Shelagh and Patrick had decided to head into the city in the afternoon to buy some last minute presents for Tim - luckily for them Julienne and Peter were more than happy to look after him for a few hours.
"Do you fancy a coffee?" Shelagh asked as the two of them stood in line at the toy shop.
"I'd love one" Patrick replied looking down at her with a smile. "Why don't you go grab us one from the small coffee shop up the road? I'll meet you there in a second once I've paid for the gift?" Patrick suggested as they stepped further in the queue.
"The usual?" Shelagh smiled as Patrick nodded "I'll see you in a minute then".
Slipping out of the queue she walked out of the busy shop and into the cold, snowy Aberdeen streets.
As Shelagh walked she couldn't help but smile to herself as she thought about the past few days. She had butterflies every time she thought about Patrick and her feelings for him were getting stronger by the second.
Shelagh was certain of her feelings towards him and Timothy, and she was starting to believe they felt the same - she just wished she had the courage to ask him so that she could stop pretending.
She couldn't believe that he had cuddled up to her in bed this morning and that the two of them had almost shared a kiss! Oh how she longed for that kiss, her whole body tingled at the thought.
Walking into the coffee shop Shelagh was greeted with the smell of coffee beans.
Walking up to the counter Shelagh smiled at the barista.
"Good afternoon, what can I get started for you?"
"Hi, may I get a small Americano and a small latte please?" Shelagh ordered.
"Of course that's £5.60 please" The barista asked as she handed Shelagh the card machine to pay.
"Your drinks will be ready in a few minutes, feel free to sit down or wait at the collection station" The barista added before walking off to make the drinks.
Shelagh walked over to the collection station to wait for the drinks when she heard someone talking to her.
"Are you going to look my way gorgeous?" A man said as he sat on the sofa by the window.
Ignoring him Shelagh pulled out her phone to text her mum to see how Timothy was getting on.
"Oi love?" The man asked again.
As Shelagh stood with her back to the man the door opened and Patrick walked in.
"Are you going to give me your number or what?" He asked again making Patrick's blood boil.
"Leave her alone" Patrick hissed as he walked over to Shelagh and wrapped his arm around her waist protectively. At first she flinched but she soon relaxed in his arms.
"Are you okay?" Patrick asked as he rubbed his thumb soothingly along her side.
"I am now" Shelagh smiled at him.
"Come on let's get going" Patrick said as the barista placed their drinks on the counter. Picking them up Patrick smiled his thank you to the barista.
They walked hand in hand to the city gardens and found a bench in a quiet spot so that they could sit down and enjoy their coffee's.
The two of them sat in silence, simply enjoying eachothers company. But Shelagh's mind was focused on how protective Patrick got in the cafe.
"Patrick?" Shelagh asked breaking the silence.
"Yeah?" He replied, looking over at her to see her puzzled face.
"I uh, nevermind" Shelagh stumbled as she stared into the distance.
"Spill it Mannion" Patrick demanded.
"I can't get my head around this" Shelagh began, turning her head she looked up at Patrick. "Why are you so kind to me?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Patrick asked, hoping she would continue to speak and tell him what was bothering her.
"I'm nothing special, yet you do anything and everything for me. You care for me at work and at home, you traveled over 500 miles to spend Christmas in a strange city and just now you stood up for me in the coffee shop" She questioned as she fiddled with her coffee cup lid anxious to hear his response.
"When are you going to see the way other people see you, the way I see you?" Patrick sighed "You are so kind, caring, fun, talented and incredibly gorgeous so why wouldn't I care for you?" Patrick asked in a serious tone.
Shelagh sat there for a moment and stared blankly at him, not knowing how to tell him.
"Because I'm scared" She mumbled.
"Of what?"
"Of falling for you even more than I already have just to find out you're not interested" Shelagh exclaimed, scared but relived that she had finally gotten it out of her system.
Patrick sat there in shock for a moment before taking his hand and gently placing it under her chin and lifting it to face him.
Patrick pulled her in for a long, deep kiss - the type that would show her all of his emotions.
Smiling into the kiss Shelagh placed her hand upon his cheek.
After a short while they parted to catch their breaths.
"I couldn't be more certain" Shelagh breathed, her heart racing - she couldn't believe he had kissed her!
"I am completely certain" Patrick promised, a grin plastered on his face.
Shelagh ran her hand to the back of his head and pulled him in for another sweet kiss.