Chapter 9
Lawrence sat dozily at the kitchen bench slowly eating his bowl of cereal while casually scanning through the sports section of the two-day old newspaper. Meanwhile, his mother flittered busily around him collecting dirty dishes and putting them into the dishwasher and wiping down bench tops.
As Kate entered the room, Caroline stopped her fussing long enough to greet her with a morning kiss.
"Where's Caitlyn?" Lawrence asked, the fog of sleepiness starting to lift from his brain.
"I've put her in her playpen in the living room," Kate answered, "her Nan will be here soon to look after her."
It never ceased to amaze Kate how much Lawrence adored his baby sister, especially as she had only ever dared to hope that he would simply accept her. The bond between them was a special gift Kate often thought.
Lawrence left his almost empty bowl on the bench and headed off into the living room to say good morning to Caitlyn. Caroline rolled her eyes as she picked up his bowl and spoon and added them to the dishwasher.
"We've had this dishwasher long enough….you'd think he'd know by now where it is," Caroline grumbled.
Kate looked at her disgruntled partner and laughed light-heartedly. For all her complaining, Kate knew that Caroline was very proud of Lawrence and the way he had come through the recent turmoils of his life and that she too was surprised and relieved by her younger son's affection for their daughter.
As Caroline ran out of dishes to place and surfaces to clean, Kate sidled up to her and took Caroline's hands in her own and then placed several tantalising kisses just below her partner's ear lobe…a place she knew Caroline was partial to being kissed.
"I've asked mum to come over a bit earlier today. I thought that would give us time to tell her about us getting married."
Each time Kate said it, the reality of their commitment sank in a little more and her heart sang. Despite the inauspicious on-again, off-again beginning to their relationship, Kate truly did want to be with this woman forever.
"Good thinking," Caroline replied.
"That's why I'm the Modern Languages teacher and you're just the Head Teacher," Kate joked.
Caroline rewarded Kate's impudence with a wide grin and a dazzling gaze from her beautiful, blue eyes…eyes that, even this far down the track, could still make Kate swoon and go weak at the knees. Caroline then lifted Kate's left hand which was still entwined in her own and peered thoughtfully at the ring on her lover's dark, slender finger…a symbol that Kate did truly love her and want her. She brought Kate's hand to her mouth and gently plied it with light kisses.
"If you're going to be cheeky to me I might have to…."
Caroline's tenuous threat was cut short by a deliberate, loud coughing sound at the kitchen doorway.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Kate's mother asked.
"No, mum," Kate laughed as she released Caroline's hands and went over to her mother and greeted her with a hug.
Once Ruth was in the kitchen she went over to Caroline and gave her a morning hug as well.
Kate's mum came over each Monday and stayed at the granny flat until Wednesday afternoon or, sometimes, Thursday morning and looked after Caitlyn, allowing Kate to go back to work part-time.
"Ruth, we've got some news for you," Caroline began.
"You're getting married," Ruth said matter-of-factly.
Caroline and Kate looked at each other, dumbfounded.
"How did you know?" Kate asked, her voice full of surprise.
"Oh! You really are getting married?" Ruth replied, equally surprised. "I was only joking."
"Yes, we are actually getting married," Caroline assured her, "I asked Kate to marry me and she said, for better or for worse, that she would."
Kate held up her hand to show her mother the ring. Ruth clasped both hands over her mouth as she gasped at both the news and the lovely band on her daughter's finger. As the idea sank in, Ruth drew both women into a warm, congratulatory embrace.
"That is such wonderful news. When are you getting married? Where?"
"Those details and many others are yet to be worked out," Caroline answered, "but we don't want to leave it too long… so sooner rather than later, I feel."
Ruth gave them one more, quick hug each before asking, "Where's my beautiful granddaughter?"
"She's in the living room playing with Lawrence," Kate replied, "I'll go and get her."
As Kate left the room, Ruth turned and looked at Caroline with her dark, expressive eyes.
"I am really happy for you both and you know that I love you like my own daughter, Caroline, but you do realise that if you hurt my Kate I will have to hunt you down," Ruth said with a broad grin on her face.
Caroline noted the grin but sensed that there was a touch of seriousness behind the words. She then thought of her boys and Caitlyn and immediately knew where Ruth was coming from. Caroline admitted to herself that she would feel exactly the same way if anyone was to hurt her offspring.
"Ruth, you can safely put away the hunting gear," Caroline joked back, "I intend to spend the rest of my life with your daughter, hopefully making her happy."
Ruth reached for Caroline's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze affirming their understanding of each other.
The slight tension in the room was broken as Kate came in with Caitlyn holding her mother's fingers and toddling beside her. On seeing the familiar figure of her grandmother, her Nan, Caitlyn threw her chubby, light brown arms around Ruth's legs and demanded to be picked up.
