God Gave Me You 22
Patrick awoke the next morning to the most unusual smells coming from his kitchen. If he hadn't known better, he'd say it was the smell of bacon. He laid in bed for a moment until he realized he wasn't dreaming. Throwing his dressing gown over his pajamas, he slid his feet into his slippers and padded down the hall towards the kitchen, stopping dead in his tracks as he entered and leaned against the doorway.
If the pajama top he'd lent Shelagh hadn't been his favorite pair before, it certainly was now. Shelagh stood over the stove, utensils in hand, cooking up a packet of bacon and scrambling eggs. The pajama top was far and away too large for her, falling halfway down her thighs and he could see the tiniest bit of her slip poking out from the bottom towards her knees.
"What's all this?"
Shelagh spun around, placing a hand over her mouth to muffle her surprised gasp.
"Patrick! Goodness, you startled me." She paused, looking down at her attire as a light blush colored her cheeks. "I, um...I thought I'd make us all some breakfast."
Patrick smiled, noting the color rising on her cheeks. He walked towards her and kissed her lightly, taking off his dressing gown and wrapping it around her. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I know...I wanted to. Besides, I now know for a fact how horrid you are in the kitchen." She grinned up at him, her smile gleaming. "Timothy certainly wasn't exaggerating on that matter."
"That's enough cheek for seven in the morning, thank you very much." He leaned down to kiss her but was stopped as the kettle began to whistle, breaking them both out of their trance.
"It looks like the snow has stopped. After breakfast, Angela and I will have to head back. I've got to man the phone today..." She replied briskly, anticipating his argument while he set about making the tea.
"Alright. Will you at least let me drive you? We can fetch your bike later on."
Shelagh decided it was best to concede, after all there was quite a bit of snow on the ground, and the walk back to Nonnatus with a toddler wasn't exactly a thrilling prospect. "That would be much appreciated."
The sound of footsteps and giggles came from the hallway as Tim walked into the kitchen with Angela on his hip. "You made breakfast?! A real breakfast? Not cold cereal and juice?" His enthusiasm did not go unnoticed by Patrick, who had the decency to look completely sheepish. He couldn't remember the last time there was a meal Timothy hadn't complained about, other than takeaway.
Shelagh smiled at them, placing her hand on Patrick's arm and squeezing gently as she noticed the look on his face. "Indeed. Now, who wants some bacon and eggs?"
The four of them sat down at the table, Angela on Shelagh's lap as she fed her bits of scrambled egg and didn't even bother trying to feed herself. Halfway through the meal, Patrick noticed her untouched plate and took over feeding Angela so that she could tuck in.
"It's like Christmas came early!" Tim exclaimed as he polished off his second helping.
That's when Patrick realized, Christmas was less than a fortnight away and they hadn't discussed their plans. As if on cue, Shelagh looked over to him. "What are you gentlemen doing for Christmas? It goes without saying, but you're welcome to come to Nonnatus House for dinner. Mrs. B always goes above and beyond."
"Dad's usually on call..." Timothy whispered, and Patrick realized how much time he had been losing with his son. That stopped now, he decided. He would not be repeating old patterns and losing precious time with both his children.
"Not this year, Tim. This year, we're going to have a real Christmas. I promise." He turned to Shelagh, Angela still on his lap. "We'd love to come. Would the two of you like to join us for breakfast here on Christmas morning? So we can all open presents together?"
Shelagh grinned at him, teasingly. "As long as you're not cooking the breakfast, we'd love to."
"Right. That's settled, then. Tim, why don't you take Angela and play for a bit while Shelagh and I get ready? I'll drop you at Jack's when I bring them back to Nonnatus."
Mildly disappointed that their visit had to end, Shelagh gathered her things and wrestled Angela into her coat as Patrick prepared for another busy day administering to the people of Poplar.
As they pulled up in front of the convent, Shelagh turned to the backseat as she waited for Patrick to come around and open her car door. "Alright, Angel. Say bye-bye to Daddy and Timmy. We'll see them soon." Patrick opened her door and held his hand out for her, grinning when she took it freely, and pulled her towards himself for a quick kiss out of the children's eyeline.
"What was that for?" She asked, surprised by the sudden public display, although he realized she didn't seem upset about it.
"Just because...I love you. And I want you to know it."
She fiddled with his tie, straightening the knot as she smiled at his words. "I do know it. And I feel the same way." She kissed him quickly before opening the door to the backseat.
"Thank you, Timothy. I know Angela had a great time with you yesterday." Shelagh leaned in and kissed the boy's cheek, half anticipating him to fight her off, but he didn't. He simply smiled at her, cheeks blushing a bit.
"It's fun having her over. Like everything is new! Can we have another sleepover, Shelagh?"
Shelagh exchanged a smile with Patrick. "I'm sure that can be arranged. Come on, Angel. We've got to get inside so Daddy can get to work."
Goodbyes made, Patrick watched them walk into the convent before getting back in the car. Timothy had moved up to the front seat and was anxious to get to his friends. Patrick, however, had other ideas.
"Dad, Jack's house is the other way. Where are we going?"
Patrick turned to his son as he drove. "We need to talk, Tim."
"Dad, I swear I didn't do anything!"
Patrick pulled the car over near the river and shut off the engine, turning to his son.
"This isn't about you, Tim. Well, it is in a way, I suppose...uh. Tim? You like Shelagh, don't you?"
Tim regarded him quizzically. "Dad, she's brilliant. I really like having her around."
Patrick broke into a relieved smile. "Good. That's good."
"Why is that good?"
"Timothy, you know I loved your Mummy. I'll always love her, but sometimes after we lose someone special, we're lucky to fall in love again."
Tim stared at him. Dad never talked about Mummy. Or used the word 'love' so many times in one sentence.
"You see, Tim. I love Shelagh, and I want her to know exactly how much. I want to ask her to marry me. How do you feel about that?"
"Marry you? Like, she and Angela would come and live with us? Forever?"
"If she accepted my proposal, yes. But Tim, I won't do it without your permission. This concerns both of us." Patrick decided to leave out the fact that he'd tried to propose twice yesterday without asking Tim. "So? What do you think? Can I ask her?"
Tim slid across the seat to give his father a hug. "That would be amazing, Dad! Are you going to ask her now?" Tim's excitement at the prospect of having his sister and her mother come and live with them made Patrick's heart melt.
"Not yet, Tim. I've got to get a ring, first. And I've come up with a plan. When we get home later, I'm going to need your help. But for now, this is our little secret. Deal?"
Patrick stuck his hand out for a shake. Tim wasted no time in reaching out and sealing it. "Deal!"