It was almost 9pm when the conversation finally died a death and Muriel decided to leave.

"Well, I suppose I ought to go. I'll speak to my solicitor again and get him to contact the board of directors. At least that way, we can let them know what we have found and then they can tell us what we should or could do from here on in. Caroline, thank you so much for tea. It was lovely. And Kate, it was so nice to see you. Will I be seeing you again?"

Kate smiled at her and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Quite possibly, yes. It was lovely meeting you too Muriel. Drive safely."

Celia got up from her chair and walked her sister to the front door.

"I suppose it has been kind of nice catching up with you Muriel. I don't know why we left it this long."

Muriel half turned to her.

"Well I do. It's because of what happened. You hated me for a long time didn't you, even after I married Frank. But I am over that now. That's all in the past and Frank is no longer with us. I am too old to be playing games Celia. Can we keep in touch, I mean really keep in touch and not just say that we will?"

Celia was surprised at how honest Muriel was being with her. It had been a long time since they had stopped talking.

"Yes, I'd like that. Good night Muriel. Take care."

They hugged each other and Celia watched her pull off the drive and, after giving her one final wave, she closed the door and returned to the living room.

"Well, that's that over and done with until the next wedding or funeral. Keep in touch my eye! She has no more intention of keeping in touch with me than I do with her."

She sighed indignantly and Caroline laughed.

"Oh mum, you do make me laugh! Do you want me to walk you round home?"

Celia folded her arms and peered at Caroline.

"No thank you. I think I can find my own way. And if I didn't know any better, I would think you were trying to get rid of me."

"What? No, no, not at all. Never. No, I just thought you might want to go home and think about what Auntie Muriel has told you. "

Caroline felt Kate's foot lightly brush her calf and she shuddered as though she were cold.

"I guess I ought to be off. I know when I'm not wanted. Night love. Kate."

She nodded in the general direction of where Kate was sat and, pulling her cardigan around her, she left the room.

"Night Celia."

Kate was physically and mentally exhausted by the evening and made no effort to get up, choosing instead to smile sweetly and wave from where she was settled in the corner of the sofa. And it was in the very same position that Caroline found her when she returned 10 minutes later after showing Celia out. Kate looked up at her and grinned sleepily.

"Well that was certainly a baptism of fire. Blimey, neither of them hold back from what they really think do they? They have certainly earned their diplomas in tactlessness haven't they? Are you trying to scare me off or just prepare me for more of what is to come?"

Caroline smiled and perched on the edge of the seat, reaching out for Kate with one hand and stroking her thigh with the other.

"I am sorry my love really I am. I just thought it would be easier if Mum had actually met you before we, you know, before we told her about us. I wanted her to meet you and get to know you as you and not as well, not as my girlfriend or significant other half, and to get all the introductions over and done with as soon as possible. anyway, you really ought to know what you are letting yourself in to before you fall any deeper."

Kate squeezed her hand.

"I have already fallen too far to want to back out now. Having the family on side is a bonus. It's you that I love Caroline. I don't give a damn about your mother. Well, actually I do but it wouldn't bother me if she didn't take to me."

Caroline cocked her head on one side and smiled broadly at her. She leaned forward and kissed Kate tenderly, gently parting her lips with her tongue. They savoured the taste of each other and then Caroline pulled away, breathless.

"I'll see if I can tell my mother about us before I leave for work in the morning. At least then she will have all day to calm down before she sees me again. And I guess I need to tell John at some point don't I? I wonder if he will handle it better than Lawrence. Oh good Lord, Lawrence! I expected him to have put in an appearance before now. He is more angry at me that I thought."

Caroline suddenly stiffened and Kate sensed that she ought to leave and give her some space to chat to the boys. She stretched noisily and raised her arms above her head, revealing her midriff.

"Oh don't do that to me Kate. Do you know how hard it has been to keep my hands off you this evening?"

And she leaned forwards again and placed her hands around Kate's waist, pulling her gently towards her. She caressed her back with her fingertips and slowly moved upwards until her thumbs were underneath Kate's bra and heading for her nipples. Kate arched her back and laid her head on the sofa and closed her eyes again, moaning lightly.

