What's Happening?

"Kate? Kate, where are you?"

"Nursery," called Kate.

Caroline was already heading down the passage, having found the main rooms empty. She arrived behind Kate as she unbent from changing Callie to place the four month old on her shoulder. Caroline encompassed Kate's waist with her arms. Resting her chin on the convenient shoulder she kissed the baby, arms waving excitedly to see her. Then on tiptoes she turned her face to place a warm moist kiss in a susceptible spot on Kate's neck.

Giving an 'Mmmm' of appreciation, "You're very affectionate this afternoon."

Releasing Kate to stoop and pluck Thomas from his carrier seat, Caroline smiled to see how animated he became at being held. Nuzzling him, "I'm always affectionate, aren't I Thomas?" Then she turned back to Kate for the real kiss she had come searching for in the first place. Advancing until Kate was backed against the changing table, Caroline's kiss wasn't a 'hi honey, I'm home' sort of kiss. In spite of each of them with a baby in her arms, Caroline's mouth was provocative. Pulling away at last to see a sloe eyed Kate poised motionless before her, Caroline flashed a self-satisfied smile. Eyes alight, her voice soft, "Come and sit with me, I have something to tell you."

Sensing the exhilaration humming through Caroline, Kate wonders what's happening. It's been a while since she has seen her wife this excited. When was the last time? Oh yes, the day she'd told about the new position she was being offered at SH. Heading both schools had kept Caroline working often through the summer break. She had in fact been working today.

"Laurence here?"

A little distractedly, eyes on Caroline's figure and her distinctive carriage as they move through the passage, "Any time now."

These days there was almost always a padded blanket on the carpet before the windows of the living area where they could all get down on the floor with the babies. Dropping with Kate to an edge where they each deposited an infant, then sitting on the floor, unable to wait any longer, "Caroline, what's happening? I haven't seen you this excited in quite a while.

Approaching on all fours, a look on her face that Kate knows quite well, her voice intimate, "I was pretty excited this morning when you kept shushing me for fear Roger would hear."

Kate was unable to respond with other than a breathy 'ahh', because Caroline had captured her upper lip. Releasing it to take both lips, then without breaking the kiss she pushed Kate back against the sofa and straddled her lap, insinuating herself stirringly into Kate.

Gasping a little to feel Caroline's heat through light summer clothing, "Caroline." Turning her head to avoid having her mouth covered again, Kate breathes, "Caroline, what are you doing?"

Running kisses down the slender vulnerable neck, "I'm being… affectionate. Apparently... I haven't been… affectionate enough… lately." Smiling into Kate's throat now as she feels Kate's fingers move up under the back of her shirt drawing her closer.

At the sound of the door and Laurence talking on his mobile, Kate drops her hands but knows it's still going to be obvious to Laurence what he has walked in on. She is just glad that her back is to the door and it will be Caroline who's facing her son.

Caroline has just enough time to sit up straight, albeit still astride Kate's lap, compose her face and smile at Laurence as he enters, giving him a bright, "Hi-ee!" She watches as he pauses to regard them, then with his chin near his chest and shaking his head, he moves toward the passage still talking on his mobile. Grinning as Kate gives a rueful roll of her eyes, Caroline takes a seat beside Kate, her back against the sofa too.

Smoothing out her clothing, "Caroline, I don't know what's gotten into you today, you knew that was going to happen."

As she brings her face close to Kate's again, "It was so worth it."

"Was it? Now I'm all rumpled. And hot and bothered."

Putting an arm on the sofa cushion behind Kate to draw her in, "I like you all rumpled," eyeing the unsmiling lips that she still finds alluring, "especially when your hot and bothered." Caroline's leaning in only to be evaded as Kate moves to her feet.

Hissing, "Caroline! Laurence will be back any minute for his snack, you know that."

Amusement evident, "You're sounding very Mum-like these days."

Rolling her eyes again and giving her the 'duh' look while extending her hands to the babies cooing contentedly on the blanket. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about Caroline?"

Bounding to her feet, she takes Kate's hand saying, "Come on, let's get their things, I want to take you for a drive."

Exasperated but allowing Caroline to tow her, "A drive?! We could have done that before."

Highly amused at Kate's reaction to her this afternoon, Caroline's eyes are twinkling when she says, "It sounds as if you've been spending far too much time with my mother."

Aghast at this assessment Kate protests, "Caroline!"

Thrusting a baby bag into Kate's hands Caroline begins filling it with diapers, checks the wipes supply and tucks it back in, "You finish here, I'll go and get the bottles." Grabbing a carrier seat, "Meet you at the front door."

