Saving Justice

Chapter Two

While eating dinner, I constantly observe Justice, especially her expressions and movements. My presence makes her feel uneasy, so she quietly tries to finish her dinner without delay. She wants to get away so quickly.

"I'm done," Justice announces after emptying her glass of water. "Can I go back to my room already, Aunt Eleanor?"

"As long as you're done eating," Eleanor tells her.

"Thank you," she promptly says and stands up with her plate in her hand. "Excuse me."

Justice goes over to the sink and drops her dirty plate on it. She gives me a swift glance afterward, which should not be obvious, but since I'm watching her closely, I catch her eyes, taking a quick peep.

She is genuinely surprised when our eyes meet once again, so she looks away at once and scampers out of the room.

•••

"My sweet tooth's craving for Jolly Rancher, Cole," Natalie tells Cole out of the blue.

Cole raises an eyebrow at his younger sister. "And why are you telling me that?"

"Because we're out of Jolly Rancher already, and I'm craving it?" Natalie uses sarcasm on her brother, who's being such a tease.

"Meaning?"

"Oh, come on, Cole!" Natalie finally explodes. "Please, drive me to CK! I'll pay!"

He grins like a devil. "Pay for your candy or my gas or both?"

Natalie groans, Cole laughs.

I quietly chuckle while watching Cole having fun teasing his sister.

"Cole, just go with your sister."

Eleanor returns to the living room with a bowl of freshly cut fruits for our dessert. There are apples, bananas, kiwis, strawberries, and pineapples―a healthy fruit dessert that is good for our body. It is exactly what I want.

"Okay, okay..." Still chuckling, Cole picks up his keys and turns to his pouting sister. "Let's go, Nat."

Though Natalie is still annoyed, she marches on her way out of the house without saying any word to Cole. She really won't miss an opportunity to buy Jolly Rancher.

"You should stop teasing your sister, Cole," Eleanor tells him.

He chuckles again. "Where's the fun in that, mom?"

Eleanor just shakes her head and offers me the fruit bowl.

"Thank you," I say and grab a fork to start picking on fruits.

Smiling, I look at the fruit bowl and think of what fruit to eat first. The strawberry seems appetizing, having the most saturated color among the other fruits served. It immediately catches my attention.

Guess I'll start with strawberries.

I pick the strawberry up with my fork and shove it inside my mouth. The sweet yet slightly sour flavor pleasures my tongue.

While enjoying it, I feel like someone's watching me, so I look up and find Cole standing in front of me with an amused look.

I fake a cough and ask, "You didn't leave yet?"

He purses his lips, suppressing a smile. "You're not coming with us?"

Shaking my head, I remain to stare at him. "I'll stay here."

"Yes, son, just go with your sister and leave Venice here with me," Eleanor encourages him to go now. "Can't you see? She's enjoying her fruit!"

I almost choked when Eleanor popped that so casually, making Cole laugh. On the other hand, I want to curl into a ball and roll away.

"I can see that," Cole says meaningfully and smirks.

With creases on my forehead, I roll my eyes and mouth, "Just go."

"I'll go after Natalie now. We'll be back in fifteen or twenty."

Before he leaves and follows Natalie outside, he leans closer to me and kisses my forehead. I hear his mother exaggerate a sigh because we are being PDA.

"So, my son still can't get his hands off you, huh?" Eleanor asks me when Cole finally leaves.

Her comment makes me feel a little bashful, but I can't deny that.

I've known Cole as a naturally sweet guy and a chevalier. And from the start, when he was still courting me, up to now that we're about to get married, he has been the same Cole that I had known years ago.

Initially, I was scared to commit myself to a serious relationship for two reasons: One, I'm not confident if I can balance studying for my PsyD while in a relationship. Two, I have a lot of girlfriends who got ditched by guys who went all out to pursue them in the beginning. In addition, I heard stories about couples who only had a good start. As time passed, they gradually strayed farther and farther away like they barely knew each other and eventually went their separate ways.

