17 Sunday - Just Us
The sun was bright, snow sparkled in the trees outside Kate's window, white, clean, still. Caroline felt much the same this morning. Cocooned with Kate, serenity encompassed her. After the discord of the last year it was like coming into church from a busy, noisy urban street, feeling silence shut out the clamor as the great wooden doors close. Searching her memory, Caroline could not recall a time she had felt this much at peace.
Remembering yesterday and the depths of emotion she and Kate had plumbed, marveling that they had come through it to the point of quietude they had found at the end of the evening. The peace that had settled over them finally had seemed sanctified. The physical passion, a hallmark of their relationship, had somehow been consumed by the fiery emotions of the day. Desire had been present as they gently undressed one another, attentive appreciation tempered, as if by satiation, becalmed but fully present. Once in bed they lay facing, kissing softly, touching hair, lips, brow, cheeks, still in wonder at the joy of being together, angst and demons shut away for the first time since they had known one another. Tranquility advancing to sleep as they relaxed from the tensions of the day.
Now, Caroline was pressed closely to Kate, once more supporting the back that carried the precious cargo. Her hand already resting on the side of Kate's stomach she felt the tiny movements beneath the firmness of the belly. This enjoyable new custom, her fingers responding, moving here and there, following the movement below. Caroline heard the change in Kate's breathing and even though she hadn't moved, knew that she had been wakened by the game these other two in the bed were playing.
Slowly, Caroline moved her hand to the top of the firm stomach, up under a full breast. Raising her fingers, rubbed a pattern there, she heard with satisfaction the resulting catch of breath. Turning her hand to cup this delicious weight, Caroline only teasingly allowed any part of her hand to graze the sensitive nipple until Kate was squirming against her, her own hips reciprocating. At the desperately groaned, "Caroline" she shifted so that Kate could roll onto her back. Caroline rose on an elbow to bring her mouth into proximity with the lovely brown lips once again saying her name, softly, urgently. Kate raised her lips into a tender reunion. Slow lingering kisses escalating demands coursing through bodies long denied. Eager breathy sounds escaping unbidden and moans of pure pleasure brought them too soon to fever pitch. Neither wanted to rush but the gathering storm overran attempts to slow the pace.
Caroline discovered first hand the inconveniences from this side of the baby bump. As she moved to throw a leg over Kate's, before she could touch her, long agile fingers were gliding easily up and inside her, eliciting a small cry of surprise. Kate watched with delight as surprise was replaced by rapture as Caroline's body responded to her touch.
Caroline's hand caressed its way around the bulge to find the place where it ended and Kate began. Kate's need moved to meet this touch, luxuriating in it. "I need to feel you inside me Caroline." Urgently whispered into the face hovering so close, "Now!" Her hips positioning to meet her demand, desire clear. Caroline froze, she hadn't planned to do that, was afraid of hurting Kate or endangering the baby, the recent scare too fresh.
Reading the concern on the face so near, "Really, it's alright." Allowing Kate's hand to guide her fingers lower, Caroline stopped at probing the rim of her opening in such a way that the pleasure Kate experienced soon loosened her grip on Caroline's arm.
The ardor of long separation expended itself in ceaselessly probing fingers and sight and sound of one another in the throes of this passion moved them quickly over the edge. Bending, Caroline pressed demanding kisses onto the open lips waiting to take her in. Not yet satisfied, pulsing her body against the length of Kate's, Caroline allowed her fingers to ever so slowly and gently enter where she had refused to go earlier. Watching Kate's eyes widen and her lips part at this delight Caroline didn't stop until she reached the limit. For a full moment she didn't move, holding Kate's eyes, watching as she breathed through the waiting, the wanting, and then, the first flicker, then a twitch, slowly a random pattern of gentle flexing producing exquisite pleasures.
Keeping Kate's eyes, Caroline whispered, "K-a-te, I need you." Before the words were out, reciprocation was in progress. Mirroring entry and the full stop, then the gentle flexing movements which involuntarily pushed Caroline's head back, eyes closed consumed by the warm, tingling that raced through her body at each tiny movement within. Pacing, cadence, modulation, a certain… yes, rhythm detected even in slow motion. Eyes snapping open, asking as breath allows, "K-a-te, - are you - playing music in…"
Ghost of a grin, "took you - long enough."
Feeling the tempo, breath catching, responding. Smile returning. Seeing the question, "Rhapsody - in Blue." Recognition registers, then, still seeing a question. Whispered, "your eyes." Kissing softly the hovering mouth, feeling one fat tear drop onto her cheek before lips part, "Caroline."