"Caroline, where are we going?"

Turning back, "It's a surprise." Reaching up to place a quick kiss on befuddled lips then moving through the door, "Come on."

Just What We Need

In the car, infants strapped into the back seat, diaper bag stowed within reach, Caroline steers the Jeep through the summer afternoon streets of Harrogate. Now that they are driving Kate has begun to calm again. One eyebrow raised, "So, what's put you into such a state this afternoon?"

"I was talking to Beverley-"

"Beverley has put you into this state!?" Laughing now, "I may have to rethink whether it's a good idea for her to remain your assistant in this new position."

Trying to suppress a grin and raising her chin, Caroline resumes pointedly, "Beverley… gave me some news this afternoon that I've been waiting to hear."

When Caroline does not elaborate, "Which is?"

Turning into a tree-lined street of older houses, Caroline indicated with her hand, "This." Pulling into the drive of a sprawling house in the Frank Lloyd Wright tradition, brick and stone and wood running in horizontal patterns, accentuating its length. As the car stopped, "What do you think?"

"About what?"

"The house, silly." Releasing her seat belt and turning to face Kate, "It's just come up for sale. It isn't even on the market yet. Beverley's aunt lives down the street. The couple who lived here are friends of hers. The old gentleman had a stroke and the children have put both parents into care. They've decided to sell the house. They're moving pretty quickly because they both live in London and they need to settle this so they can focus on their parents. If we like it, we can make an offer before it does go on the market."

Protesting, "Caroline. We've only begun to talk about finding a house."

"I know, I know. But this just came up and I've always liked this little estate. There are only twenty-five houses back here and they don't come up for sale very often. They were built in the 50s and they're all reminiscent of Wright's designs. The builder must have been quite an admirer of Mr. Wright. I am too. I particularly like this house. I was invited here once, years ago. Mr. Sutter, the owner, was on the Board of Governors when I first came to Sulgrave. It's a wonderful house and I think it might be just what we need." Watching Kate take in the façade of the house, "Say something Kate."

Enchanted by the vivacious, chattering woman beside her who can barely sit still, Kate chided gently, "Caroline, that would mean you'd need to stop talking first." Then letting her eyes scan Caroline's face, Kate found those intense blue eyes fixed on her. How did it happen that after all this time she could still be so disarmed by the close proximity of those deep blue eyes.

Kate already knew in her heart of hearts that unless she absolutely hated this house or it's found to be structurally unsound or something equally drastic, they will be living here. Kate smiles warmly into the face of the woman she loves beyond all reason. The woman who has only to open her moppet eyes revealing opulent blue lights and give her that apprehensive smile, to get anything she wants from her. A face so vulnerable that it always makes Kate want to hold her close and give her everything she has. Now she only asks, "Can we go inside?" There it is, the reward, the buoyant smile that has made her throw caution to the winds time and time again.

Blue eyes sparkling, "Beverley's aunt has a key, she'll be here any minute. Shall we get the babies out?"

xxx

They had been all through the house and now stood in the combination, kitchen, dining, living area. This space was not quite as open as their suite at The Lion since there was a wall dividing the living area from the kitchen. The kitchen interestingly was at the front of the house opening into the dining room behind it. This followed the windows into the large neighboring living area. At one end there was a brick fireplace which shielded the view of the front entrance but which was open on either side. At the other, the bank of floor to ceiling windows which formed the back wall of both the living area and dining room. The tall windows allowed in a wonderful light with a lovely view of a large terraced garden that ran down to a line of trees at the bottom. Unfortunately, today the good light only showed to disadvantage the furnishings and the fact that little, if any, updating had been done to the house for years.

Beverley's aunt, Doris Mason, had been a frequent guest in this home. As practical as her niece, she was candidly outlining for them the considerations on purchasing the house as the two women roamed the main rooms, peering out of windows and exchanging looks with one another.

As if she might be earning a commission on the house she outlined its features, "Lots of bedrooms, four on this floor with a private bath for the owner suite and another to serve the other bedrooms on this floor. Three more bedrooms on the second floor with a bath there as well. A games room in the lower level, oh, and the billiard table goes with the house by the way. As a matter of fact any of the furnishings that you like can be negotiated for. Much of it will be sold anyway. Dorothy told me yesterday that there isn't much she or Bob will want to take back with them to London, just personal things mainly.

Walking to a front window to stand beside Caroline, "Lots of parking in the forecourt. Beverley says you have teenage boys, they'll have cars and so will their friends," she said knowingly. "A double carport beside the kitchen entrance with a circle drive back to the street, nice to carry groceries in under cover. Smiling toward the infants, "And babies." Very convenient, I have the same at mine."

