Homecoming
As her heels tap across the parquet floor of the foyer to the art deco door that opens into home, Caroline feels her expression lift, as do her spirits, each time she approaches this entry. Home. Homecoming. Home to Kate. She knows now the exact point when the excitement begins to vibrate in her. It is the moment when there is no other business to keep her from going home. To Kate. No more stops to make, nothing else to pick up, no one to drop off, taking the most efficient route, a straight path. Home, to Kate.
The cares of the day drop away as her attention is captured by the thought of Kate, at home, waiting for her. The ever-present hum of her love for Kate, the hum she has managed to push with varying degrees of success, to the back of her consciousness all day, comes to the fore and consumes her interest. If Laurence is in the car, speaking to her it takes a real effort to focus on him, what he is saying.
Laurence has come to realize that this is not the best time to try to talk to his Mum anymore. If he waits until dinner or later she will be more relaxed and ready to hear him. It didn't used to be this way but like many other things that have happened these last months he is learning to go with it.
Caroline normally prefers to take the stairs from the parking garage. Besides wanting the exercise, she knows there is less chance of running into other residents, thus reducing the need for exchanging greetings or small talk that will delay her homecoming. Today she is alone. Laurence went to 'study' with Marla, the girl he had taken to the recent school dance. He would ride his bike home. Because Caroline is fully laden she passes the front desk and waits for the lift. She totes a carrier bag filled with exercise books Kate has agreed to mark for the Languages substitute who is struggling with the workload Kate used to manage so well. Her own briefcase is full of reports to review before the Board of Governors meeting next Thursday. The refrain is louder now, 'Kate. Home. Kate. Home. To Kate.'
Receiving no reply to her greeting, Mrs. Nelson concernedly tells Martin, the evening desk clerk as she watches Caroline step into the lift, "They must work Dr. Elliot very hard over at that school of hers, she's so knackered at night she can barely speak. Nice as anything usually, her and Kate."
Stride lengthening across the foyer, anticipation building, key in lock, the wide door swings smoothly back to reveal… home.
Always when Kate is home, the first welcome is music. Sometimes soft and mellow, other days a driving beat; classical, contemporary, the latest release, raucous and wild or a composition she has never heard before, it doesn't matter, music is the presence of Kate. Her life now has a soundtrack, for wherever Kate is, music is. The first note that strikes her ear, often before she's even turned the latch, replaces the thrumming in her ears - the vibration mellows once more to the constant hum of Kate's life force in the world, the hum that resides in her wherever she is, no matter where Kate is.
But the restlessness doesn't leave until her eye falls on Kate. Beautiful Kate. Kate, her lightening rod. Kate, who completes her, makes her whole again. Her eyes rake the room until they settle on Kate and her eyes are met by that incomparable brown-eyed gaze, the eyes that see her with the love light always fully lit for her. The slow smile warms Kate's face at her inexorable approach. Enchanted eternally by the play of light and shadow on flawless skin, the hue so fascinatingly changeable. Only warm soft waiting lips can close her eyes to this vision.
Today, the music is pastoral, the strings tender, the only other sound is the murmur of Kate's voice, "There's your Momma I can hear her key."
Mid sentence Kate catches the widening image of Caroline as she enters, pushing the door closed behind her without a backward glance. Sees the deliciously daft look that always comes across Caroline's face when she spots her. Kate employs the pause, to absorb the magnificent vision that is Caroline McKenzie-Elliot. The linen dress she often wears in summer, black belt accentuating the womanly figure, the smart black jacket that screams 'Dr. Elliot', and the agonizingly high heels, which match the dress. Even after almost six months together, the sudden sight of Caroline can still take her breath away, fill her mouth with water until she remembers to swallow.
Caroline takes in Kate, stretched full length on the long wide lapped couch they'd selected together, specifically for this room, head and shoulders propped on a cushion at one end, face to face with the infant levering herself up on wobbly arms. The sight tractors Caroline into the room, dropping her handbag, the carrier bag and briefcase along the way. Caroline moves gracefully to her knees beside them. Admiringly, "You two look lovely."
"We've just finished a feeding and are having a little look around."
