As Caroline walked down Kate's garden path, she felt extremely nervous. She couldn't believe that things had moved on at such a heady pace and that Kate had stayed over the night before. It wasn't her intention when she had invited her over for dinner and she certainly didn't think that it was likely after John had turned up uninvited. But it had happened and their love making had been so special. When she got home that evening and had gone into her bedroom to change, she could still smell Kate's sweet perfume lingering and she had smiled at the memory.
Things had gone well at school that day. After 24 hours of worrying, she had done what she thought was right with the whole Sophie business. She had confirmed that Sophie wanted to drop the allegation that had been made against Kate, documented both meetings, and then got both parties to sign the records and filed them away. She had also discussed this with Gavin who was totally supportive of her and thought that what she had done was correct and sufficient. There had been the selection of the new choir whom Caroline felt confident would be a formidable team and the one to beat. And to top it all off, she was having dinner, supper, whatever you wanted to call it with Kate.
Caroline had to restrain herself when Kate answered the door. All she wanted to do was to take her in her arms and kiss her. But she kept her cool.
"Hi. These are for you." And she handed her with a large bunch of flowers.
"They are gorgeous. You really didn't have to. But thank you Caroline. Would you like to come in?"
Kate stepped to one side and Caroline entered with a confidence that was masking how she really felt. Her legs suddenly felt like they belonged to someone else and she lay her hand on the wall to steady herself.
"Are you alright?"
Without answering, she pulled Kate into her arms and kissed her with such passion and feeling that they were both left feeling slightly dizzy.
"Wow! If that is how you greet someone when you saw them only 2 hours ago, I would love to know what you would do if you hadn't seen them for a few days."
Caroline giggled.
"Sorry. It's just that, well I have been thinking about doing that to you all day and now that I have the chance, the opportunity, I couldn't stop myself."
"Don't apologise. At least you let me close the door behind me. Whatever would the neighbours think?"
And they both burst out laughing as Kate led the way into the living room.
"You have a beautiful house Kate. I love the colours you have used in here. It is all so warm and welcoming. You have a great eye for detail."
"Thank you. It's only quite small but it serves its purpose for me. The kitchen and the dining room are through there and I have 2 double bedrooms upstairs. I sometimes think that I have missed my calling you know. I love shopping for accessories, things that will make a statement in a room or dress a shelf or a window sill. I spend hours browsing those little shops in town, the unique knickknack shops, looking for that one special thing. Err, I took the liberty of preparing a little something to eat. It's only a light stew, nothing too heavy. And I have some bread baking too."
"It smells delicious. How do you have time to bake your own bread? I barely have enough time to pop to M&S and buy a loaf."
Kate laughed.
"Well, it's only baking in the bread maker. But it still tastes nice. And it is really quick to do once you get the hang of it. You'll have to let me know what you think of this batch. I have tried some wholemeal flour from the new health shop that has just opened. Sorry, you must think me very rude, babbling on like that. Can I get you a drink? And please, sit down."
Caroline looked coyly at Kate.
"Look at the two of us. It's like we've never met before. It's like we never, well like we never you know last night when we were yes, well anyway, yes please. I would love a juice or a mineral water or something non-alcoholic. Thank you."
As Kate left the room, Caroline took her bag off and settled down in the oversized armchair. She looked around her and took in some more of the décor, marvelling at how Kate had managed to turn a simple bookshelf into a centrepiece. She instantly felt at home and kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet underneath her.
She could hear Kate banging about in the kitchen and smiled gently to herself. In just over a week, her life had changed completely and she was feeling more comfortable with who she was every day. After John left her, she stopped trusting people and she struggled to accept that anyone would want to be with her just because she was who she was. She always thought that they had an ulterior motive, a hidden agenda. Caroline certainly didn't think she would ever find someone else again and her intense feelings for Kate had knocked her off kilter a little.
"You look like the cat that got the cream."
Kate interrupted her thoughts and her heart melted a little as Caroline looked at her and smiled.
"I feel like the cat that got the cream. I feel so blessed and lucky and, oh, I don't know, contented. Does that make me sound boring?"
Kate sat on the arm of the chair and put leaned into Caroline, taking hold of her hand.
"No, not at all. You're not boring. Things with you are never boring."
"Is that a nice way of saying that my life is like something from one of those awful soap operas on TV? Never a dull moment in the Elliott household eh?"
Kate giggled.
"Well, now that you come to mention it. Let's see. There's the husband that ran off with an alcoholic floozy. The head teacher that has just come out of the closet, albeit only an arm and a leg to a select few but it's happening slowly. A young black filly in the starting gates waiting for the gun to go off. A mother in her 70s that lives next door in the granny flat and is, well, is who she is. I think it would make a great new soap. We could call it Harrogate Housewives or something like that."
