Chapter 6
It had been six months since Kate had given Dr Caroline Elliot the proof she needed of her husband's adulterous philandering…..six months since Caroline had initiated a searing kiss between them and told Kate that she was divorcing her husband and following her heart, something which Kate envisaged would involve her…It had been six months since Kate had last seen or even spoken to Caroline Elliot.
oooOooo
Kate McKenzie had spent most of her Friday morning sitting in her car in a street lined with terrace houses several blocks from her office covertly watching and photographing a man who her client, a large insurance company that she regularly did investigative work for, suspected of falsely claiming compensation after stating that he had suffered a serious back injury as the result of an accident at his workplace.
Unobserved, Kate pointed her camera lens at him as he shouldered heavy bags of cement from his vehicle to his front drive and proceeded to add the contents to a mixer into which he also added shovelfuls of sand as well as some water. Kate then clicked away as he poured the heavy, grey sludge into the frame that was to be his new pathway. It was hard labour for an able-bodied person let alone someone afflicted with a back injury of the magnitude that he was claiming to have.
In the early afternoon she relieved the monotony of surveillance by doing some footwork as she visited and questioned friends of a teenage girl who had been missing for several months now. When the girl had first been missed the parents had immediately brought in the police and they had done the initial investigation but all leads had eventually dried up and being that the girl was old enough to leave home of her own free will, the police had moved on.
Desperate for some hope, the parents had hired Kate to see if she could come up with any new clues. Maybe the girl's friends would be more inclined to speak to a private investigator rather than the police.
As the afternoon drew on the air became quite chill and it had begun to drizzle with the promise of heavier falls to come. Eventually the rain seemed to set in for the duration so Kate abandoned her outdoor activity and instead returned to her office to begin the even more mundane chore of cleaning up the files on her computer as the disorganisation was beginning to grate on her normally orderly persona.
One by one, Kate went through each case that she'd handled and made files on in the twelve months since she had previously done a clean-up, saving the essential evidence and reports and deleting the extraneous. She had been working methodically at it for nearly two hours and was pleased with her progress when she suddenly came to a file that stopped her in her tracks. It was the Dr Caroline Elliot file.
Kate had been hired by Dr Elliot just over six months ago to confirm her suspicions that her husband, the all-but-forgotten author, John Elliot, was indulging in an extra-marital affair. It had taken Kate less than a fortnight to come up with sufficient evidence to prove that that was indeed the case. However, it took considerably less time for Kate to find herself succumbing to the many charms of her client, Sulgrave Heath's beautiful and most alluring Head Teacher. If Kate was being perfectly honest with herself, from the very first moment the woman had stepped into her office, she had become completely and utterly swept up in the aura that was Dr Caroline Elliot and had been led to believe, not least of all by the several intimate kisses that they had shared, that her feelings were reciprocated.
However, it had been six months now since she had completed her investigation and handed over her findings to Dr Elliot and six months almost to the day since she had last laid eyes on the woman. In the beginning a confused and bewildered Kate had phoned Caroline a number of times but on each occasion the call had been, for whatever reason, allowed to go through to voice mail with no return call forthcoming. Desperate to find out what was happening and to get a message to Caroline, Kate had also tried sending texts suggesting that they meet somewhere just to talk but each time she had received a perfunctory reply saying that it wasn't convenient at the moment until, finally, Kate faced the bitter fact that Caroline obviously wasn't interested in seeing her again. Kate resisted the temptation to start up her own personal investigation into the matter. If Caroline wanted to see her, she knew where to contact her. End of subject.
Now, with the file on the screen in front of her, Kate attempted to ignore the churning mixture of emotions the woman conjured up in her and to treat it as just another one of her cases. She opened it and three folders appeared. The first held a copy of the initial contract, personal information she had collected on John Elliot and the completed report containing the details of his affair with one, Judith O’Rourke. The second folder contained the photographic evidence of his philanderings. There were a couple of photos that Kate was able to delete from this folder but for the most part it remained intact.
When Kate opened the third folder a photograph of Dr Caroline Elliot DPhil., MEd was suddenly staring out at her, the unexpected gaze of those piercing, blue eyes once again sucking the air out of Kate's lungs. It was a photo that Kate had downloaded from the internet during the initial stage of her investigation. She had been online to find additional information about the husband but her curiosity and captivation sent her in search of information on Caroline as well. Kate stared back at the woman in the photograph, unable to drag her eyes away. Although it had no relevance to the case….no relevance to her life anymore…Kate could not bring herself to delete the image permanently from her computer or her own memory. Instead, she eventually closed the folder, shutting it back in its file and ultimately, she hoped, the recesses of her mind.
