A/N Sorry for taking so long to get this chapter down!

Chapter 28

Kate listened and watched as Caroline proceeded to catalogue her woes, her face reflecting the turmoil created by what, in her mind, were insurmountable predicaments. Kate picked up her glass of lager and took a few sips, before responding, struggling to take it all as seriously as she knew was expected of her.

'Wow! There's lots there for me to take in. No wonder you said you'd had an odd weekend. I can see how much this is panicking you. Let's break it down into manageable pieces and solve the issues one at a time'.

'What do you mean?' The off-load to Kate had been done without any expectation of benefit other than that of sharing the burden.

'Come here!' Kate opened her arms, drawing her distraught friend into them, lightly kissing the top of her blonde hair as she smiled, unable to supress the mental picture of Celia, this formidable woman she had never met, lying in wait in the bushes with binoculars and a camera.

'It's like you would tell anyone dealing with a problem that they don't know how to solve. Just like you might do with a chemical equation. Look at what you do know and use that as a foundation for working out the answer.'

'If you say so.' Caroline's response was hardly encouraging but Kate pressed on.

'So, what's the worst thing? I'm assuming your mother knocking on the door is your most pressing concern at this moment in time, so I suggest we look at that. Firstly, without a shadow of a doubt, if she has followed you here then the guilt is most definitely hers and not yours. After all, why shouldn't you be here with me, whether we're in a relationship or friendship, enjoying each other's company? Neither is illegal or any of her business, come to that, whatever she might think, and her opinions don't justify her actions.'

Caroline lifted her head from Kate's shoulder.

'You don't know my mother. She makes everything her business. I didn't notice her at first, when I left home. I was coming up to that junction just after Waitrose and I happened to look in my rear-view mirror as I pulled into the lane to turn right and I noticed the car as it was like my mother's. It was like a sixth sense kicked in and I started to check behind me at every turn and realised this car only indicated after I did. There was very little traffic about, so it wasn't hard to keep track. The car was still behind me as I came into your road, it slowed as I did and then stopped. I deliberately drove a few yards past your gate so I had to walk back this way and have a chance to see who was driving. There she was, bold as brass and twice as ugly, parked under a street light so I could see her and the registration plate quite clearly. She'll be out there now, biding her time. Probably looking at your windows, waiting for the upstairs lights to go on before she pounces.'

Kate couldn't help but smile and determined to stop pussy-footing about with her advice.

'Then let her, Caroline. Let her make a fool of herself. Let her show herself up as being unreasonable and controlling. You're a grown woman, for Heaven's sake. I understand why you didn't stand up to her when you were nineteen. I do. But now, it's different. I can't believe that you can't see that this is an ideal opportunity to call her bullying and bigotry out for what it is. Are you going to look back in another twenty-five years and have yet more regrets to keep you awake at night? Now is the time to make decisions based on what you want, and not through fear of her response – or anyone else's come to that.'

'Strange that you should say that. William knows about you. Us, that is.'

'Oh! And?'

'He says as long as you're someone who deserves me, it's ok.'

'Oh, no pressure there then! How did he know? Did you tell him?'

'No, nothing like that. He'd already said something to me; Friday it was, as we drove home. I didn't understand what he meant at the time but then yesterday he saw the photos from the wedding and explained that he'd noticed how we looked at each other.'

They exchanged the same look there and then; the lock of eyes, tender smiles on faces. Mutual adoration radiated from each one to the other as a sense of belonging clothed them.

'Greg is lovely but you, my darling, are magnificent and the two do not, cannot and never will compare.' Kate declared as she cradled her lover's face in her hands.

'That's me told.'

'Yes, that's you told. Now, what do you want to do about your mother? For what it's worth, I think you should invite her in for a cuppa.' Seeing the incredulous look that was the reply, she continued. 'Seriously. Take the initiative. I think I'd quite like to see her squirm and it is probably time that I met her.'

ooOoo

Meanwhile in her car, Celia concluded that she needed to act and thought a starting point would be to find out where she was. There being nobody walking about she felt that it was safe enough to unlock the car doors and walk back to the junction to establish her whereabouts. She didn't recall seeing a local shop, pub or garage where she might find directions, but it would give her the opportunity to check for signs of life on the adjoining road at the same time. Having recently watched a programme on television about muggers picking on people who looked vulnerable she walked as upright and as positively as she could, leaving her handbag tucked out of the way under her seat. She was out of luck, seeing no sign of life or anywhere to seek help. Once back at the car she pushed the seat backwards and bent down to retrieve a pen from her bag to write down the road names she had seen on the signs, thinking that she might chance a phone call to William to ask if he could help. While so doing the passenger door opened and she jerked upright, banging her head on the dashboard. She screamed but more from fright than pain.

'This is a nice neighbourhood, mother. Please don't cause a disturbance.' Caroline's confidence was in her boots, but she was hoping to give the opposition impression. The car interior's dim light shadowed the anguished expression on her mother's face.

'Caroline! What are you doing here?' The words spluttered out as Celia rubbed the right side of her head where she could feel a slight lump forming.

'That's funny, I was just about to ask you the same. Mind you, I know the answer to my question, so I'll ask another. Care to explain yourself?' Caroline slid onto the passenger seat as she spoke.

