Saving Justice

Chapter Fourteen

It's fortunate that I did not have to set a dinner or lunch meeting with Eleanor because she messaged me while I was at work. She asked if I was free tomorrow to join her in food-testing the possible dishes to be served at our wedding reception.

"That means I don't have to cook dinner for two tomorrow, right?" Aubrey asks me while ironically eating another take-out for dinner.

We're just eating take-outs for two consecutive nights that I'm here. I know Aubrey has the skills, but she is always lazy when it comes to cooking. I haven't seen her in action yet. Even our breakfast earlier was cooked by Cole.

"Aubrey, you don't really cook our dinner," I tell her, slightly taunting, washing my hands with soap before I eat dinner.

"Well, that's because we bought take-outs," she reasons out.

"Because you told me you're too tired to cook tonight."

"That's a fact," she points out. "How about you? Why didn't you volunteer to cook our dinner tonight?"

"Well, I'm also exhausted from work." I wink and sit in front of her.

We both laugh our laziness away until my phone chimes. Seeing the name of the person who sent me a message, my laughter immediately dies in a matter of milliseconds.

It's from Justice.

"What's the matter?" Aubrey asks, maybe feeling curious and concerned because of the fast deflation of my mood. "Who texted?"

Though I'm not in the mood already, I still force myself to smile. "It's just Emily..." I'm feeling super guilty that I've been lying to her and Cole. I know it might be better if I tell them about it, but I want to keep it to myself for now. I have to do it. If ever a time comes that I need them to find the truth, then I will tell them. "I almost forgot that we have things to finalize." I even massage the bridge of my nose to pretend like I'm already stressed. "I never thought that it would be this stressful to plan a wedding and prepare our house before we move in. There are just too many things to do."

Aubrey looks at me with pity. "You should tell Cole if that's the case. I'm sure he will make things easier for you."

Very promptly, I shake my head. "I can't tell him that," I say before she contacts Cole herself.

"Why not?"

"If it's hard for me, just think how things are harder for him. He's way busier than me, but he's not even complaining," I reason out. "Every time we go together on meetings and appointments related to our wedding preparations, he's genuinely enjoying himself. He treats those moments as a breather from his hectic work schedule. And besides, I know everything will pay off in the end."

"You have a point there." She nods her head, understanding my reasons. "But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me, okay?"

Because of the recent events, I realize how reliable Aubrey is as a person. I know I relied on her before when I just got here, but she becomes even more reliable this time. Despite being big trouble to her now, she's still willing to help me in the future without inhibitions.

Feeling thankful for a great best friend like her, I smile and nod my head.

After eating dinner, I volunteer to clean the table and throw away the garbage. That's the least I can do to thank Aubrey for letting me stay here for free.

Just when I get back from throwing out the garbage, I hear my phone chime once again, and its screen lights up. I move closer and see that I get a new message from Justice―having two text messages in total from her.

I pick up my phone and decide to read her message with a long sigh. Even when just reading her message, I'm still very cautious. I don't want to let my guard down when it comes to her. Not until I finally get to the bottom of this and prove her innocence―if she really is innocent.

From: Justice

Hi, Venice! Are you available next, next Sunday in the evening?

That's what her first message says.

From: Justice

Are you sleeping already? Please reply, Venice.

Next, next Sunday?

I have an appointment in the morning, but I'm free once the meeting is over. However, I can't just say that to Justice, mainly because I need to stay vigilant. I have to know her plan first.

To: Justice

Hi, Justice! Sorry for replying late. I was eating dinner earlier with Aubrey. Regarding your first question, I have to check on my schedule. I'm not sure. Why?

Waiting for Justice's response, I sit on the couch. Her reply arrives so quickly that not even a minute or two has passed, considering the length of her reply.

From: Justice

I'm already planning the bridal shower with Natalie. We think that it'll be best to do it on that day. It's exactly one month before the wedding.

Right... I almost completely forgot about that. She wants to host a bridal shower for me, and I allow her to do that.

To: Justice

Oh! Where's the venue?

I need to know the important details before I give her my word.

From: Justice

Natalie and I decided to just hold it here in my room to allot more budget for the food. Next week, we will buy decorations after work.

So it will just be in her room.

That sounds good to me. More than that, Natalie will also be with us. As long as I'm not alone with her, that's fine with me.

To: Justice

Checked my schedule! I'm free. I'll book this on my planner. See you soon!

The reason I came up with that decision is that I don't want her to have an idea that I'm avoiding her. If that happens, it may trigger her to do something that she would regret. That said, I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt that she hasn't done anything yet.

From: Justice

Great! I'm so excited! See you, Venice!

I read our conversation over and over again. Justice sounds like she's back to her usual self―pretty innocent and admirable. There's no sign of any threat, but that only makes me feel uneasier. I really can't let my guard down until I'm completely certain that she means no harm.

•••

With a menu on hand, right after we just finished food tasting, I'm having difficulty deciding what to eat for dinner. Eleanor invited me to a proper dinner outside, even though we tasted at least ten cuisines from the catering service she contacted. It doesn't even include the desserts.

"One 500 grams of filet mignon, medium rare with smokey barbeque sauce." Eleanor's smile is up to her ears while placing her order. She looks so ecstatic. "Sautéed corn and carrots for the side."

"How about drinks, Ma'am?" the waiter asks in a well-trained, pleasant tone.