"How could I have so totally misread her intentions?" Kate wondered to herself not for the first or probably the last time.
Kate prided herself on being able to read people with a high degree of accuracy, it was a skill that had become finally honed over her years as a PI, so she found it difficult to believe or accept that she had judged the situation so poorly.
"Were the kisses we shared just out of curiosity? Did I imagine the chemistry we had between us that made my stomach knot in anticipation and excitement every time we were together? Did I imagine it all?" Kate asked as she cross examined herself once more.
The last time Kate had seen Caroline had been in the office of "McKenzie Investigations" when she had delivered the damning evidence on John. Before departing, Caroline had initiated a passionate and searing kiss that had left them both quite breathless and was scorched into Kate's memory. Caroline had confided in Kate her intentions to divorce her husband and for once in her life she was going to follow her heart. At the time Kate had assumed, wrongly now it appeared, that that would involve her but as each day and week passed without a word from Caroline, the painful realisation emerged that she was not included in the woman's plans once she had discarded her wretched husband. Perhaps Caroline hadn't left her husband after all….maybe she had forgiven John his sins and taken him back ….maybe she had found somebody else in the meantime….or perhaps she couldn't face the inherent complications of being with a woman.
"So many possible explanations….Why didn't she just talk to me….at least put me out of my misery and relieve the frustration of not knowing why?" Kate thought aloud.
At first Caroline's unexplained and seemingly callous disappearance from her life left Kate emotionally stranded. She was lost, heart-broken and despondent. Her every thought was spent pondering where things had gone wrong and fighting back the anger and frustration of not having any answers to her questions until finally, at the passing of time, things were slowly put back into some perspective and Kate managed to dredge up from the depths of her despair her characteristic resilience and 'tough as old boots' attitude and move on with her life. The pain hadn't gone away, it had simply ebbed to become a dull but bearable ache around her heart that let her function but never quite forget.
Her enthusiasm for the task lost by this unwelcome distraction, Kate closed the file and shut down her computer for the day. She then stretched the weary muscles in her arms, back and shoulders to relieve the tautness from the hours spent sitting at her desk sifting through the files while she also tried to shrug off the residual melancholy that thinking about Caroline always left her with.
Looking at the clock on her desk, a digital clock set into a Rubic's cube that was given to her by a friend who thought it was an appropriate metaphor, it showed that it was nearly half five. Kate decided it was time to shut up shop for the day. She took the set of keys from her desk and used them to lock the front door. She then checked the lock on the door at the rear of her office, set the security system, turned off any unnecessary lights and headed up the internal staircase to her modest but comfortable flat.
Later on in the evening Kate had a dinner date and she supposed that at some stage she ought to check that she had something suitable to wear.
Despite no shortage of offers, after the heartache of Caroline, it had only been recently that Kate had felt any twinge of interest in seeing anyone again. She had accepted two other dates over the last month or so but neither one had ignited the slightest spark of interest or attraction and had been, quite frankly, hard work so there had been no follow up. Tonight she was seeing a woman who she had previously met at a friend's dinner party the weekend before. With the possible assistance of a drink or two, they had chattered amicably about almost everything and anything it seemed. The woman had even managed to make Kate laugh on more than one occasion. Kate also remembered thinking that she felt rather attracted to her. By the end of the evening the woman had asked Kate if she was interested in going out for dinner at some time and Kate had found herself accepting the invitation.
There was none of the inexplicable electricity that she felt whenever Caroline was around but Kate had come to the conclusion that that was probably a 'once-in-a-lifetime' thing. Unfortunately, once Kate had experienced that feeling, it was the standard by which she found herself measuring all other potential partners. Perhaps it was a good thing that she didn't experience that chemistry with this woman, Kate convinced herself…at least if it didn't work out she wouldn't be so crushed. Now Kate only had to hope that she would remember the woman's name before they met up again. They had been introduced at the party but Kate couldn't, for the life of her, recall her name. Melanie? Maryann? Melinda?
