Chapter 28 What the future brings

Caroline sat at the dresser applying her make-up. She had never felt the need to cover up too much of how she had been made. Indeed her natural beauty and flawless skin reduced the need for such subterfuge, but she also prided herself on rising to the occasion and today was a day for presenting herself at her best. She looked in the mirror and frowned. Gosh, she knew that her eyesight was not what it was and the need to use the magnifying side of the mirror was required rather more these days so she gave in to the inevitable and turned the mirror around before bringing the small table lamp a little nearer. 'That's better' she said to herself as she put the finishing touches to her lipstick.

Caroline was just about to pick up the brush and run it through her hair, when she felt familiar hands on her shoulders and accustomed lips brushed against her cheek before resting there.

"Hey, you, be careful. That make-up has been applied with infinite care. I would hate to let the world down and present myself as anything less than perfect! I have an image to maintain!"

"It's a good thing that I know you" Kate replied without hesitation. Her cheek was still flush against Caroline's and her hands continued to grip her wife's shoulders. She slowly stood upright and kissed the top of Caroline's head before picking up the brush and leisurely drawing it through her hair. Kate pulled the fingers of her other hand through the hair too, an action that these two women had shared more times than could possibly be counted. An act which continued to give more than a shiver down their spines.

"Are you actually brushing my hair or just finding an excuse to touch me?" asked Caroline teasingly.

"It has been a life time since I needed an 'excuse' to touch you!" Kate teased in return.

"Life and love have been so good to us that it seems strange that there ever was such a need, but if I try hard I can just about remember when that was the case. It's surely true that the unhappy memories fade with time. I never knew what it was to be loved and to love until you found me. Can you remember what is was like before? I struggle to remember a time when we did not have each other and I can assure you that senility has not started to set in! "

Kate giggled as Caroline grabbed at her hands and pulled her onto her lap for a hug.

"Let's forget the party and celebrations. Let's go back to bed!" Caroline whispered into Kate's ear as she ran her hands across Kate's back.

"Why would we want to do that, pray tell me, Caroline!" Kate pretended to begin to get up from Caroline's lap but had neither the strength nor the resolve to leave the arms of her wife. "One thing I will say is that your appetite has not faded with time!"

"So why would you question why we should go back to bed when two seconds later you acknowledge that my libido has not diminished? Eh? You must know that I take every opportunity to… " she whispered the rest of her intent in Kate's ear as her hands found their way through the opening in Kate's dressing gown and set about caressing her body.

"Bloody hell, Caroline. You are an example of sex on legs in more ways than one! Not only have you maintained stunning calf muscles and an ability to strut your stuff in two inch heels when women half your age would stumble or need a walking frame to stay upright, but your interest in expressing love is awe inspiring. I can hardly keep up with you these days!" Kate made a token effort to still the movement of Caroline's hands.

"Now you are exaggerating in more ways than one! You match me in intent and content! Thank goodness, I should say! Making love with you is still the most exquisite adventure. I can assure you that if we didn't have people downstairs needing our company, I would not hesitate to see what delights we could engender. Still, there is no sense in frustrating ourselves with what-may-have-been! What say you that we take a rain check until later today?"

With the decision made, both women continued to finish dressing and gave each other the seal of approval with a chaste kiss before heading downstairs to meet their guests as they arrived. A marquee had been set up in the garden, complete with heaters as the day was a cold one. Caroline and Kate went outside to find that William and Lawrence had made an excellent job of directing operations and, with the catering company putting the finishing touches to the displays, the women were satisfied that all was in order and that their input was not required. However, their attention had been drawn to a table set up at the far corner of the marquee and they were heading that way before their journey was interrupted by Raff, who had run in from the house.

"Raff, so good of you to be here. We know how busy life is on the farm at this time of the year and for you all to be here is difficult, we know." Caroline and Kate both kissed him warmly. "We are heading to see what has been set up over there." Caroline continued while pointing to the table, which she realised had been covered by a sheet since she looked a few minutes before.

"Ah. Actually, you are not heading in that direction! William saw you coming out here and he sent the nearest person, namely me, to head you off at the pass! It might be your party but you won't be surprised to hear that there are some details which will remain a secret for the time being, don't you know! I'm not meant to tell you but that's the cake and you are not looking at it yet!"

So, with brief eye contact between them, a smile on each mouth and a raised eyebrow each, the two women linked arms with Raff and they walked back inside the house. Over the next hour the house and garden continued to swell with visitors and by midday the family and their guests took up their seats in the marquee.

