a/n: happy weekend, all!

Chapter 24: I Could Have Danced All Night

"Kate?"

"Yes….Beverly?"

"Hullo, Kate. Sorry to be ringing you on a Saturday night, but is there any chance Caroline might be there?"

"As a matter of fact, she's just putting on some trousers."

"Oh, good! May I…pardon? Did you say…erm…"

"Would you like to speak to her?"

"If…I'm not interrupting anything."

"No. Of course not," Kate smiled sweetly, as she walked into the bedroom where Caroline was stood forlornly inspecting her ruined boots. "It's for you." She held out her mobile.

"Uh…hello?"

"Caroline!"

"Yes, Beverly. Why are you calling me on Kate's mobile?"

"Because yours keeps rolling to voicemail and Roger Edworthy gave me a bell asking why your school identification card was found in Tesco's car park."

"Was it? Oh. That's a bother."

"Mmm, I'm sure. He also said the clerk mentioned you were prostrate on the pavement at one point. May I ask: are you well?"

"Fine. I'm fine. Just a minor thing with a speeding car, but I'm afraid my mobile's out til Monday. My ID must have been dislodged in all the excitement and overlooked when I picked up my bag."

"Right." Beverly's tone was uncertain. "Well, then. I suppose it's a good thing the clerk knew Roger teaches at Sulgrave Heath. He's got your ID and will leave it with me sometime next week since he'll be by to do some prep work for summer football camp." Beverly paused. "So, I'll leave you to…your evening, then."

"Yes. Thanks. I'm keen to actually begin it. I'm sure our hours will cross next week, Beverly; see you then." She disconnected and handed the phone to a bemused Kate.

"Not that I'm complaining, but how did Beverly know to find you here?"

"Oh. Come now, Kate. Don't you realise we were being played by Beverly when she asked you to come by school to pick up your personal books?"

"Were we?"

"Beverly practically led me by the nose to the auditorium that day."

"Did she?" Kate smiled.

"Mm-hmm. She's like a pit bull, that one."

"Sounds like she thought you were in want of something, if she went to all the trouble of putting us in the same place."

Caroline considered Kate's words seriously before answering.

"More like, I think she thought I might be in need of assistance." Her smile held a trace of sadness.

"She's a good friend," Kate said softly.

"Oh, she's definitely become a valued advisor, no doubt about it. We don't socialise outside of work other than the odd faculty party, but I think she knows me better than most of my so-called friends." She snorted. "And definitely better than my mum."

"Not to change the topic, but speaking of mums…" Kate nodded toward the hallway.

"Of course! Lay on, MacDuff." Caroline smiled.

"Oh. Careful now, as you may remember, Shakespeare will get you everywhere," Kate smiled coyly.

"In that case, 'the course of true love never did run smooth'," Caroline returned with a wry smile. She gestured to the door, "Onward."

….

Ginika looked up from where she was sat in a rocking chair, with Lina bundled against her chest.

"I think there's nothing more beautiful than a sleeping baby," she said to Caroline and Kate as they entered the living room.

Kate laughed softly, "I know I'm new at this, but I think there's nothing more peaceful than that sleeping baby." She looked at her watch, "And it is about time to put her down for the night." She turned to Caroline, "I was hoping you'd have a bit of time to see her when she's awake. Despite only being a few months old, she's very advanced and her motor skills are coming along better than any other baby, ever. It's very impressive."

Caroline nodded, a twinkle evident in her eye, "I never doubted it, of course. She's bound to be a prime minister and a Nobel Laureate." She crossed the room and addressed Ginika. "So sorry for our abbreviated introduction, Ginika, and all the drama of my arrival. It overshadowed the reality that I'm glad to finally have an opportunity to meet you. Kate's told me so much about your adventures in academia; I'm keen to hear them live, as it were." She looked down at the sleeping child. "But first, would either of you mind awfully if I held her?"

Ginika smiled, and shifted Lina upwards. "Careful, the smell of her is addictive."

Caroline leaned down and gathered the baby close to her chest. "Aren't they all?"

Kate cleared her throat indignantly and Caroline hastily amended her comment.

"I mean, of course Lena has the best baby smell ever!" She twisted from side to side, continuing to gently rock the infant whilst studying her little face. "Oh, Kate. She is absolutely beautiful."

Ginika interjected, with a fond look at Kate, "The apple didn't fall from the tree in that aspect."

Kate sucked in an embarrassed breath, "Mother!"

Caroline smiled as she looked up from Lina. "I agree."

Ginika stood, "Not to break up the party, but why don't I put the child to bed while you two put the finishing touches on dinner?"

Kate moved to Caroline's side and gently leant in to kiss Lina's cheek. "Thanks, Mum. I'll check in on her a bit later."

