Caroline walked past John's car and saw a number of his belongings on the back seat. "Shit. Not again." She entered the house and called out, "Hello?" to Lawrence. She didn't receive a reply so went in search of him. She found him in the sitting room with his father. Lawrence's face showed that he was upset. She looked at John. "Everything alright?"

John didn't look up or answer her question. She looked at Lawrence who began to cry and ran past her out the room. She heard him run up the stairs and heard his door slam shut. "John. Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? Clearly Lawrence is upset with something."

"He's fine." John's dismissal of Lawrence upset Caroline. "Well clearly he isn't fine. He's been crying. Do you want me to go up and ask him what's happened?"

John was angry. He stood up and confronted Caroline. "That's right Caroline blame me. Did you plan on telling me anytime soon that you were moving your fancy woman and her offspring in to my house?"

Caroline held her anger in check not wanting to let John get to her. "I haven't seen you and the details haven't been finalised yet. Kate will be going home with Helena to begin with. She'll probably stay over for one or two nights in time. Anyway the house will hopefully be sold by then."

John's face was still filled with fury and anger which shocked Caroline. "John what is Lawrence so upset about?"

John looked down to the floor. "He asked if I had found a place of my own yet. I told him I hadn't yet and I was still living with Judith in her flat. He asked if I could come over and stay here to spend the day with him next weekend. I ….. I had to turn him down. I've got a big deadline with the publisher for the new book and I'm too far behind to take a day off. It's a week on Monday."

Caroline tried to hold her feelings in check instead of creating an argument. "John. Wouldn't one or two hours in the afternoon with Lawrence just give you a bit of a break from your damn book?"

"That's right Caroline put it all on me. I'm not the one embarrassing him in front of his school friends by being a Lesbian."

Caroline laughed at John's words. This angered John further. "John. Listen to yourself. Can't you just get over the fact I've found someone else? I've moved on? Is your ego so big to be hurt that I'm with another woman?"

John didn't answer and Caroline could see from his expression she had hit the jackpot with him. He was still hurting from the fact she had moved on to happier things whilst he was stuck. John changed the subject. "Anyway, who is this Greg bloke?"

"Greg?" Caroline was physically shocked and she couldn't keep her feelings from showing on her face. How the hell did he know about Greg? "What do you mean Greg?"

John looked up at Caroline seeing that she was uneasy. "Lawrence said a man came to the door and asked for you and then asked for Kate. He told Lawrence his name was Greg and asked him to tell you. Lawrence asked me if I knew him. Who is he?"

Caroline grew more concerned by Greg's appearance at her house. She didn't think he knew where she lived and why was he visiting. "He's a friend of Kate's from University."

Seeing the unease grow in Caroline's demeanour John pressed on. "What did he want with you, if he's Kate's friend? Are you having a threesome?"

Caroline's face was like thunder now and she gave John that look. Unsure of whether to be honest with John about Greg's true involvement with Kate she turned things over in her mind. She reasoned that John would probably find out one way or another eventually. "Greg is the donor for Kate's baby."

John smiled to himself. "Did Kate … you know …. I mean, did she….. with Greg?"

Caroline didn't answer and this told John all he needed to know. "Oh dear."

Caroline held on to her fury and unease. "John, why are you here exactly?"

Celia joined in with the assault on John having watched their argument un-noticed from the doorway, "Yes. Why are you here?"

John's face changed instantly when he saw Celia. He was sick of being pushed out. "It's still my god damn house. I'll visit it to see my children any time I like."

Caroline finally lost it. Unable to hold on to her resolve. "Oh right. How about next weekend when Lawrence is playing Rugby? Will you go watch him play or are you too busy with the damn book?"

John walked out the house and Caroline heard the front door slam. She looked at her mother trying not to let Celia see the effect Greg's name had made on her earlier. She muttered to herself. "Shit. Lawrence." She turned to walk up the stairs to go see Lawrence. Celia called after Caroline. "Who is this Greg fellow?"

Caroline stopped mid step and turned back to her mother. "What do you mean?"

Celia saw Caroline's concern. "Well. I was with Lawrence earlier in the sitting room and the phone rang. It was a man. Said his name was Greg and asked for you. Grace mentioned he was a friend of Kate's from university and she didn't say more than that."

Caroline's head was now spinning. "What did he want, exactly?"

Celia saw Caroline's mood had changed to one of worry. Celia grew concerned now. "Caroline. Who is he love?"

Caroline didn't know whether to tell her mum about him. She didn't want her mum to feel any less of Kate than she already did. Celia said some kind words but deep down Caroline knew her mother didn't approve of her relationship with Kate, didn't approve of her and the baby. "Mum. It's a long story and right now I need to make sure Lawrence is okay."

Caroline found Lawrence in his bed with his music on loud. She turned the music down and called to him. "Lawrence. Are you okay?"

Lawrence didn't reply but Caroline heard muffles from under his duvet. Caroline sat on the bed and bent down to give him a big hug. "I'm sorry Lawrence. It can't be much fun with everything that's going on right now."

Lawrence looked up at his mum. "No-one wants me anymore. Not you, not dad. You're both busy with other people. It's not fair." He put his head into his pillow and continued crying.

Caroline's heart wrenched at his statement. Had she been so blind to his thoughtful comments earlier in the day when they had chatted in McDonald's. She could see now that he didn't want to upset her with how he really felt. She rubbed his shoulder. "Lawrence. I do love you and I do want you. You're so precious to me. Come here."

Caroline took him in her arms and hugged him tight. "I'm sorry if you feel left out. I promise not to leave you so much."

Lawrence nodded a reply. "Lawrence. Your father loves you too. He's trying to get things together and find somewhere to live. I'm sure once he has somewhere you'll be able to go over and stay."

Lawrence looked at his mum. "He told me he couldn't because he had things on."

Caroline stroked his face. "Yes. He has things on now but it won't be forever. I'm sure."

Lawrence smiled at his mum. "I love you mum. How is Kate and the poo machine?"

Caroline laughed at his description of Helena. "They're both fine. Lawrence, how do you really feel about things with Kate and I? I mean really?"

Lawrence didn't give his mum eye contact. He looked down at his bed and fiddled with his pillow. "I feel left out sometimes. I feel confused and I don't know what's happening. I want things to be the way they were. You know when you and dad didn't fight all the time."

Caroline had tears in her eyes. "Lawrence. I'm so sorry. I can't change things and go back. I know it's really hard for you. I wish I could make it all better but I can't. It doesn't mean that your dad and I don't love you anymore."

Lawrence looked up at his mum and saw her tears. "I'm sorry mum. I don't want you to be unhappy. You're much happier and nicer when you're with Kate."

Caroline smiled. "Yes Lawrence. I am. She makes me smile and she makes me happy. I wish it wasn't so difficult for you."

"Do you love her mum?"

Caroline taken aback by his directness and a little embarrassed struggled to answer. "Well. Yes. I ….. I do love her Lawrence."

Tucked up in bed Caroline was struggling to sleep. Her thoughts were refusing to shut down and give her some rest for the night. Lawrence's pain was hard to bear. John's constant appearances at the house. Greg's sudden and unhealthy interest in her, turning up at the house and ringing the house. Facing the aging, middle England panel of School governors with her request for leave to be with Kate. Trying to sell the house and the prospect of house hunting filled her with dread. It was not too late to ring Kate who she thought would be fast asleep so she sent her a text apologising. She hoped Kate wouldn't feel let down by her again.