"Dinner was very nice, Patrick. Please thank Mrs. Frobisher for me." For the first time in days, Shelagh had very nearly cleaned her plate. "And the flowers look very nice on the table."
"I cannot believe you bought daisies, Dad." Timothy scorned.
"Why? What do you mean?" Patrick was used to a little bit of sass from Tim, but did not appreciate the lack of support tonight.
"I think they look lovely, Patrick." Shelagh assured him.
"See? Shelagh likes them. That's all that matters."
"Of course she would say that. She's too nice to tell you the truth about them."
"I'm sorry, Tim. Just when did you become an expert on flowers?" Patrick grew a bit more annoyed.
"Everyone knows, Dad. Daisies are "friend" flowers. They are not the flowers you give a lady when you're trying to impress her."
Shelagh laughed. "I like them. Don't listen to him, Patrick."
Timothy shrugged. "Fine. I was only trying to help. Don't blame me if the only flowers you'll ever get are plain old daisies. I'm going up to my room. Just remind me never to ask you for advice when I start dating a girl, Dad!"
Shelagh and Patrick laughed as he headed up the stairs. ""Tim, you'll need to do the washing up while I bring Shelagh home. I'll be back soon, so don't dilly-dally." Patrick enjoyed getting a bit of his own back when Tim groaned and came back down. "Say goodbye to Shelagh," he told his son.
"Good night, Shelagh. Will we see you tomorrow?" Tim's mood brightened for a moment.
"We'll see. Perhaps, if you clean the kitchen properly." Shelagh smiled. Once she and Patrick had cleared the air between them she had relaxed into the family setting. Timothy and Patrick had teased each other back and forth, each vying for her attention. Now, a few hours later, her face was sore from smiling. She couldn't remember when she had been this happy.
Lighthearted, Shelagh watched as Patrick slid into his seat beside her in the car. "That was a lovely evening, Shelagh. I can't remember seeing Tim so happy. Thank you."
Shelagh blushed. "I'm the one who should be thanking you, Patrick. I had a wonderful time."
"Good. I'm glad." His eyes glittered as he looked at her. He desperately wanted to kiss her again, but was afraid of moving too quickly. For heavens sake, she had started the day as a nun! He pulled away, starting the car."I'd like to see you again. I'm on call the next two nights. Monday, maybe? I'll have to check. I probably owe Wilson a night for covering for me today," he grimaced.
"Yes, Patrick. I'd like that. Monday would be fine."
"But this time, I'm taking you out. Just us. No man should have to compete with Timothy when he takes a lady out on a date!"
Shelagh was nervous. She felt as if she was always nervous these days. For months, really, if she was honest with herself. All through the Spring and Summer, as she struggled with her developing feelings for Patrick, then at the Sanitorium, anxiety sat on her shoulders. Now, sitting across from Patrick at the small table, she felt the familiar tension rise up again. Dinner in a fancy restaurant was a new experience for her. A few times, as a nursing student, she had gone to a Lyon's with classmates. Her finances had not made many such meals possible, though, and certainly her life as a nun had not provided the opportunity.
Patrick picked up on her unease. "Shelagh? Something wrong?" He was very eager for this evening to go well. The weekend had proven extremely busy for him, and they had spent only a few brief moments in each other's company. His loss had been Timothy's gain, however, as his son had spent the greater part of each day entertaining Shelagh. A trip to the British Museum on Saturday and a walk through the London Zoo had filled their hours while Patrick saw patient after patient.
"No, Patrick. All is well."
"You seem distracted," he nudged. "If you don't like this place, we can leave. Go anywhere you like." He smiled at her, encouraging her to open up to him.
"No, this place is lovely. It's just that I've never been to a restaurant as fine as this. I'm not sure what to do with myself, or which fork to use. I don't even think my dress is quite suitable." She didn't mean to sound so negative. She squared her shoulders and continued, "I just have so many firsts in front of me, Patrick. I will need a bit of guidance here or there."
