CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
"Great party Helen!" Selena beamed as Helen entered the store.
"I'm still feeling the effects, how are you?"
"To be honest I don't think that it was the alcohol that got to me, it was the colouring in those liqueurs."
"Yes Selena, I believe you, thousands wouldn't. Anything I need to know about?"
"Nope but by the smile on your face there's something you'd like to share with the class!"
"Possibly! I had a great time thank you Selena for helping to organise it."
"Oh you're very welcome we all had a good time. Look Helen about Duncan."
"Selena it's fine, Duncan's a grown man I trust you not to hurt him."
"I won't I'm pleased you think that, I want to know all about your escapades later. I'll make sure we get a break together today!" Helen smiled and started to walk up the store in order to swipe in. She was really happy, but at the back of her mind she knew that she had unfinished business with Nikki. Even if Nikki hadn't felt anything for her other than friendship Helen wanted to make sure that everything was ok between them. Nikki deserved better than someone who didn't want to admit their relationship and who was also sleeping with someone else.
"Did you have a nice birthday Helen?" Helen turned in surprise, Frances had just come out of the locker room and was standing directly behind her.
"Yes thank you."
"Good." Frances smiled faintly and left Helen slightly bemused, why was she being pleasant?
Frances nodded to a few people as walked through the corridors to the office she had adopted as her own, her folder clutched to her chest. She desperately wanted to know exactly what Helen knew but she just couldn't bring herself to ask, she also wanted to know what had happened at Helen's birthday. Nikki had been extremely quiet all Sunday, which she had tried to put down to a hangover. Frances hadn't bought that for a second, Nikki had sat in the lounge staring out of the window watching the rain, turning her mobile over in her hands. Something had happened, or she'd had an argument with someone. Frances' money had been on Helen, but Helen had just arrived at work full of the joys of spring. Frances picked up the ringing phone on her desk and sat down heavily in her chair,
"Myers." Her words were heavily laden with the evidence of a sigh, or tiredness.
"Frances it's Selena, Neil Grayling on the phone for you."
"Thank you." Frances waited for the click indicating a connection, "Neil."
"Ah Frances sorry for the early hour, am I disturbing?"
"Not at all."
"Good, well I'll get straight to the point shall I?"
"Please do."
"I've been promoted."
"Congratulations."
"Thank you. I take up my new role as UK general manager in 2 months."
"That's good news Neil."
"I'd like to suggest you as my possible replacement."
"I'd appreciate that thank you."
"You'd have my full and complete backing, however we do need to resolve this sexual harassment case as soon as possible. We simply can't have it hanging over not only our flagship store but also over one of our most promising managers."
"I agree Neil, but what do you suggest?"
"I'm going to mull it over today and then I'll be in the store within the next couple of days. Until then I would like you to try and consider what you can do to resolve this Frances. Possibly from the Shell Dockley angle."
"Right, ok."
"Excellent, well I'll leave that in your capable hands then, good bye Frances."
"Bye Neil." Frances replaced the handset and leant over the desk resting her head in her arms. Neil's intention had been clear. Sort out the mess at Harbourne and promotion's on the cards, don't sort it out then…Frances didn't want to think about that. Neil Grayling's support was something that she had counted on to secure her promotion. It was clear however that he was perfectly willing to cut her loose. Frances flicked through her files and found Shell's address, he was right it was best to approach it from that perspective. She was the one who was lying, whatever happened between her and Nikki she knew Nikki was honest to the core. Perhaps if she could talk to Shell alone and convince her that withdrawing her allegation was the best idea. Of course it was completely unethical, everything was meant to go through official channels but her options were severely limited, and time was not on her side. She snatched her car keys from the desk and raced out of the room. She hurried down the aisles stopping only very briefly at the customer service desk.
"Selena I have an urgent meeting, I've got my mobile, but only contact me in an emergency. Is that clear?"
"As crystal."
"Good." Helen dropped the empty change bags on the desk and held her hands out for a full, counted bag.
"Bloody hell, what was that all about?"
"God knows, if that's what happens at senior management level then I'm very happy as a pleb!"
