A/N. I've brought forward the change in the French law by a couple of months for the flow of the story and for those of you who have requested some more about Meg.

Chapter 18

Kate heard her phone ping as a text arrived. Slightly disorientated as she was just on the cusp of sleep, she rummaged around on the bedside cabinet with arm outstretched and managed to knock a book on the floor before locating the mobile.

'You awake? Please don't reply that you are now!'

Despite her tiredness she smiled as she read Caroline's message.

'No. Busy marking. Been otherwise occupied this evening and didn't get it done,' went the reply.

About twenty seconds later her phone rang.

'Oh Kate, I'm so sorry. I didn't think.'

'Caroline, I was joking! All books were marked and ready to disappoint a few pupils before you arrived this evening. You ok?'

'Yes. You?'

'Well, my bed's now cold and I feel lonely but I'm otherwise ok.'

'You tease. I distinctly saw you turn on your electric blanket just before I left your bedroom. I might just believe you about the lonely remark because that's exactly how I feel. Did I leave my right arm there?'

'No but sounds like it's a good job you're left-handed.' Kate had been buoyed by the upbeat tone of Caroline's voice, but she took the opportunity to make sure. 'You ok? No regrets?'

'None. I did wonder, if I'm honest. Well, actually, that's not true. One regret and that's about not being able to wake up holding you tomorrow morning.'

'Don't, Caroline. That's just torturing yourself. And me.'

'That's true. I would like that, though.' A sadness had crept into her tone.

'Then we should organise something. Getting away or spending a night here, maybe. Could you do that? Because of the boys, I mean?' Kate, deciding to instigate action and make the most of the suggestion.

'I could. Angus' parents are always offering to have him, and mum and William are as thick as thieves so they'll be ok. Leave it with me and I'll see what I can do. Oh, I meant to ask you if it's ok for me to send an e mail to Meg. I want to tell her about you, now there's something to tell. I know I said to keep it quiet, but I meant here in Harrogate; school and home. That ok?'

'Of course. Sounds only fair. I'd like to tell my mum too. She'll be thrilled.'

'Um, well, the same won't be true of MY mother.'

'She'll come round. Let's leave that worry for another day.'

'When can we meet again, Kate? The future seems more possible when I'm with you.' Although Caroline had no regrets about their relationship, as soon as she left Kate's house she began to question how she would ever pluck up the courage to come out of that proverbial closet and she suddenly felt close to tears.

'You just tell me and I'll be available. I know we'll have to work things around your commitments rather than mine.'

'Thank you, Kate. I could do Saturday afternoon, well most Saturdays at this time of the year really, as Lawrence has rugby and sees his dad afterwards.'

'That's great. It's a date. See you tomorrow, anyway. Would Beverley's antennae twitch too much if I stopped by for lunch?'

'Tied up all day after assembly, Kate. It's the Board of Governors' termly assessment and planning meeting from 10. The highlight of my life. It'll run right through lunch.'

'Better get some sleep, then. You'll need to be on your game, by the sounds of it.'

Caroline looked at the time on her phone.

'Do you realise that it's now one hours and forty-seven minutes since I last kissed you?'

'I do. I also realise that it's now that tomorrow that we've been talking about! Goodnight, Caroline. Sleep well.'

'Night, Kate. You too.'

ooOoo

The following day saw both women send their e mails and the content showed how far apart they were on one particular issue.

'Dear Meg

I thought it was about time that I replied to your last e mail. I can't tell you how much it meant to me – that you should do so as well as the content. I'm so pleased to hear about your life and to know that you're happy and will soon be able to marry. How lovely. I need to say how sorry I am that you had my mother's prejudice and spite to deal with. I had no idea, but I suppose I'm not really surprised. Even more reason for me to be grateful to you for making contact.

I think you guessed from the start that there was another woman in my life but there wasn't, well not properly, at that time. Kate (that's her!) felt that I wasn't ready to think about a future until I'd dealt with the past. She encouraged me to try to contact you as she felt that it would be a step in the right direction even if I never managed to find you. It started with her kindness and support when John left me (for another woman) and very quickly developed into both of us wishing to be more than friends. She's a French and music teacher at my school so that's a bit of a complication but not insurmountable. Bright, funny, gentle, considerate… yes, I know I sound like someone who's very smitten! Did I mention pretty?! But I'm nervous too, Meg, very nervous. My mother has NOT moved on, you won't be surprised to hear, and for now I daren't even consider telling her. That may well make me a forty-five-year-old coward, and I probably am, so we'll take it slowly to make sure we're strong enough for the fight.

