21 New Year's Day - Lunch at the Farm
Caroline wakened from fitful sleep in an overheated room. Some malfunction of the heating system had caused their room to feel not only warm but muggy as well. Front to back with Kate as they had slept since their reunion a week ago, she felt sweat trickling. Opening her eyes, she saw Kate, sprawled back against her, limbs outstretched, the covers doubled back onto Caroline. Smiling, she realized why she was glistening with sweat while Kate's skin was dry and cool to the touch.
Easing over ever so slightly, Caroline rolled away the covers to expose her own flesh in an effort to cool. Almost instantly Caroline was reclaimed by sleep, Kate's body still reclined against her and a small smile of peace and contentment on her face.
Kate, creeping softly back into the bed after a trip to the loo was trying not to wake Caroline. It was barely light and they'd gotten in to their hotel room in the early hours of the morning. This past week had been a very emotional one for them both and the week ahead would be demanding, especially for Caroline, who would insist on doing twice as much as necessary in an effort to keep her from doing anything to assist with the move. In no way did Kate wish to endanger the child within her but she was still capable of more than Caroline would be likely to allow. Still, it had been a long time since anyone had been as focused on her and as caring as Caroline was being. It was soul satisfying to feel this loved. Easing back onto the pillow now with a soft sigh, Kate turned to assure herself that Caroline slept, only to find the blue lights blinking on.
"You're very cute when you are trying not to wake me."
Making a face at her, "You could have let me know you were awake so I could have dropped onto the bed like the enormous baggage I am instead of going in slow motion."
With an impish smile, "Much more entertaining this way." Allowing her eyes to rove down Kate's still uncovered body. In a soft slow voice, "Have I told you how very, very seductive I find you? Pregnancy suits you, Kate." Continuing to openly stare, caressing only with her eyes, "The definitive female form." Caroline's breathing was coming faster now, her voice though still savoring the syllables, "fecund, opulent, voluptuous, enticing." Letting her eyes meet Kate's, continuing in that unhurried, appreciative voice, "Kate, you are so beautiful it makes my heart ache. You make me crave you."
Rolling onto her side, closer but solitary, her own breathing rate increasing as she let herself be enthralled, eyes kindling, voice smoky, "Caroline, you make me feel attractive."
"Oh Kate, your so much more than that. Irresistible." Moving to drag her lips across the tops of Kate's breasts then pulling back to continue making verbal love to Kate, "your breasts have always been full, rounded even, but now, now they're lavish, lush, luxurious," encompassing a nipple with her mouth, ever so softly. With her lips and tongue Caroline began the painstaking process of making love to Kate's body, all of it, describing its appeal to her then making that appeal tangible, with only her mouth.
When at last Caroline rested her head on the pillow next to Kate's face she saw that it was still sloe eyed with passion. A small self-satisfied smile crossed her lips, gone as quickly as it came, but Kate saw and deftly vanquished smug with her own power to stir.
Desires surfeited the lovers drifted lightly in and out of consciousness for a time. Caroline delighting in the sheer joy of lying here, suffused with satisfaction in one another. It was bliss.
xxx
After lunch at the farm the Elliot contingent returned to Harrogate, the trio of elders electing to spend another night in place before driving back tomorrow. Upon arrival at the house on Conway Drive everyone scattered to his or her own pursuits. They'd all had a good time but the close quarters in the farmhouse had everyone looking for a little space of their own.
After a late night and fitful sleep in an overheated room, Caroline and Kate stretched out on Caroline's bed. It felt good to relax physically into comfort and privacy again. Gazing into one another's eyes, remembering the pleasures of the morning, they smiled and regaled one another with recalled moments of especial enjoyment or describing the delicious sight of the other, snapshots of the mind. Whispering, murmuring, faces touching, lips kissing everywhere they could reach, hair, brows, lips; fingers caressing found skin, until fatigue trumped desire and they drifted off to sleep wound closely into one another.
The sound of a mobile, Kate's this time, wakened them both with a start. Leaning across Caroline, Kate fumbled for her phone. Seeing that the caller was her mother, Kate cleared her throat in an effort to sound like she hadn't just been sleeping. Still leaning on Caroline, "Mum. Hi."
"Oh dear, I've wakened you. I'm sorry. I know you need your rest these days."
Glancing at the bedside clock, "It's alright, time we were getting up anyway."
Arrested by a new image, "Oh."
Realizing too late the thought she had planted in her mother's mind, Kate hastily explained, "We had a late night celebrating the New Year up at Gillian's farm and when we got in we put our toes up for a few minutes and fell asleep."
Feeling the shaking beneath her Kate realized she was still lying across Caroline and turning her head found her face highly amused, brows raised well up into her fringe. Kate rolling her eyes and turning resolutely away from this, listened as her mother said in a unconvinced voice, "Well, I didn't mean to intrude, I just wondered if you would all like to come over for a sort of impromptu supper." Going on, "I've made a pot of soup. Nothing fancy, I have a ham for sandwiches and we'll make a salad. If you're coming over, I'll bake a chocolate cake for the boys. They do like chocolate cake don't they?"
"Yes. Yes they like chocolate cake, especially Laurence. I'm just not sure what everyone's plans are for the evening. Can I ask around and call you right back?"
"Of course, I'll understand if you can't make it. I just thought I'd like to get to know Caroline's boys a bit."
Sincerely, "Mum, it is very nice of you to invite us. Let me just see what's happening. I'll get right back to you, OK? OK. Bye now.
