Thanks again for the lovely feedback. Tried to get more depth in to this chapter, hope the characters still feel like Patsy and Delia, despite me using some of my own memories!
Patsy lifted and turned the turquoise chair cushion in her hand for the fourth time and placed it back down, finally happy with its position. After flying home from school, she had used her swift efficiency to ensure that the house was looking spotless and ship shape ready for their visitors while Trixie dealt with the drinks and snacks.
Patsy had repeated to herself tirelessly that it didn't matter that Delia was coming for drinks, she would make this amount of effort for anybody. As she left the sitting room, she bent down and adjusted a coaster so that it was flush with the edge of the coffee table. 'Anybody,' she repeated to herself.
On entering her bedroom, she scanned the room for anything that may be out of place or in need of a clean or adjustment; unsurprisingly she found nothing. Why did it matter what her bedroom looked like? Delia wouldn't see it! As thoughts of the beautiful Welsh woman entered her mind, Patsy's attention fell on the shelving unit against the wall. It was piled high with books of all genres as reading was her happy place. Her books took her away to different lands and worlds, where she could be anyone or anything. She could escape from the real world that had so often in her past been unpleasant. What couldn't be seen however, were Patsy's well-worn copies of, 'Tipping the Velvet' and 'Fingersmith,' 'The Price of Salt' and 'Deserts of the Heart.' These were kept hidden away out of view behind all of the red head's other books.
Suddenly, in the midst of the evening's preparations, she saw this for the first time as a metaphor for her own life and the secret of her sexuality. Kept hidden behind the façade that she showed to Trixie and the rest of her friends and colleagues. Only she knew it was there, only she knew that there was something to look for and only she could be the one to remove the disguise and bring the truth to the fore. The thought of this revelation sent a shiver through Patsy's body. Her life was perfect as it was; wonderful friends, successful career… jeopardising this was not an option. Patsy looked at the well-arranged spines of her favourite books, put these thoughts to the back of her mind and continued to get ready.
Delia raised her finger to the bell and pressed hard, sounding a high pitched noise inside. Looking at her watch it was twenty past eight. "Damn it Busby, why are you always late?" The brunette held a bottle of rosé wine in one hand and flattened her top down under her coat with the other. She'd had no idea what to wear tonight, this was partly the reason she was so late. What kind of night would it be? Casual drinks in front of the TV with crisps? A more formal gathering with music and canapés? She had decided she would be safe with her black pumps, figure hugging dark blue skinny jeans and her favourite white chiffon shirt that was cut with a low v neck; further accentuated by a long necklace she had placed there. This would be suitable for any eventuality.
The door swung open to reveal Trixie in high waisted navy blue skin tight jeans, with a thin red jumper tucked in. Delia relaxed as she felt what she was wearing would be fine.
"Hello Sweetie." Trixie said smiling.
"Sorry I'm late, the taxi driver couldn't find the house," Delia lied.
"No bother, everyone is here already, although I don't know where Patsy has disappeared to."
Delia followed Trixie in to the house bottle in hand, took her coat off and placed it with the others' on the coat rack. She caught up with Trixie as she reached the sitting room and could hear music and voices in full flow floating towards her. On entering, all heads turned to her (a feeling she was now familiar with) and Trixie kindly touched her arm to encourage her in to the room.
Pointing to each person in turn, the blonde introduced the overwhelmed Welsh woman to the group. "This is Cynthia, second in the maths department." Delia waved and smiled, remembering sitting next to this small, meek woman on her first day. Trixie continued, "This is Barbara, she teaches textiles and food tech and this is Tom Herewood, Head of RE." Trixie's face visibly changed when looked admiringly at Tom and she momentarily stopped in her tracks.
"Nice to meet you Delia, how's your first week at St Nonnatus been?" Tom enquired, his handsome face looked kindly at the brunette.
"Long!" Delia said immediately, "but so far, so good!" As she reciprocated with her captivating smile Trixie tugged at her arm.
"Let's get that wine in the fridge shall we?"
Trixie had laid on quite a spread, the whole middle island was covered in food, snacks and dips. Delia stood with her back to the hallway as the blonde poured her a drink and started with her well-practised inquisition.
"So Delia, have you got a boyfriend? You could have brought him, I forgot to mention it earlier."
"I…" just as the brunette was about to speak, she could hear footsteps behind her entering the kitchen. She turned around suddenly and was met by a red-headed vision, dressed in a black sixties style long sleeved dress with a white collar and cuffs that was cut half way up her thighs.
"Hello." Patsy said and smiled that coy side smile that made Delia's stomach flip.
"Hi." Was all that shorter woman could manage in return.
"I had a few pieces of work that I wanted to get done before the weekend started," Patsy lied. In reality, she had been through almost every item of clothing she owned, struggling to decide what would make her look her best but also like she'd just 'thrown something on.' As she moved in to the room, Delia's eyes were drawn to the slight flex of Patsy's thigh muscles that were visible due to the length of her dress. Begrudgingly, she shifted her gaze to the centre island covered in food and Trixie handed her her first glass of wine.
Patsy glanced at the clock on the wall, it was half past twelve. The new addition to the group had so far been a wonderful success. Delia seemed to get on well with anyone, she had a funny anecdote for almost every conversation and at most points of the night she had had all members of the room focussed on her and in stitches. Unsurprisingly to Patsy, she thoroughly enjoyed her company. She seemed to sparkle in this social setting and feed off the energy of the room, happily fuelled by the numerous glasses of rosé she'd had.