In this liminal space, two souls open to one another through perceiving eyes.
Open - accessible – accessed
Discovered – divulged, revealed – accepted
Acquitted
Harmonized
Vulnerable - safe, secured
Longing fulfilled
Yearning requited
Dedicated devoted
Throughout this exchange tears ran freely down faces so bravely open to one another. At last quivering lips touching, lingering unwilling to let this hallowed feeling go. For a time the only sound is the uneven breathing of two women in a slow burn fighting to control the fire, consumed equally by unbarred psyches as by lust. Kate, sensing control slip, plays accelerato and they come spectacularly, in quick succession.
Finally, inert, Caroline drops onto the soft bosom of her lover. Chuckling softly, tearfully to hear Kate's heart still pounding beneath her ear. Kate's hands come to rest on spotted shoulders, peering down to the face beneath her chin, Kate breaths out "Caroline" on a sigh of satisfaction in their convocation, so intimately close again in spirit as well as body.
Caroline hearing her name as only Kate could say it felt a thrill run through her in spite of her sated state. Attempting to comprehend the unprecedented thing that had just transpired between them, Caroline raised her head to meet Kate's gaze, once again, unspoken question evident on her face.
Smiling in amazed awe, a match to Caroline's, she said, "communion."
Considering, Caroline finally nodded in agreement pressing her lips once again to Kate's to seal this humbling experience. Unwilling to move they drowsed until Caroline's phone buzzed annoyingly, insistently on the beside table forcing her to move.
"My mother." A text. Thank God she didn't have to speak to her just now. "Off to explore Eland today, want to come with?" Showing Kate, then with a sensuous parting kiss, rolled onto her back to tap in her commitments for the day. Finishing this task she turned back to gaze at Kate, taking in the flawless skin, its warm shadings; the sparkling eyes drinking her in; the carved lips, lips she had literally dreamed of in the months of their separation. "Shower with me?"
Admiring eyes followed Caroline around the bed, "Yes, if you'll pull a pregnant woman up." Which Caroline did, and standing very close, they discovered that they were not finished kissing yet. Hands roamed backs and bottoms and breasts, just for the sheer pleasure of it all until at last they found their way to the shower.
Kate, returning to the bedroom with tea and toast found Caroline moving around the room, still wrapped rather inadequately in a towel, another wrapped turban style around her wet head. Seeing that her approach had been undetected Kate watched as Caroline bent over her suitcase revealing the quarter moons of curvaceous flesh between the edge of the towel and luscious thighs. Kate going a little weak at this sight placed the tray softly on the table. When she turned back Caroline had moved to the other end of the suitcase and was once again bending over the open bag. This top down view revealing the swell of breasts just inside the toweling.
Kate was drawn to this magnificent sight. Caroline smiled seeing Kate approach, her smile fading as she noticed the intent look on the face that had been away such a short time. "Kate?"
Kate took Caroline's hands, guiding her into the winter sunlight streaming through the window. She untucked the end of the towel letting it drop, immediately dazzled by the effect of winter sunlight on the creamy skin of Caroline's body. Her breath coming faster now she reached out to touch when her arm was forced down by Caroline sliding the robe she had worn to the kitchen from her frame.
"Kate, look at you. You are so beautiful." Taken by perfect skin gleaming like satin, running her hands over the protruding stomach, reaching to lift a heavy breast in each hand she was restrained by Kate's hands sliding down her arms capturing her them, tugging her arms straight down. "Kate?"
"I want to see you Caroline. We went so fast before, I didn't get to see you." Reaching out to caress, she found Caroline's hand also reaching. Turning Caroline around Kate kept contol of her hands as she leaned in to place butterfly kisses across shoulders, between shoulder blades, moving slowly south. Breathless at the expanse of cinnamon colored spots arrayed across alabaster skin, an inverse night sky – stars dark on sheer radiance.
Alternately gazing and touching, kissing or tonguing the spots like sprinkles on ice cream Kate worked her way down and back again. Each time Caroline began to step away or turn to respond Kate gently but firmly pulled her back in place with the hands still held in her own.
Unable to use her hands to make contact with her lover, Caroline realized that she could reach Kate with her voice. "Kaa-te, Ka-a-te, Ka-a-te," she breathed with every lick or kiss.
There it was, her name in three syllables as only Caroline could drawl it, pronouncing each letter so distinctly. The hard K sound, long stress on the A and the crisp pronunciation of the consonant T. Her tongue on the edge of a shoulder blade dug in as this sound went through her. Kate groaned, "God, Caroline."
