Caroline entered the up market restaurant explaining to the maitre'd that she was meeting a friend. It was a well-known restaurant and one which Caroline had been to before with John. She liked the food and the atmosphere was relaxed and laid back. What set them apart was the attention to detail and their ability to make every guest feel special.
Caroline spotted Kate sitting at a table near to the back and waved. She saw Kate smile and wave back. Caroline walked towards her and Kate left her seat greeting Caroline with a warm and gentle hug.
"Hi Caroline. It's so lovely to see you again."
The maitre'd helped Caroline to her seat and asked her if she wanted a drink and Caroline asked for the wine list.
Taking her seat opposite Kate, Caroline felt herself once again drawn to Kate's eyes. They were dark and mysterious and mesmerising. Caroline admired Kate's simple dress sense. She had grey silk trousers with black shoes with a small heel and a purple silk blouse covering a low cut black silk top.
"Kate, Its lovely to see you again and without your costume. You're very pretty."
Kate blushed at Caroline's compliment.
"Caroline, I want to apologise for leaving you last weekend. I didn't want to leave you but circumstances made it difficult to stay. I'm sorry I wasn't there to see you in the morning. I really missed you this week too."
Caroline smiled at Kate not sure whether to be honest with this beautiful woman who had captured her heart.
"It's okay Kate. I understand you had to leave to get your car repaired and meet the garage. I admit I was very disappointed when you weren't there."
Kate reached across the table and held Caroline's hand. Caroline looked around nervously to see who was watching. Kate saw Caroline's nervousness and apologised releasing her touch.
"Sorry Caroline."
"It's okay; I'm just not used to this yet. I know I need to be more courageous but I find it difficult after years of a critical mother."
Kate smiled wishing she could help Caroline with her anxiety in some way. She decided to change the subject to try to calm her nerves.
"I hope you're hungry Caroline? Have you been here before?"
Caroline looked across to Kate who was smiling as the maitre'd approached with the wine menu. Caroline and Kate picked a bottle of white Sauvignon Blanc.
The two women spent time perusing the food menu and the silence between being charged with unasked questions and untold answers. The waiter, Noel noted their orders as they both opted for pasta. Caroline for the Salmon in white wine and Kate for the vegetable lasagne.
With the waiter gone they continued their conversation.
"I've been here a few times before. It is very good and the food is gorgeous."
Caroline studied Kate's face and noted her make-up was more natural than their last encounter. Her lipstick was a subtle burgundy rather than the striking plumb she wore last time. Her rich brown skin tones complimented her eyes. Kate's smile was intoxicating and it made Caroline blush when she was caught staring.
The waiter returned and poured the pale liquid offering the wine to Caroline for her tasting and she obliged.
The two women were finally left to themselves and could talk freely with one another. Caroline didn't know whether she should bring up the niggling issue which was eating away at her. She felt it needed to be broached and the sooner the better.
"Kate when I spoke with Pat the morning after the night we…."
"Made love."
Caroline smiled at Kate's directness and felt herself swallow at the memory of the night. She repeated Kate's words in a slight whisper.
"…we made love. Pat asked me if you had told me about your situation. I didn't know what she meant and I felt very confused and it made me realise I really didn't know you. I want you to know I don't usually behave that way. I mean I don't jump into bed with someone I've only just met. I don't regret it but I wanted you to know."
Kate smiled covering the nerves and butterflies in her own stomach.
"Caroline, I don't for one minute think badly of you. I actually really like you and I don't jump into bed with people I hardly know either. It just felt very right with you and that night everything aligned."
Kate took another breath and paused for a minute.
"The situation which Pat spoke of is something which I will tell you about but not just yet. I'd like us to get to know one another first. It's very complicated and something which requires that we learn more about each other. I need you to understand that I'm not holding it from you to be secretive. When I tell you about….it, you will understand why I've been very guarded. I hope you can trust me until that time and know that I'm simply protecting us."
Caroline smiled at Kate and found herself reaching across to take Kate's hand on the table.
"I can't really explain why but I do trust you. I can't say I understand but I'm happy to wait until you're ready."
The waiter returned with the meals and the two women tucked into the food which was delicious. They chatted easily, Caroline about her work and the children. She covered the pain and the time that was her ex-husband and Kate covered her work and her childhood.
