Chapter 15

Halle stared at the ceiling. The call from Ashley as soon as she had received the cupcakes didn't go well. Why didn't you come? She'd asked. Finally she sighed and accepted her reason and cut the call. Weirdly though, she heard her husband's voice in the call but she could've hallucinated it. That wouldn't be new anyway.

"Halle, we're going out for dinner." called Shizuka.

Halle heard her door open and reflexively looked that way.

"You aren't dressed yet?" Shizuka chided.

"What?"

"5 minutes," Shizuka held her hand up. "Get dressed. We're going out for dinner."

She stared at Shizuka as she closed the door grumbling, "Sometimes I feel I have two children to deal with."

She heard Yui giggling.

Halle looked at the closet. She didn't have the energy to get out of bed much less go out. But if she wasn't dressed in 5 minutes . . .

She sighed and got up.

The three of them were sitting at the table. Yui was too happy to come out she was bubbling with excitement. Shizuka was staring at Halle.

"If you want to scold me," said Halle. "Do it when we get back home."

Shizuka sighed. "Stop being so moody, will you?" she turned to Yui. "What do you want to eat?"

"Chicken pasta!"

Halle looked at Yui then back at Shizuka. "I'm not being moody, I'm tired. Do you know how many customers I had to deal with today?"

"How many?" Shizuka wasn't pleased.

Halle counted with her fingers for a moment. "A hundred customers approximately." said Halle with wide eyes.

"That sounds like a lot." Shizuka didn't sound impressed.

"This is the first time we've had this much and—"

"What do you want to eat?"

"Huh?" Halle looked at Shizuka then at the waiter. "I'll have veg noodles."

Shizuka ordered for them both and the waiter left with their orders.

"Listen I—"

"You think it's that girl again."

"What girl?" Halle looked so taken aback by that. It made no freaking sense.

Shizuka stared back calmly while Yui looked around very much distracted from them.

Oh.

"No, I don't think that." replied Halle. "But Pace does. And that makes me a bit nervous."

Shizuka sighed. "Pace became a scaredy cat after joining with you, I suppose."

"So you think it's all in my head?" asked Halle after a pause.

"Of course not." Shizuka said.

Her reply didn't make sense to her. She spoke like Halle was crazy up till now. Now she's contradicting herself?

"You should never let go of any probabilities." Shizuka continued. "It could be him or it won't be. But why would you be scared and overthink to your death?"

She did have a point.

Halle sighed. "I'm not scared."

Shizuka folded her hands. "You're shivering, you're having nightmares, and you look like you've had a chat with a ghost. All within a freaking day or two." She added as Halle raised her eyebrow.

"It's not true." Halle countered.

"You didn't comb your hair when getting dressed." Shizuka smirked. "Just admit that you're overthinking after seeing her."

Halle touched her hair and cussed silently. "You know what I had to go through so that he'll . . ." she shouldn't talk freely with Yui there. "So it is a little difficult to just act like everything is fine. But I'm better." She added. "I know why she's here. It's for Carter's marriage."

Shizuka's eyes widened. "Good thing you told me. I got an invitation."

"You know Carter?"

"No."

"Who's Carter?" asked Yui.

"He's a distant friend of mine." said Shizuka. "He's getting married the next month. We even got an invitation."

"Why didn't Aunt Halle get one?"

"I don't know Carter." said Halle. "I've seen him in a few of my friend's functions. But we don't know each other personally."

Yui pondered on that information for a moment. "Look, food!" she shouted as the waiter brought their order.

Shizuka shook her head. "Don't embarrass me darling."

They started to eat. It'd been more than a month since she came out for dinner, alone or otherwise. Good or bad, she'd got great sales today. She should be happy. She shouldn't think of the things that she can't control. She should enjoy dinner.

THUMP!

Halle was startled from her thoughts. Yui had spilt the drink.

"You should be careful, Yui." Shizuka said with concern as she wiped her with a cloth.

"Shall I take her to the restroom?" Halle offered. "Wash it off."

"I'm fine." said Yui. "It's just on my dress."