A/N: As always thank you for your reviews and of course reading my story.
Chapter 6- The Sleepover
It was late in the evening when Caroline arrived home from Walter's. Her day with Walter had been quite pleasant; in fact every visit with Walter was a welcome one. Walter, Caroline, Kate and Flora- the four of them - had in such a very short time bonded into a loving tight knitted family unit. Walter was a natural at being a father figure- something that he had waited all his life to be and now he excelled at it. Flora, without encouragement, took to him immediately and he to her. Walter just loved everything about being granddad to Caroline's child. Flora was the "brighter days ahead" that Walter had once spoken of to Caroline.
Kate had once told Caroline she thought Walter was a lot like her. And he was. In almost every way. Maybe that was why it was easy for Caroline to love him as she did; maybe that was why her father, Kenneth had loved him as he did. Walter was such a kind and caring soul. Generous in every manner. There was no one on this earth more loyal to the memory of Kenneth than Walter. And he made sure that he imparted to Caroline the side of Kenneth that Caroline had been deprived of knowing. And she was grateful that he did. Caroline sighed. She would miss Walter terribly when fate came to collect him.
And then in an instant, Caroline's thoughts of the day's events were turned aside when she spotted the BMW. The sighting of John's vehicle made her swear out loud. "Jesus!" She tutted; shook her head and gripped the steering wheel just that much tighter. "Bloody hell; leave it to John to overstay his welcome."
The last thing that Caroline wanted was to deal with John at the end of her pleasant day. She endured his visits only for the sake of her youngest son. Lawrence adored John and Caroline thought at times hated her. Just as she had taken sides with her mother against her dad when she was young; Lawrence had taken sides with his dad against her. Talk about your karma!
Ever since she and Kate got together it had been an uphill battle maintaining her relationship with Lawrence. He was her baby boy; she loved him with all her heart and soul; longed to have her "old" Lawrence return to the fold. But, no matter how hard she tried; how much she indulged his every whim or went out of her way to please him - often to the detriment of her marriage- she could not win back the "old" Lawrence that once had put her on a pedestal. And it hurt her, very deeply.
As she prepared to step foot out of her jeep her mind wandered back to the night when it all started. The night when Gillian and John landed in bed together while she dutifully rushed Judith to the hospital. The night when both Celia and Lawrence learned in the most indiscreet manner she was in a relationship with Kate.
She continued her train of thought as to why Gillian had been so bloody explicit in detailing the events to Lawrence about how upset Celia was. For God's sake Lawrence was only kid! Why had she blabbered on - mentioning a relationship? Would not a simple tell your mother Celia's upset sufficed? How could she not have realized how delicate the situation was after witnessing Celia's reaction? Maybe that's how they did things in Halifax but that was certainly not how they did things in Harrogate. A sudden anger overtook Caroline and she spoke her icy thoughts aloud: "Just another one of Gillian's bloody thoughtless indiscretions."
"Mum we're in here." Lawrence called out as Caroline entered the house. She beamed with delight. It was the most enthusiastic greeting that Lawrence had given her in…years.
"Come on mum. I really need you. Dad's beating the pants off me. I could use a little of your Oxford brain in here."
Caroline peeked into the lounge to determine the cause for Lawrence's unusual merriment. John was the first to look up at her.
"John" Caroline's single word greeting to her ex-husband.
"Caroline…you're looking well…very smart." If nothing else John was a charmer.
"Thank you."
"Mum come play." Lawrence smiled gleefully at his mother.
"I'm just going to check…" Inspection of the kitchen took priority over games.
"Mum, the kitchen is totally spick and span. Go see for yourself; but there's no need."
"Right then." Caroline hardly expected spick and span more likely slipshod.
On her return to the lounge Lawrence gloated. "Told you…now will you come and sit, mum?" His enthusiasm was almost irresistible but Caroline's skills at playing "shoot em up games" were non existent.
"I think you can manage quite well without me."
"But mum we've been waiting all night for you." And that was the truth. Lawrence longed for Caroline to see how much fun he and his dad had together. Longed for Caroline to be a part of it. Longed for the family he once was a part of to be no longer put asunder.
"Well thank you but I have to call…umm." She didn't know why she chose not to say Kate's name. She smiled endearingly at Lawrence and went to walk away.
"Mum, dad wants to make pancakes for me in the morning. All right if he stays over?"
She wanted to fire back: "A little too old for sleepovers; don't you think John?" But her Lawrence's sugar sweet brown eyes were staring at her, longing for a positive response. She hadn't the heart to let him down. She wanted to please him. If he must take sides she wanted it to be her side. Hence the answer to his request.
"Sure. Why not?" Oh my dear Caroline. Why not? Any fool knows the answer to that.
"Thanks mum." Smiles like a Cheshire cat sprung from the faces of both Lawrence and John.
"Night everyone." Caroline's smile was faint- her eyes spoke her mind- "Lawrence loves me; he truly does."
When Caroline was out of earshot Lawrence pumped his arms in victory then "high five" to his dad. "Landslide, pops!" Seems his matchmaking efforts were bearing fruit.
To be continued