Later that night Sheelagh was on her own at home when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Sheelagh answered grumpily, she'd been told off by Gina for shouting in the station.
"Hi. You okay?" Patrick answered.
"Oh hello," Sheelagh cheered up, "yeah, I'm okay. How are you?"
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"No you're not. What's wrong?"
"I got told off at work, nothing much."
"Must have been bad for you to be grumpy."
"You're too observant!" Sheelagh giggled, her bad mood evaporating. Patrick laughed with her.
"Are you busy?" he asked.
"Not at the minute."
"Can you come round?"
"I don't know. I mean, Des is already mad at me. I should be here for when he gets back." Sheelagh said regretfully.
"Oh okay." Sheelagh could hear the sadness in his voice.
"Patrick," Sheelagh whispered, "you know if I could."
"I know." Patrick reassured in his normal voice. Sheelagh heard the front door close.
"Des is back. I'll have to go." Patrick heard the resistance in her voice.
"Oh well. I'll talk to you tomorrow." He said.
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."
They put the phone down and did their separate things.
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Sheelagh Taviner knocked on Patrick's front door after her shift the day after their conversation. Patrick let her in happily and they went and sat in the sitting room.
"What did you get into trouble for?" Patrick asked, putting his arms over the back of the sofa they were sitting on. Sheelagh leant back against him.
"Shouting at Des in the station." She answered.
"Oh. Is that it?"
"She likes picking on me."
"Oh. Poor you."
Sheelagh giggled. She turned her head to look at him. Patrick felt his heart almost stop when he looked deep into her eyes. He leaned forward at the same time Sheelagh did and their lips met in a sweet and gentle kiss. Patrick's hands started wandering and Sheelagh knew she wouldn't be going home anytime soon.