Sunday morning came and Sheelagh awoke to beautiful weather despite the time of year. Sun shone in through the windows and birds were singing just outside them. For a moment she forgot that she had come home at all. She expected to open her eyes to see Des looking back at her, for her to kiss her and for them to embrace tight to start Sunday. The day of rest.
The day of rest...church!
She had to get up and go with the rest of the family, but when she turned over to see the time she realised she was well late. She wouldn't get there in time.
She felt a guilty feeling rush in to her stomach. She should have got in sooner last night.
When had she got in. three? Four o'clock. She knew it had been midnight before they had left the bar and then she and Des had gone back to his. She smiled at the memory.
What did that man do to her to make it seem as if there was no one else alive.
Going down stairs she automatically put on the kettle for a brew. She'd go to six o'clock mass on her she decided. But would she really find any comfort there no? she had committed adultery. She had been committing it for weeks. But she just couldn't stop. She was in to deep now. She loved him too much.
She had been up about twenty minutes when the others returned.
"You alright mum?" asked Coner.
"Yeah fine, you?" she asked.
"Yup."
"Good boy." She smiled as she went over to her husband. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You need sleep." She said to her. "You have had a really hard week and last night went drinking. You're going to wear yourself out Shee… didn't you get my text yesterday morning."
"No… no I didn't, what did it say?"
"Well you'll never know now." He teased and kissed her cheeks before following the children in to the kitchen.
That day for her was unbearable. Not because of the kids but because of Patrick. He assumed the mood she was in was because of some case she had on, not because of the way he was with her. That week he had put in a effort because he had had too. But now she was home she was just part of the furniture again.
The kids she understood. They expected her to be there. And she guessed so did he but she was so sick of being taken for granted.
"Are you going to be home more this week?" Asked Patrick. They were alone in the kitchen as she made dinner for the five of them and she looked at him and shrugged.
"I don't know yet." she said to him in all honesty.
His flashed. With anger…
"You're always out right now." He pointed out.
"What am I meant to do Patrick wait ay home while your out driving when I could be with my friends." She said to him.
"Yes! What about the kids."
It was at there point there daughter walked in. having heard her mum and dad shouting, she had come in to investigate.
"Dad you can hardly use me and the boys. We are all adults practically." She rightfully pointed out.
"Do not get involved young lady."
"And do not have a go at her." said Shee. "It is me you are mad at so don't take it out on her."
He shook his head.
"Darling me and your father just need a minute, will you go back in to the other room for a moment." She looked at her mum doubtfully but did as she had been asked too.
The rest of the day just got worse. Patrick was hurtful, more so by the hour, and when they got in to bed that night, he slipped a hand round her waist and begun kissing her neck.
"I'm sorry." He whispered and despite his wife's cold reaction which was none at all, he continued caressing her.
'No more,' she thought to herself. 'No more.'
By the time she had got to the station the next day she was so tired and her head hurt. She just wanted him…
As soon as she got in to the locker room where she saw every one getting ready for the day she went over to him. She had tears spilling over on to her cheeks.
Taking her in his arms on first sight he kissed her fore head. His kisses didn't feel so cruel as the ones she had been receiving the night before. They felt loving and reassuring.
Why did it feel so right to be with him?
"What is it?" he asked, but they both knew they couldn't talk there. "How long we got Reggie babe?"
"We have to be out in the car in twenty minutes." Was the reply.
"Come on, we can get a coffee in that time and you can tell me what is wrong." She nodded, and he led her by the hand to the cafeteria.
The entire relief who had already been gossiping about there sergeant and Des but now after that scene it was pretty much confirmed. They were having it away.
"I just can't Des… I can't go on like this." Said Sheelagh through her tears.
"What are you saying? That you want to end it with me and you?" he questioned with a little fear in his voice. That was not what he wanted.
"No, not me and you. Me and Patrick." She said and watched as a smile came on to his face.
"So that we can be together?"
"Yes."
"So why are you crying?" he asked.
"I don't know." She said as he leaned over a kissed her.
"There aren't ever going to be tears for you again. I promise you…your never going to have to cry again Sheelagh."
She let out a small laugh. She doubted what he had just said severely but kissed him through tears. She was just so happy.
They were going to be a official couple at last…
"Come, come tonight." He whispered to her.
"I am going to have to go back to the house and get my things." She pointed out, the practically of every thing beginning to cloud her mind. They didn't deter her from her choice to go to him though. "But yes. Yes I'll come tonight."
"I can go with you if you like." He offered.
"No I don't think so. It'd be unfair on Patrick. I mean he is going to know I am going to go to be with another man. He doesn't need to see you."
He nodded, and excitedly they embraced. This was it, they were at the end of the rainbow, and both had got there pots of gold.
"Are you ok to go back to work now?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yeah, yeah don't worry about me. I am going to be fine; the only problem with me is I am going to lack concentration, thinking on tonight."
"Me too. I'll have a bottle of wine for when you come yeah?"
"That's sounds lovely Des, thank you!" she said as she went off to her office.
When he got back to the locker room, he found Kerry with a smile on her face and the others given her five quid notes.
"What's all this?" he asked.
"We just had a little wager Des." She said.
"And why wasn't I involved?" he asked.
"Because it was about you. The others didn't think there was any thing going on between you and Sheelagh, I however did, and I think what just happens proves it." she smirked.
"So come on…" said Tony. "Are you together?"
"Reggie, we have to get to the car!" he said to his partner for the day leaving the others in suspense.
"You could have told me Des, I mean we are best mates." He said as they sat down in the car.
"I wanted to mate but Shee didn't want me too." He told him. "If I ever stood a chance of ever getting close to her I had to play the game by her rules."
"And now?" Reg asked.
"And now what?"
"Has it paid off? Arte you a couple?"
"Yeah… yeah she is coming tonight." He revealed to his oddball of a best friends.
"Good on you mate." Said Reg approvingly.
"You think we'll make the distance?" he asked.
"God only knows the answer to that one."
Later...
Sheelagh got back to the house to find the kids all out. Good, that'd make it easier. Patrick was also out. He must be out on a run or some thing. She would wait for him to return before she went. She had to say good bye to him properly after all there long years of marriage. Once it had been a very happy and loving marriage. These would be the memories of him she would keep with her.
Whilst she was waiting for him, Shee did not sit idle. She had to pack she had to get her things together for leaving.
She was going to have to do it in two trips she quickly came to realise. There was no other way, she had so much. She wondered how much wardrobe space she was going to have
When she was half an hour in to packing, she heard the door open.
"Shee, I'm back." She heard Patrick's voice.
Going down to him, she breathed deeply, and it didn't take him long to see how pale she was.
"What is it?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
"I'm leaving you Patrick. I am going tonight." She whispered. Until that moment she hadn't been ashamed of what she and Des had decided, but now she was.
"Why?"
"It isn't working any more." She said to him.
"Ok then, can we talk about this." It was clear she was unhappy, but despite a few hitches he didn't think they were this bad. sure they had had a few rows, but what couple didn't.
She sat on the stairs and nodded.
"Is it some thing that I have done?"
"No."
"Are – I mean – " a switched flicked on in his head. He knew why she was leaving. "Another man?"
Silence took the room.
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