A/N: As always thank you for your reviews and of course reading my story. It is now 10 Days and counting for when Kate returns home.
Chapter 5– 10 Days and Counting
Caroline was running late for her Saturday visit with Walter. Partly because she'd been consumed by thoughts of Walter's declining health and what the future held for him.
It broke Caroline's heart to think that soon her visits with Walter would no longer included the warmth and comfort of his cozy sunroom; or the strolls about his lovely English garden. The realization that soon he would never again set foot in his extravagant and very beautiful stately home, graced with every amenity one could imagine was almost impossible to accept. It was only a short time ago since Walter came into Caroline and Kate's life and now there was only a short time left before he would be out of their lives for ever. And neither Kate nor Caroline nor Walter wanted to think about that; which was why every visit with Walter was a treasured one. Caroline expected today would be no different.
She glanced at the time; better get moving, she thought. Before leaving her bedroom she glanced at a picture of Kate placed on the bedside table; smiled at it and said aloud: "I told you I'd keep an eye on him and I will."
Caroline was just about out of the door when Celia burst into the house. Clearly annoyed if the scowl on her face was any indicator.
"Well love, seems Alan is extremely upset. I've not seen him quite this way before. And frankly, I can't blame him either."
"Mother, I'm running late do you think we can talk about this when I have more time." Caroline assumed since her mum and Alan were about to set off to Halifax her mother's great distress was Gillian and her many love entanglements, which most certainly could wait.
"No love, we can't. This is something that has to be settled. Here and now, Caroline."
"Right, okay. What is it, mother?" Caroline just gave in –dissuading her mother to postpone their chat was never going to happen.
"Our Flora has taken to calling that…that man… granddad. And before she and Kate left she actually said it right in front of Alan. Now you can just imagine how Alan felt; he being her true granddad and all. Took the shine right off his day, it did. When I tried to correct her she told me you and Kate told her that…that man is her granddad? Caroline."
"Wait a minute. What you just said, are you being serious? I can't…I can't believe you're serious, mum. Is that what you've come to tell me? That's what's so bloody important it can't wait?"
"Caroline, you best put a stop to this bit of nonsense. I'll not have my granddaughter calling some…" Celia checked saying the not so "politically correct" word which she was about to spew out. "Calling some strange man her granddad. She has a granddad. And a right fine one at it. She doesn't need another one."
"Oh you really take the biscuit, mother. So, let me get this straight. It's Alan; not you? He's the one who's upset? Right. Then I suppose both you and Alan best get used to it. Walter…that man…that "gay man" who was my dad's partner. He is Kate and my daughter's granddad. End of conversation. I'm late so…bye mum."
"Caroline! Why on earth would you want someone like…like that to be your daughter's granddad? She has Alan."
"You're unbelievable. You really do only see what you want to see. In case it's slipped your mind, mother, Flora has two mothers …two gay mothers. I'm sure having a gay granddad will be perfectly fine. I'm off now to visit Flora's granddad." Caroline walked right past her mother without further ado.
Although, Caroline may have left Celia gobsmacked, mouth agape for Celia this was hardly the end of this conversation. Flora was her grandchild and she had no intention of sharing her with one of Kenneth's "all and sundry". She didn't give a toss how wealthy Walter was going to make her daughter…oh, well… maybe on second thought that wasn't the absolute truth. It warmed the cockles of her heart to think her daughter would be far wealthier than Alan's son Gary. Celia, she always loved holding the trump card. This was most likely one of the reasons why she never kicked up a big fuss about Caroline's friendship with Walter?
Part Two Celia's Two Pence Worth
Later that same afternoon Celia came back around to enquire about Caroline's whereabouts. The purpose of her visit was to engage in more verbal jousting with her daughter. But as luck would have it she happened upon an even better foe.
"I need to speak to your mother. Did she tell you when she'd be back?"
"Nope. Dad's here, though. Want to talk to him." Lawrence offered up his dad as proxy.
"Why would I want to talk to him?" Celia questioned rather loudly and then whispered quietly to herself: "Waste of space."
"Celia…you're here. Hello." John said as he rejoined Lawrence in the kitchen. His greeting was bright and cheery overtly defining his over eagerness to please his ex-mother-in-law -albeit his feelings for her were in equal measure with hers to his.
"Caroline's let you back in the house?" Her voice reeked of condescension. "Does Kate know?" Less a question; more a reminder that it was Kate's house now - not his. She and Caroline had long paid John his share of the house.
"It's mum's house not Kate's. My dad can come and go as he pleases. He's got a key."
"A key?! Caroline gave you a key!?" To say that Celia was shocked would be an under statement- you could have knocked her over with a feather.
"Not exactly…per se…so to umm…speak. It's a bit…you know." John stood in his familiar stance- hands plunged deep in his jeans pockets. "So, how's Alan doing with…with his." John took his right hand out of his pocked and patted his chest to indicate "heart." And then finished his sentence: "condition".
"And Kate, she agreed to this?!" Celia still could not let go of the fact that John had a key to the house to come and go as he pleased. Had Caroline gone round the bend? Just before Flora was born Kate and Caroline had one huge row about John having a key and coming and going as he pleased. Caroline was given an ultimatum - give John the bum's rush or find a new wife. The choice was pretty easy – John was quickly sent packing.
"Mum's house granny. Who knows mum and pops may get back together, again. Eh pops?"
"When pigs fly!" Celia instantly snapped back before John could even open his mouth.
In the beginning Celia had difficulties accepting Kate into her life; at times she was downright unkind. But over time, after she got to know the true Kate as a person and not as that terrible woman who had destroyed Caroline's pristine life, all was plain sailing. What started off as a bumpy ride had blossomed into a relationship which was now one of mutual fondness and respect.
Celia didn't understand this thing about two women being together (and never would) but what she definitely understood was that Kate made her Caroline the happiest she'd ever been. And as for Flora – God, we all know how Celia loves babies- ever since the day Caroline first laid the tiny bundle of life in her arms, Celia has loved her little granddaughter to bits. Flora may not have been her little Caroline but nonetheless Flora was Celia's little pride and joy. So, there would be no way she'd standby and let John insinuate himself into Caroline's life, ever again. Not with her little beloved Flora to think about. And that meant she'd tolerate none of John's monkey business.
Celia glanced over at the mess Lawrence and John had made in the kitchen. "Right, then I'm off. She took another look at the mess and could no longer hold her tongue. "I do hope you two are intending to clean up the mess you're making. Caroline will have a conniption fit if she sees this mess you've made."
"Wouldn't think of doing anything but." John smiled an ingratiating smile at Celia. What dream was he dreaming? He could have saved his "ingratiating" smile. Never in a million years would he win favour with Celia.
Celia ignored John and spoke to her grandson. "Love, tell your mother when I get back from Halifax I want to talk to her."
"What's the big deal granny? Just text her."
"The big deal is…" Celia crossed her arms, authoritatively - it was none of Lawrence's business. "Never you mind. Just do as you're told."
"Yikes! Easy! Granny." Lawrence feigned hurt feelings to get his granny to lighten up. She ignored him and went about her way.
"Nice seeing you again Celia." John acknowledged Celia's departure with the kindest of smiles.
The flinty stare Celia gave to John was proof enough the feeling was not mutual.
To be continued