Ruth lifted her up in her arms and kissed her soft cheeks. "Good morning, my precious."
"She's been a bit grizzly the last couple of days," Kate told her mum, "more teeth I suspect. The teething gel is in the usual place."
Looking at the time, Caroline said, "We'd better get going or we'll be late."
Both women gathered up all that they needed for the day, gave Caitlyn a farewell kiss, and made for the door. Caroline gave Lawrence a final call on her way down the hall and he was soon with them as all three eventually piled into Caroline's car.
oooOooo
As Kate had predicted, it hadn't taken long for the shiny, platinum ring on her left hand to catch the eye of several of the staff members but it wasn't until the first break of the day, as many of the staff gathered for their morning coffee and a chat, that one of them, David from the Science Department who had once asked Kate out, got up the nerve to inquire about the ring.
"Hey… McKenzie," he called out from across the table, "what's that bit of shiny, new hardware on your finger?"
Kate blushed slightly but could always give as good as she got.
"Oh, you mean this?" she asked as she held up her hand.
The staffroom suddenly became considerably quieter as everyone's attention focussed on Kate and waited for their curiosity to be sated.
"Here goes," Kate thought to herself. "It's my engagement ring, David…..Caroline and I are getting married."
There was a split second of stunned silence as everyone took in the news and then the room erupted into loud applause and enthusiastic cheering. Well-wishers then came over to have a closer look and give their personal congratulations. Kate felt quite overwhelmed by the excited response and had trouble wiping the smile from her face.
All too soon the bell rang signalling an end to the break and the frivolities, as teachers filed out of the room to go to their various classes.
Just as he was about to disappear out the door David called out, "Nothing like a gay wedding to get the party started…hey, McKenzie."
She poked her tongue at him but it was a wasted gesture as he was out of sight.
oooOooo
Fortunately Kate had a spare forty-five minute period. She had planned to spend it marking 9F's French homework but decided to pay a brief visit to Caroline instead and share with her the fact that most of the staff now knew about the engagement and the response the news had received.
Kate made her way along the corridor and was about to approach Beverly's niche to see if Caroline was available when she noticed the Head Teacher's office door open and Caroline, herself, step out into the hallway. Beside her stood a rather stunning, thirty-something woman, dressed immaculately in a business suit consisting of a navy, tailored skirt that finished just above the knees of her long, slender legs and on her feet she wore flattering, black high heels. Her skirt was topped with a navy jacket that accentuated her trim waist and underneath it she wore, in contrast, a crisp, white shirt with the first two buttons undone... slightly revealing but not too provocative. The woman's hair was a mass of tight, blonde curls that she tried to tame into a pony tail but random locks had managed to escape. Her eyes were a lively, light green and Kate noted how they took in every move and gesture Caroline made.
As Caroline spoke to the woman, she looked down the corridor and spotted Kate approaching. She gave her partner a quick wave and then said something to the other woman but Kate was still too far away to hear what it was. The woman shook Caroline's hand and smiled cordially, her eyes sneaking in one final, discerning glance at Caroline before she departed.
"Who's that?" Kate asked as she reached Caroline's side.
"That's Ms Elizabeth Martin," Caroline answered as she led Kate into her office. "She's the last of the short-listed applicants for the Senior Maths Teacher position that's available now that old Mr Blake has decided to hang up his calculus book and retire."
"How did she go?"
"Very well…I'd go so far as to say that she's probably got the job," Caroline said confidently, " she's by far the most experienced and qualified and her references are also very effusive in their praise for her."
Now that they were in the privacy of her office with the door shut behind them, Caroline put her arms around Kate's waist and was about to kiss her when Kate said, "You do realise that the woman is besotted with you, don't you?"
Caroline stopped, her mouth only a breath away from Kate's, and looked at her sceptically.
"What do you mean?...She's only just met me…she's not…why would she be?"
Kate tried not to laugh at Caroline's look of shocked disbelief.
"What makes you come to that conclusion?" Caroline finally asked.
"First-hand experience," Kate explained good-humouredly. "I think I was besotted by the end of my interview with the divine Dr Elliot, as well, and I probably looked at you the same way she did and you didn't notice then either."
Caroline shook her head, doubtful of what Kate was saying.
"You're imagining things," Caroline concluded, happy to brush off the matter.
She then finished off what she had been about to do by pressing her lips against Kate's ever-inviting mouth for a leisurely kiss.
"Anyway….to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Caroline inquired as their mouths reluctantly separated, hoping to move on from the topic of Ms Elizabeth Martin.
Kate moved with Caroline as they seated themselves at the table where she then explained to Caroline what had happened in the staffroom at morning tea when she announced their engagement. Kate described the fantastic reception she received to the news….a reaction that quite overwhelmed Caroline too.
