Chapter 8

"...Oh, I'll be alright, Marie. Just don't be making any loud noises," I told her as I swallowed an aspirin and returned behind the counter. I heard her laughing at me as I carried fresh chips and put them in the warmer. I took my pencil that I had on my ear to record items Marie would need to reorder. Satisfied with that, I stuck the pencil back over my ear but this time the pencil dropped to the ground.

"Marie? Marie?" a voice called out.

I froze. I knew that voice. I had missed that voice. I reached my pencil and stood upright. There he was. He looked surprised to see me. My breath caught in my throat. He was even more handsome than I remembered. The blue in his shirt brought out the bluish tint in his blue-green eyes. He stared at me and then smiled. I thought I might faint.

He broke the silence. "Well hello, Lizzie. Fancy seeing you here."

"Hello…uh…Stranger," I laughed nervously.

"The name's Patrick," he told me with a small smile, offering his hand to shake.

I shook his hand and much enjoyed the feel and the strength of it. "Pleasure to finally know your name, Patrick." I replied.

"Believe me, Lizzie, the pleasure's all mine," he said with a wink. We stood there still shaking hands as I didn't want to let go. Seconds passed and I pulled my hand away and placed the fallen pencil back over my ear.

"How's Frankie?" he inquired, flashing me a smile with those dazzling white teeth.

"He's fine. In school right now."

"Right…in school, of course."

"He'd love ta see ya," I blurted out.

"Really?" He's taken aback. "What about all that stuff about his dad?" he asked gently.

"Well…" I'm interrupted by Marie who came out with a six pack of ginger from the back and stuck them in the small refrigerator.

"Lizzie will ya please make a note we need more vegetable oil?" She noticed Patrick standing there. "Oh hello, Patty," she greeted with a wicked grin.

"Marie, I've told ya not to call me Patty," he told her through his teeth.

"Ya, I know. But I've been calling you that fer years. Get over it."

"Christ, Marie, what are we, 8 years old?"

I looked from one to the other and tuned out their quibbling. I found myself instantly charmed by their sibling rivalry.

"So what are ya up to?" Marie asked him.

"Stopped by quickly ta grab some cigarettes and then off ta a meeting."

I am disappointed because I don't want him to leave.

"Sorry ya have ta rush off, Patty."

Patrick glares at Marie.

"Are ya going back home tonight?" she asked. After receiving his affirmative nod she added, "Well then, maybe Lizzie can meet you at the coffeehouse later."

"Great idea. Lizzie?" He looked at me and asked.

Both looked at me expectantly. I was taken aback. I hadn't mentioned my dream to Marie.

"The coffeehouse...uh...sure," I reply. Patrick smiled at my acceptance and his eyes seem to sparkle. Once again, I think I will faint.

"How's 3 then? Same place as before?"

"3's great," Marie told him.

I elbowed her. "3 is fine, Patrick, thank you," I told him smiling and embarrassed.

"See ya then," he said as he left and I waved goodbye. My legs felt less wobbly.

I turned to Marie, "What about all that 'it's up to the two of you what happens now'?"

Marie laughed. "Well, it looked like the two of you needed some help."

I laughed also. "Thank you, Marie. We'll see what happens."

I looked back down at the ordering sheet and sighed. "I sure do love the way he smells."

"It's Obsession."

"No, Marie," I said defensively. "I wouldn't say I was obsessed or…"

"No, Lizzie," Marie cut in. "That's his cologne – Obsession."

I chuckled. I'm still recovering from nerves from his visit. How would I survive this afternoon?

I walked into Marie's for some fags. I had some appointments and had to rush to get to them.

I called for Marie at the counter and instead of Marie, Lizzie popped up. I was surprised to see her. Of course I knew she worked there but I wasn't expecting her to be there at that moment. She was beautiful. She didn't seem to know it. If she'd only give me the chance I'd never let her forget it. I looked into her eyes and tried to remind myself not to get lost there.

"Well, hello, Lizzie," I finally said. "Fancy seeing you here." I silently kicked myself for not thinking of something better to say.

"Well, hello…uh…Stranger," she replied jokingly. Of course. I never gave her my name.

"The name's Patrick," I smiled at her, offered my hand; remembering my manners. She took my hand. It was very soft and I ran my thumb along her knuckle in a flirtatious way.

"Pleasure to finally know your name, Patrick," she told me.

"Believe me, Lizzie, the pleasure's all mine." Well, she has no idea how much I liked the sound of her saying my name for the first time. I think I could've listened to her say it over and over. I imagined her saying it in her soft, gentle voice. Patrick. Patrick. Patrick.

I was lost in thought while we shook hands and she pulled hers away and put her pencil over her ear. Unable to think of anything charming or intelligent to say, I asked her, "How's Frankie?" I'd been wondering how he was doing as well.

"He's fine. In school right now," she informed me.

"Right...Of course." I've missed him. I've missed the both of them.

"He'd love ta see ya," she said.

I was pleasantly surprised she said that although I was a little confused. "Really? What about all that stuff about his dad?" I asked.

She started to answer, but was interrupted by Marie.

"Oh, hello, Patty," Marie teased.

I hate it when she calls me that. Why did she have to do this in front of Lizzie? I told myself not to get angry. I told Marie through my teeth, "I've told ya not ta call me Patty."

"Ya, I know. But I've been calling ya that fer years. Get over it," she says.

I snapped at her, "Christ Marie! What are we, 8 years old!"

"Aw come on, Patty. Ya know I only call ya that cuz that's what Ma called ya," Marie said pointedly.

"Right, Marie," I replied calmly. "Do ya want me to call ya by the name Ma called you?" I countered.

Marie furrowed her eyebrows. "Ya know I still love ya."

We both looked to Lizzie who was watching us with an amused look on her face.

"Anyway...so what are ya up ta?" Marie asked me.

"Stopped by quickly ta grab some cigarettes and then off to a meeting," I answered. I remembered that Lizzie doesn't smoke so I considered cutting down on my smoking. Marie handed me a pack.

"Sorry ya have ta rush off, Patty," Marie said while I glared at her. "Are ya going back home tonight?"

Right. Home. Yes, later after traffic, I'd make my 25 minute drive. I nodded to Marie.

"Well then maybe Lizzie can meet you at the coffeehouse later," Marie suggested helpfully.

God love her. It was perfect. I didn't quite know how I was going to ask Lizzie out yet. "Great idea," I agreed then looked at Lizzie. "Lizzie?" Please say yes. Please say yes.

"The coffeehouse...uh…sure," Lizzie said looking a little uncomfortable.

Not the enthusiastic yes I had hoped but I'll take it. "How's 3 then?"

"3's great," Marie chimed in. Lizzie elbowed her and I tried not to laugh.

"3 is fine, Patrick. Thank you," Lizzie told me. That was much better.

"See ya then," I said as I left. Marie and Lizzie waved goodbye.

I left the chip shop and all I could think of was losing myself in her eyes and hearing her voice say Patrick…Patrick…Patrick.

A/N: ginger is a Scottish slang word for a carbonated drink.