Caroline offered the sleeping baby over to Ginika who received her grandchild with a sing-song welcoming, "Come now, little Caroleena Ballerina, let's off to beddy-bye." She winked at Kate, who glared back. "I'll be back in a few minutes, love."

Caroline slowly turned her gaze to Kate after Ginika disappeared. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again. It almost seemed like she was pumping her vocal chords, but the well had run dry. Finally she sputtered, "Caroleena?"

Kate shrugged.

"But you said she was called Lena as a nickname for Eleanor."

Kate shook her head, "No, actually you said that. I only said it was something like that."

"Why are language teachers so bloody literal?" Caroline's face was a study in exasperation mixed with shy pride. "But…it's not Victorian at all. You seemed so fixed on Victorian when we discussed names."

"Her eyes were so blue; it just seemed to fit." Kate shrugged again, a bashful smile playing about her face. "And it's actually Carolina, with a long i, but Mum gave her the nickname because it rhymes with ballerina, concertina and weirdly, hyena."

"Hyena?"

"Lauging Lina, my tiny hyena." Kate sang, her hands spread in a don't-ask-me gesture.

"Blimey. That's...charming?"

"More like macabre, but kind of you to try." Kate led Caroline into the kitchen. "It's been lovely having Mum to help me get on my feet with Lina, but now and again I wonder just how much psychotherapy might be required to undo some of the early imagery."

"For you or Lina?"

Kate laughed, "Time will tell." She nodded toward the fridge as she headed for the stove, "Would you take out the salad and butter and hand me the milk? I'll just finish up with a gravy for the chicken and potatoes."

"Ah, good to know my milk plays a key role in the evening's meal. I'd hate to think I ruined a good pair of boots for Oscar's supper." She handed the carton over and turned back to the fridge, falling into the comfortable routine that she and Kate had established months before. "Speaking of, how is Wilde-Child doing with a baby in the house? And, what is it with you McKenzie women and rhyming?"

Kate looked up from the roux she was stirring. "Mmm. You know, I never realised that. My mum must rub off on me more than I know."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Ginika entered with a smile for both women, but her gaze rested on Caroline. "Oscar is certain that Kate has brought a spawn of the devil in his home. Half the time he's under the furniture, the other half he stalks the house with his tail three times the normal size."

"Give him ten years and he'll grow out of it," Caroline suggested, remembering her own experience with the boys and Shaftesbury, her regal grey tom.

"Kate has three books on introducing cats to infants."

"And more than a few scratches to go along with it," Kate added with a rueful smile, stirring the milk into the saucepan. "But we'll get there yet. I'm determined to have a happy little family."

Caroline dropped her gaze to the floor, suddenly at a loss for words. The image of Kate, Lina and Oscar as a happy little family was a bit too small for her taste.

Ginika noted the flash of pain that crossed Caroline's face at Kate's declaration. She shook her head in quiet exasperation.

"I always told her father, that girl was going to make herself miserable with her single minded convictions," Ginika tsked as she crossed to help Caroline finish laying out the plates. "But, here she is, so close to her heart's desire." She reached out and touched Caroline on the shoulder, "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you, Caroline."

Caroline met Ginika's gaze and saw the seriousness in the older woman's eyes. She nodded, "Even though I've not been part of Kate's life recently, I feel as though I know you already, Ginika. She spoke of you so often when we were…well. You know."

"When you dated, you mean?" Ginika pressed, not willing to let Caroline off the hook by not saying the words.

Caroline looked surprised at Ginika's question. "Well. Yes. If you like, when we were dating." She cast a furtive glance at Kate who was simultaneously pouring the gravy into a boat and frowning at her mother.

Ginika nodded. "Come, let's sit, while Kate brings us our dinner." She smiled, showing her teeth ever so slightly, as she waved Caroline to the table. "You know, it was quite a surprise when Kate informed us of her sexuality, but my husband and I thought back to her childhood and realised it had been there all along, we just chose to ignore it. I've found now, it is so much easier to embrace her for who she is: a beautiful, accomplished woman. I admit that I might be biased." Ginika winked at Kate, who put the platter of roasted chicken with yearling potatoes on the table with a firm thump and a good-natured scowl. "Likewise, anyone she brings to our family as a special someone should also be embraced."

"Yes, well. Caroline, there you have it. You aren't the only one with a mum who isn't afraid to air her opinions." Kate set a steaming bowl of vegetables and the boat of gravy alongside the chicken and pulled out her chair. Sitting, she smiled sweetly to her mother and mouthed, "Behave."

"I'd have to say, at first glance, your mum's opinions are vastly more progressive than my mum's."

Ginika smiled, "Surrounding yourself with bright young minds in a liberal city like New York will do that to the most resistant of us old folk."

"You sell yourself short, Mum. You've always had a soft spot for my happiness."