Those were my fears; that's why it took me a year to make things official with Cole. It also didn't help that Cole is also good-looking. I used to generalize handsome men that they are all bound to cheat. But Cole proved to me countless times how loyal he is to me. Up until now, he still keeps on proving it.

Just like what Eleanor said, he still can't get his hands off me. He is still that Cole who's sweet, clingy, and caring. Unlike other couples I heard of, even though we've been together for four years, instead of getting sick of each other, we are only getting even closer and comfortable to the point of wanting to tie the knot. The start of our relationship, which produced a spark, became a long-lasting fire.

"Anyway, do you know any wedding organizers? When are you two going to start planning?" Eleanor seems to be so excited talking about wedding preparations.

Well, I'm also thrilled to start the preparations, but we just got engaged last night. Cole and I still have to decide on a date before anything else.

"I have yet to talk to Cole about it," I tell her honestly.

She nods her head. "If you want, I know a trusted wedding organizer. I can give you her contact info."

"That would be a great help!" I smile. "Thank you."

"No worries. You're going to be my daughter-in-law," she says. "It's only natural for me to help you with these things, especially because your mother's in the other state."

And that's why I'm even more thankful.

"By the way, you're going to spend a night here, right?" she shifts our topic. "Justice uses the guest room now, but you can sleep with Cole."

Every time I stay overnight here, I always sleep in the guest room, even though we're already old enough, and whenever we went on trips with Cole, we would always sleep on one bed together. I feel like it's a sign of respect for his family, especially for his parents.

But now that Justice is using the guest room and we're getting married soon, I know I'll already end up on his bed tonight. Eleanor even suggested it!

And speaking of Justice...

I lick my lips in hesitation while I lift my eyes on Eleanor again. Since dinner, I have restrained myself from asking her more about Justice. Fortunately, now, I already have a chance to do so.

"Uhm... About Justice..." I hesitate a bit, trying to open up.

Eleanor suddenly looks curious. "What about my niece?"

"Well, I don't mean to pry or anything, but I kinda observed her during dinner, and she seems unusual..." I carefully pick my choice of words. "Did she undergo any therapy after her parents and brother died?"

"None that I know of," she answers, and I can feel her concern for her niece. "Is there anything wrong with her, Venice?"

I bite my lower lip. "I feel like she's suffering from depression and anxiety based on how she acted earlier and..." I trail for a fleeting moment. "I think she also has some kind of trauma, but I'm not quite sure since she still needs to undergo some tests."

The concern is written all over Eleanor's expression. She is genuinely worried about Justice.

"That must be because of the accident!"

I c**k my head on one side as curiosity eats me up inside. "The accident?"

"She was with her brother when they had an accident," she tells me a significant factor. "Her brother died from a severe head injury, while she just had superficial injuries, so she survived."

Now, I'm surprised that she didn't undergo any therapy after going through the tragedy when she should have done that. How traumatic that incident must be for her. She experienced a near-death experience just before her eyes. She even lost her brother after her parents died a year before, yet she isn't given any council.

"In that case, I hope you'll consider getting her diagnosed, Eleanor," I suggest what's best for Justice. "I have a senior we can approach to make the initial assessment and get her accurately diagnosed, while I can conduct psychotherapy."

A psychiatrist at the Psychological Service Center, where I work, usually refers her diagnosed patients to me for psychotherapy. She is a veteran in the field, but she doesn't have much time in her hands as she gets older. And since we have a good relationship, she helps me get clients, too.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, I can also conduct psychological testing, but it's best to refer her to a psychiatrist who can prescribe medications as well. She may suffer from depression, but it can also be post-traumatic stress disorder. It's tricky because depression and PTSD share some symptoms. It won't be surprising if Justice is suffering from both conditions simultaneously, so she needs to be diagnosed as soon as possible.

"I have no problem with it, Venice," she says, willing to help her niece. "I also want to make sure that my niece is in good condition. If unfortunate, whatever is needed to help her get better, I will comply."

