Post script
Tuesday
Harry pulled her duvet over her and buried her head back into her soft bouncy pillows. She couldn't help the grin from coming back over her face. She'd simply had an evening at home but the ordinariness of it had been perfect.
The first bottle of red wine had gone with the meal she had invited Dempsey over for; she wished she'd had the courage to invite him for dinner just to see him but she had used the caveat of needing to catch up and compare notes and thoughts on Yancey. The second bottle went as her and James had relaxed on the sofa watching TV. As usual he had taken over the remote control and had flicked channels until he found a classic Brando film, each had curled up into opposite corners and made themselves comfortable until Harry had wandered off to the bathroom. On her return James had moved and stretched himself out across the whole sofa. She looked at him and sat on the opposite sofa but it was a poor angle to the TV, she picked up her novel and started to read.
"I'm sorry; you don't want to watch?" James asked
"No no, its fine you watch and I'll read, I know the end anyway" Harry suggested
"So do I princess I'll turn it off if you like."
"It's no problem Dempsey" she found her page and started to read
"Well at least come back over here"
"There's no room" she pointed out
He sat up "there's plenty"
"I'm fine over here"
Dempsey got up and turned the TV slightly so it was angled better for Harry but she continued to read.
He nudged her forward and squeezed himself at the end of the sofa where he could continue to watch the film, his left arm ran along the back of the sofa and Harry automatically wriggled back into him so his body was supporting her. As she turned her page Dempsey's arm had wrapped around her waist and they had sat in a convivial silence engrossed in book and film respectively.
The film turned into the late night news and Harry leaned forward and across to place her book back on the coffee table. As she sat back she stretched and without even thinking just lay down with her head in James' lap, turned to face the TV. He hadn't said anything (he hadn't known what to say) but like the other evening his fingers ran lightly though her hair until the item about drugs when he'd gotten all animated and she had sat up and told him he wasn't solely responsible for wiping out crime in London.
They had caught each others eye again and the pulsing of an increased heart beat was felt by both of them. Harry so wanted to feel his arms around her, pulling her inwards, his lips matching hers, their kiss would be so sweet. James wished he could just pull Harry forwards and tell her that tonight had been perfect, that this was what he wanted; to be with her, to share her life and, it went without saying, to express all of that with his body. 'Home is where the heart is' he recalled the phrase, well this was where his heart was. Both felt a heat starting to radiate through their bodies but since the uncertainty raised over the past few weeks hadn't been resolved at all (both still kept avoiding the issues out of deep rooted fear) Dempsey knew he had no option other than say goodnight.
"I guess I'd better be going" he had said
"Going?"
He couldn't say home, not any more, "back to my place" was the phrase he chose and before anything got too complicated he had grabbed his jacket and started towards the door.
"James" Harry walked towards the door, and he turned back "it was a good night"
"Yeh" he paused "it was" the silence was waiting to be filled, neither knew how
"Look tomorrow I'll write up those reports I promise" Dempsey eventually spoke first.
"I've got those court papers to prepare for next week" Harry added with equal awkwardness. The seconds were ticking by; Dempsey could see concern in Makepeace's eyes and didn't know whether that was in case he did or didn't make the next move.
Unbeknown to the other both were back on the forecourt of Winfield Hall, recalling the farewell after Dempsey had visited to check on Makepeace as she had recovered after Swaybe had abducted her. The sweet brief kiss Dempsey had stolen had been followed by Makepeace walking across to him to return the lightest of kisses, but nevertheless a very deliberate one. Then the imagery of being together at the picnic, the burning desire seen in each others eyes….The time ran out, Harry stepped back just one step and that move provoked a reaction in Dempsey - his lips closed over hers "Goodnight Harry, sleep well" he had breathed just before he had left.
And now Harry was reliving the whole evening, touching her lips again and smiling. She pulled the quilt over her and giggled; she had been with Dempsey when she had brought it, having finally decided to ditch her blankets and they had stood in the shop arguing over which tog rating to get. She had insisted his opinion was pointless since he would never sleep under it but right now she was beginning to think that one day he might.
