"Ready?" Patrick asked as Shelagh clicked her suitcase shut.
"I believe so" Shelagh sighed softly, as she picked up her handbag bag and suitcase. The pair left Shelagh's flat and stepped into the silent street.
Shelagh locked her flat whilst Patrick placed her suitcase alongside his and Timothy's in the boot of his MG.
Shelagh walked towards the car and noticed Timothy fast asleep in the back seat, a smile grew on her face as she saw the blanket she had gifted him for his birthday was tucked around him.
It was five thirty in the morning so Timothy would be asleep for a few hours yet. They had decided to leave early as they had a long drive ahead of them and they also hoped arrive in Aberdeen mid afternoon.
As Shelagh slipped into the passenger seat Patrick started up the engine, they both turned to eachother with tiered smiles as Patrick pulled away.
They had been on the road for a couple hours and were making good time due low traffic. Shelagh smiled contently as she looked over her shoulder to see that Timothy was still asleep.
"Do you think we should stop soon so that he can eat?" Shelagh asked as she looked back round to the front, she noticed Patrick let out a small yawn
"And I think you could do with some coffee" She added.
"What time is it?" Patrick asked as he turned the car radio down. Shelagh pulled her phone out from her pocket and squinted her eyes as the bright screen light hit her face.
"It's almost eight. There's a service station at the next junction, I believe there's a Starbucks there. Why don't we stop for half hour?" Shelagh suggested, she looked over at Patrick and felt guilty as she could see he was tired.
"Sounds good with me" Patrick agreed as he changed lanes ready to pull off at the next junction.
As he did so he saw Shelagh sitting with a worried look on her face.
"Shelagh what's wrong?"
"What if this doesn't work?" Shelagh sighed.
"What exactly won't work?" Patrick challenged as he took the motorway exit.
"What if they notice or worse it goes horribly wrong and I ruin our friendship?" Shelagh asked as they pulled into the service station car park.
Pulling into a spot Patrick parked the car and switched the engine off, he turned in his seat to face Shelagh.
"Your parents are Julienne and Peter Mannion. Your mum is a semi retired primary school teacher who works in the village school and your father is a retired fish monger who now volunteers his time at the local youth center" Patrick began, only pausing to take a breath,
"You and I met at work and over time grew closer together, and if they have any questions about that I'm sure we can figure the answers out on the spot. Timothy knows this and so do you and I" Patrick stated with a small but smug smile "And I very much doubt that you could ruin the friendship, so please stop worrying"
Shelagh nodded and stayed quiet for a moment before answering.
"Thank you Patrick. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you, but let me start by buying you coffee and breakfast" Shelagh insisted with a firm face, she was so glad he was her friend.
"Shelagh may I have a hot chocolate with marshmallows?" Timothy asked as they stood in line at Starbucks. Shelagh looked down at him and smiled.
"Would you like whipped cream too?" She asked, a small chuckle escaping her lips as Timothy grinned. As they were talking Patrick had joined them in the queue.
"What's he smiling about?" Patrick asked as they stepped forward in the queue. Shelagh mimed zipping her mouth shut which made Tim laugh.
"Good morning and welcome to Starbucks, what can I get for you?" The young barista asked with a smile.
"Morning!" Shelagh started "Could I get a small hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, a medium latte and a large americano to go please"
"Of course! May I say you're the sweetest family!" The barista added.
"Oh uh" Shelagh fumbled as she pulled out her card to pay.
"Thank you" Patrick said as he placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled at the barista.
"No worries, here's your receipt. Your drinks will be ready in a minute!" As the barista walked away Shelagh turned to face Patrick.
"I suppose we should get use to that" She joked.
"I think I delt with that rather well, unlike you" Patrick retorted, Shelagh rolled her eyes and gently tapped him on the shoulder.
"Oh hush, now come on our drinks are almost ready" Shelagh pointed out as the barista placed their order on the counter.
After collecting their drinks they headed back to their car to continue their long journey.
As Patrick turned the engine on Shelagh reached to turn up the radio, a smile grew on her face as she heard Chris Rea's Driving Home For Christmas playing.
"Now turn left at this roundabout and go straight ahead at the one after" Shelagh instructed, having grown up in Aberdeen she knew all the roads and refused to let Patrick turn the GPS on.
"Aren't we heading away from the city if we go that way?" Patrick queried as he looked at the road signs, Shelagh shot him a stern look.
"Patrick this isn't Poplar so trust me, if you follow the signs we'll end up in traffic and we can't risk that as we'll be late" She huffed. The closer they got to her parents house the more anxious and sick she felt.
Patrick grinned to himself, he had never seen Shelagh so bossy before. And if he was being honest, he was enjoying it.
"Okay now get into the right hand lane for the traffic lights and then follow the road markings" Shelagh stated while letting out a small shaky breath. Patrick looked over and placed his hand upon hers to calm her down.
"Do you have to act all mushy?" Timothy groaned making Patrick chuckle.
"I can't wait for the day you get a girlfriend" Patrick joked, as he looked at his son through the rear view mirror.
"Turn left at this road, my parents house is at the end on the corner" Shelagh butted in, not wanting the boys to start an argument.
Patrick took the turn and drove slowly down the road which was filled with brightly lit christmas decorations. Pulling up outside Shelagh's childhood home he switched the engine off and turned to face her.
"Ready?" He asked.
"I think so" Shelagh smiled before undoing her seatbelt and stepping out of the car.
She stood there for a second looking at her house and just smiled as memories filled her mind. She had missed Aberdeen and her parents more than she realised.
"Come on" Patrick said as he hinted to the front door. Shelagh took her suitcase and made her way up the steps.
As she stood outside the front door she paused and looked at Patrick and Timothy.
"Meet the Mannions" Shelagh said as she knocked.