"I'll be happy to help. But you have nothing to worry about. First of all, your dress is lovely. And even if it wasn't, you are the most beautiful woman in the room. No one is looking at your dress. As to the rest, just be yourself. You can't go wrong there."
Shelagh smiled, grateful. "It's a bit overwhelming sometimes, that's all."
"Well, then. Just take hold of my hand and we'll face it together."
An officious waiter came to their table, and private conversation stopped for a while. Shelagh looked at the menu and panicked.
Patrick reached for Shelagh's hand to reassure her."We'll have the sole Meuniere, with canapes to start," he told the waiter. He looked at Shelagh. "Wine?" he asked.
"No, thank you." She had no head for alcohol. A glass of wine would only complicate the evening.
"Just water, thank you," he advised the waiter.
Left to themselves, Patrick asked, "Have you really never been to a place like this?"
"No, not ever. Funds were rather tight in nursing school, and…"
"Nuns don't generally frequent high-end eateries."
She laughed. "No, not really."
"But when you were a student? I'm sure there were many young men that would have been happy to take you out for a treat."
"I don't think so. I've never really been on a date before."
Patrick was stunned. "So, this is your first date, ever?"
"Yes."
"What about the cinema? Or dancing?"
"Dancing?" She chuckled. "Now you are being silly, Patrick. No, I've never been dancing, and the only movies I went to, I either went with friends or alone. I never was a social butterfly."
Patrick considered her words. "I'm sure you were asked many times, though. You had to be. You're so lovely, and kind, a young man would have been thrilled to have you on his arm."
"Well, they never said. Besides, I had plans to join the Order as soon as I could. I pushed through nursing school rather quickly. I didn't have any free time." She smiled shyly at him. "And thank you for the sweet things you just said."
"I meant every word of them. I suppose we'll have to start up a list. A list of firsts. Things you've never had the chance to do, like dancing and the cinema, a play in the West End, picnics at the seaside…"
"We're going to be very busy," she laughed.
Later, Patrick suggested a stroll along the river to "help with the digestion." The anxiety Shelagh had felt earlier in the evening had long disappeared, and she could feel herself relaxing.
"You know, Patrick, this is my first stroll along the river." She reached out and took his hand.
"Is it?" His hand tightened on hers. "Another first. We should get busy writing that list. You may have had a first you've already forgotten!"
"Like what?" she asked. "I've been to the museum and zoo before. Shopping can go on the list, I suppose. It had been so long, I forgot how! And I'm not likely to forget tonight just yet. I think the list is safe from being unfinished."
"There's one more first, I think," Patrick said quietly. "Your first kiss."
Shelagh sighed deeply. "Yes. My first kiss. The other night."
"Yes. I haven't kissed you since then."
"No, you haven't."
Patrick turned her to face him. "It's not because I didn't want to, you know."
"Oh?" she whispered. It was getting very hard to breathe.
"No. I've wanted to. Very much."
She swallowed. "Have you? I wasn't sure."
"You can be sure of me, now!" Stepping close, Patrick gently put his hands on her neck and pressed his mouth to hers. Always a quick student, Shelagh responded, her own hands sliding up his forearms. For a long moment they stayed like that, then Patrick brought his arms down around her and pulled her close. Shelagh felt her arms move around his neck as they pressed their bodies even closer. Her head was pounding as the kiss deepened, lips opening to each other, tongues meeting. Her legs went weak, and Shelagh was glad Patrick had such a tight hold on her. Moments later they broke away, breathless. Shelagh rested her head against his shoulder, and Patrick stroked her hair.
"Another first?" he asked.
"Yes."
Standing in each other's arms, the sound of the river helping to quiet their ardent hearts, Shelagh asked, "Patrick, this has been a lovely first date."
"I'm glad, sweetheart."
"And you should know…"
"Mmhmm?" He whispered into her hair.
"I have very high expectations for our second!"
