"Are you SURE that you're okay with this? I know my mam wouldn't mind-"
"Deels, we'll be absolutely fine," Patsy soothed, holding Trevon as she spoke through the car window in the chilly air, stomping her feet in the driveway, "There's no need to call your mother, it's only for the weekend."
Delia bit her lip.
"Alright," the brunette sighed, "Remember, there is extra food in the freezer and extra cash in my sock drawer."
"Yes, yes, I know, darling, now you two need to go!"
Patsy leaned in through the window and kissed Delia goodbye. She then held Trevon as Delia shook his hand while cooing "Goodbye, cariad!"
"Bye mum, bye Trevon!" Ellie shouted from the passenger seat, waving.
Patsy backed up and nuzzled Trevon.
"Can you say bye-bye, sweetie? Say 'bye-bye'!" Patsy waved and soon Trevon mirrored her action, drawing a merry giggle from the ginger. Delia and Ellie pulled out of the drive and were soon out of sight, off to a football tournament.
Patsy sighed, her breath misting as her heart panged despairingly. She was jerked from her reverie when Trevon released a squeal and twisted in her arms irritably.
"It's someone's nap time," Patsy said, kissing him on the forehead before turning and re-entering the flat. Fanw leapt up from her dog pad and bounded towards her as she went into the living room and placed Trevon in a sitting position before placing some toys before him.
"Mummy needs to go check the cookies and then you can get ready for your nap," Patsy said in a bright tone, looking for some sort of trace recognition or verbal response. Trevon seemed perfectly content ignoring Patsy and focusing on the jigsaw puzzle before him, which made the ginger frown slightly. While the infant had been healed of everything physical that had been flung at him, the broken arm, bruised ribs, and near fatal poisoning, he still did not participate in any communication like he was supposed to by his age. It was troubling, and Patsy remained kneeling before the dark-skinned boy, gazing at him worriedly.
Fanw waggled up to him and licked him enthusiastically, and for a moment Trevon began to giggle, shyly hiding his face from the eager corgi. Smiling, Patsy watched as the cuteness intensified with Trevon wrapping his short arms around Fanw's neck and hugging her, laying his head on her shoulder.
Despite how well they seemed to be getting along, Patsy still wasn't comfortable leaving the dog alone with Trevon. So she called Fanw and the dog bounded towards the kitchen after Trevon released her from his grasp.
She cracked the oven open and decided that the cookies were going strong, so she went back and scooped up Trevon, tickling his tummy as she walked him into his room for a nap.
Patsy walked briskly down the sidewalk while pushing a stroller, thanking God for the thousandth time for making Delia good with dogs as Fanw walked easily in step with her. The air was crisp enough to make Patsy bundle up Trevon and herself before going to the dog park, something Delia did with Fanw every Saturday; which naturally meant Patsy had too as well. Reaching the gated entrance, Patsy thanked a leaving dog-walker for holding the gate open as she pushed the stroller in. For the temperature there were quite a few people there, so Patsy had to walk quite a distance to find an open bench. Parking the stroller to face her, Patsy sat down and undid Fanw's leash.
"Okay, go on; go chase boys…or girls, I mean, however you self-identify," Patsy said, making a shooing motion with her hands. Fanw sat down and looked at her expectantly, tongue lolling out.
"Fanw!" Someone called excitedly, making Patsy look up in surprise. A cheerful-looking woman, walked with an arm linked with a lightly bearded man towards them, a terrier bounding before them. The Welsh corgi turned to look at them belatedly, but remained sitting before a bewildered Patsy.
"Well, if that's Fanw, then you must be Delia's wife, Patsy," the woman said, reaching the ginger's bench, extending a hand. Patsy took it and shook numbly.
"Sarah Heartman, I normally see Delia here, playing fetch with her," Sarah said, gesturing towards Fanw, "And this is my boyfriend, Jack."
Patsy settled for a friendly "Hi" with the man before Sarah noticed Trevon.
"Oh, Delia had said you took in a child! What's his name?" Sarah asked pleasantly.
"Trevon," Patsy said, glancing at the boy as he looked around, having no idea where he was.
"He's quite the young chap! Well, we've got to head, it's been a pleasure meeting you!"
Patsy smiled and waved as the couple took their dog and left. The ginger turned to Fanw with raised eyebrows before reaching into the basket of the stroller and removing a rubber ball that she thought was for decoration.
Fanw panted excitedly and waggled her rear end at the sight of it.
"Fetch?"