"That's good to know." I nod, feeling hopeful for Justice.

I'm relieved to hear that. I don't doubt that Eleanor will help her niece because, like Cole, she is a kind-hearted person, and it runs in their family.

In frustration, Eleanor sighs and covers her face with her palm. "I'm so ashamed," she admits her disconcertment. "I didn't even think of that."

"Eleanor, there's no need to blame yourself..." I try to comfort her. "I only managed to observe that there's something wrong with her because it's a part of my job. I doubt if I'll also catch her inconspicuous indifference if not for it."

She smiles and nods then, holds my hand tightly. "Just tell me how much is needed for Justice's diagnosis and treatment."

"No problem," I assure her. "But for the treatment, since I'll volunteer to be her psychotherapist if ever she needs it, I can offer my services for free."

"No, no, no..." She shakes her head in disagreement. "I don't want to keep you from earning. This is your job, and your time is precious."

"Eleanor, like what you said, we're soon-to-be one family. I treat Justice now as my cousin," I reason out with her. "And besides, this can be a friendly treatment. No need for formalities and such."

Moreover, I just can't stand and watch in the corner, knowing that I can do something. This is my job. I took an oath to be of service to people who need psychological help.

"If that's the case, then I hope you'll let me be more hands-on with your upcoming wedding preparations," she requests. "You can take it as a p*****t for helping Justice."

"Of course!" I laugh.

I don't really mind if she wants to take part in it. I can use some help since I'm not that good with aesthetics. I have a very unusual but charming taste, according to Cole.

"Then, it's settled!" she declares. "I'll talk it out with Justice tomorrow."

I nod, and before I can say something else, the door flies open. Cole and Natalie are finally back from buying sweets.

"Oh, they're here already," Eleanor whispers, then holds my arm, so I turn to her for now. "I'll just talk to my husband about what you suggested, Ven. Cole's already here anyway."

Knowing what she means with that last sentence, I smile at her. "Sure."

Eleanor leaves the living room and goes into the master's bedroom, situated here on the first floor. There are only three rooms on the second floor―Natalie's and Cole's rooms, plus the guest room.

My eyes fly back to the siblings who had just arrived.

Striding into the living room, Natalie already has a piece of Jolly Rancher in her mouth while carrying a whole pack with assorted flavors.

Cole goes straight to me and kisses me again on my forehead as a greeting. "Miss me?" he asks.

"Not really," I tell him, and I'm being honest. For Pete's sake! He's been only away for no more than fifteen minutes.

"That's sad because I'm only planning to give you your favorite flavor of Ben and Jerry's if you say you miss me." He slowly pulls the tub out of the plastic bag. "But since you didn't, I should just―"

"I miss you!" I cut him off and immediately yank the tub from his hand.

For a moment, he is stunned because of what I did but eventually laughs his ass off. I see Natalie shake her head because of her brother's crazy antics and go upstairs with her Jolly Rancher.

"Wow!" He is almost speechless after trying to stop himself from laughing. "You're a thief."

I stick my tongue out for a second. "That's what you get from threatening me using my favorite ice cream," I tell him. "That's a foul, Cole."

He shrugs and smirks. "At least I got to hear you say you miss me."

Like Natalie's reaction, I also shake my head then open the lid of the mint chocolate chip-flavored Ben and Jerry's. I don't understand people who are indifferent to mint-flavored desserts. They are missing out big time!

Without further ado, grab the fork I used to eat the fruits. But before I can even take a scoop using the wrong utensil, Cole already offers me a spoon.

"Thanks, love," I sweetly show him my gratitude for these minor things he does to make me happy.

"I think I should buy you ice cream more often, huh?" he playfully says.

I chuckle and scoop a decent amount of ice cream on my spoon and shove it in my mouth. When the ice cream melts and the mint flavor burst, I can't help but smile.

A healthy fruit dessert is good, but a sinful dessert will always be on the top tier.