Caroline burst out laughing, leaning forward to put her drink on the coffee table. Her laughter was infectious and soon Kate was laughing too. She slipped off the arm and onto the chair behind Caroline and pulled her back towards her.
"Tea will be about 20 minutes. What do you want to do until then?"
Caroline frowned and lifted Kate's chin up with her finger.
"I am sure we can think of something."
"What are you looking for?" Kate walked back into the kitchen with the last of the supper pots to see Caroline bending over, opening and shutting cupboards and drawers. She bit her bottom lip and stared intently at the view. Caroline's backside swayed slowly from side to side as she moved along the kitchen looking into all the cupboards and Kate just wanted to seduce her there and then.
"The dishwasher. Where have you hidden the dishwasher?"
Kate laughed and put the pots on the counter, leaning on it and looking directly at Caroline.
"I don't have a dishwasher. I thought about it for, oh, all of 10 seconds and then decided that I would rather have the cupboard space. There is only me and I dirty very few pots. So Cinderella, you will just have to roll your sleeves up and wash them the old fashioned way."
Kate picked up the tea towel and flicked it at Caroline's behind.
"You wash and I'll dry."
Caroline pushed up her sleeves and started to run the water.
"I don't mind, really I don't. So, what are your plans for the choir? The competition season starts in just 2 weeks time. Do you think we, well you, will have something ready by then?"
Kate folded her arms and watched Caroline make a start on the washing up.
"I think so, yes. I was chatting to some of the Year 10s and they tell me that they belong to a local youth choir so that gives me something to work on. And another 3 girls in the team know each other through a local drama society so they will have a good set of songs. I was thinking that I could do something radical, something fresh. A medley of musicals perhaps, using small pockets of the choir for some bits and then the whole ensemble for others. I can work on what they already know and just teach chorus bits to the rest to bring everyone in together. That way, we won't have to learn a complete set in a week. Does that make sense? And I want to do something fresh, something different each competition. It might be a mash up of what they did the previous round but it will be something that no one has heard before. Oh, I am so excited."
Caroline touched Kate on the arm, sending a shiver up her spine.
"I can tell! You are very pretty when you smile you know. Your eyes light up and they dance and sparkle."
Kate shuffled her feet slightly and held her head on one side, looking at Caroline and smiling.
"I don't think anyone has ever told me that before. Thank you Caroline. You aren't bad yourself either."
Caroline feigned annoyance and, putting her hands in the sink, she scooped up some water and threw it at Kate. It wet her face and Kate gasped, more from the shock that Caroline had deigned to do it than the impact of the water.
"I'm getting my own back for this morning. Well, I'm not because that was different this morning. But, well, you know what I mean." And she carried on washing the pots as if nothing had happened, leaving Kate to dry off her face on her sleeve.
"I'll remember this, you mark my words. I will get my own back."
And Kate leaned over and kissed Caroline. It was only intended to be a peck but Caroline placed her hands on Kate's waist and pulled her towards her. Her hands explored first Kate's back and then she boldly moved them underneath her blouse and to her stomach, slowly venturing up until her hands were on her breasts. She slipped one of them under her bra and played with her nipple, causing Kate to moan and open her legs slightly to retain her balance.
Kate had Caroline exactly where she wanted her, trapped between her own body and the sink and she decided to use this to her advantage. Placing one hand at the side of Caroline on the draining board, she used the other to unfasten the top button of Caroline's trousers, all the while kissing her and exploring her mouth with her tongue.
Caroline tensed slightly and Kate stopped kissing her and moved to her ear.
"It's OK Caroline. I'll be gentle with you."
Caroline moaned.
"It's not that. It's well, we are in the kitchen and I have my hand in your bra and you have your hand in my, well, you have your hand on my zip and, oh Kate, please don't stop."
Kate covered her mouth with her lips to silence her and Caroline forgot where she was. The only thing that mattered to her at that precise moment was the fact that she was with Kate.
Time seemed to stand still and then Kate suddenly stopped and without saying anything, she took hold of Caroline's hand and led her towards the living room. She gently pushed her onto the sofa and straddled her, deftly removing her blouse and discarding it on the floor. Caroline stared open mouthed at the sight and slipped the straps of Kate's bra off her shoulders and circled the palms of her hands around her breasts. Kate arched her back and then unfastened her bra and threw that on top of her blouse on the floor.
Caroline leaned forward and took one of Kate's nipples in her mouth, flicking her tongue around the nub, teasing with her teeth. Her other hand moved slowly to the front of Kate's trousers and she paused momentarily before slipping her hand down the top of her waistband and caressing her mound over the silky material of her underwear. Her attention moved down Kate's body and she slid both of her hands around until she was stroking her bottom, all the while moving further and further inside her trousers.