Frances reversed her car out of its space viciously and sped out of the car park. She took a quick look at the Shell's address, satisfied she knew where she was going, she pointed the car and pressed hard on the accelerator. As she got nearer to her destination Frances slowed down slightly, she needed to regain her composure and more importantly she needed to decide what she was going to say. What was her reason for turning up on Shell's doorstep? Should she make Shell believe it was official or turn on the charm? As she approached Shell's flat she realised that it was going to be difficult to park, she found the first space she could and decided to walk a couple of streets. The air would clear her head and help her think what her angle would be. Frances rounded the corner of Shell's street and something made her stop in her tracks, Jim Fenner's car. Feeling as though she had fallen into a bad detective drama Frances pressed herself against the conveniently placed privet hedge behind her and considered her next move. This was a very interesting development, she somehow doubted Jim was at Shell's house in the middle of the day to discuss staff development.
Helen was convinced that there was something wrong with the hands of the clock. She had decided come lunch time she'd pop round to see Nikki, but since she had decided that the clock had definitely slowed.
"Helen, go for lunch now if you want!"
"Sorry Selena."
"Don't be, look it's not too busy, go now because you've clearly got something to do or is it someone to see!" Selena winked.
"I promise I'll reveal all later but yes there is someone I want to see, are you sure?"
"Yep! Now go before I change my mind!"
Nikki was in her new found haven, she dug the fork into the hard ground to break up the soil. The rain yesterday had helped, and though still tough work it was no longer like digging concrete. A familiar voice broke into her thoughts,
"Hey Charlie Dimmock! Fancy letting me in?" Helen peered through the electronically coded gate which separated the flat's garden and car park from the rest of the world. Nikki straightened and brushed her shorts down, she wiped her brow, and let Helen in.
"I don't have much in common with Charlie, I wear underwear for one."
"Oh well each to their own I suppose!" Helen leant towards Nikki in order to kiss her on the cheek, Nikki awkwardly turned her face so that Helen's lips ended up closer to Nikki's ear. "Nikki! Look shall I go? I just thought I'd come and see you." Nikki didn't respond and knelt back down picking up her gardening fork, she resumed her former task of turning the soil over. "Fine! Sod you Nikki!" Helen spun around and began to walk back towards the gate. Nikki looked up and watched her walk away, frustration with her own inability to talk to Helen made her stab the fork viciously downwards without looking.
"Ahhh!" Helen looked around and saw Nikki clutch her hand in pain, she rushed back over.
"Jesus what have you done!"
"Fork, hand, owww!"
"Come on let's get it cleaned up." Nikki nodded mutely, the excruciating pain meant she had neither the strength nor the inclination to refuse Helen's help. Once back in the flat Helen held Nikki's hand under the tap to wash the dirt out of what looked to be quite a deep cut.
"Bloody hell it hurts!"
"I'm not surprised, hold still. It's quite deep Nik perhaps we should call your doctor?"
"It'll be ok when it's bandaged up and I've had some ibuprofen."
"How on earth did you manage to do this?" Helen kept hold of Nikki's hand as they walked over to the table.
"Wasn't watching what I was doing." Nikki mumbled, "I was looking at you."
"Oh." Helen continued to carefully clean the ugly cut, she flicked open the first aid kit and fished out an antiseptic wipe. "This will sting."
"It's been stinging since I pulled the fork out of it." Nikki responded wryly. She clenched her teeth as Helen dabbed carefully.
"Ok, well I think it's clean. It needs bandaging though." Helen glanced up at the clock, "I'll quickly do it for you and then I'll go."
"I'm sorry this is your lunch isn't it? Can you pass me my mobile please." Helen pushed Nikki's phone towards her and set about gently bandaging her hand. Nikki tapped buttons quickly,
"Selena? Hi mate, I need a favour." Helen looked up sharply,
"No Nikki! It's my job I'll come back later." Nikki shook her head firmly.
"So you can cope? Call Sylvia in, about time she pulled her weight. I appreciate this, yes I will explain, yes, ok, bye."
"Why did you do that? I'll look stupid now, Selena was already good enough to let me go early."
"I'll sort it, we need to talk." Helen shook her head and using a safety pin to fasten the bandage she finished off Nikki's hand.
"All done, how does that feel?" Nikki gingerly moved her hand.
"Well it's bloody sore, but it looks much better than before, thank you. Now you need something to eat, thanks to this." Nikki waved her bandaged hand around, "I'm somewhat restricted but feel free to use what you want." Helen gratefully accepted Nikki's invitation and flicked the kettle on for a cup of tea.