Torn between which to kiss first, Caroline finally bestows a light kiss on the bronze curls of the baby but her eyes are fastened on Kate. By simply turning her head Kate's lips are within range. After a gentle lingering kiss, Caroline, considering whether she might insert herself onto the wide lapped couch with mother and child asks, "Laurence?"
"Any time now," as her mouth reaches for Caroline's again, greedy for this moment together. Caroline's responsive kiss is interrupted by the sharp tug of her hair being pulled. Emitting a loud, "Eooww!" her head is jerked back as the baby tugs again. Kate, startled, finally sees past Caroline's face to the baby fingers firmly enmeshed in the blonde up-do, intently trying to bring the prize to her mouth. Kate's face breaking into a broad smile at the sight, she grabs the small arm, preparing to disengage the tiny fingers but only succeeds in producing another loud outcry from Caroline just as Laurence pops through the door.
Glancing up and seeing the expression on Laurence's face at the sight of them, Kate bursts into outright laughter which doesn't make her more efficient at parting Caroline's hair from Callie's grip. Laurence, transfixed by the sight of his smartly dressed Mum knelt on the floor, head back, alternately calling out 'yeouch!' and 'Kate!' Kate is laughing so hard now that it takes her almost a full minute to extricate Caroline. Finally freed, Caroline looks up into Laurence's face, his eyebrow raised as he shakes his head and moves off for the kitchen in search of sustenance.
Rising quickly and giving Kate a wide eyed, 'I'll tend to you later' look, Caroline homes in on the baby, now craning back to keep Caroline's bright head in sight and bends to pick her off her mother's tummy. Following Laurence into the kitchen, she regards the child in awe, "Who knew you were so strong?" Reaching Laurence she is determined to pretend the whole thing never happened. "Have a good day?"
Laurence, just before dropping an entire biscuit into his mouth, "Yep."
Giving him a disapproving look, "hold off now, it'll be supper soon."
Looking around the immaculate kitchen, "you sure?"
"Roast chicken sandwiches and salad, all in the refrigerator. Won't be long," answered Kate in a choky voice, trying valiantly to stop laughing.
Laurence, backpack still over one shoulder takes the sprite from his mother's arms. As he carries her toward the bedroom passage, he tells Callie confidentially, "They are very weird sometimes." Then with a sigh, "You'll just have to get used to it."
At this two women's eyes meet and they break into fresh laughter. Moving together, arms wrapping around one another, Kate sobering slightly, attempts an apologetic look through barely suppressed laughter, "Sorry. Sorry, the sight of Dr. Elliot knelt on the floor, head back, yowling at the hand of a tiny baby was priceless but then, the look on Laurence's face, it was just too much." Breaking forth again at the recalled image, Kate's hold on Caroline loosens and she breaks away.
Giving Kate a self-deprecating grin, Caroline says, "Right. Well, I'm going to get changed."
Following eagerly, "I'll help." Receiving only a doubtful look from Caroline over her shoulder, Kate calls, "Laurence, have you got her?"
"Yep. Please make up fast, I'm starving."
Closing the door as she watches Caroline shed her jacket, "Do we need to make up?"
Without looking at her, hanging up the garment, "Oh, It was all in fun, wasn't it?"
Stepping up behind, letting her fingers run over linen covered ribs that expand at her touch, then move down to soft tissue, pulling the body of Caroline full against her. They luxuriate in this for a moment, Caroline's head lolling back until her cheek finds Kate's for a moment. Then, fingers on the belt buckle, Kate puts her face in Caroline's hair to inhale her scent.
Caroline takes the belt, freeing slowly exploring fingers to press on but she moves deliberately away with a deep sighing breath.
Laurence's voice just outside the door, "Kate, I think she needs a change."
Clearing her throat to a semblance of normalcy, Kate calls, "You can."
Hearing Laurence's groan as he moves away, both women smile but not at each other. Caroline won't turn, can't turn to look at Kate. If she does, she knows there'll be no resistance left in her.
As Caroline steps out of her shoes, Kate moves in again, runs the zipper down with one hand and follows it with the back of her other hand, smoothing, studying the freckles as they appear over the spine. Pleased with the long slow audible intake of breath, she runs her hand slowly back up, widening the opening, bending to place a series of kisses to the tops of exposed shoulders, following cinnamon colored spots up the slender neck.