Smiling in satisfaction, Caroline continued as Kate worked her way down an arm, still a little pink from their shower, turning it to expose the inside of the elbow which received special attention as did the sensitive wrist.
Taking each finger into her mouth in turn, using the roughness of her tongue to suckle, her eyes once again on Caroline's Kate could watch her melting. See the softness in her face, the sag in her stance as she was weakened by renewed arousal. Kate took the limp figure into her arms and began, nipping and kissing cinnamon spots from Caroline's neck, unhurriedly, up and up behind the ear as the sound of her name drawled so thrillingly close became softer, the utterances further apart as Caroline's attention was more and more consumed by sensation.
Pulling back slightly to bring her face close to Caroline's Kate found that as always when she came this close Caroline's lips parted, birdlike, ever ready to take her in. When the expected pressure failed to materialize, Caroline opened reproachful eyes, breathing "Ka-a-te, once more." That did it, lips and tongues fitted together seeking and giving all the pleasure of which they were capable.
Parting, pulling Caroline by the hand, watching the long lissome radiance which followed, Kate sat her on the bed and gracefully for one in her stage of pregnancy dropped to her knees, focusing on breasts, carressing, kissing, taking them in, one by one. Shivering at Caroline's fingers in her hair, nails ever so slightly raking her scalp. Finally, Kate pushed Caroline's shoulders back, moving down, kissing along the faded caesarian scar, holding round moppet eyes with her own Kate one by one tucked an instep onto the edge of the bed before running her fingers slowly down the inside of each thigh then luxuriously through curly ginger hair. She could hear Caroline's breathing rate increase. Soft whimpers of anticipation only served to slow Kate's progress, unhurriedly kissing each inner thigh before moving on to the core so very ready for her. Tasting, teasing, eventually satisfying.
At last, she rose to join Caroline on the bed and was met by guiding hands positioning her knees on either side of Caroline, hungry lips taking hers, then releasing her to urge her hips forward, moving them up and up until lips met lips again and it was Kate's turn to moan in pleasure.
Collapsed in a heap too relaxed to move, Caroline's musical laugh rang out and she breathed into Kate's ear, "you are soooo good. Just remembering you inside me makes me want to come again." Feeling an arm raised to comply with this suggestion, Caroline, stopped it, laughing throatily again, "Please, I can't take anymore." With this she pressed her cheek to Kate's then slid her mouth to bestow a sensuous, slowing down but not quite there yet kiss on waiting lips. Gradually, the nuzzling and necking subsided and Caroline pulled the covers over them as glistening skin began to dry and cool. Before long they had both drifted off to sleep once more.
When they finally woke there was barely time to shower again, quickly this time; dress and get to the school to meet Laurence's bus. Ravenous, on the way to the school, the two made plans to visit a restaurant locally famous for its all day Sunday Brunch Buffet. Laurence would no doubt be nearly as hungry as they by the time he got off the bus.
Pulling onto the car park, they saw that the bus had arrived with boys crowding around the luggage compartment pulling out their gear. When they had assembled their belongings they begin to move off to waiting cars. They spotted Laurence a pile at his feet, standing near Angus who was dumping his load into the boot of his mother's car. Pulling in near them, Caroline got out to open the back for Laurence who lost no time gathering his kit and piling it into the Jeep. The wind was bitterly cold again so, with a wave to Felicity and Angus, mother and son quickly moved to the shelter of their car.
Once inside, "Mum, Mum, we won! We won the tournament, it was so great…" and Laurence was off, excitedly sharing all the details of a memorable trip. Seeing that they missed the turning for home, Laurence interrupted his monologue to inquire about their destination and gratified to learn that a meal was in the offing, resumed his story just where he left off. Exchanging a smile at his boyish excitement, Caroline and Kate happily listened as the details unfolded asking the right questions whenever there was a pause for breath. It wasn't until the meal was almost finished that Laurence ran down. It turned out that his rugby shoes, already on the tight side had split under pressure during the last game and a new pair would be required almost immediately as there was a practice tomorrow afternoon. Plans were laid to head for the sporting goods store and by the time they finished there it would be almost time for William's train so they would pick him up before going home.
William, striding out from the station swung himself into the backseat stowing his bag at his feet. Leaning forward he kissed his Mum and squeezed Kate's arm before settling back and giving his brother a playful punch to the shoulder. "So, how did it go, Beano Boy?" And Laurence was off again.