Kate dug her knees into the sofa and lifted her weight off Caroline's legs just long enough to pull her trousers down. She quickly stood up and removed them and then sat back down on the seat at the side of her. She wanted to see Caroline's body naked, to touch her creamy skin, to taste her and make love to her.
Caroline looked over at Kate and suddenly felt awkward and shy. She didn't want to be so forward as to start removing her clothes but she wanted to feel the bareness of Kate's breasts against her own. Slowly, she started to unbutton her blouse, all the while looking at Kate and smiling. This was too much for Kate and she leaned forward and brushed her hands away, quickly unfastening the remaining buttons and sliding the blouse off. She sat back and marvelled at Caroline's body and then reached out and pulled her towards her.
"Wait a minute."
Kate threw some of the cushions onto the floor and slid off the settee, kneeling in front of Caroline. She drew her closer and Caroline joined her, kneeling up in front of Kate. She took the initiative and removed her bra and Kate smiled and started to chew on her bottom lip. Caroline held her arms out and Kate fell into them, her hands stroking her shoulders and her back. The feel of her naked body against her own made her moan and their kisses became fervid and passionate. Caroline clumsily attempted to remove her trousers with one hand, the other never leaving Kate's body.
Soon, both women were naked and they lay side by side on the floor, drinking in each others bodies, exploring the curves with their hands and their tongues, caressing and stroking.
"I don't think I can last much longer Kate. I want to, err, I am going to, err, I need you to."
"To what Caroline? You want me to do what?"
Caroline blushed and Kate stared at her intently.
"Tell me what you want me to do."
"Erm, well, I want you to, oh shit, I want you to make me come Kate. I want to feel you inside me and I want you to make me come. There. I've said it."
Kate slipped 2 fingers inside Caroline and began to suck on her nipple, all the while, circling her thumb, finding a rhythm. Caroline started to grind her hips and push against Kate's hand, her eyes closed and her mouth slightly open. It took only a short while before Kate felt Caroline's body start to tense and she gripped her hands between her thighs.
"Don't stop. Harder, faster. Oh good Lord."
And they both collapsed onto the bed of cushions, their body's covered in a light sheen, their faces glowing and happy and their eyes full of love for each other.
It was late when Caroline got home and she was surprised to see a light on in the living room. She quietly opened the door and saw William lying on the settee, snoring gently.
"William. William." She lightly touched his arm and he stirred and opened his eyes.
"Time for bed. Come on." She started to leave the room and then turned back around and perched on the arm of the settee.
"How was your evening with your dad? Is everything alright?"
"Where have you been mum?" He looked at her with a worried expression.
"Miss McKenzie's. I, err, I I, we had a spot of supper and we erm we chatted about the choir and we, err why do you ask?"
"No reason. It's just that, well, you hardly ever go out and when we got home and there was no one in and the house was dark and then granny didn't know where you were and I was well"
Caroline interrupted him.
"Your father knew. I told your father. I said I was going to Kate's and I didn't know what time I would be back and I said "If the boys don't want to be left alone, are you OK to stay with them until I get back" and he muttered some nonsense about you being all grown up and adults and you wouldn't need anyone with you and then he started off about when his grandad was a lad and boys were sent into the mines when they were 8 years old. I knew he wasn't listening to me. Why does he never listen to me?"
William smiled.
"Did you have a nice evening? I like Kate, Miss McKenzie you know. You did a good job of appointing her. I think she will do a great job with the choir too. It is exciting to think that we will be at our first competition the week after next."
"I know! I am excited too. I can't wait to hear you all sing. And yes, I did make the right choice when I took her on didn't I? Although I can't take all the credit for it because there were a few of us on the interview panel. But yes, I like Miss McKenzie too. Now, off to bed young man. It's far too late for you to still be up. This year is going to be a tough one and I don't want you falling asleep in lessons because that would be, well, it would just look wrong wouldn't it, me being the head and your mum and all that."
She leaned forward and kissed William on the cheek.
"Good night love. I'll see you in the morning."
William stopped for a second in the doorway, looking back over his shoulder and smiling at his mum. He could sense that she was happy which in turn made him happy.
"Goodnight mum."
Caroline sat down on the sofa and flopped backwards, her eyes closed, her mouth smiling. She sighed heavily, a happy and contented sigh and then she lifted her head and rummaged in her bag, feeling for her phone. She had a text from Kate.
"Missing you already x"
She replied.
"Missing you too. Just got in. Off to bed. Wishing you were here x"
Kate must have been waiting for her text because the response was almost instant.
"Me too. See you in the morning xx"