Returning with her nieces' employer to the back windows, "You can see the low walled inner garden just here off the dining room." Nodding with a smile at the two infants sleeping in their seats, just the thing for these two in a year or so. They won't be able to get far." Going on, "The gardens have been neglected these last years since the Sutter's have been unable to do the work themselves but this property runs into Barber's Wood, so it has a very private back garden.

"As you can see, of course, there's plenty that needs doing. The roof will want replacing right off. Young people like you will want to update the kitchen and baths, paint, flooring, no telling what else." But frankly, if this house gets to market, it won't be available for long. Houses in this estate never are." Giving them a speculative look, "If you want to have a look around on your own I'll be happy to have a seat here and keep an eye on these two."

Kate, feeling that between Mrs. Mason and Caroline she was getting the hard sell, nodded to Caroline's questioning look and they moved off to the bedroom wing. Once out of earshot of Mrs. Mason, Caroline worriedly looked at Kate, "What do you think?"

"Caroline, I don't know. I'm feeling very rushed about this."

Sliding open the glass door that led to a private porch cantilevered over the front corner of the house opposite the carport end, Caroline pulled Kate outside, "Kate, I know it doesn't look its best today. The Sutter's are elderly. They haven't been keeping it up. All of their outdated furniture is still here and it's not easy to see what it might look like once its restored and we have our things here."

Sinking to a bench, "Caroline, this house is going to need a lot of renovation. Besides this is a very big house. Do we really need this? The boys are almost grown."

Sitting down beside her Caroline began, "Kate, I'm sorry that it's all so rushed. I know you like to think things through. I do too. But somehow… this feels right to me." Taking her hand, "You know Laurence is talking about going to university in Leeds to train to be a pediatrician? You know he doesn't want to get too far away from his CK and TK? That means he'll want to live at home while he goes to school. And here we would have a bedroom for William again when he's home from university."

Seeing that Kate is unconvinced she continues, "I know we said we'd only need Roger until the babies were sleeping through the night but I think I'd forgotten just how much babies require. And you do want to go back to work. If we had the space for him I was thinking maybe we would ask Roger if he'd like to live with us in exchange for helping with them. His parent's home is not that spacious, they have more growing children coming up. He says he likes to do his studying at ours anyway because it's quieter." Grinning at this, "Believe it or not. Then between Roger and Laurence there would always be someone coming and going besides me to help with the babies. What would you think about that?"

"Roger is a treasure. He's so good with the little ones plus he's a good influence on Laurence. If we do this and he wants to live with us, I'd be pleased to have him." Needing to put a little distance between herself and Caroline so she can think properly, Kate goes to the railing looking toward the street and sees the path that leads from the front walk around the house to the outside entrance of the lower level beneath them. "This is a big house Caroline, what do we do with it in a few years when the boys are on their own and Roger has moved on to his career?

Coming to stand beside her, "You heard what Mrs. Mason just said about these houses never being on the market long. We could sell if we wanted to. Besides Kate, your Mum turned seventy-two last month, my Mum is seventy seven now. Alan has a serious heart condition. I'm an only child and for purposes of caring for your parents you may as well be an only child. This lower level could easily be made into space for any or all of them if it came to it." Pointing, "We could add another drive over here to put them right at the entrance beneath us and there would be no stairs at all for them." Her eyes on Kate's stricken face, she could see that this possibility hadn't occurred to her. Wanting to reassure her, "It may never come to that but if it did, we would be in a position to do what we need to do.

Going back to the bench at the truth of this sobering thought. "So, OK, between what we both realized from the sale of our last house we can afford this one. But what about the expense of all of these renovations?"

Looking reluctant, "I was saving this for our six month anniversary dinner on Friday but it might be better if I told you now. I've been approached about writing a book on the new diversity program we've begun implementing at SH in the Summer Term. Their is a text book firm who wants a procedural, a review on this first year, what we would do differently. Also input on the curriculum that is being drafted based on what we are doing here." Ruefully, "There's an advance but it would involve a lot of work. On the plus side, it's work I could do at home. There are also some speaking engagements that would take me away from home about six times next year. Another reason I want to be sure you have someone here with you and the babies." A new thought, "Better yet, someone to come with us so you can go with me and we can bring them along too."

Taking both of Kate's hands, "I really am sorry to throw all of this on you so suddenly. Look, they aren't going to sell this house overnight. In fact, they have their work cut out for them before they can even list it. Lets go home and talk about it, shall we?"

Nodding, Kate followed Caroline into the house to retrieve their children and thank Beverley's aunt for showing them around.