"Ok then, what do you want to talk about Nikki?"
"Same as you probably."
"I never said I wanted to talk, I just said I'd come round to see you."
"Ok fine, the palpable tension between us is lovely."
"It's not because of me, I'm not the one that turned my head away when you kissed me on the cheek." Nikki looked away, her eyes following the white clouds as they scuttled across the sky. "Yeah silence, that helps."
"Helen I am not in the mood for sarcastic comments."
"I'm not in the mood to stand around here while you sulk and refuse to tell me what the problem is. You are so infuriating!" Helen tossed a tea spoon into the sink, where it noisily clattered and settled on the plug hole. She put down two mugs and sat with her arms crossed staring at Nikki.
"Stop staring at me."
"Stop being annoying then." In spite of herself Nikki laughed, she had to admit Helen was good, Frances would have stormed out by now.
"Mel still here?"
"I knew it, you're jealous!"
"I didn't say I was jealous but so what if I am you're jealous of Frances."
"I bloody am not!"
"Ok I'm not jealous you're not jealous, no problem, back to normal."
"She doesn't deserve you Nikki." Helen whispered under her breath, Nikki's eyes widened. She stood abruptly,
"You can't say that Helen you don't know her like I do, in-fact you don't know me either." Nikki left Helen in the kitchen and opened the front door, "I think you should go."
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Frances watched from the safety of her car as Jim Fenner emerged from Shell's house, she could see Shell behind him clad in some kind of gown. He turned back and kissed her before looking furtively round and jumping into his car. She waited until his car was out of sight before she walked up to Shell's door. She rapped sharply on the door, Shell answered still wearing her dressing gown.
"Miss Myers!"
"Frances please Shell, I'm sorry if this is inconvenient but I need a word."
"Oh right you better come in then."
"Go on, get out!"
"No." Nikki closed the door again,
"No?"
"That's right no. She doesn't deserve you Nikki, and I do know you, and I know more than you think!"
"Oh ok, well please do share these insights Helen, because I'm just dying to know what you know about MY relationship, and MY girlfriend." Nikki crossed her arms and leant against the door, challenging Helen to back up her comments.
"Nikki will you please sit down." Helen sat down on the sofa and waited for Nikki to join her. "There is something that I need to tell you, it's about Frances." Nikki rolled her eyes, "Nikki she's cheated on you."
"No, she wouldn't, she wouldn't do that to me." They sat in silence for what to Helen seemed like an eternity. "Who?" The word came out of Nikki as barely more than a whisper.
"Colin Hedges." Nikki nodded, almost as though she had expected Helen to say that name.
"Why do you think that?" Helen explained what she had seen, how she had been worried about telling Nikki, but that she was convinced that something was going on between them.
"If I wasn't so sure Nikki I wouldn't say anything, if I didn't care so much about you I wouldn't say anything. I'm sorry." Helen looked down at her hands, "I'm going to go now, let you think about stuff." Helen opened the door to let herself out.
"Helen."
"Yes?"
"Are you happy with Mel?"
"I think so."
"You think so?"
"At the moment I'm happy Nikki, will you be ok?"
"I'll be fine, bye Helen." The door had been closed behind Helen for more than half an hour before Nikki moved from the sofa, though she didn't want to believe Helen she knew what she had said was very probably true. It sounded like Frances, and it fitted with her behaviour over the previous weeks. Nikki glanced at the photo of them both on the beach toying briefly with the idea of throwing it across the room. Her eyes then rested on the phone, and she knew exactly who to call and what to say.
Shell emerged from her bedroom in a pair of jeans and a low cut top,
"Sorry, can I get you drink Frances."
"No thank you Shell, I am sorry that I have dropped in on you like this."
"It's ok." Shell was feeling very uneasy, this was not something that she had planned on. Frances stood and began to pace around the room,
"How are you feeling about the situation?"
"Quite worried I guess, you know for my job, and my kids." Frances looked around clearly expecting to see evidence of children. "They're at my Mum's at the moment, since this whole thing I've been very depressed and I didn't think it was good for them to be around me."
"Quite. Has Mr Fenner been supportive?" Shell sensed that Frances was trying to catch her out about something but she had no idea what.
"Er well he's been very clear about what's going on, but obviously I haven't seen him apart from when I came in for that meeting."