"I don't think you know how much I want you right now."

Caroline kissed Kate, all the while her hands exploring her breasts, pinching her nipples between her finger and thumb. Suddenly, Kate covered Caroline's hands with her own and gradually prised them away. She brought them to her mouth and tenderly kissed her fingers.

"You need to go and speak to Lawrence. And I need to go and do some prep work for my lessons next week. It's Sunday evening and I haven't even looked at my lesson plans yet."

"Oh, do you have to go?"

Caroline stuck out her bottom lip like a petulant child and Kate laughed.

"Yes I do. Sleep well beautiful and I'll see you tomorrow. Go and see Lawrence ad I'll see myself out"

Caroline quietly knocked on Lawrence's bedroom door before entering. He was sat up in bed playing a video game and didn't miss a beat when she approached the bed.

"Lawrence. Lawrence. Can we talk?"

He ignored her and carried on with his game, skilfully moving his soldier onto to the roof of a building ready to take another pot shot.

"Please. I need to know if we are alright, you and me."

Lawrence paused the game and looked at her.

"Do you really need to ask? How am I going to face the kids at school tomorrow?"

"But no one knows yet, well, except you and William. I haven't even told granny."

He looked sheepishly at her.

"Dad knows."

Caroline groaned and balanced on the edge of the bed.

"What what how did you tell him? What exactly did you say?"

"I said that I wanted to go and live with him because you were moving your girlfriend in and "

"You did what? Oh Lawrence, how could you. That is so far from the truth, well the bit about Kate moving in. It's still very early days with us. We need to find out if this is what we both want."

She shifted her position on the bed, turning away from him and looking at the array of posters on his wall.

"I'm sorry mum but what did you expect me to say? I still can't believe that you are a lesb, that you and Miss McKenzie are, you know, that you are having it off with each other."

Caroline turned back round to face him and gently picked up his hands in hers.

"I know how strange this must be for you. It's strange for me too. And it will take some getting used to. But for now, we are not ready to shout it from the rooftops. We have chosen to tell a few select members of our close family and that is how we want it to stay for a while. And Kate and I are not "having it off" as you so crudely put it. We are courting, going out, seeing each other. We are not cavorting with each other at every chance we get."

He smiled cautiously at her and tightened his grip on her hands.

"Do you really want to go and live with dad? Because if you do, I won't try to stop you. I just want you to be happy."

Lawrence lowered his eyes.

"He doesn't want me. He said so. He said there was no room for me in his flat and that I would just have to suck it up."

Caroline was tempted to let Lawrence know that his response was no more than she had expected but she knew it was wrong of her to slate John to his youngest son. She reached up and smoothed his hair.

"I guess he does have a point. It is a very small flat and I cannot imagine that Judith is the tidiest of people. Would it be so bad having to stay here in your own house and your own room with your video games and your DVDs and CDs?"

Lawrence shrugged.

"I guess not."

Caroline smiled at him for a moment and then opened her arms wide.

"Are you too old for a hug because I could really do with one right now."

Caroline leaned forward and Lawrence fell into her arms, hugging her tightly. She felt his body trembling and then the tears flowed, splashing on her neck. She rubbed his back and made cooing noises to him.

"It will be OK, I promise. I can't promise it will be easy for any of us but it will be OK and we will come out of this on the other side. Now, do you want me to get you anything to eat? There is still some food left."

"Please. I am starving."

Caroline groaned when her alarm clock went off. The weekend had flown by far too quickly and she had really enjoyed the time she had spent with Kate. So much so that she didn't want it to end. But it was Monday morning, the start of a new week, and she had a promise to fulfil.

She was in the kitchen eating breakfast and steeling herself to go round and see her mother when she heard all the all too familiar knock on the kitchen window. She waved and smiled and went to let her in.

"Mum! How lovely. What are you doing up so early?"

Celia walked into the house and made her way up to the kitchen.

"Oh, I don't know. I have nowt special to get up for. I just couldn't help thinking about our Muriel and the past and those damn shares and Frank and everything else."

