Caroline Ch. 06.05

"OK, no more teasing."

"Lena," I said seriously, "about tomorrow night, you know, with Mike."

"Mmm."

"Well, I think you two should be alone. You should have him all to yourself."

"Why?"

"Look, he hasn't been alone with you for ages. He's had two of us to cope with even though you didn't take part. You know he worries about being able to keep up with us. Oh, you know, you two need to be together. Show each other how much you care. I'll sleep on my own."

"It's not because of Guy is it?"

"No, it's not because of Guy. I still want Mike and I intend to have him everywhere at the weekend. Perhaps we can even try DP but I really do think that you should enjoy each other. I don't mind really. I'll go to bed and dream of Guy.

"You'll have to explain it to him. He'll worry about it. You know what he's like."

"I don't mind. I'll tell him tomorrow after lunch. Come on, let's go to sleep now. I'm getting tired and you need your sleep to prepare for tomorrow night."

As usual after sex I slept like a log and woke refreshed. I must have dreamt about Guy, I had this feeling of blue eyes watching me, but I didn't remember anything. Lena was sound asleep next to me so I got up and started to make breakfast. She came down, bleary eyed, about 15 minutes later and we had breakfast together. We weren't sure what time Mike would arrive back home nor what time Guy would bring the car back so we decided to get ready early and be out of the way for Mike. As the morning progressed Lena was getting more agitated about whether he would come back.

"Lena. I've told you, he will be back." But of course she was working herself into a state. Thankfully he wasn't very late, arriving about 10.30. Lena rushed to the front door when she heard the car draw and opened it for him. He looked drawn, tired, and stressed. I assumed that he had had a fairly unpleasant day and evening yesterday. Lena threw her arms around his neck and started to cry. With a puzzled expression on his face he began to hold her and shush her.

"Lena, darling, what's the matter."

"Nothing," she said belying the point completely.

He looked at me, "Jo," he said questioningly, "do you know."

I smiled at him, "Yes," I said, "it's the usual self doubt. She thought you might get reminded too much of your old life and not come back or not want her any more. I've told her she's silly but you know how she is."

"Yes, I know how she is." He prised her away from himself and took her head in his hands. Looking straight into her tear laden eyes he said, "Caroline, I love you. I will never leave you. We are going to be married and you are going to have my baby. You must stop thinking that I'm going to leave you. I won't."

She looked up at him, "I'm sorry to doubt you. I shouldn't, I know but, but . . .,"

"Oh darling I know. All those men with your mum. They left didn't they, one after another. I understand how you feel but I'm not like them. You are mine, my love, my life. Now go and fix that face, you know crying is no good for you. I'm going to have a shower then a cup of coffee before Guy arrives. Jo, can you try to sort her out. You look lovely by the way, you both do. Lena, if you haven't sorted yourself out by the time I come out of the shower I'm going to put you over my knee and spank you, understand?"

I laughed, "I've got to say Mike, that's not much of a threat is it. She'd probably enjoy it." This made us all laugh as he patted her bottom and headed for the shower.

"Come on Lena, fix your face and snap out of it. He's back and I think you might have upset him a bit. He looks very troubled. You can't go on doubting him you know, it's not fair. He doesn't doubt you does he. All that flirting at the party with the boys, he didn't throw a wobbly did he. You've got to trust him or you could have the very effect that you're frightened of."

She sniffled and hugged me, "Yes, you're right. I've got to trust him. I promise I'll be better in future." Then she smiled, "Mind, spanking does sound interesting. I wonder where it would lead."

I laughed, "I think it would lead to you getting screwed. Come on we'll make some coffee."

Mike came down a little later looking somewhat refreshed. He told us about his daughters. The eldest, Elizabeth, just thought he was a bit of an old fool falling for a young girl but she wasn't vindictive and wished him well. She wasn't worried about the will understanding why he did it. Belinda was difficult. She ranted at him when he turned up at the house and barely let him in. He said he tried to tell her how he felt but she wouldn't listen, calling Lena all the names under the sun. In the end he washed his hands of her, leaving with a bitter feeling in his mouth. Thankfully his youngest, Jane, was easier. She wasn't worried about the money either although, he said, she was the worst off of the three. Her husband had left her with two children. Mike told us that he was giving her money each month to ensure they were OK and could keep their house. She'd been pleased to see him and, he said, she wanted to meet Lena, her new step mum. He'd phoned us from there.

"So," he said as he finished telling us all this, "that's all behind me now. Apart from helping Jane but Nerys is taking care of that." He took Lena's hand, "Now it's just us, the three of us," then looking at me, "or possibly four," and patting Lena's tummy, "hopefully five if all goes well." He looked at her, "Do you love me?" he said to her.

"Lots and lots," she said kissing him, "and I know you love me and you'll never leave me." That seemed to put and end to the problem, at least for the moment.

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