joywave

“I do plan on making it. Like I said, I can’t tell yet how much work and time the case will require. I have a meeting with my client on Wednesday, so I should know more by then.”

“ Okay. So you let me know by Wednesday. Have you sorted things with Liam, finally? He told me he’s definitely planning on coming and he said he might even bring Noah along. Which I think would very nice, but not if you two don’t manage to be in the same room at my brother’s. ”

“Good morning. Thank you. [..] Next weekend? Possibly. I took on a new case this week and I can’t tell how time consuming it’s going to get. Still got a bit of time until then, so I’ll let you know.”

“ I see. It’s on Saturday, around twelve he said. So I presume he means around 12:30. I’d be very glad if you could tell me right away if you don’t plan on making it. ”

“ Good morning. There’s coffee in the pot. [..] By the way. My brother invited us for lunch next weekend. Can I tell him you’ll be joining us or would that be hasty? Again? ”

“You didn’t,” Ana assured her with a sleepy smile, stepping into the living room. “I was just woken up by my bladder and noticed your side of the bed was empty,” she explained further, walking over to her wife until she was right behind her. She put her hands on the back rest, slightly leaning over Avery to have a look at the book on her lap. “What is it about?”

Avery kept her gaze directed towards her lap, even when her wife came up right behind her. Perhaps she had fled their shared bed, even though she couldn’t quite put a finger on why she felt the need to. “ Oh, it’s a wonderful book.. ” she said quietly, tracing her finger over the worn binding. “ I’ve read it many times. It’s about this young boy who realizes how phony adults are and it makes him very sad, so he goes to New York and searches the truth. ” She stayed quiet for a moment afterward, before turning to look at Ana with a tired smile, placing a hand over hers. “ Have you spoken to Liam today? ” The question seemed innocent enough, though given the current circumstances was very much called for. 

“ Trust is a good thing, control is a better one! Is what my mother always used to tell me. Of course trust is important, but I prefer knowing things for sure. Wouldn’t simply trust myself to have turned off the oven if I can also go and check. It becomes slightly abstract in regards to relationships, but it’s the same principle, I suppose. But I wouldn’t say I’m an unnecessarily jealous person. ”

“I was in the middle of something, but that’s fine,” Marisol admitted overly polite (although what she was saying wasn’t so much) with a swift hand gesture to emphasise her point. Insencere smile still in place, she took on the basket the woman– Mrs. Caldwell-Moore brought over, sneeking a peak underneath the cloth that covered up the goods, not paying much mind to the small talk the other was trying to create. “I’m going to give these to Mr. Hughes and my son, I’m sure they will enjoy them,” lie, “I’m currently trying out this new diet, so I can’t have any, I’m afraid,” truth, “but thank you, that’s very thoughtful. So–” she said, the tone of her voice indicating she was ready to end this conversation right here, but the other seemed to have other plans. “My husband is rarely home, he has his own business to run, so it’s usually just me and Lance. He’s eighteen, so always out and about.” she said followed by a long pause until she realised, that maybe, she should ask about her son, too.  “And Liam? How old is he? Maybe you can come over another time, no one’s home except for me today.”

Avery listened intently to everything the other woman said. She had trained herself in reading between the lines but to only ever comment on as much as needed to be. “My partner is also busy a lot. Makes it all the more important to fit in quality family time, don’t you think? And Lance is your son? That’s a lovely name,” she complimented with polite sincerity in her voice. “Liam is the same age, actually. Grow up fast, barely see him around the house these days,” she continued, nodding for emphasis. “If now is a bad time, I’d be happy to bring him along next time. Being out of school now and in a new town, I’m sure he’d appreciate a friend just down the street. We’re 437, if you’d ever like to come around for a coffee. Tell me about the neighborhood. I’m afraid I’ve only got soy milk, though.”

Marisol was in the midst of her morning routine; dancing to her ‘Get Fit with Whit by Whitney Simmons’ DVD. She was sweaty, out of breath, and her usually styled blonde locks were pulled back in a loose bun. “Esme, can you please get this?” her voice echoed through the big, empty house. Esme, her maid, was no where to be seen or made any moves to open the door. She huffed but got off the yoga mat to open the door, cursing the poor Asian girl under her breath. “We are not int–” Marisol began but stopped herself upon seeing the woman’s smile and the basket in her arms. She put on a smile herself, but it wasn’t hard to mis  it faltered when he scanned the woman’s appearance. “Oh. Thank you, that’s too kind,” she replied and held out her hand, “I’m Marisol Hughes, I live here with my son and husband.”

Avery kept the polite smile on her face as she came face to face with the other woman. “I really hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she told her as she took in the other’s appearance and reached for her outstretched hand to shake it. She was hoping to get to know the people in this street, wanting to decide early on whether she’d be able to trust them to call the police, should anything ever happen. “Oh, of course. It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Hughes. I hope you, your husband and son will enjoy these.” She held out the basket of baked goods with a little nod. “Blueberry muffins, grandma’s recipe. And they’re not that far off the original, if I do say so myself.” She looked down for a moment, a coy smile on her lips before she looked back up. “Are your husband and son in? I would love to introduce myself to them as well. I have a son myself. Liam.” Her smile momentarily widened, pride evident in her voice. “How old is yours?”