Patsy wiped the dog drool on her jeans after tossing the ball an impressive distance, allowing her to return her attention to holding Trevon against her body as he eagerly bubbled saliva and chewed on his fingers.
"Just eat your whole hand, why don't you?" Patsy chortled before gently prying the appendage from his mouth. Instead of fussing, Trevon released an excited squeal and clapped his hands, slinking down Patsy's lap, wanting down.
"C'mon, sweetie, it's time to go home and get out of this cold," Patsy sighed, pulling him back up and seating him back in the stroller. She was in the process of buckling him in and tucking a thick blanket over him when she heard someone clearing their throat behind her.
Patsy very slowly turned around to see a man, probably in his late twenties, early thirties holding the ball she had thrown, Fanw trotting up behind him, barking excitedly and jumping up to get the ball from him.
"Uh, can I help you?" Patsy demanded, after saying sharply, "Fanw!"
The corgi silenced and stopped jumping, but still stared up at the ball.
"Ah, well, it seems your corgi lost her ball and I wanted to give it to you," he said, looking shy. Patsy raised her eyebrows and looked down at the dog before deciding with utter certainty that it was impossible for the little ball of energy to 'lose a ball'.
"Uh-huh," Patsy said, extending her hand expectantly, "May I have it back?"
"Yes, well," the man continued, ignoring her outstretched hand, "I was also wondering if I could take you out for a drink."
"I would just like the ball back," Patsy said in a dangerous tone, acting as if she didn't hear his request. She glanced at her gloved hands and wondered that of all times she showed off her wedding ring, why did this have to happen when it was cold and she covered it up?
"That drink, miss," he persisted.
"I'm afraid I can't oblige you," Patsy said in a dark tone, "Now, please, the ball."
With a huff, the man pressed it into her hand, and Patsy cautiously returned it to the basket as Fanw obediently wobbled over and allowed Patsy to put her leash on, the ginger watching the man all the while.
"Are you sure?" he asked as Patsy turned to leave, "You look like you could do with a fun time."
"I'm sorry," Patsy paused to look back at him, "I don't like cock."
"What?!" Delia exclaimed over the phone later that night, as Patsy sat on her bed with Trevon and Fanw, watching 'Dumbo' on Netflix, "I can't believe that happened!"
"Yes, well, it did," Patsy sighed, Trevon reclining in the crook of her arm as they both leaned on pillows against the headboard, "it was unbearable."
"Are you okay?" Delia fretted, "He could have turned out to be violent!"
"I'm fine; I'm sure Fanw would have saved me," Patsy jibed light-heartedly, the corgi lifting her head and wagging her tail stub at the sound of her name, "How did Ellie do?"
"They played three games today, only lost one," Delia said prideful, "She scored four times!"
"Tell her I said congratulations," Patsy thrummed merrily. Patsy heard Delia call out and the muffled response.
"She says thank-you," Delia chortled, "What are you doing now?"
"Just laying down and watching 'Dumbo' before bed," Patsy said evenly, rubbing a thumb over Trevon's shoulder as he began to nod off.
"You know that-"
"Yes, Delia, like every time it is brought up, I know it is a racist movie," Patsy sighed theatrically, "You don't need to lecture me again on subliminal messaging."
"Did you cry during the part?" Delia whispered sorrowfully.
"I…yes," Patsy admitted, wiping a stray tear away, "Though it is a good thing Trey's asleep because the trippy part is coming up."
"…Trey?" Delia asked dubiously, "Since when did we give him a nickname?"
"Just now, I suppose," Patsy sighed, "Do you not like it? We can call him "T" if you really want to."
"Oh, no, Trey sounds fine, I just didn't take you as the one to start nicknames," Delia soothed. There was a pause on the phone, both parties knowing the conversation was coming to a close, though they didn't want to end it.
"I suppose you are going to have an early day tomorrow," Patsy murmured softly.
"Yes…we should be back in the afternoon," Delia said gently.
"I miss you," Patsy whimpered.
"I know, cariad…I love you Pats," Delia said back. There was a shout and Delia added, "Ellie says 'goodnight'."
"Tell her I said good night as well…I love you too."
After Patsy wistfully hung up, she gently scooped Trevon up and laid him in his crib. Leaving the door cracked, she hobbled back to her room and lay back down, flicking the TV off. Slipping underneath the covers, Patsy felt Fanw relinquish her spot at her feet, and Patsy's heart quietly pined as she missed the presence of her beloved wife.