"Really? That is strange Shell because I've just seen Mr Fenner leave this house and you seemed very sorry to see him go, don't bother trying to deny it, I have photos." Shell swallowed hard and the colour drained from her face, her brain worked quickly,
"Miss Myers he made me! He said I'd be sacked if I didn't!" Frances held up her hand to stop Shell,
"Frankly Miss Dockley I've heard quite enough, you can't honestly think I'm going to believe you. It's all very apparent now, you and Mr Fenner, very cosy. How convenient that it's a member of staff that Mr Fenner doesn't particularly like that gets accused of sexual harassment. Listen carefully Michelle this is what you are going to do, you are going to write a statement withdrawing your accusation, explaining your reasons, stress, depression I don't care what. I will then see that you are transferred to another store."
"Harbourne's the nearest one!"
"The alternative is that you never work for the company again or any other supermarket in the area, I will see to that. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"You are not to contact Mr Fenner again, you can also write another statement about your involvement with him, make him sound as bad as you like. If the statements are satisfactory then I will make sure you have a job to go to at the end of the month. Are we clear Michelle?"
"Yes."
"Right let's go and write some statements."
"At the store? Fenner will be there."
"I'll contact Area and ensure he's called out for something, come on."
Neil Grayling put the phone down after finishing his conversation with Nikki Wade, he'd had his suspicions about Frances. He'd known something was going on but he hadn't been able to put his finger on it. Nikki had been very apologetic, very articulate and had immediately offered her resignation. He had of course refused it, whether she was involved with Frances or not she was still an excellent manager. The responsibility for the situation lay firmly with Frances. She could have said at any time what was going on, as soon as the allegation was made she should have stepped back, by staying on and running the investigation she had run the risk making Nikki look guilty. A cover-up they would have said, managers looking out for managers, unacceptable in Neil's eyes. His intercom buzzed,
"Yes."
"Mr Grayling, Frances Myers line 2."
"Thank you Holly. Frances."
"Neil just a quick call to say the sexual harassment situation is resolved."
"How so?"
"I spoke to Shell, she has admitted that she made up the allegation, she's in the conference room at the moment with Yvonne and Mark writing new statements. One which involves Jim Fenner ."
"I see." At the other end of the phone Frances felt slightly confused, she had expected Neil to be pleased she had sorted out the problem, maybe she had interrupted him in a meeting or something. "Frances I'm somewhat tied up here in area at the moment. I'll try and get over to Harbourne either later today or tomorrow, ok?"
"Ok, what about Jim?"
"I need to read the statements so fax them over when they are completed, don't do anything about Jim or Nikki, in fact I'd like you now to finish off the inspection and leave the wrapping up of the investigation to me."
"Fine." Frances put the phone down, why did she feel like something was going on? Yvonne walked in with a big smile on her face.
"Well I'd say Nikki is well and truly exonerated, wouldn't you Frances?"
"Yes Yvonne."
"So have you rang her?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Neil wants to complete the investigation himself, ok?"
"And Jim?"
"Neil wants to deal with him too."
"Oh dear, pissed off your patron have we? Has he found out something about you, a conflict of interests maybe?" Frances whipped round and drew herself to her fall height. Her 3 inch heels ensured she was slightly taller than Yvonne, but Yvonne wasn't even remotely intimidated.
"You better not have said anything."
"About what?" Yvonne shook her head slowly, "I warned you love, if Nikki suffers because of you and your desperation to keep her a secret." Frances stumbled back and gripped the desk to keep her steady.
"You know, how do you know, Nikki said she hadn't…"
"She didn't I worked it out for myself."
"Nikki's been cleared she'll be fine."
"And your relationship?"
"Yvonne you may have guessed, you may be Nikki's best friend, but I'm not about to open up my heart to you. You don't give a damn about me and in all honesty why should you."
"Keeping such an important part of her life secret is killing her Frances, if you can't see that and you aren't willing to change then you should let her go. Let her be with someone who is proud to be with her."
"How dare you! How dare you stand there and presume to lecture me on my relationship. How Nikki and I conduct our private life is nothing to do with you! You might think you have a right to know, you might think you have the monopoly on knowing Nikki but you don't!" The two women had not realised how loud their voices had become and their exchange was interrupted by Karen flinging the door open.
"I don't know what the hell you two are 'discussing' but there is no reason to scream! The whole bloody store can hear you, Yvonne I need a word."
