"Why shouldn't I?" Sheelagh asked, smiling. Patrick's face broke into the biggest grin she had ever seen on it. Patrick's smile was contagious and Sheelagh found herself smiling back at him.
"I'm nothing like Des." Patrick replied, not taking his eyes off Sheelagh.
"That's good. And also why I fell for you."
Patrick kissed her quickly. "I love you." He whispered.
"Really?" Sheelagh's eyes widened in surprise. Patrick laughed at her expression.
"Of course. Why shouldn't I?"
"Well, I don't know. I knew what feeling I have for you…but I never expected them to be reciprocated."
"Well they are."
They were interrupted by Brian knocking on the front door. They both went to let him in.
"You two look happy, what happened?" Brain noted as he closed the door behind himself.
"After I've sorted a few things out, I'll tell you. Promise." Sheelagh replied as they walked into the sitting room.
"Okay. Are you going to press charges?"
"No, what I'm going to tell him is going to hurt him enough. Anyway it'll be my word against his."
"We'd back you up."
"You'd be classed as too biased. Anyway, I'm not pressing charges. End of story."
"Okay."
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"Des?" Sheelagh called out the next evening after their shift. Des came out of the sitting room carrying a mug.
"Sheelagh?" Des couldn't believe his eyes. Then he grinned. "Brian said he wouldn't let you come back ever." He couldn't disguise his delight.
"He hasn't, he's waiting outside."
"Oh." Des's good mood vanished instantly. "Then why are you here? To get more stuff?"
"I've come to talk to you. Can we sit down please?"
"Yeah, okay. I'm confused Shee." They went into the sitting room and sat down next to each other. What Des didn't know was that Sheelagh's mobile was connected to Patrick's so the three people in the car, Patrick, Brian and Gina, could hear if he got violent. Brian had persuaded Sheelagh to tell Gina about Des hitting her even if she wasn't going to report it, and Gina had insisted that she came along today so she could be on hand 'just in case'. Sheelagh and Patrick had also told Gina and Brian about the affair. Gina's reaction had been, 'I knew it!'.
"Sheelagh, what's going on?" Des asked.
"I can't be with you anymore." Sheelagh said calmly.
"What?!?!" Des shouted, Sheelagh shuffled back on the sofa a bit.
"I just can't." Sheelagh almost whispered.
"What's his name?" Des snarled.
"There's no-one. I'm doing this for me and only me." Sheelagh threw back strongly.
"It's Patrick isn't it?" Des ignored her comment.
"Yes I am seeing him but I'm not splitting with you just to be with him. I'm splitting with you mainly for me." Sheelagh answered calmly. Des took a deep breath and counted to ten in his head to calm himself down.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked.
"Yes."
"You'd better get out then. You can come back for your stuff tomorrow while I'm on my shift."
"Okay." Sheelagh left and once she was out of the flat he threw the TV remote at the wall in a bout of anger. Then he put his head in his hands in frustration.
Back outside Sheelagh got into the back of the car next to Patrick. Brian and Gina were in the front seats and turned round when Sheelagh got in.
"Well done." Brian said, "it must've been hard."
Sheelagh nodded. "I hope he's going to be okay." She looked up at the window of their kitchen. Patrick put his hand on her leg.
"He'll be fine," he said, "and so will you." Sheelagh nodded again.
"He said I can go back for my stuff tomorrow while he's at work."
"Sheelagh?" Patrick said shyly.
"Yeah," Shee;agh's face lit up. Which put Patrick at ease.
"Yeah," Patrick smiled. "I'd like you to."
"Okay then." Sheelagh smiled shyly at him. They forgot that they weren't on their own as they stared deeply into each other's eyes then gave each other a celebratory kiss.
"Okay that's enough you two." Gina said, causing them to break apart "I'll come and help you pack tomorrow."
"Yeah, me too." Patrick said.
"Me three!" Brian said excitedly. Everyone looked at him curiously. "Sorry," he grinned sheepishly, "I've always wanted to say that." Sheelagh laughed and shook her head in amusement.