Love the reviews hehe thanks XX Also I think there's only 3 chapters left =(
Chapter 48
It took twenty minutes in the violent downpour of rain to get to the nearest village, Lythe. However by the time Harry had found a parking space on the quiet main street there was a break in the clouds and although no blue sky could be seen the sun shone through, turning grey overcast into brilliant white. The name of the street on which they had parked was High Street; it was the main stretch of road that ran through the small village of Lythe. The section of the road where the heart of the village sat was barely half a mile long; it was made up of tiny terraced houses, a tea shop and a grocery shop on the left side of the road; an Off Licence, and what appeared to be, a wool shop further down the road on the right.
Harry and Nikki climbed from the car, both walked around the bonnet to find each others' hands. Harry smiled at Nikki's reaction to the lack of shops that the village had to offer.
"Not exactly Oxford Street." Harry chuckled.
"I am going to be stuck washing and wearing these clothes aren't I?" She sighed her annoyance.
"Well. Like I said Nik, you could always wear... me." He managed to kiss her head before she playfully batted him away. "Where shall we start? We have a food shop, a hot drink shop, an alcohol and nicotine shop and erm... a wool shop. What more could one possibly need?"
The bell rang as they pushed the door and walked into the grocery. The store was miniature but well stocked; there was almost no room to walk between the three short aisles. Nikki made her way to the counter which was supervised by a stout man in his late fifties; he wore a green and white striped apron.
"Hello, excuse me? Could you tell me, are there any other shops around here, particularly clothes shops?" Harry could hear the hope in her tone.
"Ee no love, no clothing shops for miles; ya'd 'ave t'go in ta Whitby Town for that. What? An hour an' half's drive." His accent was thick and local.
"Okay, thanks for your help." Nikki turned to find Harry scanning the aisles; she giggled as she considered Harry's thought processes.
"Nope. No things we need in here Nik. Next shop." He grinned at his own impertinence knowing that Nikki was amused by his boyish conduct.
"Clothes first and foremost, Harry." She took his hand and dragged his arm around her waist as they left the grocers.
"Oh we're not going to have to drive for an hour and a half are we-" Nikki cut in on Harry's pretend complaining,
"Depends... on whether or not the Off License has the second item on the shopping list. I doubt very much that the Wool shop or the tea shop will sell them."Nikki squeezed his hand.
"Off Licence it is then." Harry wrapped his arms around Nikki's shoulders nibbling at her neck as they crossed the empty road.
After making several purchases at both the Off License and the wool shop: Nikki had bought two hand knitted jumpers and a thick long scarf; Harry, two bottles of red wine and with a great deal mock teenaged excitement to embarrass Nikki and make her cheeks blush as much as he possibly could he had bought the second item on their shopping list.
They were ready to make their way back to the car when the sign on the board outside of the tea shop caught Harry's eye, it read: Homemade Chocolates sold here. He simply couldn't resist; he marvelled at the thought of feeding his lover chocolates by the warmth of the open fire. Harry easily coaxed Nikki in for a look and a drink of tea.
Both Harry's and Nikki's eyes widened with wonder when they say the homemade chocolates that the young lady behind the glass counter had on offer. There was such a selection ranging from white milk almond truffles to solid dark chocolate cubes.
"Wow Harry, these look delicious; look at all of the milk chocolate varieties, there's mint, Turkish delight, orange. I want to try them all, is that okay? Even the white chocolate ones." Harry smiled at Nikki's sudden transformation into a child.
Harry let Nikki chose her selection but as he only liked dark chocolate he insisted that she chose a few of those for him to enjoy later too, yet after two suggestions she still hadn't taken the hint.
"Okay Nik, now stick a few dark ones in there too." He was desperate to intervene but he also couldn't bring himself to ruin her fun.
"No way, I hate dark chocolate." Nikki dismissed his request and carried on picking her, now rather large, selection.
"Ahh Nik, you have got like twenty in there, swap a few for dark-"
"Owh Harry, dark ones are so sour though, just have some of these. I won't mind sharing." She attempted her best puppy eyes.
"Nicola Alexander stop looking at me like that and get me some dark chocolate; or else." Harry wrapped his arm around her neck and affectionately pretended to shake her senseless.
"Ha-ha sorry Harry, I forgot you hate anything but dark." She kissed his cheek and chose five of the largest dark chocolate truffles, before ordering them some traditional Yorkshire tea.
With bellies full of hot tea and hands full of their various treats the pleased couple made their way back to Harry's car. Just as they had finished putting their bags in the boot Harry's mobile rang; Nikki made her way to the passenger seat and waited for Harry to climb in so that she could listen to the conversation he was having and know who it was that was making Harry's expression somewhat serious. One or two words gave the subject of conversation away immediately and Nikki refused to let it ruin what had been a perfect 24 hours; she folded her arms, closed her eyes and willed the phone call to end. Five minutes later it did.