Kate searched distractedly through the clothes in her wardrobe hoping to find something a little dressier than her day-to-day wear of jeans, button-up shirts and jackets. She was having trouble getting motivated about it all which made the task of choosing an outfit all the more arduous. Lounging in her flat with a good book and a glass of red wine in old jeans and her favourite jumper would have been her preferred option but she knew that if she sat around alone, especially after this afternoon, her thoughts would inevitably turn to the blonde head teacher.
"Damn you, Caroline Elliot," Kate muttered fiercely to herself as she carelessly discarded yet another outfit.
Finally Kate chose a woollen, plum-coloured dress she'd bought recently as part of some retail therapy. The fabric was quite plain but the cut flattered her figure nicely and its low-cut neckline was sexy without being too provocative. She paired it with black tights and her black, suede, low-cut boots. She also found a black scarf and her heavy, black coat to wear as the nights were becoming increasingly colder with the imminent onset of winter.
Showered, shampooed and glammed up, Kate took one final, quick look in the mirror to make sure that everything was in its rightful place. Satisfied with the end result, although she was never sure what to do with her hair…pull it back or leave it down…. as it often seemed to have a mind of its own but tonight she'd decided to go for minimum fuss and leave it down. She then grabbed her keys and handbag and made her way down the external steps to the tenants' carpark where she kept her fiat.
The Italian restaurant where they'd agreed to meet up was an easy fifteen minute drive from Kate's place and once she was on her way, Kate found herself gradually becoming more enthused about the evening ahead but "Damn! What was the woman's name?" If she didn't remember soon she was going to have to take the embarrassing measure of calling someone who could help her.
As expected, parking in the street outside the popular Luigi's Restaurant was scarce, non-existent even, when Kate arrived so she detoured down a nearby side street where she was fortunate enough to find a space relatively close-by that only a car as small as hers could possibly hope to manoeuvre into.
Before getting out of the car Kate wracked her brain one more time for the name of her date but with no luck. She was going to have to call a friend. Just as she reached into her handbag for her phone, it buzzed to tell her that there was a text message waiting. Kate went into the new message which read, "Sorry, Kate….I've been held up….will be about 5 mins late. Melissa xx."
"Melissa! That's it!" Kate repeated with a huge sigh of relief as she sent back the message, "No worries. See you soon."
Fortunately for Kate, their reservation had been made simply in the name of 'Melissa' so she was able to be shown to the table. While she waited, Kate ordered a glass of her favourite Shiraz.
As Kate's drink arrived so did her date.
"Would you like a glass of wine too?" Kate asked as the rather eye-catching woman made to sit down at the table.
She gave Kate a radiant smile and nodded. As Kate gave the waiter the order she could feel her spirits picking up considerably as the lovely Melissa sat opposite her. They fell easily into comfortable conversation.
Meals and drinks were ordered and then subsequently delivered; all the while the two women maintained their steady flow of friendly chatter broken only by intermittent bouts of laughter. Kate was pleasantly surprised with the way her night was turning out so far.
As the evening progressed a constant flow of customers began to fill up the restaurant until it was quite busy and buzzing with the sound of conversation. Kate, as was her habit, casually cast an investigator's eye across the room, not looking for anything in particular but taking stock of her surrounds nonetheless. Suddenly, at a table across the room, she caught a glimpse of an all-too-familiar sight…a sight that made her gasp involuntarily and left her feeling like she'd been thumped in the chest by a cruel fist. The wind was completely knocked out of her.
"Kate…are you alright?" Melissa asked, concerned by the fact that Kate had, out of the blue, become mesmerised by something else in the restaurant and, despite her dark skin, was looking rather pale.
Realising that she was being spoken to, Kate managed to drag her attention away from the other table and back to her date.
"Sorry…yes….no, actually," Kate apologised, "I'm feeling a bit light-headed. I might go to the bathroom and freshen up."
As Kate stood to make her way to the ladies' room she once again turned her attention to the other table…to Caroline Elliot….and now that she was standing up, Kate could see that there was another woman at the table with her, a much smaller, sinewy woman of forty-something with mousy brown hair. They appeared to be having quite an animated conversation.
"So she has moved on…she has found someone else," Kate said to herself as if a piece of the puzzle had been put into place but at the same time feeling her heart being ripped mercilessly from her chest.
Once Kate had reached the bathroom she stood dejectedly at one of the basins, bracing her hands tightly against the bench for support as she took in several deep breaths in an effort to refill her winded lungs. She leaned her forehead against the mirrored wall above the basin as she struggled with the miasma of anger and hurt that threatened to release itself. However, Kate was determined not to expend any more tears over Caroline Elliot.