"I'm busy. We've got things to sort." Frances shook her head,
"No we're done, I need some fresh air. She's all yours Karen, good luck." Frances stormed out leaving Karen and Yvonne looking at each other. Karen locked the door after her and sat down on a chair never once taking her eyes from Yvonne.
"Well are you going to tell me what that was all about?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Could have fooled me, Von you're shaking." Karen stood and took Yvonne's hands in her own, and then drew her into a strong hug. Yvonne at first resisted, she wasn't weak she didn't want to be seen as weak but there was something about Karen's embrace that made her want to melt. Karen pulled back to look Yvonne in the eyes, "better?" Yvonne nodded,
"Yes, that woman annoys me."
"Look she won't be round for much longer, then you'll never have to see her again."
"I wish that were the case Karen I really do, but it's not that simple. Remember what I said to you the other day about Nikki and Frances?"
"About them being involved with each other?"
"It's all true Karen she's just admitted it, Nikki and Frances are a couple. I can't believe it that woman and our Nik! Nik's my best friend you're meant to like your friend's partner, I can't stand the woman."
"Yvonne calm down." Karen watched as Yvonne paced up and down the room her arms waving, she did the only thing she could think of to stop her. She grabbed Yvonne and pushed their lips together. Yvonne stopped in her tracks and for the second time in as many minutes melted into Karen's embrace. She returned the kiss with equal passion. Karen reluctantly detached their lips and rested her forehead against Yvonne's, "whatever Nikki has got herself into we'll be there for her, and whatever you get yourself into Mrs Atkins I'll be there for you, is that ok?"
"It's more than ok." Yvonne pressed her lips to Karen's again gently, "it's perfect. Do you know what would be even more perfect?"
"I'm sure you'll fill me in!" Karen ran her finger lightly down Yvonne's forearm.
"If you came round to mine tonight and let me cook for you."
"You cook?"
"I cook, I clean, I can be quite domesticated when the mood takes me."
"Now that I would like to see!" Karen moved her arms away from where they had been resting around Yvonne's waist and unlocked the door, "I really need to do some work, what time?"
"8?"
"Perfect, it's a date!" Karen winked and Yvonne watched as she elegantly made her way out of the room.
"A date." Yvonne said quietly under her breath it sounded strange but good.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Nikki felt she was very close to finding out whether the answers to everything could be found in the bottom of a glass of vodka. After speaking to Neil Grayling she had received a call from Yvonne telling her that Shell had admitted she'd made the allegation up. As yet Nikki had heard nothing official from anyone. It had felt like the four walls in the flat were closing in on her so she had decided to go out. A quiet space at the bar in her favourite evening drinking establishment, an understanding barmaid and a seemingly bottomless bottle of Smirnoff Red was just what the doctor ordered. It seemed as though she had been vindicated, her job had been saved at the expense of her relationship. Even if Nikki forgave Frances' indiscretion Frances would not forgive Nikki revealing her relationship to Neil Grayling.
"Here you go honey." The pretty barmaid smiled and placed a cup of coffee in front of Nikki.
"I didn't order this, another vodka please."
"Look this is on me, you've had enough."
"How do you know I've had enough?"
"Look babe if the vodka was making you happy then I'd give you the bottle but it's just making you more depressed. Relationship problems?"
"Yeah I haven't got one anymore." The barmaid covered Nikki's hand with her own briefly,
"Life sucks sometimes. Met someone else?"
"We both have."
"Sounds complicated." Nikki sipped her coffee contemplatively,
"Yes complicated covers it. The person I want doesn't want me though."
"Do they know how you feel?"
"No."
"Ahh there's your real problem. You sit there lamenting the fact the one you want doesn't want you, and they don't even know you are an option!" Nikki considered the comment.
"You're absolutely right! I should tell her how I feel!" Nikki jumped off the stool, stumbling slightly against the bar. The barmaid appeared by her side and steadied her.
"Woah, why don't you finish your coffee first?"
"No I have to go now! Thanks."
"You're welcome, oh and honey if it doesn't work, out come back here and ask for Kelly!" Nikki smiled and dashed out of the bar.
Neil Grayling smoothed the slight creases out of his grey suit and waited patiently at the customer service desk.
"Mr Grayling, sorry to keep you."
"That's quite alright Selena, could you inform Frances Myers that I am here."