"Nikki that was Leo." He awkwardly pushed his mobile back into his jeans pocket.
"I know. Harry I don't want to talk about it-" She was angry that he thought it would be okay to discuss this with her here, on their week away.
"Nikki, we're not going to talk about anything; I am just going to explain to you what is going to happen with Hughes and the driver, James, you need to know." He turned to her and held her hands in his.
"Harry, I'm frightened." Unwanted tears stained her cheeks.
"Nik, there's nothing to be afraid of, not anymore; Leo has told me what they face and it's going to be okay. I think it's important that you know." He was determined for her to remain strong throughout the whole process that lay ahead of them; he knew that if she shut herself off from the legalities now it would be much harder for her in the long run.
"Okay. Okay. What did Leo say?" She held her breath.
"Both Hughes and James are to be remanded in custody, until they have to appear in court to answer to the charges brought against them; Nik that will be two weeks time. They have each had access to a solicitor whilst they have been in the cells, they may well be the ones who represent them in court. The court has asked for a psychiatric and a pre-sentence report to be made before the preliminary hearing. The report will also make a recommendation for the date of their arraignment. If the magistrate supports the charges made then we will be advised to find suitable solicitor to prosecute our case."
"If the magistrate supports the charges? If? Don't you think they will?" Nikki felt a rising panic from the pit of her stomach.
"No no no Nik, they will sorry, I mean when they do." Harry was annoyed with his lack of tact.
"So basically I have two weeks to find a solicitor to prosecute my case." She rubbed her forehead pre-empting the headache that would be a legal nightmare.
"Yes. The best. We will hire the best. Nik? Are you okay how do you feel?" He gently prised her fingers from her head.
"I'm okay, I'm here with you and this is bliss; I don't want to go back to London. It's going to be a long process isn't it?" She closed her eyes at the thought of it.
"It could be... but... we have four whole days left here, just you and I. So no thinking about that until you absolutely have to, okay? I want you to switch that busy mind of yours off Nik." He rested his forehead against hers.
"You may have to help me with that Harry."Nikki grinned as she moved for his lips and kissed him slowly.
That evening the rain and wind howled and pounded outside the cottage but the flicker of the firelight was content and emitted a beautiful glow around the quaint lounge. Nikki sat lent against Harry's chest by the fireplace on the floor wrapped in a large white bed sheet. Harry was still clad in his bath towel. They had eaten dinner and bathed together and now they sat sipping the red wine that Harry had bought earlier that day.
"Harry you did put all of my clothes in the wash right?" She turned her head to check him,
"Yes... Nik you're so paranoid about your clothes." He laughed before nuzzling at her ear.
"I am not paranoid Harry; I just like to have clean clothes... unlike you." She pulled a chocolate from the box besides them and put the whole thing in her mouth.
"I can go without clothes I think you need to adopt that mind set if you're going to be my girlfriend... hey you little gorb was that one of my dark ones?" He pulled the box to him to count how many of his were left. "Two! Nik, I only had one! You piggy!" He was truly shocked.
"I ate one by mistake and it was quite delicious so I just took a second one; surely you don't mind; if you love me?"
"You are a nightmare Miss Alexander, no more okay they're mine, and you have plenty of those awful milky ones."
"Okay I promise." She rested her head back against his chest and watched as the fire blew embers up the chimney.
"By the way Nik, I love the dress, very sexy indeed. And as for lack of options I think you have managed perfectly well; towel toga last night and a strapless sheet wrap for tonight, I think your ensembles could be entered for London fashion week."
Nikki turned to face him, smiled an ever so sweet smile and kissed Harry's lips lightly and seductively; she sat back looked directly at him and deliberately ate one of his chocolates.
"Nikki! That was cruel; what was that for?" Harry was astounded by her cheekiness but secretly loved seeing her misbehave this way.
"Making fun of my clothes." She took the last dark chocolate from the box and clambered to her feet struggling with the sheet too. "And if you carry on I'll eat the last one too." She held it hand above her head.
"Nik give it back; come on you have loads of milk ones left. I have only had one of my five." He laughed at his own pleading.
"Well if you want it..." Nikki began to make like she was going to bite down on the truffle.
"You wouldn't dare." Harry was unsure whether she would or not,
"Oh wouldn't I?" Nikki bit into the truffle.
"Right this is war." Harry was astonished by her self-assurance but he knew exactly how to get his own back.
please let me kow what you think guys? XX