Whatever our future holds, and it is early days yet, I am pleased to know that yours is full of good things (your wedding, taking over the vineyard) and I send my very best wishes to you and Severine.

Kind regards

Caroline x'

'Hi Mum

I hope you're ok. I know we'll speak tomorrow but I am just bursting to tell you that Caroline and I have taken the definitive step from friendship to relationship. I guess we'd been hovering on the brink for so long it won't be a surprise. It's got to be hush-hush for the time being. I'll give you the details when we chat but Caroline thinks that her mother might be a problem. I don't see it. It's a bit different from when she was a 19-year-old, tentatively trying to be open about her sexuality. Time and public opinion have moved on, so she can't possibly think the same or feel that she has the same influence now.

How lucky am I to have such a wonderful mum,

Kate x'

ooOoo

'Where are you off to, then? I'd hoped we'd go out window shopping or for a coffee?' Celia took up residence on a stool by the breakfast bar watching Caroline clear up after Saturday lunch. Lawrence had a morning rugby match, so it has just been the three of them.

'Just out with a friend, mum. I thought it was about time I started to build time for myself into my week. Call it a new year's resolution.'

'Well, it's hardly that is it? It will be February in eight days' time.'

'Oh, mum. Don't split hairs.' Caroline threw the cloth into the sink and perched on a stool opposite Celia.

'Well. We always go out on Saturdays when Lawrence is at rugby or with John. How else should I be?'

'How about being happy for me?'

'I love you, you know.'

'Yes, mum. I do know that. You're always telling me that I work too hard and should find time for myself. So, be happy that I've listened to your advice.'

'What about William?'

'He's fine. He's nearly seventeen and old enough to fend for himself. Lawrence is going to the cinema and for a pizza with John as per usual, so I'll make sure I'm home before he is. I'll not be far away if William needs me and I assume you'll be here.'

'Good job I am, I reckon.'

'I'm off, mum. Be sorry for yourself if you want but it won't change my plans.' She kissed her mum before leaving the kitchen, ignoring scowls that would sour milk.

'See you tomorrow.'

'You will.'

ooOoo

'Hello, William. What are you doing this afternoon?' Celia had tracked her elder grandson down to his bedroom.

'Just some course work to finish. Why?'

'You know your mum's gone out? I have been waiting to get you on your own. I've been thinking about what you said. I think I'd like to try this Facebook thing. It could be my new year's resolution.'

'Bit late for that, Gran. It'll soon be February.'

'Don't be pedantic, William. Call it added risk taking.'

'Alright. Give me half an hour and I'll come to the flat. I'll get you up and running in no time.'

'Good lad. Between you and me though. Ok?'

'No worries. My lips are sealed.'

ooOoo

Caroline felt her heart rate quicken as she climbed into the Jeep, feeling like a teenager on her first date. She drove a slightly circuitous route which enabled her to pick up the flowers she had ordered from her favourite shop the previous day.

Although laden with a large hand-tied arrangement of roses and freesias, which gave off the most amazing scent, she practically ran up the path to Kate's front door. She wasn't the only one to feel like an adolescent as a giggling, self-conscious Kate opened the door.

'For me?'

'Yes. For you. With my l…., um, my …..Oh dammit, Kate, with my love.'

Kate carefully edged past the flowers to grab her lover's face in her hands. She placed her open lips on Caroline's, whose mouth was ready to respond. Still on the doorstep, they kissed long and hard, the flowers partly crushed as their bodies strove for closeness.

'It's not worth missing you to receive such a hello, but it's partial recompense!' Caroline whispered as the kiss finally ended. 'Here, remind me of how you kiss again.'

Kate chuckled as she pulled on Caroline's scarf to lead her through the door. She placed the flowers on the nearby table before reconnecting to the moist, welcoming lips.

'Your kisses are almost too lovely. I haven't thought of anything else since Thursday evening. The meeting with the governors was purgatory. I struggled to concentrate and kept touching my mouth with my fingers, almost as if I could feel your lips still there. It's a wonder nobody commented.'

'Stop talking, Caroline.'

'Why's that?'

'Because I have no intention of wasting another minute of opportunity. I've every intention of recoupling with more than your lips!'

'Why don't you just get off the fence, Kate, and tell it like it is!'

Both women collapsed in a fit of giggles, enjoying the closeness as well as the anticipation of what was to come.

ooOoo

'Do you exercise, Kate? I mean, I know about Pilates, but do you do anything else?' Caroline was running her fingers across Kate's abdomen as she laid spooned behind her. They'd been in Kate's bed for the whole of the afternoon and were enjoying the intimacy that comes after the exploration and satisfaction of making love. The light through the window was beginning to fade as the January afternoon came to an end and they could hear the wind picking up, shaking the fence panels around Kate's garden.