Straightening to her full height and pulling her shoulders down, an effort at control, yet reveling in the sensation, Caroline warns, "K-aa-te."
Turning her by the shoulders to ease the dress down, Kate lets her eyes follow the rim of the dress lower and lower. Lingering over creamy speckled loveliness supported by a lacy tan bra-
From just outside the door, "Kate? Um. Its not only wet." "Kate?" "Mum?"
Caroline is working to keep back her smile, watching the emotions fight on Kate's face, motherhood against wifehood. In truth, she is as disappointed as Kate. She'd simply known from the start it would be no use. Reclaiming control of her dress, chin tucked, voice regretful, "You know it doesn't work. Not this time of day."
The pleading from outside the door continues, "Kate? Can you help?"
Unable to keep a trace of impatient sharpeness from her voice, "Yes, Laurence! I'll meet you in the nursery." A brief pause, her eyes never leaving the figure before her, voice quieter, "In a moment."
Moving back in Kate delivers a kiss that removes all trace of amusement from Caroline's eyes. Relinquishing the weakened body, Kate leans in to whisper, "every time I look at you this evening, I'll be seeing you like this." Reaching the door she looks back to find Caroline stood stock still, clutching the now crushed dress to her middle, swallowing hard and blinking back at her. Smiling to herself at this small victory Kate pulls the door shut behind her.
A Perfect Evening
They had dined as Callie napped then, putting the kitchen to rights, the women chatted with Laurence about his plans for the promised Birthday picnic. It was to be a field day on The Stray for all his friends. Laurence's birthday fell in February. This year the winter months had been full of changes for all of them. Moving into the new flat, getting settled, almost immediately planning the wedding and on top of that it had been a season of relentless snow and biting winds with all of Yorkshire hunkering down and staying indoors as much as possible.
At the time, they had discussed with Laurence his idea of the perfect 16th birthday party and it turned out that he would like nothing more than a day outdoors with all his friends, offering an assortment of games and of course, mounds of his favorite foods. So, while the great day had been commemorated with the extended family at the new flat in February, promises had been made for a field day on The Stray after school let out for Summer Break.
Tonight Laurence sat at the breakfast bar writing out the lists dictated by his Mum and Kate while they cleaned the kitchen. It was rather early for planning but the party was on everyone's mind so they had begun the preliminary process. Since space on The Stray was no issue, invitations were being extended to the parents and siblings of each of Laurence' s friends as well. Of course, Celia, Alan, Edie and the Greenwoods were invited, the more the merrier, fun and games for all.
When the baby woke the two women moved on to the ever-fascinating process of bathing her. Callie liked her bath, cooing and splashing while her Mums marveled over her perfection. Laurence unable to resist the urge, popped in from time to time to check on progress. This completed they settled to begin the movie thriller Laurence had cajoled them into watching with him.
Kate sat on the end of the sofa beyond Laurence's line of vision with Callie who was now ready to nurse. She and Caroline had agreed that nursing was a natural process, which did not need to be restricted to the nursery if done discreetly. They had no wish to embarrass Laurence but neither did they want to give him prudish ideas about the process. He hadn't been overtly curious, mostly he just ignored the whole thing and being Laurence was totally capable of sometimes not even being aware of it at all.
Laurence did like to bottle feed Callie when the opportunity presented itself and was quite taken with the little package. Due to his winter growth spurt the newborn Callie had fit neatly into his arm, her bottom in the palm of his hand, her head not quite reaching his elbow. He'd inspected her gravely, accepted coaching from his Mum on how to hold her and the importance of supporting her head. He had never been around an infant before and both Caroline and Kate were touched at the way he sprang at any opportunity to hold her and how he made his way directly to her each afternoon on his way in from school.
Tonight, her feeding complete, they'd passed her around among them until she fell asleep in Laurence's arms and Caroline rose to take her to her cot. Returning she curled with Kate on the couch in one of their favorite positions. Kate began to massage the tired feet that had carried Caroline through the corridors of Sulgrave Heath all week. At Caroline's groan of appreciation, Laurence glanced over saying cheekily, "pipe down you two, we're getting to the good part," as he pressed Plus on the remote's volume control.
