine. Thank you."

"Help yourself to breakfast. We have toast, white and brown, cereal, bagels or there is yoghurt in the fridge and fruit on the counter. Anything else that you want you will have to search for it and see if I have it in the house. William, can you check whether we have bacon."

"There's no need, honestly. I am just fine with coffee and toast. I am not much of an eater in the morning, well, not breakfast anyway."

Caroline nearly choked on her coffee and Kate smirked at her. The comment went unnoticed by William.

Lawrence rushed into the kitchen, grabbed an apple and headed straight for the fridge. He took the milk bottle from the door and was just about to drink from it when Caroline shouted

"Don't you dare! How many times do I have to tell you Lawrence? If you want to drink milk, you drink it from a glass. "

"Whatever ma" and Lawrence proceeded to take a big gulp before screwing on the lid and placing it back.

Caroline just stood with her hand on her hip and glared at him.

"Good job I have already poured the milk for our guest."

Lawrence noticed Kate for the first time.

"Bit early for a visit isn't it?"

"Err, Kate, Miss McKenzie stayed over last night. She had a glass of wine and I thought it would be safer for her to stay than to drive home."

"Aren't you too old to be having sleepovers? Oh, please tell me she won't be travelling to school with us. It's bad enough having to arrive with the head teacher but arriving with 2 teachers in the car would just be embarrassing beyond words."

"I beg your pardon? The head teacher happens to be your mother. Does that not count? Anyway, Miss McKenzie has her car outside and she will drive that to school. Does that suit you?"

"Yeah I guess so. Is it time to leave?"

Caroline put her plate in the dishwasher and looked over at Kate who was just finishing her toast.

"Go and clean your teeth. William, get your homework please."

The two boys left the room and Caroline rushed over to Kate. She stood in front of her and kissed her, holding her head between her hands and looking deep into her eyes.

"Thank you for last night. Thank you for showing me what it can be like, what it feels like to well, you know to be with someone that "

Kate put her finger on Caroline's lips.

"Shhh, don't say anything. You don't need to say anything." And she kissed her back.

"I'll see you later at work."

And with a quick look over her shoulder, Kate was gone.

When Caroline left the house, she was surprised to see John's car still parked in the drive way. As she approached it, she was even more surprised to see him laid across the back seat fast asleep. She knocked sharply on the window and pulled open the door. He shifted and groaned.

"And that, boys, is why you should always drink sensibly and responsibly. You should always plan out your evening and take a taxi or avoid alcohol. I am surprised that your father hasn't learned that by now. But then again, I am also surprised that he had the sense not to drive last night. You are always full of surprises John. And guess what? I have another one for you. The door is locked and your key is inside the house where you left it on the kitchen counter. Good morning."

William glared into the car.

"You are disgusting."

And he slammed the car door shut and joined his mother in the front of the jeep.

As Kate was locking her car door, she heard someone shout her name. Turning round, she saw Sophie jogging towards her.

"Kate. I'm glad I've seen you. I was called into Elliott's office yesterday and she gave me a right telling off, the bitch. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am sorry for all this. I'm sorry if I got you into trouble with what I said. I didn't mean to. I was just trying to fit in and I think, well, I think that I got things a little bit mixed up."

Kate balanced her books in her arms and carried on walking. Sophie followed a few steps behind her.

"Yes I know that you went to see Caroline, Dr Elliott. She called me into her office to see her too. You do know that she won't let this lie and she will probably call us in to see her again don't you? She wants us to sign some sort of statement, a testimony of the meeting. Well, I mean I presume she will want us to. I know you want to drop any allegations but this still needs to be formalised in case you change your mind or you make further accusations about me or anyone else. Dr Elliott would be a fool if she didn't capture this now."

Sophie nodded.

"Yes I figured that, although I still can't see why she won't just take my word for it. I mean, why would she want to do all this? Do you think she will use it to blackmail me? She's just being bloody paranoid."

Kate stopped walking and turned round to her.

"No Sophie she is not. She is doing what is right. And I do not think that she would do anything like that. Dr Elliott is a true professional. Honest, above board and very fair."

"Good because I just want this whole thing to be over with."

"You and me both. A stupid meaningless kiss has escalated into something really serious and I certainly don't want this hanging over me."

Sophie looked down on the ground and started kicking the ground with her toe.

"I acted like a right silly little cow and I am really sorry. I hardly slept a wink last night."

"No, me neither." And despite the situation, Kate couldn't help smiling. Her lack of sleep was for very different reasons.

"I'd like for us to be friends. Do you think we could, be friends that is?"

Kate didn't have any sympathy for her.

"Sophie, I don't understand why you did what you did. It was bad enough that you made a pass at me but to blame me for it! What were you thinking? That said, I am willing to forgive and forget because it does take 2 as they say. However, I do need to make something clear to you. I am not interested in a relationship with you, not now, not ever. If we are to be friends, it will be on a purely professional basis. We are 2 people who have to work at the same place. Work colleagues. That's how it is and that's all it is and that's all it will ever be."

Sophie shrugged.

"I guess I couldn't really expect anything else from you after what I did. I'm glad that we are friends again Kate. I feel, well, a little better than I did earlier."