"It seems the ladies really have well and truly landed," Caroline exclaimed.
Kate looked at her watch. She wasn't going to get any marking done after all.
"I'd better go and get ready for my next lesson. Are you going to be working late this afternoon?" Kate asked.
"Unfortunately, I think I am…again. It's only three weeks until the summer break and I've got so many things to finish up and then there's stuff to do for the start of the new school year," Caroline replied, the exasperation obvious in her voice.
"Do you mind if I take the car then?" Kate asked. "I'll drop Lawrence off at home and then I have a few errands to run…a couple of things to pick up. If you text me, I'll come and pick you up when you're ready."
"Sure. What is it you have to pick up," Caroline asked casually.
"Oh just things," Kate answered mysteriously, raising an eyebrow as Caroline's look questioned her.
Caroline shuffled around in her handbag until she found her car keys which she then handed over to Kate. Kate took the keys and as she stood to leave she gave Caroline a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks. Don't be too late though. The taxi service finishes at six. After that, you'll have to walk home," Kate teased as she walked towards the door, turning to flash the head teacher a seductive smile.
oooOooo
A little after four o'clock, Kate and Lawrence drove out of the school grounds while Caroline remained in her office ensconced in the mound of paperwork that signified the end of the school year.
By half past five Caroline had had enough. She was desperate to get home to her family so she sent Kate a simple text saying, "Rescue me… NOW…XO". As she typed the message, Caroline frowned to herself as she thought about all the evenings she had preferred to sit in her office for hours, either at school or at home, and work rather than face the farce that had been her marriage to John. After a quick tidy up of her desk, Caroline gathered her coat and her handbag and walked out of her office and down to meet Kate. She'd even got out of the habit of taking home piles of work to do later.
It wasn't long before the black jeep appeared and Kate pulled up beside her. Caroline opened the passenger side door, tossed her bag on the back seat and got in, happy to be heading home. It wasn't often that Caroline got to be a passenger so she took the opportunity to unwind and let her mind wander.
Curious as to the cause of Caroline's quietness, Kate glimpsed over to see if she was alright.
Noting the thoughtful expression on her partner's face, Kate asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Caroline brought her mind back to the present, realising that Kate was talking to her.
"What? Oh…nothing really…I was just thinking about what might have happened if I hadn't caved to my mother's pressures, the pressures of the time, when I was a teenager…when I first realised I was gay…if I hadn't married John…"Caroline's voice drifted off as thoughts clouded her mind again.
"We probably wouldn't have met," Kate stated plainly.
"Or maybe we would have met and I wouldn't have been so….difficult….so confused….and things would have been much easier for us."
Kate took one hand off the steering wheel momentarily and gave Caroline's thigh a comforting touch.
"We can't change what's happened," Kate replied, "but, if it's any consolation, I think we are that much stronger for what we've been through."
Caroline simply nodded her head in agreement, then, to lighten the mood she asked, "Did you get what it was that you needed to pick up?"
"I certainly did," Kate said with a broad smile.
"What was it?"
"You'll see soon enough," was all Kate would reveal.
Once they were home, Caroline removed her coat, poured herself a glass of red wine, kicked off her shoes and headed for her favourite sofa, glass in hand and ready to relax. Kate went off in search of her mother and Caitlyn.
"Mummy!" Caitlyn called out happily as Kate entered the living room carrying their daughter. She had her little arms stretched out towards Caroline.
"Darling….how are you, my sweet thing?" Caroline cooed as she reached up to take her from Kate's arms.
As Caroline fussed over their daughter, she noticed that there was something in her tiny hands.
"What have you got there, sweetheart?" Caroline asked.
Before she had a chance to find out what it was, Kate lifted Caitlyn onto her own lap and took the small, velvet box from Caitlyn's fingers and held it out to Caroline.
"This is what I picked up this afternoon. It's for you….from me," Kate whispered as she handed Caroline the box.
Caroline opened it. Inside was a platinum band with a single, dazzling diamond….the matching pair to the one she had given Kate. Caroline looked from the ring to Kate, just managing to hold back the tears as she leant over to kiss her wonderful partner.
"You didn't have to, you know," Caroline murmured, but secretly glad that she had.
"I know …but I didn't see why I should be the one to do all the explaining simply because I'm wearing the ring….now you'll have to do your fair share," Kate explained playfully.
Kate removed the ring from inside the box and took Caroline's left hand in her own. She was about to place the ring on Caroline's finger when Caroline stopped her. She had noticed an inscription on the inside of the band. Her eyes read it and then looked lovingly into the eyes of her partner. Written on the inside of the ring was the one, simple word….FOREVER.