Braving another look at Caroline who had left the bed when she found she was being ignored, Kate saw her in the door of the ensuite, brushing her hair, still smirking madly. "What?"
Breaking into a grin, "The look on your face when your mother thought she had caught us at it was priceless." Seeing Kate's embarrassment Caroline attempted a straight face, failed and smirked, "shoe's on the other foot now," before laughing out loud again.
Sitting up on the edge of the bed protesting, "I've never laughed at you like this."
Working to contain herself to a smile now, Caroline knelt beside Kate and kissed her. "Sorry." Then with her chin raised, "No, you didn't laugh out loud but I've seen your face a few times after you've kissed me when my mother's has been in the room." Then, remembering, challengingly, "Oh, not to mention the other night when my whole family were in the room and you started to fuck my hand."
Kate the one struggling to contain a grin now, "That was pretty funny. Talk about priceless looks." She burst out laughing now, remembering. Caroline reached up to silence her with a kiss which ended by Caroline's holding onto Kate's lower lip gently with her teeth as they moved apart to let her know that she was not entirely forgiven yet. Deeming themselves to be about even they smirked at one another for one more minute.
"I gather your mother had a reason for calling," Caroline prompted.
"Oh. Yes, she's making soup and wanted to know if we wanted to come to hers for a casual supper. Said she will bake a chocolate cake if the boys are coming along." Unable to resist touching Caroline when she was this close, Kate had been arranging the blonde fringe just so above the blue eyes she now met. "I think she wants to meet William and Laurence. Do you think they'll mind going with us?"
"Not if there is chocolate cake being offered." Flashing her charming smile for Kate now, "I'll go ask to make sure before I commit for them."
Soup Supper
Mrs. McKenzie welcomed her daughter and the Elliots warmly, hurrying them inside out of the biting wind. Leaving Kate and William hanging the coats, she led Caroline and Laurence past the little sitting room where she had entertained Kate and Caroline on Christmas Day, and into the kitchen. She allowed them to help her carry food to the dining room table on the other side of a half wall overlooking the combination dining area and family room which was one step down. Sharing that Alistair had been handy with tools and together they had renovated the house years ago when Kate and Kevin were hardly more than babies.
The meal had been hearty enough for teen-age boys, the homemade soup proclaimed perfect. Caroline teasing Edie that she hadn't rated chocolate cake, since it was offered only if the boys came to supper too, was chided good naturedly in return that a forty something woman with a baby on the way would want to watch what she ate and be sure to keep fit. Kate was pleased that Caroline and her Mum were getting on so well. And the boys were amused to find someone besides their Granny who would hand it right back to their Mum.
Clearing away after the meal, they talked about the new suite and the move yet to be accomplished this week. Outlining the plans they were laying for which pieces of furniture would come from which household and what would need to be purchased to furnish the new home. The women were gratified to find the boys eagerly offering details and explaining plans to Edie. William's break from university would be long enough for him to help them with the move and he assured Mrs. McKenzie that he would personally see that Kate did not have to lift anything. Hearing this Kate looked at Caroline who raised her hands and brows in total innocence but great satisfaction.
Clearing up completed, Mrs. McKenzie brought out playing cards, asking who knew how to play Rummy, her favorite game. The boys had been playing Rummy with their Granny from an early age so they all gathered around the dining table and began dealing out the cards. Laurence, not so good at Scrabble was quite good at card games. Fully expecting to leave the competition in the dust, he was surprised to find that Edie, as she asked the boys to call her, was also good at cards. In fact, there were no lopsided scores in the game but Laurence and Edie always seemed to make the best of any cards which came their way and went head to head for the last few hands to determine the winner.
Much to his chagrin Laurence had come in second. He and Edie had cheekily challenged and teased one another as they had neared the end of the game and a rematch was promised very soon. The boys retired to the telly to catch the sports recaps on the news while Caroline and Edie sorted out the decks of cards. Kate down the hall in the loo, the two women had a moment for quiet conversation. "I'm very glad Caroline that the two of you will soon be living together. I've been worried about Kate in her house alone. Especially since she told me about her scare before Christmas.
"I've been worried too. Did she tell you that the doctor wants her to work only part time now?" Seeing that she hadn't, "I'm working on Kate to decide her schedule, I have a substitute who can begin any time." Seeing the concern this news had engendered, Caroline went on to assure her, "Nothing to be overly concerned about, things we already know really, her age and history mostly. The doctor is only being cautious I think."
Placing a hand over Caroline's "I'm so glad that Kate has you. Thank you."
Covering the elegant hand, so like Kate's, with her own Caroline gave her a shy smile, she said simply, "I'm not doing it for thanks, Edie. I love her."
Edie, fully charmed as most people were when they got to see this side of Caroline, took both of the freckled hands into her own and replied, "I can see that. I can also see why my Kate loves you."
Kate, returning just then caught the look on Caroline's face as Edie released her hands. Catching Caroline's eye with an enquiring look, she received a lift of a hand to say 'tell you later'. Knowing she would get no sensible answer from either of these two just now Kate took her cup of tea and joined the boys before the telly.
Leaving for home, William, proud to be driving his Mum and Kate, handed them one by one into the back seat before taking the wheel. On the drive Caroline told the boys that the moving company teams would be arriving early in the morning to begin packing and tagging the items that were going to the flat. So they would all be up early to begin the next leg of the move.