And without another word, Sophie jogged back the other way and towards the gymnasium leaving Kate to struggle into work with her books and her bag.

Caroline had watched the exchange from her car. It didn't look like Kate and Sophie were talking about anything important. It certainly didn't look like Kate was flirting with her, or that she was encouraging her. And after everything that had happened the night before, Caroline was sure that Kate wouldn't do that. Caroline shook her head to dismiss the thought and climbed out of her car and made her way up the steps and into school. Her first priority was to produce a record of the meetings she had yesterday so that she could get them signed off and filed away.

Just before lunch, Kate passed Sophie on the corridor and they nodded acknowledgement at each other. It didn't take a detective to work out where Sophie had been and where Kate was going.

Caroline met her in the outer office.

"Miss McKenzie. Take a seat. Thank you Beverley. Please close the door on your way out."

Caroline pushed a piece of paper across the desk.

"Although the allegation from Miss Brightman has been rescinded, I have a duty of care and a moral obligation to document all of this. It will of course be filed away and hopefully I won't have the recourse to refer to it ever again. So if you would like to read this through and then sign it at the bottom to say that it is a true record of our meeting yesterday."

Kate looked up at Caroline. The unnecessary formalities between the two of them was unnerving for her given their intimacy last night and she was bemused. She picked up the pen and, after carefully reading the piece of paper, she signed it and placed it back on the desk.

"Thank you Miss McKenzie. That will be all."

Kate stayed seated, expecting Caroline to say something else. When she bent her head and started reading some papers that were on her desk, Kate tentatively got up off the chair and walked a few steps before turning round again.

"Caroline. Dr Elliott."

Caroline looked up at her over the top of her glasses.

"Is everything OK?"

She winked.

"Everything is fine thank you Miss McKenzie. I will see you later for the auditions. Have a good day."

Kate was excited when she saw the number of children who had assembled in the hall for the choir auditions. She had absolutely no idea of the talent that was at Sulgrave but she was confident that she could get a good strong choir from the numbers that were before her.

Kate stood up on the stage.

"Thank you all for coming. This should only take about half an hour or so. Dr Elliott has kindly agreed to help me so we might be finished even sooner. Now, I am not going to audition for solo singers today so you will all be singing as part of an ensemble. Once you get comfortable with singing with each other, I will start to assign solo pieces to people."

The relief from the audience was almost audible.

"I have chosen a few of the hymns we sing at school because I know that you will all be familiar with the tunes. So what I would like you to do is to come up here on stage and arrange yourself into 3 lines, tallest at the back, smallest at the front, and we will start."

The children moved around and Kate smiled over at Caroline.

"I am quite anxious to get started now. I have never done this before."

"Me neither! How wonderful will it be to have a choir though Caroline? Our very own voice of Sulgrave. Now, Dr Elliott and I will be walking around you while you are singing. We might gently move you to another position in the line, we might tap you on the shoulder and ask you to sit down or we might indicate that we want you to sing either an octave higher or an octave lower. Just relax and take our lead."

And Kate nodded to the pianist in the corner and she started playing.

For a while, they both stood looking at the choir, heads cocked to one side, eyes closed from time to time, just listening. It wasn't long before the stronger voices came through and the children with slight pitching problems were also audible. Caroline was the first to move and she gently tapped 2 girls who were stood side by side. She pointed to the front row of chairs and they quietly left the stage and sat down. Kate was impressed. She had instantly picked them out within 8 bars but she was curious as to whether Caroline would also hear that their tuning wasn't quite on the ball.

After just 2 hymns, Kate held her hands up to the pianist to indicate that she wanted her to stop playing. She stood at the side of Caroline and looked at the faces of those assembled before her. Then she turned round to address those who were sat down.

"Thank you so much for taking the time out to audition for the choir. At this moment in time, we do not have space for you. But please don't be disheartened. You are not sat there because you are no good at singing. You are sat there because perhaps the hymns I chose were a little out of your range. Or perhaps we have a stronger baritone or alto than you." She paused briefly and took them all in with one sweep of her eyes. "And who knows? Some of those on stage may not work out for us or may decide that they do not want to be part of the choir. So, as they say, we will be in touch. Thank you again."

Caroline started to clap and the others on the stage followed suit. It was lovely to see and Kate was very proud of them all. They were celebrating the pupils in their own way and she found it quite touching.

When the hall was empty, Caroline turned to Kate and smiled. She longed to kiss her and hold her but it was neither the time nor the place.

"Do you have any plans this evening? I was wondering whether you would like to err would like to come to mine again?"

Kate beamed at her.

"How about you come to mine? We won't be disturbed and we can do whatever we want, wherever we want." Her look was smouldering and Caroline's stomach flipped.

"Oh, err, well well well yes, I think erm, yes I can manage that. John is taking the boys out tonight so I don't have to think about feeding them so yes, yes, that would be very nice."

As Kate passed Caroline, she held her hand out and her fingers brushed Caroline's. A shock of electricity ran up her arm and she shuddered.

"I might even be able to rustle you up some supper. I'll see you later."