The subject moved onto relationships and Caroline talked about her time at Uni with Pat and the disaster that was her mother. Caroline was heart felt with the details and about the affect her mother had on her which was at the expense of her own happiness.
Kate on the other hand was more hesitant not really revealing too much to Caroline. Caroline tried the direct approach she had learnt from her mother.
"So Kate have you had anyone special in your life?"
Kate looked decidedly sad at Caroline's question and Caroline noticed her shoulders drop as if feeling deflated.
"Kate. I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry into something which seems very painful for you. Especially when tonight is something I've really enjoyed."
Kate smiled at Caroline. "It's okay Caroline. My life has been very complicated and I leant on my mother very heavily when she lived here. It hit me hard when she moved to New York. I didn't want to stop her because it was right for her. I actually encouraged her to go even though she was concerned for me."
"Caroline, rather than having coffee here would you like to come back to my place and I'll explain everything to you? I'm not suggesting we do anything….but talk. It's just a little less public there and I'd feel more comfortable."
"Yeah sure. If it's what you want Kate?"
"It is what I want."
The women settled the bill and left an appropriate tip for the waiter, thanking the maitre'd on the way out. Caroline had managed to find a parking space just across the road from the restaurant. Kate had got a taxi with her car still being in the garage.
The drive to Kate's felt more charged than when they were in the restaurant and Caroline felt Kate's nerves as well as her own.
Caroline pulled up outside a detached cottage with a large pale blue door. It was late Georgian and was very pretty. Kate let them both in with her key and turned off the alarm. Caroline found the feel to be very arts and crafts with lots of little touches making it homely.
"You have a lovely house Kate. It feels very welcoming and warm."
"Thank you Caroline. I really like it and I always feel very safe here with Tabitha."
"Tabitha?"
On queue Caroline heard a little noise and felt a softness brushing her leg. The little black and brown cat looked up at Caroline and she noted beautiful bright green eyes. The purring was extremely loud and Caroline knew from her own cat that this was a contented little pet.
"Tabitha obviously likes you. She usually runs off to hide when I have visitors, which isn't very often."
Caroline smiled at Kate realising they were standing very close to one another now in the kitchen. Feeling the temperature of the room had risen considerably Kate changed the focus.
"Tea or coffee Caroline? I have both but I'm into tea so I have a large selection if it's your preferred refreshment?"
"Oh tea please? Early Grey if you have it otherwise regular is just fine."
Kate busied herself with the tea and reached into a shaker style cupboard to retrieve a hand painted tea tray. She filled the tray with a jug of milk, cups and saucers, spoons, tea strainer and the tea pot. She indicated Caroline should go into the front sitting room and Kate carried the tray through placing it on the coffee table in front of the cream and fawn sofa.
Caroline took a seat at one end of the sofa and Kate at the other end. Kate poured the tea from the matching teapot using the tea strainer to stop the leaves falling into the cup. Caroline used the tongs to pick a lump of brown sugar to add to her cup. Finishing with the milk Caroline took a sip and relaxed instantly with a loud sigh.
Kate looked across and smiled. "Good?"
"Very good. Thank you, it's lovely."
Kate moved back to lay into the sofa. She looked across at Caroline hoping and trusting her instincts were right this time. She had been wrong in the past but she had a better feeling this time.
"Caroline, my situation that Pat spoke of is something I've dealt with since I was a teenager and it's not something I was even prepared for. My mum knew but had decided not to tell me in case it didn't happen. Unfortunately, it did happen to me and it changed my whole life for ever."
Caroline felt sympathy for Kate. Clearly the issue was serious and Kate was clearly struggling to tell Caroline.
"Kate you don't have to tell me if it's painful. I don't want you to feel under pressure."
"Caroline it's very important because it affects us both. You see the only time I can ever be totally unguarded is Halloween night. It's the time when no-one takes any notice or questions what they see. I can be my true self and be whole without having to hide who I am."
Caroline looked confused and puzzled at Kate's words not really understanding yet.
"Caroline, I'm going to show you something which may explain it easier."
Kate got up from the sofa and took off her silk blouse to reveal her shoulders to Caroline, who looked confused. Why had Kate left her green face paint on her shoulders? Why didn't she get a shower or bath and remove it.
Sensing Caroline's confusion Kate took a tissue and licked it and used it to wipe the back of her hand to reveal the green underneath the brown face-paint.
Kate watched as Caroline's jaw dropped to the floor.