One Hundred and ninety nine

CHAPTER 199

"Ah, I made something too. You can wait here," Mrs. Thompson said, breaking the awkward silence between them.

Alicia and Nicholas nodded politely, as Mrs. Thompson got up from the sofa and left them alone.

The girl with the scarf around her neck then leaned forward and whispered to Nicholas. "Did you really double check everything, Nick?"

"Of course. I checked right away, but the people here said that they didn't notice the car. And well, as we know, we don't have the license plate, I had a hard time finding the owner without something detailed." Nicholas said that guiltily. "At least I apologized to Mrs. Thompson, right?"

Before Alicia could answer, Mrs. Thompson returned with her son in a wheelchair. The young man looked much healthier now and could already sit up on his own. Mrs. Thompson pushed the wheelchair closer.

"My son is better, it's a miracle. And, I want you to say hello to him. It’s Erick."

After Mrs. Thompson told him, the young man on the wheelchair waved, he greeted his two guests nicely and politely. "Hi."

"Hi," Alicia replied, smiling and extending her hand. "I'm Alicia, and this is my boyfriend, Nicholas. Nice to meet you."

"Call me Rick, it's the nickname of someone I like and I'll stick with it," Rick said with pride. He shook Alicia's hand, then shook Nicholas' hand. "You have a very nice body, Nicholas."

"I'm a cop," Nicholas muttered.

"I already know. I saw it yesterday, you two helped my mom, and I'm very grateful for that, and, oh," Rick saw the soup on the table, nearby. He smiled and looked at his two guests gratefully. "I heard you guys gave soup to Mom and me, thank you very much."

Alicia chuckled and looked down in embarrassment, she adjusted her hair that had fallen when she looked down and said, "You don't need to thank me that much. By the way, when are you going to the hospital for treatment?"

"I'll be back next week."

"That's good," Alicia said as she nodded her head.

Not wanting to mince words, Alicia cleared her throat and tried to say goodbye. "In that case, Nicholas and I will go home now. It's good to know that you're doing well."

Alicia stood up from the sofa, while Nicholas followed. Mrs. Thompson held her hands out in front of her, trying to restrain her two guests as she said, "Wait a minute!"

Mrs. Thompson walked cautiously to the kitchen, to get a jar of honey given to her by one of the family and returned to the living room. The old woman smiled, showing a frown on her face. "I wanted to give this honey to you, Alicia. My brother from the village sent this yesterday, he gave me a lot of honey for Rick. It's good for health, and it will be good for your skin too. Take this."

Alicia looked at Nicholas, before finally accepting the honey. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Thompson."

The two of them then left the old lady's house and returned home. The winter air still took them by surprise. And when they got home, Alicia immediately put the honey in the refrigerator.

"This looks good honey," Alicia said as she joined Nicholas sitting on the sofa. "Should we make some honey tea to warm up?"

"I'm hungry, maybe eating your soup will fill our stomachs."

"I will prepare our breakfast," Alicia said.

The girl busily prepared breakfast for the two of them, and then they sat together at the small dining table in the kitchen corner of the flat.

"About our vacation, do you have any place in mind, Alicia?"

Alicia chewed the carrots and beans that had been made into soup in her mouth, then swallowed it quickly. She mumbled for quite a long time, and said, "How about we go to the countryside to experience a bonfire in the fireplace? Roasting marshmallows perhaps?"

Nicholas frowned, he seemed to think for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. "Melted marshmallows and hot chocolate would indeed be perfect for winter like this."

"Do you have any recommendations for a place, maybe a villa, or an inn with a fireplace inside?"

As Alicia and Nicholas enjoyed their breakfast, the idea of a vacation in the countryside came to mind. The warmth of tea mixed with honey and the soothing aroma of soup created a cozy atmosphere in their home.

"I've heard of a quaint village called Hearthwood," Nicholas suggested as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "It's famous for its beautiful scenery and charming cottages. I'm sure we can find a place with a fireplace there."

Alicia's eyes sparkled with excitement. "A fireplace sounds perfect! Imagine sitting by the fire, sipping hot chocolate, and roasting marshmallows. It would be like a scene from one of those romance novels."

Nicholas chuckled. "Well, we can always add a little romance to our own stories. Let's find a cozy inn or cottage in Hearthwood. I'm sure we can find a hidden gem."

The couple spent the morning browsing through listings and reviews, looking for the ideal accommodation. They found a centuries-old inn called "Whispering Pines Retreat" with riveting testimonials about its rustic charm and welcoming atmosphere.

"It's settled," Nicholas said, pointing at the screen. "Whispering Pines Retreat it is. We can book a cottage with a fireplace and make our winter vacation unforgettable."

The enthusiastic expression on Alicia's face changed after that. She suddenly remembered Nicholas's job, and started thinking about it. "Will this vacation interfere with your work?"

"No, no. I'll take two days off so that I can fulfill this dream of yours, Alicia." Nicholas gently rubbed the top of Alicia's head, he smiled and tried to calm his girl down. He was completely sincere. "You don't have to worry, I'll do everything for you. We'll have a great year-end vacation and weekend. OK?"

Alicia mumbled for a long time, before finally nodding her head. "Thank you, Nick."

"Sure, Alicia."