"The woman has clearly moved on...and I will do the same," Kate told herself defiantly.
Kate turned on the faucet and lightly splashed her face with some cold water in an attempt to ease the sting in her eyes from the salty tears which she refused to allow fall and to revive her spirits enough to return to her date. She then tore some paper towel from the dispenser and patted her face dry.
Seemingly composed again and resolute in her decision to go back to the table and continue the enjoyable evening she'd been having in Melissa's company, Kate turned to leave but her path was abruptly blocked as another woman walked in. Again, her emotions were sent into a tailspin as Caroline's bluer than blue eyes trapped her like a stunned deer in the headlights.
"Oh….hello….Kate," Caroline faltered, "Wow…it's …um… wonderful to see you."
Although Caroline was as surprised and caught out by the situation as Kate was, her words seemed genuine as did her smile.
"Hello, Caroline," Kate replied brusquely and with an edge of coldness.
The initial cheeriness at seeing Kate immediately disappeared as she sensed the animosity in the other woman's voice.
"How…um….have you been?" Caroline tried.
"Fine….well, thank you," Kate responded without conviction and then added, "I'd better go….my date will be getting worried."
"Okay…well it was nice to see…."
Before Caroline could finish her sentence Kate was briskly out the door.
Back at the table with Melissa, Kate took her seat again and attempted to pick up where they had left off but try as she might Kate couldn't get her thoughts back on track. She had lost her flow. Caroline Elliot was all she could think about. Even to be in the same room as her was torturous.
"Are you sure you're okay, Kate?" asked a concerned Melissa. "We can go if you like."
Kate hesitated for a moment feeling guilty at upsetting what had been, up until now, a lovely evening but it was lost and she desperately needed to escape from here.
"I'm sorry…Do you mind? That would probably be for the best. I think I might be coming down with something," Kate lied with a slight touch of conscience.
To make up for cutting the date short and being such a pathetic, lost cause, Kate paid for dinner and then walked Melissa to her car.
"I'll call you tomorrow," Kate promised as they parted, although it was a promise she doubted she would keep.
oooOooo
Safely ensconced back in the solace of her tiny flat, Kate discarded the plum-coloured dress in favour of a well-worn pair of plaid pyjama pants, an equally worn sweatshirt and a thick pair of socks, comfort having priority over glamour. She had also poured herself a generous amount of red wine which she nursed in her lap as she tucked herself up on the couch and peered at the television screen in the pretence of watching a late night movie but if anyone had asked her what it was about she would have been at a total loss to explain. Her mind was stubbornly focussed on thoughts of Caroline and turning over questions to which even her own finely-honed investigative powers could find no answer.
Recognizing the futility of her thoughts and the fact that her wine glass was empty, Kate forced herself back to the present and padded her way into the kitchen…at least an empty wine glass was a problem she could solve.
As she was about to pour herself a refill there was a soft, uncertain knock on the door; so soft that Kate wasn't actually sure it was a knock at all until, after a brief moment, it came again, this time it was a little firmer.
Puzzled by who could possibly be visiting her so late at night, Kate slipped on the safety latch and cautiously opened the door only wide enough so that she could see who was there. For the second time that evening Kate found herself unexpectedly peering into the face of Caroline Elliot. Kate undid the latch and opened the door more fully.
"Hello….Do you mind?...Can I come in?" Caroline asked apprehensively unsure of the welcome she would receive.
When there was no invitation forthcoming Caroline added with a shudder, "It's freezing out here."
Kate merely looked back at the woman. At that moment Kate's heart and mind were at odds… a turmoil of conflicting emotions…twin volcanoes of both desire and hurt threatening to erupt at the same time…but somehow Kate managed to maintain an apparent semblance of composure.
"Would you like me to go?" Caroline asked, her voice faltering slightly, "I understand…." and with that she turned and was about to retrace her way back down the steps when Kate finally found her voice.
"No….no…come in," she said in a hoarse whisper and moved to the side to allow Caroline to enter.
The two women stood in Kate's kitchen, each at a bit of a loss as to where to start and what to say. Kate could feel the familiar sensation of excitement and anticipation that the blonde woman's presence always aroused.
Kate finally asked, "Would you like a glass of wine?"
Caroline took the offer as a sign that she wasn't totally unwelcome and accepted gratefully.
As Kate handed Caroline the glass, she said a little self-consciously, “Do you mind waiting a moment while I get changed? I feel a bit ridiculous standing here in my pyjamas."