It had been agreed that William would be the master of ceremonies for the day and just before the lunch was served, he called for order.

"This is a special day. A magical day. A day when we remember the day that ma-Kate and Caroline, mum, married. A day for looking back over the years to remember with real pleasure the way that we have all been brightened by their love since that wonderful day. That day the celebrations were simple and low key and that's how today is too. What has not been low key has been the love and care which these two wonderful ladies have brought to all our lives. Mum and ma-Kate think that they have organised today and they have asked me to tell you how much they appreciate you all coming along to share with them. But just so they know, they are rather mistaken in thinking that they are in control of all that has been arranged!"

Kate and Caroline looked at William and then at each other. They were smiling but there were tears in their eyes and they held each other's hands firmly.

"I need a big kiss right now. Is it too late to go back to bed like you suggested?" whispered Kate.

"I do too but I rather think it might be too late!" replied Caroline before pulling her seat closer to Kate and putting her arms around her wife.

"Excuse me, ladies. This is not your time for talking!" William joked. "This is your time for listening. You'll get your turn! Firstly there are two guests who have managed to stay out of the way while the preparation was going on and they have had to wait away from prying eyes. This is a little like an old T.V. programme called 'Surprise, Surprise'. Mum will know instantly who these two surprise visitors are, although some of you may not, when I say a few key phrases. Snotty bitch. Brain dead, low life, trailer trash. Yes, these were the first words of affection shared between mum and one of these hidden guests! By the nodding of the heads I can see that some of you know who is here. Mum, stop crying, it will streak your blusher. These guests went to live in New Zealand fifteen years ago, and we have seen them rarely since then, but they are here today to wish mum and ma-Kate a happy silver wedding anniversary. Please welcome mum's step sister Gillian and her husband Robbie."

By this time Caroline and Kate were both crying with laughter and emotion. Gillian and Robbie appeared from the back of the marquee to envelop both of the couple in an enthusiastic hug. Tears flowed copiously and it was some minutes before Caroline and Gillian could bear to pull apart. They had met under very strange circumstances and their first meeting had been inauspicious, to say the very least. Their friendship had been a roller coaster of ups and downs but underneath it all had endured an affection and respect for each other, which had brought them even closer when Celia and Alan died in the winter of 2015; Alan from the heart problems which had almost killed him several times before, and Celia from complications following a fall two days later. Those in the know were aware that the fall was just a symptom of the real reason; her heart had been irredeemably broken when she lost Alan and she determined not to go on without him.

When the tears and laughter had eventually settled down, chairs were rearranged so that Gillian and Robbie could sit at the table with Caroline and Kate. Caroline looked over at Gillian just as she mouthed the words "Are we cool, Vincent?" and Caroline nodded and smiled.

The food was served and enjoyed. The laughter around the marquee was infectious. The chatter was noisy and excited. Eventually the meal came to an end and William stood and beckoned the caterers to wheel over the table which had been covered with a cloth. William asked for some quiet before uncovering the table to show a two-tiered white and silver iced cake – a larger version of the wedding cake from twenty five years before. On the top of the cake intertwined silver wire spelled out the words 'Mrs and Mrs'. Caroline and Kate wept some more as they posed to have their photograph taken while cutting the cake. They, and many others, were transported back to the wedding lunch all those years ago. Eventually William resumed his speech.

"By the way, the cake had to be bigger than the one made for the wedding because the Elliot clan has grown bigger and we needed a large cake to ensure that there was enough left for Lawrence and his two, who take after him in their love for snacks and sweet things!" William saluted his brother from across the table. Genuine affection was clear for all to see. "When we first began to suggest that a special party might be arranged for today it was not welcomed by the two whose love we are here to celebrate. You all know that they remain very private people. They were adamant that they do not 'do' parties. But what they do 'do' is love their family and when the grandchildren ask for something, it is usually granted. So, Lawrence, Simone, Sarah and I got our heads together and called on the youngsters for support and persuasion. So, as they are the main reason why they could be persuaded to go along with this celebration, Caroline and Kate insisted that all the children and grandchildren are paraded, for want of a better word, so that the Elliot family as a whole can be celebrated."

William stood with his wife Suzanne, whom he had met at Oxford. They were both head teachers in Manchester. Their children Matthew, Michael and Susie stood proudly by their sides. Matthew was the eldest at 19, having recently started at Oxford University, and so keeping the tradition set by his beloved grandmother and parents. Michael and Susie were still at school.