The movie wasn't bad but not nearly as thrilling to either woman as the body snuggling in closer and closer. While Kate had been working out the kinks in the hard done by feet, Caroline was gently massaging Kate's shoulders. As fingers began snaking suggestively up the calf of her leg Caroline let her fingertips graze Kate's neck into her hairline producing the usual shivers and writhing. Oh, they were in so much trouble if Laurence wanted to discuss this movie when it was over. As the credits began to roll they preempted any such thought on Laurence's part by announcing their intention to retire before Callie woke for her next feeding and left him to watch the next video on his own.
The two women were at the baby's cot for a quick look. Caroline's fingers slipped under Kate's loose fitting top, found the clasp on her bra and unhooked it allowing her hand to reach around to fill itself with the heaviness of Kate. Bending her head in front of a leaning Kate, she covered the gasping lips and brought them upright as both hands now supported a delicious weight, eliciting a moan from Kate which told Caroline they needed to move this to their own room.
Once inside the door, their hands couldn't move quickly enough to discard unwanted garments, Kate's suspicions confirmed that Caroline had omitted wearing a bra that evening. They hadn't been this frantic for a long while, usually their lovemaking was unhurried and deliberate but not tonight. Tonight they could not get close enough fast enough, clasping and crushing together urgently, frenzied kisses with active tongues and probing fingers increasing their rush.
Intently, they established a rhythm that had them each emitting desperate sounds that drove the other wilder and wilder, until finally, they smothered the cries of their climaxes by pressing their mouths against convenient flesh. Held in one another's arms they swayed on smiling through residual pleasures.
Caroline sprawled on the bed, pulling Kate on top of her. Their urgency had been reduced but they were still tightly coiled. Kate's mouth found Caroline's, her lips and tongue soft and sensuous. Pulling back to survey the resulting fire in blue eyes, she met the rising lips again before bringing her knees either side of Caroline's thighs to crouch low above her. Caroline pushing back Kate's hair, saw the passion flaring in brown eyes dark with desire. "I want you, Caroline."
Kate's whisper husky and low sent a jolt through Caroline but she only whispered back with a wicked smile, "I think you've had me."
"I still need you." Uttered just before she covered Caroline's mouth with another soft sensuous kiss.
Reaching for a pillow to tuck beneath the blonde head, Kate straightened to sit on Caroline's hips, her inability to be still and the intense tone of her name in Kate's mouth had her searching Kate's face again.
Sliding forward to sit astride her stomach, questioning, "Caroline?"
Understanding now, a small smile played on Caroline's face. Letting her hands caress their way down shades of sepia toned skin to rest on smooth hips, "Tell me."
Undulating above Caroline, "I need to feel your mouth on me."
Caroline's fingers pressed her forward while lustful eyes roved the body perched above her.
Eyes still on Caroline's, Kate advanced, her breathing audible, anticipation in her voice, "Caroline." Then Caroline's mouth was on her, the sheer rapture of it arched her back and head. The sound that escaped seemed to spur Caroline on. Feeling the velvet tongue on her, in her, Kate only just managed to hang on to her self control. And then she couldn't giving a cry that said she'd entirely forgotten they weren't alone.
When it came time to break off, Caroline smiled into a silken thigh. Belatedly she groped for Kate's mouth with a freed hand to have several fingers sucked in, so Caroline inserted fingers of her other hand where her tongue had just been laughing softly, "Shh, your going to have to be quiet this time. Her tongue found her again and Kate's breathing became ragged and uneven. Caroline suspected that the slower she moved the faster Kate would come and proved her theory. Kate's body contorted, thrusting onto fingers that stayed with her through wave after wave until she rolled to the far side of the bed with a tortured groan knowing what would happen if she stayed and she didn't think she had the stamina for another orgasm tonight.
Caroline's low sensuous laugh followed her and Kate felt the warmth of Caroline resting upon her, the mildly taunting face above hers, "You alright?"
Kate nodded, still without breath to speak. She both felt and heard Caroline's laugh this time, then, as fingers caressed her face and hair once more, "Oh, My Brown Eyed Girl, you are so beautiful."