"You don't have to get changed. It's only me," Caroline replied and then added almost to herself, "besides….you look….beautiful."
Surprised by Caroline's last words, Kate's mood melted slightly and she gave the woman a doubtful but more affable glance and a quick smile. She then headed in the direction of her bedroom.
While Kate was changing Caroline took her glass and was about to sit on the couch but then she changed her mind and took a seat at the small, dining room table instead. She wanted to be able to see Kate's face as they spoke.
Kate shortly reappeared in a pair of jeans and a hand-knitted woollen jumper and, once she had fetched the almost empty wine bottle from the kitchen bench, took the seat opposite Caroline. A loaded silence sat between them as they sipped their drinks, each considering the best way to broach the subject of the last six months…a bridge they both knew needed to be crossed. Eventually it was Kate who spoke first.
"Why are you here, Caroline, after all this time?" Kate asked, her voice low and a mixture of the hurt, anger and frustration she felt. "Is it to tell me that you've moved on ….found another woman and ….."
"Found another woman?" Caroline interjected, her expression reflecting her bewilderment. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you weren't sitting by yourself tonight or did I imagine that woman who was with you?" Kate answered with a touch of sarcasm.
Caroline's face broke into an amused smile at the thought of the 'other woman'.
"That wasn't another woman….that was Gillian."
Kate raised an eyebrow which told Caroline she needed to explain further.
"Remember I told you that my mother was getting married to Alan? The woman you saw me with is Gillian, Alan's daughter… and strictly speaking I suppose…she's my step-sister….not 'another woman' as such. God no…."
Caroline paused for a moment and then added in a more serious tone, "I think Gillian had sensed how unhappy….depressed… I've been the last few months so she suggested that we go out ….you know…for a bit of fun…a girls' night out….there is no one else…."
With Caroline's explanation temporarily taking the bluster out of her sails, Kate took a long, thoughtful sip of her wine then, as she placed the glass back on the table, she looked into the other woman's face, Kate's dark eyes demanding Caroline's full attention.
"Why, Caroline? Why did you leave me without as much as a word of explanation?" Kate implored in a barely audible whisper, "Did I imagine that we had something? Was I just an experiment for you?"
The questions came spilling out desperate to be answered.
Caroline rested her elbows on the table and put her face in her hands, eyes closed as she tried to make sense of everything that had happened in her life over the past six months and to give Kate answers to her questions….but she wasn't sure of the answers herself.
"It's all been such a mess really…the last six months…such an utter, utter mess," Caroline murmured dismally as she ran her hands subconsciously through her fair hair as was her habit when she was feeling flustered.
"Tell me," Kate said, her feelings thawing, "I'm listening."
Shaking her head slowly in confusion, Caroline replied, "I'm not even sure where to begin."
"Did you confront John about his affair?" Kate asked to get the ball rolling.
Caroline gave her a sardonic smile.
"Yes, I did….and not only did he admit to it but he up and left me and the boys and the house to go and live with this woman…this Judith."
"Sorry," Kate put in sincerely.
"Oh, don't be….'good riddance' I thought but the boys were upset…at least, Lawrence was…I think William was as glad to see the back of him as I was….anyway, a couple of months later he turned up back on the doorstep, tail between his legs, wanting us to give it another chance…Judith apparently had a drinking problem which was all too much for him."
As Caroline stopped to take one or two deep breaths to help herself calm down, Kate asked the obvious question.
"What did you do?"
Embarrassed now at what she could see, upon reflection and probably knew even at the time, was complete foolishness, Caroline answered a little self-consciously, "I took him back….mainly for the boys' sake…Too often parents put their own needs and happ…"
"Happiness," Kate finished for her.
"Yes, well I didn't want to be like that…anyway, John was back at it the first opportunity he got…so it's over…it's finished…and as far as I'm concerned, it never was."
As Caroline drained the last mouthful of wine from her glass Kate said quietly but with her usual persistence, "That still doesn't explain why you didn't return my calls or speak to me…you could have told me what was happening….I might have been able to help….we could have worked it out."
Caroline spread her hands on the table in front of her and looked absent-mindedly at the faint mark still remaining on her finger from where her wedding ring used to be. Then she returned her attention to Kate with renewed intensity.