"Of course." Selena put out an announcement,
"Selena are you aware of a position coming up in the Kings Oak store?"
"No."
"Customer service manager, I think you would be ideal. Why don't you look into it, I'd be happy to go through the application with you and recommend you to the store manager." Frances appeared at the desk, bringing the conversation to an end,
"Thank you Mr Grayling, I will." Selena watched Frances and Neil walk through the store, she was very excited by the thought of the job opportunity, but that evening something else was on her mind. She looked at the clock only a few hours to go before her drink with Duncan.
Frances was feeling increasingly nervous. Neil was very quiet, and the compliments she had been expecting relating to her solving the issue so quickly simply had not materialised. They were seated in the training room with cups of tea before a word was spoken.
"Neil is there something I should know about?"
"It would seem despite me providing you with a number of opportunities to tell me if there were any reasons you shouldn't be involved with the investigation you forgot one very important thing." Frances swallowed roughly, her throat all of a sudden very dry, "your relationship with Nikki Wade."
"Neil I…"
"No Frances, I am incredibly disappointed in you. Surely you were aware of how it would look, you could have damaged not only your own but Nikki's reputation irreparably."
"I wanted to sort it out, I didn't want to be transferred."
"Frances you shouldn't really have been doing the inspection never mind leading an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct levelled at your partner!"
"I wanted to show you and area office how capable I am."
"Your capability, dedication and ability to do your job have never been in question Frances! For god sake the regional manager's position was practically yours!"
"Was?"
"In light of this I've filled in area office and withdrawn my support for your application."
"Neil please, this could ruin me."
"It could, I sincerely hope it doesn't, but yes it could. Now I have put in some thought to this, the area manager in Cambridge is retiring…"
"No, Neil I've been an area manager."
"Yes you have and you will remain as one for the foreseeable future. This is the last thing I am going to do for you Frances. Take my advice go to Cambridge keep your head down and concentrate on the job, and never again mix business with your private life. I'm going now to speak to Yvonne and Mark, I'll ring Nikki and I'll let you make arrangements for Miss Dockley." Neil stood and held his hand out, "Goodbye Frances, I've really enjoyed working with you, make the most of the second chance I've given you." He walked out of the training room leaving Frances at the desk, staring at the monthly planner on the wall. This time she felt the tears coming and she did nothing to stop them.
"Do I look ok?"
"Duncan you look great."
"Hel you said that about the last shirt!"
"I meant it then as well, you look good in anything." Mel came out of the kitchen with two glasses of wine, and settled herself down next to Helen her arm falling casually around the smaller woman's shoulders.
"Helen's right Duncan. You look good, but you're going to be late if you don't leave now!" Duncan looked up at the clock.
"God you're right! Ok, you'll both be ok won't you? Liv's pretty much settled for the night I think."
"Duncan please do not insult my intelligence by trying to tell me how to look after my own niece! Go, go, go! Say hi to Selena for me."
"Ok, ok." Duncan kissed Helen on the head, "see you both later." Helen waited until the door had closed and the key had turned before sighing dramatically and collapsing into Mel's open embrace.
"He's worse than a bloody woman!"
"I know! Hungry?"
"Starving! But there's something I want more than food." Helen ran her tongue over her lips, "this is the first time we've had the place to ourselves isn't it?" Mel's eyes twinkled dangerously and she leant down to capture Helen's mouth with her own. Pulling away briefly, she smiled
"Shall we go upstairs then?"
"Oh I think that's an excellent idea." Helen stood holding her hand out, with their fingers intertwined she led the way upstairs. 15 minutes later a taxi pulled up outside the house in Oakland Gardens. Nikki stepped out somewhat unsteadily, she paid the driver and took a deep breath. Though faltering slightly her confidence was still strengthened by vodka, and she tapped sharply on the door.
"They'll get the message." Helen tried to think along the same lines as Mel but the knocking on the door had momentarily broken the spell.
"I'll go and get rid of whoever it is and then I'm all yours darling." Mel rolled her eyes but nodded, raising herself on her elbows allowing Helen to wriggle out from underneath her. Helen jumped out of bed and threw on the robe which hung behind her door. She ran her hands through her hair, attempting to not look quite so dishevelled. She really hoped it wasn't Duncan, without keys and with cold feet. She reached the door and yanked it open,
"Forgotten your…Nikki!"