"Well now that you're here, and I am glad that you and Muriel are talking again, now that you're here I have something to tell you. Sit down will you."

Celia looked inquisitively at her and sat on one of the high stools.

"What is it? Is John coming back?"

"No."

"Has our William got a girlfriend?"

"No. Well, not that I know of."

"Have you been sacked?"

"No. No, why would I get sacked?"

"I don't know. Well, what then?"

"If you just shut up for one minute, I would be able to tell you. So, the thing is, Kate my friend who you met last night."

Celia rested her chin in her hand and was staring intently at Caroline.

"Yes, I remember her. I might be old but I'm not senile."

"Yes, well, anyway. Kate. You see the thing is, Kate and I are very close friends. We are, well, how should I put it, we are very fond of each other and I, me and her we are erm we are seeing each other, you know, going out together."

At this point, Caroline stopped and looked over at her mum who quietly resembled a goldfish. Her mouth was opening and closing and her eyes were wide.

"But she's a woman. And so are you."

"Yes, she is, and I am. 10 out of 10 for that observation."

"But you can't be. You can't be going out with each other. You're married and you have children."

"Oh, you really are on form here aren't you. Another 10 out of 10 for that one too mum."

"Well, if you are telling me that you have turned into a lesbians because John has been a plonker, then I'm just not buying it Caroline. There are plenty more men you know, men who will treat you right and won't go cheating on you. Men who aren't so wet and drippy and a complete waste of time. You don't need to start being one of those lesbian people."

Caroline looked at her mother, exasperated.

"I'm not starting becoming a lesbian person as you so eloquently put it. I have always been a lesbian. In fact, I was a lesbian from the day I was born. It isn't like catching a cold you know. That's not how it works."

"What do you mean, you've always been one. Have you heck! As I said, you're married with children. Have you been drinking or summat?"

Caroline walked over to the sink and poured a half drunk cup of tea away.

"No I have not mother. I am perfectly sober and perfectly sane. Now, I have said all I am going to say. I have a girlfriend, her name is Kate and I am going over to her house for dinner this evening so I would very much appreciate it if you could keep an eye on the boys for me. Would that be OK? Now I have to go to or I will be late for work. Boys! I'm leaving. You can let yourself out mum."

And with that, she quickly kissed Celia on the cheek, grabbed her bag off the counter and left for work, leaving Celia staring open mouthed after her.

The Monday morning blues hit Kate as soon as she walked into the staff room and she quickly acknowledged a few colleagues and headed straight for the kettle. As it was boiling, she stared at a health and safety poster in front of her, not really reading it, but instead thinking back to her weekend and the time she had spent with Caroline. Her thoughts were interrupted by a shrill voice.

"Morning everyone! I trust you all had a fantabulous weekend. I know I certainly did and I know at least one other teacher in this room who did, isn't that right Miss McKenzie?"

Kate slowly closed her eyes and breathed deeply before turning round to see Sophie heading straight for her.

"You're a dark horse Kate, you really are! How did you convince the head of Sulgrave to have lunch with you? A picnic lunch at that? It all looked very cosy and almost romantic. Come on, what's the scoop?"

Kate gritted her teeth and, in a very quiet voice responded.

"There is no scoop. It was just me and Caroline, Dr Elliott, having lunch together. We happen to have a lot in common."

Sophie sidled up to Kate, nudging her gently with her elbow.

"I bet you do. Is she the other woman you alluded to that day in the classroom? That day when you couldn't keep your hands off me?"

Kate took 2 steps back and looked Sophie square in the face.

"Let me make some things very clear to you. One. I did not molest you, maul you or seduce you in my classroom. We shared a kiss, a very mutual kiss. Two. I do not and never did fancy you. And three. What Dr Elliott and I do in our own time is very much our own business. I will neither confirm nor deny whether she is the other woman in my life. I will leave that up to your sordid and very childish imagination. If you think that 2 women sharing a sandwich means that they are lovers, then I feel very sorry for you that you have such a sad and uneventful life. Now if you will excuse me, I have a class to prepare for."

