"Noth…Nothing" breathed out Patsy, Delia could tell that she was rattled and joined in with Patsy's explanation. "Oh, she just feels bad because she ripped a page of one of my books while she was placing it on the book shelf!" Delia gestured towards a small brown bookcase that stood in the corner of the room. Trixie blinked and then a large grin spread across her face, turning back to a still anxious Patsy she questioned "Oh Patsy, you are so very sensitive about such a little thing…has it been a hard day?" Patsy turned round to face Delia and shook her head at Trixie's question. "No, I'm just tired and annoyed at myself that's all…" Patsy forced a watery smiled and perched on the edge of Delia's bed. Trixie caught Delia's eye, Delia forced out a smile and then joined Patsy.
Delia flopped down onto the bed and declared loudly "I'm absolutely exhausted!" Delia's turning on the bed made Patsy's body jerked causing both her and Trixie to erupt into laughter. "Goodness me Delia, it's like having an elephant in the room" quipped Patsy, which again caused the room to be filled with laughter. Delia shot Patsy and Trixie her best stern face but couldn't contain herself long enough. She was glad that they were all laughing, the atmosphere in the room was no longer tense and Delia knew Patsy would no longer feel like Trixie was aware of their relationship. Patsy had talked to her about it before, saying that she was almost positive that Trixie was aware that their relationship wasn't strictly platonic. Delia didn't actually mind the idea of Trixie knowing, but it wasn't her place to tell her and she knew that Patsy would be absolutely distraught. Delia had always found it harder to lie about the extent of their relationship, much more than Patsy, she felt a lot more trapped than she let on. She wanted at least some people, people that both her and Patsy trusted deeply, to be aware of the love they felt for each other. This was something Delia voiced during her visit at Christmas, and it was something that Patsy had angrily shot down. Delia could still remember the coldness in Patsy's voice when she spoke, but Delia pushed and explained that if Trixie had know about their relationship she could have been more of a support for Patsy during her accident. Patsy had just stood up and walked out the room, leaving Delia there worried that she'd ruined their first proper meeting after her accident.
Delia was pulled back into the room by the sound of her bedroom door shutting, looking up she could see that Trixie was no longer present. Patsy sighed and clutched Delia's hand in her own "That was too close Deels, we're going to have to be more careful" Delia laughed and responded "Pats if were anymore careful then it'll be like we aren't even together!" Patsy didn't laugh, she just shot Delia a sadden look. Delia rose off the bed and walked over to pick up her drink, she was hurt that Patsy didn't respond. Delia slurped at her drink, mulling over what Patsy had just said. Turning to face Patsy, Delia blurted out "So…are we over then? Because theres no point being together if all we get is stolen glances over a game of checkers with Barbra and Trixie." Delia felt the bitterness and spite in her own voice and immediately regretted it when she saw Patsy's face. "I don't know anymore Delia, clearly you're more of an expert at being a queer woman so why don't you tell me?" Patsy stood, waiting for Delia to reply. "Well it's true isn't it Pats? If we can't have any private moments, just the two of us, then we are nothing but just friends. Trixie get's to see more of you than I do, why don't you just go to her for comfort?!" Delia's voice had suddenly become much louder than she intended for it to be, she looked to Patsy for a reaction but there wasn't one. Delia knew that she had gone to far but she couldn't help it, she had to let Patsy know how she was feeling even if that did mean upsetting her. Patsy responded, her voice small and hushed "Right…well I guess you answered you own question then." Patsy picked up her glass and left the room. Delia lent against the chest of draws and allowed the tears that had been building up spill down her cheeks, she couldn't believe what had just happened.