Caroline woke to the sounds of the morning and felt the warm sunshine on her face seeping through the gap in the curtains. Memories of the blissful and euphoric night before washed over her and she smiled. Her sleep had been so deep and contented and she felt so light as if she could float.

She turned over holding her arm out to feel for Kate but found a cold empty bed. She raised herself up to a sitting position looking around the room for any signs of Kate. She found only one empty glass from her nightcap on the chest of drawers.

She looked down and saw she was wearing her pyjamas with the buttons undone and her chest exposed. She ran her hands over her body not believing what she was seeing.

"What the…?"

She quickly got up and went into the bathroom and found the basin empty; the bottle of baileys was gone. It was if last night was simply a figment of her imagination and Kate was just a beautiful dream.

She wandered back into the main bedroom and then drew a sharp breath as spotted it on the window sill. She went over to the light mood box and flicked the switch to see the colour green shine out. She smiled at the memory of Kate's joke.

She found a bathrobe on the back of the en-suite door and decided to venture downstairs. She found Pat already up and making omelettes in the kitchen.

"Morning Carrie. Did you sleep well?"

Pat winked at Caroline and used her hips to nudge Caroline's hips.

"From the look on your face I guess you had a very good night last night?"

Caroline felt confused by it all. There were gaps in her memory but little flashes made her smile. "Yeah. Well at least I think I did."

"That good eh? You little minx?"

Caroline shook her head. "What?"

Caroline tried to clear her mind. Was she still dreaming or was she really awake.

"Erm, where is Kate?"

Pat smiled at Caroline's face. "I guess she has kissed your heart and left some fairy dust?"

Caroline didn't answer her friend. Where was Kate and what happened the night before. She remembered she had taken her to bed. She smiled as she remembered were Kate had specifically kissed her. So how did she come to be wearing her pyjamas when she remembered Kate helping her take it off?

"Caroline, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

"Yeah I. Has Kate come down for her breakfast yet?"

"Oh you have it really bad this morning don't you!"

Caroline shot Pat a look which told her she was confused and wasn't messing around.

Pat placed her had on Caroline's arm.

"I'm sorry Carrie. I'm only teasing you. Kate sends her apologies. She had to leave early to meet the garage at her car so she could have it repaired. She told me to tell you she would be in touch very soon."

Caroline smiled. "She doesn't have my mobile number. How would she get in touch? Did she leave her mobile number with you?"

"No, but I have it anyway. I'm sure she won't mind me giving it to you."

Pat had a look of concern on her face for her friend. "Caroline did Kate discuss her situation with you last night?"

"Situation? She told me she was on her own and her mother was in America and they Skype each other quite regularly."

Pat released a breath she had been holding and stood to put the kettle on for Caroline.

"Pat is there something you aren't telling me? This seems all very mysterious with Kate disappearing as soon as I'm out cold fast asleep. Are you hiding something from me?"

"Carrie. Kate's life has its complications and I think it is not my place to explain it. I'm sure she will tell you when she is good and ready. I have known her a long time and she is a lovely, kind and gentle woman and I know she would never hurt you."

Caroline looked worried. "Pat please? What is going on? There are parts of our…well you know, last night…there are blanks and some things don't quite add up."

Pat placed an omelette and a knife and folk in front of her friend. "Tuck in Carrie. Kate will be in touch later and you can ask her yourself."

It had been just under a week since Caroline and Kate's first night together. They had exchanged a number of text messages during which Kate apologised and promised to make it up to her when they met up at the weekend. She had explained to Caroline that she had some tight deadlines during the week with some key research which she needed to complete.

Caroline was just finishing her days work in the office and knew she had been distracted all week. Her PA, Beverley had asked how her party night had gone and whether she had enjoyed herself. Caroline gave nothing away simply making polite conversation that she had a good time catching up with an old friend.

Beverley wasn't fooled one bit. She knew Caroline had met with someone as she had a look of distraction on her face. It wasn't the John painful distraction this time it was the sparks of something which was making Caroline happier. She had changed and it was since the night of the party which Beverley took to mean she had met another man. She had also caught her smiling at text messages on her phone.

Caroline's mother had also seen the change in her daughter and like Beverley had tried to find out more but again was met with a closed door. Celia again had her suspicions that Caroline had met a new man but was not telling anyone yet. Celia had mentioned it to Alan who had told her to stop pushing her daughter and to leave her until she was ready.

Caroline stood looking at herself in the mirror, putting the finishing touches to her make up before heading out to meet with Kate at a local restaurant in Harrogate. She felt slightly nervous but also quite excited at the thought of meeting up with Kate again. Their one and only night together was a fading memory and Caroline needed to have the contact to make sure it wasn't simply a dream.

Caroline had chosen a long dark blue skirt, cream low cut silk sleeveless top paired with a cream jacket. She finished the look with cream heels and matching bag.

She bumped into her mother as she approached the bottom of the stairs. "Oh you look nice as ever. Lawrence tells me you are going out for the night. Are you meeting anyone special?"

"Maybe. Maybe not?"

"Well, you look too sexy and gorgeous to be meeting a friend. So who is he and why is it such a secret?"

"Mum, it's not a secret as such but I'll tell you when I'm ready."

"If it's not a secret why can't you tell me now? Is he a secret agent or something?"

Caroline didn't answer her mother instead giving her a look that told her the subject was well and truly over and she wasn't going to budge.

"Okay, have it your way. If you can't be good be careful."

Caroline kissed her mother on her forehead and walked towards the front door. She called out to Lawrence and William to ring her if they needed her.

Celia watched as Caroline got into her car on the driveway and then joined Lawrence and William in the sitting room.

"Does either of you two boys know who your mother is going out to meet tonight?"

William shook his head and Lawrence continued on his play station. "I think she said she was meeting some woman called Kate who she met last weekend at a party. Gran, can I have some of the chocolate cake from last night?"

Celia stood routed to the spot and heard herself say yes to Lawrence but not really registering the question. She felt herself being taken back to when Caroline had come home from University all giddy and bouncy. Celia has been shocked by Caroline's change in her appearance. Her long beautiful hair had been cut short and she had lost weight. Celia had been shook to the core when her daughter told her she was in love with her room-mate Pat.

Celia felt dread in the bottom of her stomach. She had thought all that nonsense was out of Caroline's system a long time ago. Was she really on a date with another woman or was she just reading something into nothing. She could simply be a new friend. She prayed it was the latter.