Caroline had felt a pang in her heart at the sight of her manly son coming toward her car. He was barely a boy anymore. Until he got near his brother, then their banter made her feel better, as though William was still her boy, not quite all grown up. She couldn't help stealing another glance at him in the rear view mirror and found him looking back at her. Smiling quickly to hide the mother angst, she saw by his look that he was now too quick for her, he had already seen it in her eyes.
Entering the spotless house, they all trooped upstairs to put away their things. Under direction from Caroline they brought all the clothes that needed washing to the laundry room. It wasn't long before the sounds of the washer and dryer mingled with music from William's room and sounds of the Xbox from the sitting room. Caroline, after putting in another load of washing met Kate in the kitchen for cup of tea. Before long William, having had an early lunch, joined them wondering what might be in progress for tea. Both women groaned at the mention of food, having fully eaten their share at the buffet. Caroline suggested that he make a sandwich now and later they would order takeout when everyone else got hungry again.
Caroline asked William about meeting Roxy's family and was told the story of his weekend and what a good time he'd had in Liverpool. He inquired how they had spent their time. It was a natural question but somehow neither of them was quite prepared to answer. William, who had been rinsing his plate at the sink when he asked the question, turned back with a towel in his hand at the silence that followed. His Mum and Kate were looking at one another, Mum blushing and Kate, her mouth open apparently had nothing to say. Grinning, he said, "Well, you don't have to tell me. I was only being polite."
Caroline was further discomfited by this new composure of William's. He kept slipping between manhood and boyhood. It was disconcerting. Finally, her wits returning to her Caroline offered, "We went for walks, oh yes, and we had dinner with Kate's Mum on Friday night, just relaxed mainly."
William barely suppressing another grin, said, "Good. Good, I'm glad." Then taking pity on them, headed for the door saying, "Think I'll go give Laurence a challenge."
Hearing Williams footsteps disappear into the carpet of the sitting room, the two in the kitchen finally let themselves look at one another and dissolved into embarrassed laughter. Caroline, her head back looking at the ceiling said, "Can you believe I wasn't prepared to answer a simple question from my son? I think I'm losing it." Then looking at Kate, laughed again, "If I ever had it."
Kate, her smile turning into a leer, replied "Oh, you had it Dr. Elliot." Allowing herself a leisurely inventory of assets, Kate said softly, "You've still got it." Suddenly, they realized how long it had been since their last kiss and leaned in to correct that oversight. Just as they were feeling the heat begin to build, they heard a cough, Caroline, instantly deciding that she was not going to be embarrassed in her own kitchen again today did not immediately pull back and with her hand on Kate's shoulder would not allow her to back away either. Ending the kiss slowly, she turned to find Laurence with his head in the fridge and said coolly, "William's beaten you already?"
"No, he is out of practice," closing the refrigerator door, "I trounced him but I needed a refill." Without blinking an eye he was out the door calling insults to his brother as he padded back down the hall in his stocking feet.
Caroline turned to find Kate, chin pulled in, regarding her with a look of admiration. "Quick learner, Dr. Elliot."
Hearing the timer go off on the dryer, Caroline started after it, pausing to place a very wet kiss right in Kate's ear, before breathing into it, "too bloody right." As Kate cried out in protest at this treatment, Caroline, moved swiftly to the door and threw a saucy look back at Kate before disappearing up the stairs. She could hear Kate muttering as she reached for a paper towel to dry her ear, "No doubt in my mind where Laurence gets his cheekiness."
Bringing in the Boys
Later over takeout pizza and salad, Caroline shared with the boys the news that the house had been shown to two different families over the weekend and that one family was seeing it for the second time in a week. This news brought a serious look to William's face and a worried one to Laurence's. "What if it sells this week? Where will we go?"
Giving him a loving look and a touch on the cheek, Caroline said, "Oh Laurence, don't look so worried. Even if we did accept an offer this week, it would likely be several weeks before the sale is finalized. We would have time to find a place." Settling herself on her stool and leaning forward toward the two across the counter from her, "You know, Laurence we've been packing things all fall. Everything non-essential." Looking at William, she explained, we wanted it to be homey until at least after Christmas." Then looking at Kate, "There are packed boxes everywhere, in the closets, in the attic, in the cellar. It won't take us long to be ready to move." Then, wrinkling her nose, "except my study."