And Kate walked out of the staffroom feeling very smug with herself and very aware that the rest of the staff had stopped their own conversations and were listening to hers, each one making up their own mind about the new teacher and Dr Elliott.

Sophie laughed uncomfortably and looked around her, the colour quickly rising in her cheeks.

"Well, who'd have thought eh? I don't know about you guys but I think that Kate has something to hide."

Susan Worthington put down her cup and looked up at Sophie. She was a quiet woman, slight in stature, and very unassuming. She had been at the school for almost 20 years now and had lived with her commonl law wife, Patricia, for the best part of that time. She had worked her way up the ladder and now headed up the geography department. Her colleagues and pupils thought highly of her and admired her teaching style which was innovative and fun.

Susan always vehemently defended Caroline whenever anyone chose to disagree with her management decisions and they had mutual respect for each other. In fact, Caroline would often sound Susan out when she found herself between a rock and a hard place. If they stopped to think about it, they would both probably confess to having a bit of a soft spot for each other.

"And if she has and they were in a relationship, Kate and Dr Elliott, is that any of your business? It wouldn't bother you if it were Kate and another man so why should it be any different if her partner is a woman?"

Sophie was surprised that Susan was engaging in a conversation with her as they have never previously chatted. She looked around to see if anyone else was going to join in.

"Why does it bother me? Do you really need to ask? Have you no morals Miss Worthington?"

"I have morals Miss Brightman but let me share my thinking with you. The word in the staffroom is that you tried it on with Miss McKenzie and she gave you the knock back. So, could it be that you are a little bit jealous? Are you perhaps stirring up trouble?"

Sophie crossed her arms over her chest and changed her stance.

"Me? Jealous of her? Let me tell you something shall I. I could have any woman I wanted, any one. Why would I want either of them? I'm not jealous, no, far from it."

Susan was starting to enjoy the exchange and she felt geed on by some of her colleagues who had put down their pens or their newspapers and were taking a keen interest.

"Now let me tell you something. I have had more muff in my time than I care to remember. And although I am happily married to someone, I would no sooner look at you than I would look at Mr Howarth over there. So don't flatter yourself sweetie. And for what it is worth, I think you are no more gay than Katie Price is. What you need is a good rogering, a right old seeing to. You just haven't found a bloke with enough balls to take on someone who is as high maintenance as you. Now, don't you have some netballs you need to blow up or something?"

There was a loud gasp around the room and a certain amount of sniggering and Sophie stood in the middle of the room, her bottom lip trembling and her knees shaking. Without saying another word, she flounced out of the classroom, tossing her hair behind her.

Kate was just quick enough to dive in the empty classroom next door, tears streaming down her face, holding her sides which were aching from laughing.

"Oh good Lord! Did Susan really say that to her? What did Sophie say?"

Kate and Caroline were having lunch in her office and Kate was regaling her about what had happened in the staff room. Caroline wiped her mouth with a napkin and put down her sandwich.

"She didn't. She just walked out of the staff room. Susan really showed her up. And that comment about her not being gay. Do you think she is gay? I would love to know the story on that one."

"I really don't care. I am not remotely interested as long as she doesn't keep hitting on you. Hey, I saw my mother this morning. And I, well, I told her about us."

"You did? What did she say?"

Kate was suddenly feeling very nervous and Caroline leaned forward.

"Let's just say that she wasn't falling over herself to congratulate us. She seems to think that I have turned "into one of those lesbian things" because I have had a rough time with John and I can't find another man. Can you believe it?"

"I think I can actually. So what now?"

"Well, she knows about us and the boys know about us and so does John. So there is no one else to tell. Well there is but for now we can be together in my house and your house. I was thinking that I ought to mention it to Gavin and the board of Governors. OK, so he knows about you and that allegation with Sophie but he will have no idea about me. I am not sure what the implications will be for me and the school but I am ready for this."

Kate grabbed her hands.

"Are you sure Caroline? Are you sure you are ready to jeopardise your career for me?"

"Yes. I am ready. I have waited for this moment for a long time. This is what I want Kate. I am more than ready to live my life as the person that I really am."