'Should have known better than to expect any sympathy from you.'

'Tell you what, I'll give you the same level of sympathy that you are giving to my privacy. You followed me and now you've been caught so, yes, I am a little short on sympathy at this moment in time.'

'Followed you? Whatever gave you that idea? I went out to fill the car up and got lost and then I saw your car, so I was just …'

'STOP. Stop lying, mother.' Caroline smacked both hands down on her lap as she spoke, the resulting noise appearing louder because of the confined space. 'If that was the case you would have called out to me as soon as we parked up. Instead you've been sat out here for nearly half an hour, probably working out the next bit of your strategy. Anyway, my friend Kate wonders if you'd like to come in for a cuppa.'

'Is that her name?'

'No, her real name's Zanzibar Buck Buck McFate; I just call her Kate cos it's easier. Yes, her name's Kate. She's a teacher from school. Kate McKenzie.'

'Oh, is she Scottish?'

'No, she's Nigerian. She is Nigerian, that's not just me being sarcastic. Look, do you want to come in and meet her or do you want me to give you directions to get home?'

Celia's bladder made the decision, a sensation of fulness reminding her that she was unlikely to make the journey to Conway Drive without mishap.

'Yes, please but only if I can use her toilet before I have that cuppa.'

ooOoo

After his conversation with Lawrence John decided against starting another bottle of wine, realising that he needed a sharp focus to divide the truth from illusion. Caroline had said it herself, his imagination tended to run away with itself, which was helpful as an author trying to develop a plot, but not necessarily beneficial in the real world. He soon realised that he was woefully short on facts and, if it had not been for Judith's opinion, he doubted he would have come to the same conclusion. The only suggestion of his wife having an affair was the fact that she took a phone call in private and went out shortly afterwards.

He could not think of the names of anyone in Harrogate whom Caroline might call a friend, so he wondered where she might have gone. He doubted she would have driven far. There were people from Sulgrave and the University that they socialised with together, on very rare occasions, but otherwise he couldn't think of anyone. So, one conclusion might be that this was a friend that she had made since he left her and, he supposed, this might be understandable. Her mother was supportive but unlikely to be a positive influence where marital disharmony was concerned. He decided to walk round to his mother-in-law's flat on some pretext and try some gentle questioning. If nothing else, this might help to mend the bridges between them that had never been robust and had almost certainly been destroyed by his behaviour.

It was not to be. Celia's car was not on the driveway – rather oddly as she never went out in the dark – and her flat was unoccupied. Frustrated at the thwarting of his purpose, he stood in the garden and took a few puffs on a cigarette, careful to make sure that the boys could not see him from the house if they happened to look outside. It had been years since he had smoked but he found an occasional cigarette had helped him cope with the stress of the last few months, especially Judith's increasingly unpredictable outbursts. He walked up and down the driveway, kicking the stones around, until the coolness of the evening directed his footsteps back inside.

The boys had finished watching the film and they were arguing who should take the first shower. He intervened, deliberately picking Lawrence as he wanted another try at a conversation with his elder son.

'Good film?' He queried after Lawrence had stormed up the stairs.

'OK-ish. More Lawrence's thing than mine but it wasn't the worst he's ever chosen.'

'Oh, that's good. I'm just going to clean my shoes for tomorrow. Do yours need doing?'

Although he did not want any contact with his dad, he decided that he might as well take him up on the offer. It was something that his mum always insisted that the boys do themselves and he disliked the chore intensely.

'If you're offering. I'll get them. Lawrence's too?'

'Yes, of course, if he hasn't done them. Don't worry, I won't tell your mum.'

'You can if you like. Anyway, she may be back any minute and could well catch you doing them.'

'Your Gran's out somewhere too; did you know? I'm worried about her.' John was encouraged by their interaction to do a little lying and prying.

William looked towards the kitchen window, as if this would give him an indication of his grandmother's whereabouts.

'That's odd. She never goes out after dark. Perhaps she's with mum.'

'Maybe but unlikely as both their cars are gone. Anyway, your mum said she was meeting a friend. It's good that she's had someone to support her while I was away being an idiot.'

Surprisingly for someone usually so blinkered, John picked up on the distant look that came over his son's face and ploughed on with his fake contrition and strategy.

'Whatever you think of me, and I understand your anger, William, I am sorry about what I did and how I did it. I just want to make things right again and be the man that you all deserve so perhaps you can give me some advice. I don't want your mum to think that I'm checking up on her, but should I ring her and say we're worried about Celia. If I don't and something has happened I don't want to be in the wrong for not alerting her sooner.'

William's concern for his Gran overrode any derision he felt for his dad and he agreed with his logic.

'Yes, I think you're right. I'm sure she won't mind being disturbed. As I said, I think she'll be heading home from Kate's soon anyway. Perhaps I should ring, though, not you.'

John was happy with this decision and what the conversation had achieved. He whistled as he brushed the boys' shoes with vigour, feeling sure that he would sleep more easily now that he knew his wife was not out with another man. As he thought, Judith's conclusion was nothing more than her aggravation and disappointment talking, and there was no love interest standing in his way of a reconciliation. Caroline had obviously been trying to make him jealous when she had knocked him back. All he needed to do was to lie low, bide his time and wait for an opportunity.