TIFFANY'S POV:
It was now 3 months later, and just over a month ago, Justin and I had moved to Scotland and had bought a 3 bedroom house only a few minutes walk away from where Vaughan was now living with his new partner Sandra who he'd met not long after visiting me back in Manchester…
Waking up the morning I was due to head back to London to give my evidence for Andrew's trial via video link, I felt the nerves and apprehension hit me immediately. Taking a sip of my water, grimacing at it's warmth as it had been stood all night; I climbed out of the bed and made my way into our en-suite bathroom to shower…
JUSTIN'S POV:
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" I asked Tiffany as she moved around the bedroom, organising herself for her day ahead
"I'd love you to but you've got to open up the bar. Mark put you in charge for a reason…" she informed me "You can't let him down."
"He knows how important today is, so he'd be okay with me leaving someone else in charge." I assured her
"I'm sure he would," she replied "but I'll be fine. I'll get on the train, get to London, go to the court and give my evidence via video link and get the train back up here and be ready to go to dinner at your Dad's tonight. I've told them I don't want to be there any longer than I have to be, so I'm not going to be."
"Okay," I sighed "I better be going. Call me when it's done, yeah?"
She nodded her head in agreement and kissed me softly as I moved past her and out of the room…
TIFFANY'S POV:
I arrived at London Euston station and made my way down the platform to my waiting taxi, informing the driver of where I needed to be, him pulling up outside half-an-hour later. Handing him his fare, I climbed out of the taxi and stood on the pavement momentarily, composing myself before making my way inside…
JUSTIN'S POV:
"Hey!" Mark's voice proclaimed as I turned with my back facing the doors, stocking up the fridges
"Hey," I mirrored "what're you doing here?"
"Thought I'd come check on my new baby." he informed me "How's the place running?"
"Smooth as silk." I replied "Do you wanna see the books?"
"No, I trust you." he assured me "Has Tiff gone?"
I nodded my head… "She'll be about to give her evidence if they're running on time."
"Did you say I didn't mind you handing the reins to someone else for a day to go with her?" he questioned
I nodded my head again… "Yeah, but she wanted to do it on her own. She's stubborn…"
"I know." he replied "Listen, seeing as though I'm here, how about we grab some lunch?"
"Why are you really here, Mark?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at him
"What do you mean?" he questioned
"Are you here to keep me occupied so I don't worry 24/7 about Tiff?" I asked
"Maybe…" he replied "But hey, what sort of friend would I be if I didn't?"
"I appreciate it, man, thanks." I informed him, smiling at him warmly
TIFFANY'S POV:
"Miss. Westbrook, can you tell the court how the defendant was with you during your time together?" my solicitor asked
"Amazing, to begin with." I informed her "But things started to move too quickly for my liking and when I told him that he didn't like it…"
"How did he react?" she questioned
"Angrily," I replied "he smashed a vase."
"You say in your statement that the physical abuse on yourself started almost a year ago to the day, is that correct?" she asked
"Yes." I informed her "but the worst happened when we'd been out to a bar. I headed home early and he stayed and when he returned he threw his shoe at me because I didn't help him get in."
"Can you tell the court what else he did please?" she inquired
"I told him I hated him when he was the way he was, drunk." I replied "And told him I was going to bed, but he grabbed me and told me we were staying where we were and said we were going to have sex. I told him we weren't and pushed him off of me and he asked if I'd rather he were the barman in the bar we'd been in earlier on in the night. I told him to stop being so ridiculous and he said he wouldn't be surprised if I'd snuck off to be with him, so I slapped him and as I went to walk away, he pulled me back by my hair and I came to I don't know how long later and knew I had to get out."
JUSTIN'S POV:
"It's a nice place here, mate." Mark admitted as we sat outside of a small café in town "Not London but nice all the same."
"I've gotta admit I miss the hustle and bustle," I informed him "but being here with Tiff and being closer to my Dad and Leo is something I'll never give up."
"So you won't be coming back?" he questioned
"Maybe one day," I replied "but not yet, not for a long time."
TIFFANY'S POV:
"You did really well, Tiffany." my solicitor informed me as she walked into the room I'd given my evidence in
"Did I?" I asked "His solicitor ripped me to pieces…"
"The jury will take into consideration all the detail you went into about your injuries," she replied "I think we're looking at a prison sentence."
"Good." I proclaimed "Do you mind if I go? I've got a train to catch…"
She nodded her head… "You're free to go, and I'll be in touch when the verdict's in."
Nodding my head in understanding, I smiled at her warmly and shook her hand, collecting my things together before leaving the room…