Lawrence had his arms around his ten year old son, Tom, and four year old daughter, Elspeth. They lived on the farm at Halifax which had once belonged to Gillian. The farm was taken over by Raff and Lawrence when Gillian went to live in New Zealand and they had built the farm into a thriving concern. Their friendship and the business had helped Lawrence cope when his wife Chloe had left the family home without warning when Elspeth was just a year old.

Simone, the baby expected when Kate and Caroline had married, was two weeks away from her twenty fifth birthday. She had her arms around her fiancée Eleanor. They were both studying to be doctors; a fact which continued to thrill Kate and Caroline. Simone's namesake, Caroline's great aunt, would have been so proud. The child whose conception had almost broken their relationship, but whose arrival had brought such deep joy to everyone, had helped to heal the rifts which had existed between various members of the family at that time. Her mothers were pleased that society had continued to move on since they had married and their hope was that Simone and Eleanor would not have to endure some of the latent homophobia which remained when same sex marriage became legal.

Lastly, but not least, stood the baby of the family, petite, beautiful Sarah. Sarah, the baby who Caroline had asked Kate to try for even before Simone was born. Now a young woman of 23, she displayed the musicality of her ma, but as a hobby. She played violin in the local orchestra just for relaxation and entertained family and friends with her guitar when they got together for high days and holidays. While she took after her ma for musicianship, Sarah was Caroline's mini-me in terms of academic interests and ability. She was heading for a career as a scientist and planned to work in dementia research, prompted by her love for her Granddad Donald who had died when she was just three years old. Although her memories of him were few, her heart continued to swell with emotion whenever she looked at the photos of herself on his knee.

As the children and grandchildren stood to take applause from the other guests Caroline and Kate could sit still no longer. Caroline waited until the whistles and claps had died down before indicating to them all that she was now taking over. With a look that they had all learned not to mistake from their early years, her stance said that this was a determined lady even at seventy one years of age. There she stood with her right hand firmly clasped to Kate's right and her left arm around Kate's waist. The children and grandchildren slowly retook their seats. Caroline looked longingly into Kate's eyes and for some seconds there was no movement or noise within the room. The connection between the two was mesmerising and there was not one person in the room who was a stranger to this expression of their love. After this immersion in the love shining from her wife's eyes, Caroline had the strength to turn to face their guests and she began to speak.

"Kate has volunteered me for this task. Quite how she won the day on that one I am not quite sure apart from the fact that after being in love for over twenty five years, I can still refuse her nothing and she continues to make the most of my weaknesses!" Caroline pulled Kate nearer and gave her a brief kiss before continuing. "Many of you here today were present when we had the thrill of marrying. It was a day of mixed emotions but above all it was a day of celebration and the deepest joy. Kate had opened my heart with a love which caught me unawares then and does the same every morning when I awake and see her beside me. We have not slept apart in those twenty five years but the pleasure that we feel when we lock eyes at the start of each day remains the most amazing sensation. We have been blessed to be together and then we have had the thrill of sharing our love with the most amazing children, who have enriched our lives with theirs. Now we have grandchildren. Lawrence and William have made it quite clear to us over the last few weeks during the planning of today that they fully expect to be included in this celebration as children of both Kate and I, in the same way as Simone and Sarah. That in itself is testament to the journey that we have all undertaken. If you were to have seen us on a TV programme you may have been tempted to say after the first episode 'that's too far away from reality and I'm not wasting my time and energy on it any longer' but you would have missed a trick. Kate and I are not a work of fiction. What we have shared and enjoyed is available to everyone. You just need to believe that possibilities are endless and that love can conquer all: prejudice, hatred, broken dreams, lies and fear. We have been proud to see the academic achievements of the children but more importantly we have thrilled to see that they have been willing to take risks, to look for the less than easy options in life. I nearly missed out on the biggest possible adventure and it was thanks to my precious Kate that my eyes were opened to life and its endless possibilities. What would I have achieved without her is a fraction of my true potential, which was waiting there to be fulfilled. How sad would it have been to have missed all that? We truly are more than the sum of our separate parts. Basically, to paraphrase William Purkey, we have taught each other to dance like there is nobody watching, love like we will never be hurt, sing like there is nobody listening and live like it's heaven on earth."

The marquee may have been full but the two women were oblivious to everything but each other as they snuggled and swayed to the music which nobody else could hear.