Everyone was now either sitting on chairs or on the floor, talking with music playing softly in the background. The wine was flowing freely and Patsy noticed that Delia's face had become slightly flushed. If she was being honest with herself, she hadn't noticed much else all night. Suddenly, Trixie put her glass down on the table and announced the idea that had just come to her.
"I know what will really make young Miss Busby a true Nonnatun… a game of Never Have I Ever! Then we'll get the dirt on our new colleague!"
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Delia smiled and finished the remainder of her drink. "OK, sounds good to me!"
Patsy froze. This was always her biggest fear when Trixie was in this environment and under the influence of alcohol. She hated this game with a fiery passion. It forced her to lie about her past, alter her actual memories or just invent new ones in order to maintain her straight façade… and it was tiresome.
Everyone moved so they were all sat on the floor. Drinks were topped up so that everyone would be able to drink if they had done whatever sexual or provocative act stated.
"Right, I'll go first, then we'll go around the room this way so Delia will be next." Patsy smiled in agreement but it came out as more of a grimace. "OK, a tame one to start, Never Have I Ever… kissed someone else's boyfriend or girlfriend." She looked around eagerly to see if anyone had taken a drink but was disappointed. Eying this particular group of players however, Trixie realised that this game may turn out to be a flop.
Now it was Delia's turn. She took time to visibly ponder what she was going to say and a mischievous grin appeared on her face. "Never Have I Ever… slept with a woman." Delia lifted her glass of wine to her mouth and drank, as did Tom. Trixie's jaw dropped as the realisation of Delia's revelation sank in.
"Really? How wonderful! You know I'd never have guessed. Do you have a girlfriend? You could have brought her you know." Trixie rambled on excitedly and started talking about it to Barbara and Cynthia. The brunette however, was most interested in Patsy's reaction. She'd sensed something from the red-head, but she couldn't be sure and there was no way she would act on it!
Patsy was taken completely aback, her cheeks paled noticeably as she suddenly felt exposed. How could she be so blatant? And with a room of practical strangers. Everyone carried on playing the game, Trixie was overjoyed at how well her plan had worked and as keen to find out more. "I must say, this game never fails to disappoint!"
Patsy couldn't continue, all of the voices seemed distant and she could only hear her own thoughts, she had to remove herself from the situation. She got up abruptly and with a little less care than she would have liked due to the wine she had consumed. The rest of the room's inhabitants failed to recognise the way in which she'd left the group except for Delia. She had been watching closely for any trace of reciprocated understanding, but all she'd found was a pale, panicked face. The brunette made her apologies and got up to follow Patsy to the kitchen. When she entered the room, she found Patsy leaning over the sink holding on to the worktop so tightly her knuckles had whitened.
"Penny for them?" She asked in as light a tone as possible, moving closer to the red head as she did so. The sound brought Patsy out of her trance and back in to the room.
"Oh goodness, sorry, I just needed some water, too much wine I think."
Delia glanced at the tap that wasn't running and the empty glass that was still on the side. Sensing all was not right, she reached across the taller woman and turned on the cold tap. Their close proximity forced them to make eye contact. Seeing the panic still residing in Patsy's eyes, the Welsh woman gave her the most reassuring and understanding smile she could, took the glass, filled it and handed it to her.
"Are you ok Pats?" Delia asked, her voice full of concern. The shortening of her name disarmed the red head completely, unconsciously she released some tension in her shoulders that she hadn't realised was there.
"How do you do it?" Patsy asked imploringly.
"How do I do what?" Delia replied, searching for an answer in the taller woman's face.
"Just blurt something like that out infront of a room full of strangers." Delia's suspicions were now confirmed.
"Well it's not a secret, everyone important to me knows already and I couldn't miss an opportunity like that now could I? I think Trixie had to physically lift her chin off the floor!" Delia started to smirk, but her levity was not reciprocated by the red head.
"Patsy, there's nothing wrong with being gay, it's 2016!"
Patsy looked horrified, "I never said that I was…" she paused, unable to say the word.
"Gay? You can say it out loud you know."
Patsy's body language told Delia that this was not to be taken lightly. Instead, she looked directly in to Patsy's eyes, her own, filled with as much conviction as she could, "All I know is, we cannot help who we are attracted to and we love who we love. That doesn't need a name, it's just important that we are happy." She followed this with a sincere smile, producing the dimple on her right cheek that was able to raise a smile from Patsy, despite how she was feeling.
"Gosh it's almost one! My taxi will be here soon." Delia exclaimed noticing her watch. She left Patsy where she was deep in thought, returned to the sitting room where the game was still in full swing and kissed and waved her good byes and thanks to its occupants. The two women met again by the stairs as Delia put her coat on.
"This conversation isn't over Miss Mount! I'll come see you one dinner time this week and we'll have a chat over some coffee… I won't be taking no for an answer!"
"OK, thank you," Patsy sighed sheepishly, rather embarrassed at how she'd behaved.
"I may even text you tomorrow to see how your hangover is if you're lucky," Delia teased. As the horn of the taxi beeped and she finished doing up the last of her coat buttons, the brunette lifted up on to her tip toes and placed a soft kiss on Patsy's cheek.
"Nos da cariad."