Sheelagh sat in the area car while Des went to get some fish and chips. The streets were quiet and it was coming dark, the amber haze of the streetlights gently illuminated the first snowfall of the year. Sheelagh smiled to herself, there was something almost magical about snow, how something so pure could come from a world so hell-bent on self destruction. She watched as a woman stood holding the hands of her enthralled children as they watched the snow come down. The two little girls stood in awe, their faces aglow and their eyes sparkling made Sheelagh almost sad that she had no young children. She regarded herself to be too old to want more kids, besides her career was her priority now, she'd made her decisions and she was going to live with them.
She hadn't even noticed Des walking back to the car, he knocked on the window
"Wake up!" His muffled voice came through the glass
"Sorry!" She smiled, reaching across to unlock the door
"They had no fish" He grinned cheekily
She looked curiously at him
"So I thought you'd like a large sausage" He winked
"DES! You're terrible!" She laughed
He smiled and handed her her belated lunch. They sat in silence, which was occasionally interrupted by Sheelagh's hysterical giggling as she tried to eat the sausage.
"Kids at home tonight?" Des asked
"Declan is, Siobahn and Conor are out again" She paused for a moment "Patrick's at work" She said shyly
"Fancy coming over to mine?"
"I'll have to go home and make Declan some dinner first, you know what men are like, can't look after themselves!" She smirked
"That's what women are for! He grinned as she slapped his knee
By the time the shift was over, Sheelagh was exhausted and not entirely sure she could cope with a late night. Rather than disappoint Des, she hurried home and made Declan's dinner.
"I'm going to leave you if that's OK?" She said softly
"Yeah, no problem. Where are you going?" He asked curiously
"Out with some people from work, I'll stay over at one of their houses instead of trying to get back tonight" She said, surprised at her capacity to lie and how ambitious she was being with her evenings expectations.
"OK" Declan smiled, kissing her on the cheek "Take care"
"You too darling" She smiled as she put her coat on.
In no time at all she was out of the door and off down the street. She walked briskly, the snow was getting on for a couple of inches deep, it was hardly the weather for a leisurely stroll. She soon arrived a Des's house, she knocked on the door and soon enough it opened, Sheelagh's face lit up, the lethargy she'd felt earlier had gone and she gazed expectantly into his eyes.
"Didn't think you were coming" He said, sounding hurt
"I came as fast as I could" She smiled, walking past him and into the lounge, taking of her gloves and scarf, then her coat and went to sit down.
"Don't stop there" Said Des, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close for a kiss.
He pulled back for a moment
"Your nose is freezing" He whispered, kissing it gently
"Not just my nose that's cold" She beamed
"Well we'd better get you warmed up then" He smiled, he was overwhelmed by how nervous he was feeling. He gently took her hand and led her through to his bedroom.