"That's true. But, it doesn't hurt that I'm exposed to talented young students who express their individuality in an articulate manner with reasoned logic." She tilted her head. "Of course, then there are the ones with multi-coloured hair and piercings in places God did not intend there to be holes, who think life is one big party. They are the ones I want to lock up in their room until they get some sense."

"Some of my best mates at Uni had multi-coloured hair and piercings," Kate protested.

"Oh, I remember," Ginika replied evenly.

Caroline laughed. "Yes, Kate. I quite see what you mean. Only, I ascribe to your mother's line of reasoning."

"Here, take some chicken and remember who cooked your dinner," Kate nudged the platter toward Caroline's plate. "Mum, will you start the salad?" For her part, she dipped into the bowl of roasted veg before passing it over to Caroline.

"This looks, and smells, fantastic, Kate" Caroline smiled. "You certainly seem to have gotten up to full speed after a difficult pregnancy. Tell me, how are you doing?"

"Really, really well." Kate held up her fizzy water and waved it in the air. "And tonight is a celebration. It's nice to have you around again, Caroline."

Caroline and Ginika touched their glasses to Kate's.

"It's lovely to be invited. To the McKenzie Mums!" Caroline added.

"To us all." Ginika nodded. "Cheers."

"Cheers," they chorused.

They tucked into dinner, and conversation turned to teaching differences between University level and Sixth form curricula and student accountability. Kate, for the most part, let her mother and Caroline dominate the conversation, while she watched the give and take with a bemused smile. Occasionally, she jumped in to defend the role of music and languages in rounding out a complete education,

"…even if they are only going to be scientists or economists!" She laughed and pushed her plate away. "I mean, really, just listen to the two of you! Mum, you wouldn't be nearly the logical thinker you are today if you hadn't studied the structure of a Bach concerto or deconstructed Debussy's Preludes. Hand on heart, that is the reason I fell in love with the piano." She looked at Caroline, "And you! Stepping down the aisle to 'I will Survive'. Don't tell me that wasn't inspired by something other than math or science!"

Caroline cast a sidelong glance at Ginika. "So whose temper did she inherit?"

"Keep talking to me as if she's not there, and you'll see a temper." Ginika admonished, paradoxically avoiding looking at her daughter.

Caroline nodded. "You are a wise woman." Turning to Kate she smiled, "I was inspired that day. And it had everything to do with a certain music teacher and very little to do with math or science. Also, I might have a very secret appetite for the music of my youth."

Kate laughed. "Of course you do! Remember when I caught you reviewing budget to 'Another Brick in the Wall'?"

Caroline's face registered happy surprise at the memory.

It had been a rainy Sunday afternoon; Alan and her mother were at the farm, William was at Oxford, and Lawrence was spending the full weekend with Angus. Kate had been cooking a stew for supper while Caroline was immersed in work. She'd not realised she was singing loudly enough to draw Kate's attention, but suddenly there she was, singing along with that smile; God, that smile.

They'd laughed and sung and then they'd begun to dance to horribly lovely 80's music. When Pandora saw fit to play Adam Ant's 'Strip' they'd taken it seriously and wound up making love on a blanket hastily tossed in front of the fire. Later, they'd sipped a glass of wine, still nude, in front of the raging fire. It had been one of the most liberating days of Caroline's life.

She cleared her throat, painfully aware that Ginika was busily looking to and fro, whilst she and Kate processed the memory. "Yes. Well, only a voice a mother could love."

Kate nodded with a smile and a sigh. "Ahhh. So, Caroline, fancy some pudding?"

Caroline bit off the risqué reply that immediately sprung to mind, and dumbly nodded, while Ginika caught herself between a smile of amusement and a look of disapproval: these youngsters. So caught up in their drama, but so transparent. Life had a funny way of repeating all the important lessons until they were well and truly learnt.

Kate pushed back from the table and began to collect the dishes.

"Here. Let me." Caroline's fair hand covered Kate's, and for a second their fingers mingled, a swirl of chocolate and vanilla, before Caroline pulled away and stood up. "You look knackered, Kate. Sit, and tell me what's what."

Ginika smiled.

As Kate directed, Caroline made a pot of chamomile tea and served up a dish of sorbet to each of the McKenzie women before joining them at the table.

A murmuring from the infant monitor drew their attention and Kate began to push back from the table.

Ginika was quicker, "Let me, love. You have the 2 a.m. feeding." She stood and smiled at Caroline. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm sure I'll see you again soon." She clasped Caroline's hand briefly before bending to give Kate a kiss on the cheek. "I'll just calm little Lina, then settle down for some knitting before bed. You two have fun."

Kate smiled, "Good night, Mum."

Caroline felt her heart beat accelerate when she and Kate were finally alone. She jumped in before she could talk herself out of it.

"Are you ready to call it a night, or would you like to, erm…that is, can we…? Shall we…" She gestured with her head toward the living room. "A cup of tea in front of the fire?"

Kate smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."