Looking back at the boys, "I've spoken to the manager of a nice block of furnished flats not far from school. We could put most things in storage and live there until we find just the right house." Looking back at Kate to find a closed expression on her face, Caroline, her face and eyes full of love went on softly, "That was before Christmas Eve. Now, we need to reevaluate our plans."
The women gazed on for another moment as the boys exchanged a look, wondering what would be coming next. A look they had shared many times over the last year or so, wondering what was coming next from the adults in this house.
Caroline, missing that exchange, looked back at her sons. "Kate and I are going to live together." She looked at them each in turn, the full light of her love for them clearly showing on her face, her voice gentle, "I know things have been happening very quickly this week." Catching Laurence's eye, "It may be a little much for you to take in all at once. I don't want to rush you but this isn't going to change again. Between Kate and I. We've worked it out. We love one another. We are going to look for a home for all of us." Adding with a little trepidation, in case it hadn't dawned on them, "And the baby."
Pausing to let them process this much and to see what reactions would be forthcoming, Caroline watched and waited. William gave her a warm smile, his Mum knew what he thought, like her, he waited to see what Laurence would say.
Laurence looked at his Mum for a long moment. The two of them had spent quite a bit of time together this fall, working on the packing up, in the garden, seeing the odd film when they could agree upon one, cooking and eating together. They had become closer after he called her on being boring. She'd made more of an effort. He knew it hadn't been easy, she had been very sad. Now, she was all, sort of sparkly, happy he guessed. He couldn't ever remember seeing her like this, not even before Dad moved out. At this moment though, she looked a little scared. She was scared he was going to make trouble again.
Laurence looked at Kate. She'd had her head turned, looking at his Mum, a worried look on her face, but it was also soft with love for his Mum, that's what he needed to see. He had been at school, he had seen the tension between them whenever they were in the same room. Even in a large room where they didn't have to talk to one another, he had seen the strain in Mum's face, and in Kate's. It was different now. Whatever had been wrong seemed to be OK. Kate had turned to face him when she felt his gaze on her. She met his eyes and they seemed to be reassuring him that she wasn't going to change back again. But he had to know. Holding her eyes, he asked, "Is it really all right? You aren't going to change your minds again?"
Kate released Caroline's hand in her lap and put both of hers on the island in front of her. "No Laurence, we aren't going to change our minds. We've talked everything through, we love each other and we want to be together."
Laurence narrowed his eyes at her, "didn't you love each other before?"
Direct and to the point, thought Kate, another trait he got from his mother. No free passes here. "Well, yes, we did love each other. We never stopped loving each other really. We found we couldn't be happy apart."
"So what if you aren't happy together either?" Laurence challenged. He'd certainly seen enough of that in this house. He loved his Mum, he'd seen exactly how unhappy she had been dealing with his Dad and then even more unhappy when she was no longer with Kate. If she wouldn't protect herself, he would have to do it.
Kate was used to interacting with teenagers. It was her job. This was different. She saw that Laurence wasn't thinking of himself, he was worried for his Mum. He knew she had hurt Caroline. He wasn't a child. Platitudes were not going to be enough. What would she say to Caroline's father if he were asking the questions?
Caroline, started to jump into this pause to reassure the boys, but Kate put a hand on her arm, as she looked into the blue eyes so ready to defend her she said, "No Caroline, he has the right to ask. He deserves an answer."
She found Laurence still regarding her levelly, waiting for his answer. "Laurence," looking at both boys, "William, I hurt your Mum."
Caroline interjected, "We hurt each other."
Kate again put a hand on her arm and gave her a look that said, 'I've got this.' Looking each boy in the eye again, Kate resumed. "We did hurt each other. The difference is that your Mum hurt me inadvertently and I hurt her intentionally. At least, I knew what I was about to do would hurt her deeply and I did it anyway." Kate had trouble getting the last sentence out without her voice breaking, but she gained control again and went on.
"The thing about your Mum is," stealing a glance at Caroline, knowing she would break down if she really looked at her, she saw the blonde head tilted and the face working to keep control of her own emotions as she watched Kate respond to these difficult questions. Kate bravely faced these two who loved Caroline as much as she did, "She's a very generous person. She forgave me. Not everyone would have."
Laurence thought it was a good sign that Kate was crying. It showed that she wasn't taking this lightly. Still, there was one more important thing. "Was it about the baby?"