"I grew up in a house on my own with these people who never spoke to each other unless they had to….problems were never shared or discussed….if you had a problem you solved it on your own …you didn't even let on there was a problem…you just dealt with it… that's what I do, Kate….and that's why I couldn't see you or talk to you…I had so much to deal with …so much on my plate…John and his nonsense…Lawrence being difficult and blaming me for breaking up the family…mum's wedding…William heading off to Oxford…the divorce."
"And I was just another problem you would have had to deal with…" Kate added tersely, again the hurt inflamed.
"No….well, yes," Caroline replied honestly as she thought back to her first year at Oxford when she had told her mother that she had feelings for another girl at university and that she quite possibly was gay. "And mixed in with everything else that was happening I didn't think that I would cope with…I don't think we….you and I…would have made it, Kate."
To ease the possible sting in her words Caroline reached out to take Kate's hand but Kate subtly moved it beyond her grasp with the pretext of placing a wayward strand of hair back behind her ear. She wasn't ready for Caroline's touches just yet…she was unsure as to where her feelings were at exactly now that she had some answers.
Needing a minute alone and away from the immediate allure of Caroline's presence, Kate rose from the table and headed into the kitchen, putting a little extra space between them so she could think more clearly.
"Would you like another glass of wine?" Kate offered.
"Sure."
As Kate fussed about in the pantry looking for the other bottle of red wine she knew she had there somewhere, she felt the rise of her inimitable reaction to Caroline's close proximity and, locating the bottle of wine at last, she turned around to find her standing in the kitchen also. She had the empty wine glasses in her hand which she placed on the bench for Kate to fill.
Instead of pouring, Kate turned to face Caroline who now stood so close to her that she could take in the fragrant scent of her perfume and feel the warmth from her body.
"Caroline, would you even be here if we hadn't inadvertently come across each other tonight?"
Again Caroline reached for Kate's hands and this time Kate allowed her to have them, the contact fraying the final threads of her resistance.
"Actually, it was Gillian who insisted I should come here tonight," Caroline admitted sheepishly.
"Gillian?"
"Mmmm….I confided in Gillian several months ago about my….um…feelings for you…and then when we met up tonight accidentally…well, she got to see, first hand, the effect …you have…on me….so she put me in my car, pointed me in the right direction and told me to go," Caroline explained with a scarlet blush burning on her cheeks. "It's a bit sooner than I planned….but I'm not sorry I came…even if it's only to explain….are you sorry I came?"
"No…no, I'm not," Kate replied sincerely.
"Anyway, my life has mostly sorted itself out now and things are a bit straighter ….well, I guess I'm not….I've fallen for a woman so I guess I could hardly be called 'straight'," Caroline said with a light laugh at herself.
Amused by Caroline's words and touched by her admission, Kate smiled too.
Feeling more confident, Caroline moved in a little closer and asked, "I know you've probably made your mind up about me but….do you think...could we try again?"
The smile disappeared from Kate's face as she deliberated for a moment before answering.
"No…..thank you, Caroline."
The reply hit Caroline like a slap to the face. She flinched and tears immediately began to well. Her chin trembled slightly as she fought for control. Then she heard Kate's words continue.
"Unless you promise to share your life with me including its problems ...its ups and downs…..let me into that inner sanctum that is Caroline Elliot…let me help you when you need it rather than turn me away."
With the back of her hand Caroline brushed at the tears which had begun to flow down her cheeks as she searched Kate's face to make sure she hadn't misunderstood the meaning and implications of her last words. What she saw was a warm, inviting and slightly cheeky smile.
"Does that mean…..?" Caroline began to ask.
Rather than use words, Kate confirmed her intentions by tenderly cupping Caroline's face in one hand while, with the other, she gently brushed aside the fair hair of Caroline's fringe so she could capture those blue eyes with the richness of her own and make this woman see the depths of her feelings. Kate then placed a delicate kiss on each cheek before drawing Caroline's lips to her own in a slow, sensual kiss full of her forgiveness and empathy. How long the kiss lasted the two women had no idea….long enough for Kate to wash away the months of turmoil and anger…..long enough to dissolve Caroline's doubts and misgivings…..long enough for them both to feel hope and some certainty about the future.
Eventually, however, it did end.
As finally their lips parted and their eyes met, Kate put her mouth close to Caroline's ear and whispered, "Caroline…do you want to stay the night?"
It was the easiest question she'd had to answer all evening.
Caroline peered at Kate with shameless want and desire and without hesitation she answered with a simple but definite, "Yepp."