A few more thoughts on Caroline, Kate and Flora. Thank you for your kind comments and thank you for reading.

–

"You'll need her little hat, in case it turns cold."

"Got it."

"Oh, and don't forget to put the pink booties on her. The ones that – "

"The ones that Beverley bought. Yes, Caroline, I know. Calm down."

Kate laughed and gave her wife a quick kiss, partly out of affection and partly to stop her from saying anything else. "Now, off you go. We will see you later."

"OK. OK. See you later." Another kiss, then Caroline grabbed her handbag and keys and headed to work. Her heart skipped a beat as she drove off. This was going to be no ordinary day at the office.

–

Caroline checked the clock in the corner of her computer screen: 11 o'clock. She was right on schedule, just finishing off some emails, when she heard animated voices and laughter from the outer office. Her pulse began to race, as she pulled her jacket into place and tidied her desk. The door opened to reveal the reason for her excitement.

"You have some visitors, Caroline!" Beverley held the door as a beaming Kate walked in, holding Flora in her arms.

"Hello, you two!" Caroline's eyes misted over as she almost ran across the room to greet her wife and child.

"Isn't she gorgeous?" Beverley cooed. "My goodness, she looks just like you, Kate."

Kate felt so proud. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Oh, I'd love to." Beverly accepted the little bundle with delight. "Hello, sweetheart, aren't you pretty?"

Caroline couldn't speak, her emotions had got the better of her. She looked on as her wife chatted to Beverley who was in her element, gently bouncing the baby in her arms.

"I'll have some tea ready for you when you get back," Beverley said, handing Flora over to Kate.

"Lovely, thanks." Kate turned to Caroline. "So, we're off to do the rounds, we'll see you in a bit."

"OK," Caroline smiled. "Have fun."

"We will!"

Caroline watched as Kate left the office, ready to show Flora off to colleagues and students.

"Kate looks so well, doesn't she, Caroline?" Beverley made a space on the side table for the teapot and cups she would bring in shortly.

"Mmm – sorry?"

"I'm just saying Kate looks well. Motherhood suits her."

"Yes," Caroline's eyes filled with happy tears once again. "Yes, it does."

–

"Oh, I don't want to give her back," Jenny Matthews said, giving Flora an extra hug before handing her to Kate. "So how does it feel? Being a mum?"

"It's amazing, it's delightful, it's everything I ever dreamed of, beyond that, actually – " Kate's face took on a dreamy expression as she tried to put her feelings into words. "I've worked with children all my adult life, but being Flora's mum... it's completely different… it's like nothing else matters."

"You look really happy, Kate. So does Caroline." Jenny was a young languages teacher at Sulgrave and looked up to Kate. She was also well aware of the headteacher's prickly demeanour, having been on the receiving end of it a couple of times, and was genuinely pleased to see Caroline smile now and again as she strutted along the corridors these days.

"We are."

"Ooh, you're making me all broody!" Jenny laughed. "I suppose I should find myself a partner first."

"I thought Dan Simpson had a bit of a thing for you. Is he not…?"

"No…" Jenny blushed slightly. "He's not my type."

"Not into geography?"

"Not into guys." Jenny looked at Kate anxiously. "You're the first person I've ever told, I mean, besides my mum and my sister. I've never said anything at work. You won't – say anything, will you?"

"Course not," Kate replied, with a reassuring smile. "But don't worry about it. You're not the only one."

"Thanks," Jenny laughed nervously. She was slightly relieved to have confided in someone, albeit unexpectedly; but she felt a bit shy, so thought it best to change the subject. "Do you think you'll come back to work, or are you tempted to stay at home with Flora?"

"Ah, well, that's a good question," Kate bit her lip. "The plan is that I'll come back in September, part-time, but I'm not sure, really. It's all so new. I suppose we'll have to see nearer the time. Now, I haven't even said that to Caroline yet, so don't you go telling anyone what I've just said!"

"Deal," Jenny smiled.

–

Kate kissed her own fingertips and placed them on Flora's tummy as she lay sleeping in her cot. "That didn't take long, she's out for the count already," she said, climbing into bed.

"She's had a busy day," Caroline mused as she read her book.

"I think everyone fell a little bit in love with her at school today," Kate said, the pride evident in her voice.

"No wonder, she's gorgeous." Caroline looked over her specs at her wife. "How did you feel being back?"

"It was nice, yeah, good to see everyone." Kate picked up her tube of hand cream from the bedside table and worked some of the mixture into her hands. "It felt different, though, having Flora with me."

"Well, it would do, having a child is life-changing, no doubt about it." Caroline sat her book face down on the bed. "Having second thoughts about coming back to work?"

"It hadn't really crossed my mind until Jenny asked me."

"Jenny? Matthews?" There were three Jennies at Sulgrave, but Caroline guessed it would be the languages teacher.

"Yes, she was only making conversation, I suppose, but it sort of caught me off guard. We've got a few months yet, I know, but right now, the thought of leaving Flora for any length of time... " Kate looked into Caroline's eyes. "I don't think I could stand it."

Caroline gazed lovingly at her wife. "Well, there's plenty of time for you to think about it. You don't have to decide this minute."

"Won't it cause you a bit of a staffing headache?"

"Mmm, well, let's just say I have a Plan B, in the event of…" Caroline smiled, tucking in her bookmark and placing the book on her bedside table.

"So you wouldn't mind? If I did decide to stay at home, just for a while?"

"Nope."

"Oh, Caroline." Kate cuddled into Caroline's shoulder.

"But it's early days, Kate. By September you might be glad of a change of scenery. Either way, I've got it covered." She kissed Kate on the nose. "Goodnight, proud mummy."

"Goodnight my love."

–

Thanks for reading.