A/N: Coming back has written this Chapter for us and it is truly Coming Back in classic form. And in true Litminor 101 fashion I've added a quote at the end of the chapter. Oh yeah, mustn't forget thank you for your reviews.
CHAPTER 11 - A Time For Everything
Caroline pulled up in the driveway and looked up at her bedroom window. A gigantic smile covered her face; her Kate and her Flora were home.
As she put the key in the front door she was filled with such urgency as she thought about being with her wife; putting all the quarrelling behind them and falling in love all over again. It was then she heard them; the two girls she loved most in the world.
"Mum-mum will be home in a few minutes won't she? She'll be so excited to see us. You're going to have a cuddle and then it's bedtime;" their voices filtering down the stairs to greet Caroline.
"Is that you darling?" Kate's mellow voice filled the air.
"It is and I'll be with you in one minute," Caroline said, whilst walking to the fridge where she found the bottle of bubbly she'd squirreled away for Kate's return.
Reaching the top of the stairs Caroline saw her precious little one tottering around; with her arms stretched out, ready for her mum-mum. Caroline put down the bottle and glasses and swept Flora up into her arms. "Oh how I've missed you." Flora snuggled into Caroline's neck; Kate leaned into the other side and looked steadily at her wife.
"I'm sorry; we've both been a bit stupid this week; haven't we?" Kate volunteered.
"We have, yes, but that's over now, I just want you both here with me. Nothing else matters right now." The sincerity of the statement confirmed by the look in Caroline's eyes.
After cuddling Flora for a little while, Caroline put her to bed and she and Kate closed their bedroom door; it was symbolic; shutting out the rest of their world; just for the night; they needed to make love and talk and celebrate all over again, who they were as a couple and as parents.
Kate held Caroline close to her nude body as their breathing steadied, the beads of perspiration mixing with the soft tears of joy trickling down their faces. "I want us to have another baby Caroline, we have enough love for two and Flora needs a sibling."
"I want us to have another baby too; as soon as possible. I was in a dark place when you had the miscarriage; I should have been more supportive, I was afraid something might go wrong and I could lose you."
"We'll be OK, and I won't take any chances; we'll try and hope for the best. There's not the same urgency now that I have Flora."
"We can get started next week; I'll contact the clinic and make an appointment." They held on tightly to each other, each contemplating what another baby would be like; it was a joyful prospect.
"Kate, sweetheart, there's something I need to tell you, it's kind of urgent." Caroline went on to outline the last time she had seen Walter and how they were on notice that they didn't have much time left with him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you had enough on your plate with your mum."
"I need to go to him in the morning Caroline; we'll take Flora and spend time with him while he still recognises us."
Caroline stroked Kate's face. "Thank you for coming home to me early. I wasn't coping very well."
Kate did not reply. Instead, she tenderly kissed Caroline on the lips. Moments later they both drifted into a contented sleep.
Part Two
Kate carried Flora through the corridors to Walter's room, telling her as they walked along that she was going to see granddad. Caroline had been called into Rena's office where she'd been handed a large envelope.
"He's much frailer today Caroline, it's hard to predict, but I doubt he'll last too much longer. I'd just like to say, and I hope you won't mind me being personal, that you have and will make his last days happy and peaceful. I sat with him yesterday and he shared with me how much he'd wished he could have spent time with you as a child; watched your boys grow up; be there when you married Kate; he loves her so much too and your darling little daughter."
"Yes, it means a lot to us too. He's given me a new understanding of my dad and why things were the way they were. A tragic mess for him, Walter and my mother, who isn't a bad person, but just wasn't able to cope. She has her own story of unfulfilled love."
Kate pulled up a chair and sat looking at the sleeping Walter; so much weaker and diminished since she'd left for New York. Flora looked at him and then poked his arm. Walter woke up with a start; "Kate, Flora, oh what a lovely sight you both are." Mother and daughter leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss.
By the time he was fully roused, Caroline had arrived and was on the other side of his bed. After a few questions about Ginika and how she was, Walter seemed to find a little extra strength. "Caroline, there's something I want to tell you and Kate before it's too late; other things are important yes, but this is something Kenneth desperately wanted you to know, but never got a chance to tell you."
Caroline held him close; "It's OK Walter, you can tell me anything, in your own time."
"The night you were born, your dad wasn't there."
"Yes, I know that, it's something my mother told me when I was older and she wanted to let me know about my dad's behaviour and why she was so unhappy."
"It nearly killed him to miss it Caroline, but I had been savagely beaten up walking home from the pub where I'd had a drink with a colleague from the office. The staff in emergency told me I was very badly injured and was there anyone I wanted to call; your father was the only person I wanted to be with me."
"Oh Walter that must have been horrendous for both of you."
"Yes, your mother had gone into hospital early as they were worried for her and it was lucky he was still at home. He came straight to the hospital; he told them he was my brother so they would let him stay with me. In the meantime, your mother went into labour and they couldn't find your father. We had no mobile phones in those days Caroline; your mother believed he was, as she so delicately used to throw at him, "off shagging his secretary" this was before he'd told her about us."
Caroline looked down at the floor; this was a big revelation to take in; she had many divergent feelings. Her biggest regret was that Celia had let her believe this story all her life. She'd painted a picture of a man who was heartless; who had no sense of faithfulness; yet here was the one real love of his life, for whom he had suffered so much.
"Try not to worry anymore; let it rest now. I'm so happy you've been able to give me and Kate a much lovelier picture of him; he'll be so happy you had the courage to find me."
They stayed with him another hour and left making sure that they all told him they loved him.
"Rena will call us Walter if you get any weaker; one of us will be back tomorrow."
Caroline woke up as her mobile rang, immediately she knew this would be Walter.
"Caroline?"
"Yes."
"It's the night nurse here; I'm ringing to tell you that Walter is slipping away. His breathing has changed and we think it won't be long. Will you be coming; will I tell him you're on your way?"
"Yes, of course we'll be there as soon as we can." Kate had already woken up and was getting dressed.
"Caroline, you'll have to tell your mother to come in and be here if Flora wakes up."
"Nope, not doing that; wrap her in a blanket and we'll take her with us." Kate looked incredulous but there was no time for an argument.
Twenty minutes later, they were at Walter's side, Flora still asleep on the chair in his room.
Both women held his hand either side of the bed, Caroline whispered; "It's Ok Walter we're all here, me and Kate and even your little Flora. You can slip away now if you're ready; I'm sure my dad will be waiting for you. If you do find him, tell him I understand now and I love him."
Walter's hand moved ever so slightly in hers and his eyes fluttered. A few seconds later, his laboured breathing stopped and his spirit drifted off. Caroline sobbed, not only for the loss of Walter but for her father.
There is a time for everything,
And a season for every activity under the heavens:
A time to be born and a time to die,
- A time to heal,
-And a time for peace.
(Taken from Ecclesiastes 3)
To be continued