'Skiing, golf, cycling. You name it, I do it but not on such an afternoon.'

'I thought so. Your abs are quite honed. Have you joined a local golf club? It's never appealed to me. John got it in his head once that he'd like to do it. He spent a fortune on clubs then gave up within a few months. I think he thought that it made him sound sophisticated! It would take more than a round of golf to achieve that, I can tell you.'

Caroline felt Kate's body shudder as she stifled her laughter.

'Are you kidding me? You are, aren't you?'

Kate rolled over while staying within Caroline's arms and snuggled into her breasts. With her left hand she began to stroke and kiss the soft mounds, totally ignoring the questioning look which remained on her lover's face. Caroline stilled the wandering fingers and took them to her mouth. She kissed and licked them before holding them tight within her hand.

'I don't know anything much about you, Kate. I'm not even sure now whether you're pulling my leg. For all I know you could be an expert high-jumper or kite-surfer.'

'Ask and I'll tell you. But, for the record, I'm neither of those things. I do ski, play golf and cycle, though. That's not a lie but there is a BUT. I do them all from the comfort of my lounge. Ever heard of Wii fitness?!'

The women rocked with laughter once again, so content and secure in each other's affection and arms that neither thought it awkward that Caroline should mention John while they were doing so. Kate knew that she was so much in love that she had gone past the point of no return and the only future she could now envision was that of them being together forever. For her part, Caroline dare not imagine such a scenario. She wanted it, she dreamed of it, but she could not yet go any further while the required conversations with the boys and her mother loomed over her like a guillotine waiting to drop. Being in Kate's presence had again emboldened her, however, and she knew she needed to formulate a strategy, better the secret was told before she let something slip or they found out by accident and not design.

ooOoo

Over the following weeks the women settled into a routine. 'Pilates' nights were a given for them to be together, although they rarely attended the class and when they did it was for the exercise only and not the trip to the pub afterwards. They always met up on one of the weekend days too, usually Saturdays, and that almost always resulted in them spending hours in Kate's bed although they talked of walking or shopping. Caroline began to spend frequent school lunchtime or morning breaks outside so that she could be with Kate on the odd occasion when she was on duty without it being obvious that she was singling her out. Caroline began to enjoy this diversion for its own merits, as she learned more about her teachers and their interactions with the pupils while she was doing so. The staff realised, with relief, that she was not someone to avoid and they began to appreciate the opportunity it gave them to spend time with her. The lovers always ended each day with a phone call, which was often very long. When the boys had other plans Caroline stopped by Kate's house on her way home from school and at least one night a week she made some excuse to go out for an hour.

As February hurried towards its end Kate was becoming frustrated, however. While she did not doubt Caroline's commitment to her, there had been no further mention of spending a night together or being open about their relationship and she decided that the next time they met she would suggest it was time to take that next step. A late-night phone call gave her a surprise and some relief to her frustration on that issue.

'Hi Kate. Boys are otherwise occupied so I've sneaked to my room to phone you earlier than usual.'

'You've caught me in the bath. It's a shame you didn't pop round for half an hour. I could do with help to scrub my back.'

'Well, it's no good telling me that now. You should have dropped a hint earlier in the day and I would have popped in to see you for half an hour.' Caroline smiled at the thought.

'Sorry, I must be mistaken about who's calling. I thought I was talking to Caroline Elliot, who I know couldn't confine herself to scrubbing my back and would need more than half an hour to do so!'

'Oh, you know that do you? I don't know what has given you that idea! I'm sure I can control myself if I try really hard.'

'Says the woman who has to be prised out of my bed on a very regular basis.'

'Ok. You may have a point. But, that's because time's always in short supply. Maybe I would be better if we had a few days and nights together so how do you fancy a trip away, Friday to Sunday, the third weekend of March?'

'How do I fancy it? Do you really need to ask? How can you, is more to the point?'

'There's a catch. We'll have to be sociable for some of the time. We've had an e mail invitation to Meg and Severine's wedding.'

'Wow. WE have? That's a shock but I'd love to. What about William and Lawrence?'

'Oh, I don't know. I'll sort something out. I've been presumptuous and checked the flights already; we would have to go from Manchester on the Friday evening. Shall I book? Meg has sent me details of local hotels.'

'Are you sure you don't want to go on your own?'

'I definitely don't want to go without you. Won't it be good to have the opportunity to be open about our relationship? I don't know about you, but I've had enough of keeping things a secret. Let's call this a dress rehearsal.'