Chapter 11

Frankie and Catriona stood there in the coffeehouse. Frankie had been so excited upon hearing that Patrick was in town that after school he and Catriona decided to pay a visit to Marie. Marie only told them that Patrick was at the coffeehouse but didn't mention Lizzie. Frankie agreed to go upon Catriona's insistence. And there they were... Lizzie and Patrick sitting together, lips almost touching.

"Please, don't let us interrupt," Catriona offered dreamily as the two looked up from their interrupted kiss.

"Frankie!" Lizzie, who was completely caught by surprise; practically shouted, calling attention to themselves from other patrons. She could feel herself turning different shades of red.

Patrick only sat there speechless.

Lizzie began to smooth her hair and straighten her sleeves as though that would erase the image from her son's mind.

"Frankie! What are you doing here?" she asked him lowering her voice and noticing the stares from the other people. She looked wildly from Frankie to Catriona.

Frankie wrote on his notebook: Catriona said Patrick was in town.

Patrick and Lizzie both read it. Patrick, having recovered from the shock, smiled.

"Patrick...uh right…Frankie, how did ya know we were here?" Lizzie asked him trying to recall when she had told him Patrick's name and realized she hadn't.

"Marie," Catriona quickly answered with a smile.

"Ohhhhhhh," Patrick and Lizzie said at the same time, nodding.

Patrick rose from his seat to shake Frankie's hand. Frankie looked at his hand and then back at Patrick. "How are ya, Frankie?" Patrick asked him with an embarrassed smile.

Frankie didn't reply. Instead he threw himself into Patrick's arms hugging him tightly. Patrick smiled and hugged him back.

Seeing her son in Patrick's embrace at one time had scared her. Now Lizzie no longer feared this man. It rather gave her a warm feeling.

"Frankie..." Lizzie got behind Frankie and tapped on his shoulder to get his attention.

Frankie was so happy he couldn't believe it was true. Just this morning he'd still longed for Patrick to come back. Now here he was. The young boy was determined not to let him walk out of their lives again.

"Frankie," Lizzie said making Frankie finally face her. "How about you introduce your friend to Patrick?"

Frankie scribbled quickly. This is Catriona. He then showed him the paper. Patrick read it and smiled courteously to the young girl. Frankie began to write again but Catriona stopped him.

"This is Patrick," Catriona said shaking Patrick's outstretched hand.

"Pleasure to meet ya, little lady," Patrick replied.

"The pleasure's all mine," Catriona said, making cow eyes at him. Lizzie's mouth dropped and Frankie elbowed her.

"Now that we know each other," Lizzie told Frankie and Catriona, "you two should get going."

Frankie frowned. "Go on, Frankie. We'll talk more about this later."

Patrick faced Frankie. "It was good seeing you again, Frankie."

He didn't want to leave yet. Frankie nodded and gave him a small smile of defeat. Hesitantly he and Catriona left the coffeehouse.

Patrick and Lizzie watched the two leave and then resumed their seats. After an awkward silence their eyes met and the two couldn't help but laugh.

Still feeling a little red in the face, Lizzie picked up her coffee and drank. She was happy that Patrick did the same.

"I'm so sorry, Patrick," Lizzie finally said still embarrassed about what her son witnessed.

"Oh, Lizzie, it's okay," Patrick replied. "I thought it was funny. It's not like this was planned- my sister! She told them we were here!" he realized.

"Right. And it looks as though you have an admirer," Lizzie commented, recalling Catriona's lovesick expression.

"I hope that she's not the only one," Patrick murmured, his eyes falling into the spell of her eyes.

Lizzie could feel her heart pounding again. At that moment, she saw Frankie peek over at them from behind another booth.

"That's it!" Lizzie declared.

"What?" Patrick was puzzled until he looked over and spotted the boy.

Lizzie gestured to Frankie to turn back around. "I have to go," she told him regretfully. "Thank you. I really enjoyed myself."

Patrick's heart sunk. He didn't want her to leave. He leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I have ta see ya again, Lizzie," he said with a husky voice.

Lizzie nodded and scribbled her phone number on a napkin. Frankie ran up to them and signed to Lizzie. "Uh, I don't know, Frankie," she said looking from Frankie up to Patrick.

"What?"

Lizzie looked down and sighed. She did like the idea but didn't want to appear forward. "Frankie wants to know if you'll join us for tea. Pizza night."

"I'd love ta," Patrick told her with a grin. He promptly left them to pay the bill. Then Patrick took his place between Frankie and Lizzie putting his arms through theirs and the three walked on to Lizzie's flat.