Caroline lead Kate back to her bed and heard Helena crying in her cot. Louise picked her up and handed her to Caroline who rocked her, gently soothing her to sleep again. "She likes you Caroline. You haven't lost your touch have you?"
Caroline smiled, "It seems not. Kate, are you sure you and Helena won't come to stay with me when you leave the hospital?"
Kate smiled. In truth she knew she didn't want to face all the tension in Caroline's house. Lawrence had been hostile and unfriendly with her. Celia had been very judgemental never shying away from making her true feelings known. Kate always felt like an outsider in her company. It wasn't that she didn't want to be with Caroline. It was more that she wanted them to have somewhere together that they both had equal ownership. Currently Kate felt like a guest in Caroline's house and she knew she always would. She didn't want to cause a rift so soon with Caroline so took the easy way out. "I'd love to Caroline but my mum is so looking forward to fussing Helena. I don't want to disappoint her and I think we need to ease things in with everyone. You're not disappointed are you?"
Caroline smiled. "No, no. It's just me being selfish again." Caroline changed the subject. "Have they given you an indication of when you can come home yet?"
"Not yet. I was going to ask Louise if she had an idea. I miss my creature comforts and I'm not getting much sleep with the comings and goings in here."
Caroline looked at Kate. "Well, How about if take some time off work for a week to come and help. Do you think your mum would mind?"
Kate's face lit up again. "Oh Caroline. That would be lovely. I'm sure my mum would love to have you with us when I come home. Are you sure you can take the time off work?"
"Oh yeah. Graham can cover me for a week. He's covered for me before when I've been away at conferences. This shouldn't cause too many issues. Besides I'm entitled to one week paternity leave. I'm sure the Board of Governors will approve it. Mind you Beverley will have a fit. I'm sure my diary will be full the first week and having to re-arrange everything will knock her ship off course for a while."
Kate smiled at the beautiful sight before her. Caroline was rocking Helena in her arms like she'd been doing it for years. Despite her doubts about living arrangements she was sure that together they could all find some way through the hurdles and prejudices of life as a same-sex couple with a new baby. She watched as Caroline gently placed Helena back into her cot. Caroline rested on the edge of the bed. Caroline leant in to whisper in Kate's ear. Kate looked over Caroline's shoulder to see the sour face of Nurse Grim watching their every move. "Caroline as much as I like your suggestion I don't think we'd get away with it here. Especially when you know who is keeping her beady eyes on us."
Caroline smiled mischievously and bit her lower lip. She replied rather loudly and on purpose. "Oh I don't know. She might learn a thing or two."
Kate burst out laughing and saw the look on the face of Nicola in the bed opposite. She had come in the day before Kate and was going home today with her son, Jacob. Nicola was smiling at Caroline and Kate's antics and the effect they were having on Nurse Grimm's face.
Caroline continued with her little exploits. "I can't wait to get you out of here and ravage you naked in your bed."
Kate looked down shying away, "Caroline, stop it please. You're going to leave me here on my own with sour face and have me all worked up. If you don't stop now I'll get my own back on you when I come back to school."
Caroline's face didn't alter from the mischief.
"Caroline. I meant it. I'll grab you in the corridor in the middle of break and give you the biggest kiss of your life."
Caroline liked her lips then ran her hand down the gap in her own top showing her cleavage giving Kate more of an eyeful than was acceptable on a maternity ward. "Now Miss McKenzie. That is something for me to look forward to. I'll give you a detention and …."
Kate stopped Caroline mid flow and was giggling herself. She grabbed Caroline's hand and pulled it away from her ample bussom. "Don't you dare? Stop it now."
They were interrupted once again by a loud noise directly behind Caroline belonging to Nurse Grim clearing her throat. "Ladies, visiting time is over in 5 minutes."
Caroline smiled at Nurse Grimm. "Thank you, Nurse ….." Caroline looked at her uniform name badge. "Nurse Bottomley. You're very kind."
Kate was trying to hold on to her laughter at the nurses' name. She was struggling to hold on to her giggles much to Nurse Bottomley's annoyance. Caroline joined in and they both smiled at their joy.
Caroline kissed Kate on the lips and then walked over to Helena and kissed her lightly on the head. The scent of a new-born baby was so sweet and comforting. Caroline whispered her good byes to their new-born daughter. She turned back to Kate. "Can I ring you later before I go to bed? Do they allow mobile phone calls on the ward?"
Kate smiled and then stifled a yawn. "Yes. sure."
Caroline smiled. "Okay. I promise to behave. I just want to hear your voice."
"That would be really nice. I look forward to it. Drive carefully on your way home and send my love to everyone."
Caroline kissed Kate one last time and then walked off down the corridor taking one last look back before leaving the ward, passing the sour faced nurse on the reception desk.
As she drove home she thought about how things had changed for her over the last year. She had spent the previous Christmas with John, the boys and her mother going through the rituals of the festivities. She had no idea then what lay ahead for her. She remembered being in the Kitchen that day cooking the dinner and looking out the window feeling somehow lost. Life seemingly passing her by. Shocked that she was 45 and hadn't found the 'happiness' that everyone worked for. She remembered thinking that she had two beautiful children, a huge Georgian house, a loving husband and a top job. She wondered what was missing but couldn't put her finger on it. She had felt so lonely in her life. Looking back she realised that John had probably been off having it away with Judith even then.
As she entered the driveway she saw John's car and cursed herself. "Damn. What the hell did he want?"