"Red wine, please."

Though I'm a foodie myself, I can't seem to keep up with her. She's way above my league. You'll actually think that she's not seven years away from reaching sixty years of age. She has a really big appetite.

When the waiter turns to me, he catches my attention. "What about your order, Ma'am?"

I glance quickly at the menu and just choose an appetizer. "Grilled chicken cobb salad and mashed potato."

"Drinks?"

"I'm fine with water," I say, pointing to the glass of cold water in front of me.

The waiter nods his head. "Let me just repeat your orders," he says. "One 500 grams of filet mignon, medium rare with smokey barbeque sauce. For the side, corn, and carrots. And then, one grilled chicken cobb salad with mashed potato."

"Perfect!" Eleanor smiles at him.

He leaves right after confirming our orders.

Thinking how I will open up to Eleanor about the contact details of Belinda Hammington, I reach for the glass of water to take a sip when she suddenly speaks.

"Oh, right, Venice!" In realization, she claps once and immediately rummages for something in her bag. After a while, she gives out a sticky note. "Cole told me to give you this today."

"What's this?" I ask before I can even read what's written on the Post-It.

"Cole told me that you want to contact Justice's closest relative on her mother's side," she tells me. "I didn't include her contact number since she's already out of the country. I have no idea what's her new number. I also put her address, although I know their house is currently uninhabited right now."

Eleanor had written down Belinda Hammington's contact information on the sticky note. Since there's no contact number, I can just use the email address written here.

"Cole did?" I say absentmindedly.

"Yes, he did," Eleanor replies. "He said you want to learn more about Justice through her other relatives."

A smile escapes my lips. Cole took another step to make things easier for me. "Thank you for this, Eleanor."

"You are most welcome."

On my way home after eating dinner with Eleanor, while I'm in the cab, I give a call to Cole to thank him for having the initiative of talking to her mother about what I needed.

"Yes, babe?" Cole says as soon as he answers the call.

I purse my lips. "Are you home now?"

"Yup," he replies. "Just got out of the shower. How about you? Are you still with my mom?"

"I'm already on my way to Aubrey's apartment," I tell him. "Your mom also took a cab home."

"And you're calling because?" He sounds a bit taunting. I feel that he already has an idea of what I'm calling him for.

Biting my lower lip, I suppress a smile. "I called because I want to thank you, of course," I say. "You saved me at least five brain cells from constructing the perfect sentence to open up about Belinda Hammington's contact info."

"Oh, come on!" He groans playfully. "That's worth five brain cells only? I'm sure it's six."

I laugh at that.

Cole really knows how to make things lighter.

"But seriously..." He suddenly talks with his low voice. "I know that you're already stressed out from juggling so many things inside your head," he says, and I can feel his utmost concern. "I just want to help you out, and it's just talking to my mother. It's nothing."

Of course, even if I don't tell him that I'm already feeling stressed, like what Aubrey wants me to do, I don't need to do it anymore because he can already feel it. That's how Cole knows me so well. How can I even forget about that?

"Don't you ever hesitate to tell me about your concerns, okay?" he tells me. "You know I would love to listen and to know everything that's going on around your mind. That's the least I can do for you."

Smiling, I can't help but tell him how I feel about him. "I really love you, Cole."

"I know you do," he says, slightly conceited. "And I love you, too."

•••

The call lasted until I was already at Aubrey's flat. She didn't mind that I was busy on the phone with Cole because she was also on a video call with Timothy. If only I didn't have to take a shower, our conversation wouldn't meet its end.

Done taking a shower, I turn on my laptop and open my mail on the browser. I have new emails — invoices for our expenses for the wedding and the furniture and appliances we ordered — which are also cc'd to Cole. I disregard those emails and tap on the plus symbol to create a new message and construct my email for Belinda Hammington.

To: belindahammington@mail.com

Good day, Mrs. Belinda Hammington!

This is Venice Mitchell Sanders, PsyD from the Center for Psychological Services in Oak Lawn, Illinois. I am Justice Sabrina Bryant's Psychotherapist. I'm well aware that you are out of the country, but can I perhaps have a virtual talk with you about Justice?

I will be happy to hear from you, as your response is very important to her psychotherapy.

Thank you!

With regards,

Venice Mitchell Sanders, PsyD

I write the email formally and hit send after proofreading it. When I first met Justice, Eleanor told me that her relatives moved to England, as I recall. It is quarter to eleven in the evening here, so it's only almost four o'clock in the morning there in the United Kingdom.

Knowing that I won't get any reply from her yet, I let myself fall to sleep. The next day, I wake up while Aubrey's still sleeping beside me. I check my phone, and I'm completely awakened by the notification from my email when I see that it is from Belinda.

From: belindahammington@mail.com

Hi there, Venice!

It will be my pleasure to help with my niece's therapy. How can I help?

Sincerely,

Belinda Hammington

While typing my reply, I sit up and rest my back on the headboard. I'm feeling so relieved that she actually replied!

To: belindahammington@mail.com

Thank you very much for your response, Mrs. Hammington!

Are you free at 8 p.m. on your end? We can talk on Skype if you have an account.

With regards,

Venice Mitchell Sanders, PsyD

I immediately receive a reply from Belinda. She includes her Skype account in her email and asks me just to give her a bump later this evening.

Feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness, I grip tightly on my phone. I just hope that I will get more information from Belinda about Justice.