The two women exchanged another look, each read the surprise at Laurence's intuition in the other's face. Seeing Caroline's almost imperceptible nod, Kate knew that she was being trusted to share this essential piece of their story with the two boys that Caroline loved as much as life itself. Honored but scared, Kate faced the two sets of waiting eyes, "Yes, it was about the baby. Not so much about whether or not to have one, your Mum knew I wanted a baby very badly." Steeling herself to say these words out loud to Caroline's sons, she took a deep breath and went on, "I wasn't true to your Mum, I let her down to have a chance to get this baby." Her face working again, once more mastering herself, "I'm not proud of that. I caused her a lot of pain." Swallowing hard, looking fiercely at each set of eyes before her, "I promise each of you as I promised her," glancing at Caroline Kate saw the tears running unchecked down her cheeks. "I will never intentionally hurt her again. I mean that with all my heart.
Caroline, unable to resist any longer, put both arms around Kate and pulled her close. Cheeks together, tears mingling, they hugged for a moment before turning back to the boys. Caroline, using her dinner napkin to blot away tears, trying valiantly to smile, said, "We intend to spend the rest of our lives together making one another happy." She joined her hands with Kate's and looking into her eyes said, "That doesn't mean we'll never disagree, or disappoint one another, or get cross now and then," looking back at the boys, William discreetly wiping away a tear or two of his own, "that's all part of life, but it won't ever be that way again." Letting her pride and love for them show on her face, Caroline asked, "All right? Can you be happy for us?"
Before the words were out of her mouth William was already on his way around the island to hug her. Laurence followed suit, he didn't like seeing his Mum cry. He even leaned in and gave Kate a brief hug.
Both women had swiveled on their stools to receive the boys, Caroline was on her feet, the boys facing her, she had a hand on the outside shoulder of each as she said, "we want to be a family. We want you both to be brothers to this little girl." She had taken her hand from William's shoulder to place it on Kate's baby bulge. William took Kate's hand and Laurence rolled his eyes and said, "A girl?! Oh maaaan."
This brought a round of laughter that broke the tension. Caroline pulled Laurence in for a hug, kissed his cheek and told him affectionately, "You'll get over it."
Then began a series of questions about living arrangements, house sales and timing that had no answers yet. Caroline finally held up both hands, saying, "Look, I promise I will let you know as soon as there is anything to tell. All right? I'm glad you are excited, I just don't know what to say right now."
As they went about belatedly clearing away after their meal the talk turned to plans for the next day. Caroline shared that Kate had an appointment with her doctor tomorrow morning and that she would be going with her. Laurence had practice at 1pm and William had hoped to visit some friends so they arranged that the two women would take Kate's car for the appointment and William could take the Jeep if he would drop his brother at the rugby field before meeting his friends.
That sorted and the kitchen returned to order, William went off to call Roxy, Laurence to view the new DVD he had received for Christmas and since Kate hadn't had a nap today, she and Caroline decided to retire for the night.
Once in Caroline's room, they looked at one another and broke into relieved laughter and collapsed onto the edge of the bed. "Oh Kate, you were wonderful. How did you know just the right thing to say?"
Looking questioningly at Caroline, "Was it the right thing? I didn't want to go too far into it, but they do have a right to know that I intend to try to make their mother happy."
Caroline stroked Kate's cheek with her fingers, "I think everything will go much more smoothly now that we've had this conversation. Thank you for being willing to put yourself through that again."
Regretfully, "Well, it was my fault, I did hurt you."
Both hands on Kate's cheeks now, Caroline said earnestly, "We hurt each other. I put you into impossible situations. It wouldn't have gone where it did without me mucking about." Then decisively, "besides, I thought we were putting this behind us."
Kate made a rueful face, "As much as I would like that, I think there is one more conversation we are going to need to have about this."
Caroline said "Mum," at the same time Kate said "Celia." Each resigned to the fact that this was true, they gazed at one another for moment before Caroline said, "OK, once more if absolutely necessary, then, no more." Holding Kate's face again, "That will be the end of it. Forgotten. Promise?"
"I promise," said Kate, the love light in her eyes.
Caroline, turning Kate's shoulders until she was lying across her lap, in her arms laid a tender kiss on the surprised lips. "I've been thinking, with all of this angst, you might need to relax tonight and there is a very large tub in my bathroom, I wonder if you'd like to indulge yourself?"
Kate brought her face close to Caroline's, "that depends on whether I have to get into this 'very large' tub alone." Rubbing her nose against the freckled one before her, "or if you're willing to get in with me." She took Caroline's bottom lip into a lingering kiss.
"I could likely be persuaded," Caroline breathed.
"Mmmm, how likely is that?" murmured Kate.
"One more kiss like that ought to just about do it."