Cold Secrets

-M. Lauren

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"This isn't a traditional trial; not like the ones you see on TV. In a few minutes I'm going to move into the meeting hall with the plaintiff. We're going to start with opening statements and revisit the existing testimony. Then, we'll present new evidence and the witness statements. At that time, the clerk will come to collect you. You won't be on the stand, but I'll remind you that you are under oath, Miss Aren. You'll read your character statement after being introduced by the clerk, and then be redirected to audience holding, where you'll stay until you're dismissed.

"And as I mentioned in our emails, you're not to discuss the defense in any capacity. The judge will call 'hear-say' and your whole testimony will be discarded from record. You're only here to provide character evidence for Miss Nattura. Any additional commentary is unnecessary at this time. Do you understand?"

Elsa sharply nodded, "I understand."

"Good," the woman smiled. "I will see you in there, then."

Elsa watched her walk away. Hannah Phillips was Honeymaren's lawyer. She was young, but Elsa got the sense she didn't let age play a factor in the courtroom. In fact, Hannah fit the exact image Elsa had established in her head before meeting her minutes prior.

She wore her brown hair short and ironed flat; her charcoal suit was immaculately styled and impeccably tailored. Everything about her screamed confidence. Elsa found it made her a little jealous, especially considering the circumstances.

Four days earlier, Elsa had sat with her fingers suspended over her keyboard. Writing the character testimony for Honeymaren had been easier than she'd expected; once she sat down, the words flowed with ease. Getting the document to Honeymaren's lawyer proved to be more difficult. Elsa knew once she hit send, she would be committed. She'd have to see Honeymaren for the first time in sixteen days. They'd be in the same room together, and Elsa wasn't certain she was ready.

Then she thought about Ryder. Her interactions with Rico were minimal, but Elsa was intelligent enough to do her own math. She knew who the better parent was. Elsa knew where Ryder would be safest and happiest. She'd watched Honeymaren make countless sacrifices for the benefit of her son, and at the end of the day, that was all Elsa needed to know.

It was that thought that had Elsa beating her six pm cut-off with only minutes to spare. Being the outstanding professional she was, Hannah Phillips responded immediately. She ran through Elsa's testimony with a fine-toothed comb, gave her the details she needed for the trial, and now here Elsa was - ready to make her case.

Nerves had Elsa wearing her best pale, blue-gray suit. The pants were slim and mid-rise, while the matching jacket hung open and down to her thighs. She'd read somewhere that blue was a compassionate color. It wasn't the most practical knowledge for the courtroom, but it might earn her a spare second thought from the judge.

She was deep in thought, smoothing down the seam on her pants, when someone slid in next to her. Slowly, Elsa looked up. Her heart sat in her throat.

"Anna," she breathed, her lips slightly curling.

"Hiya!"

Anna dropped her bag onto the bench behind them. She slipped off her jacket and readjusted her sleeves.

"How ya doing?" She asked.

Elsa shrugged and her eyes circled the ceiling. "I think I have the easiest job here today."

"I hate trials- definitely the least favorite part of my job." Anna grumbled.

"Am I allowed to ask- what are you doing here? I just realized now how little I know about your job."

Smiling, Anna ribbed her. "It's okay, I have no idea what Earth science is either… but I'm here for Ryder. I've made my own reports; I'll deliver them to the judge the same as you. I'll also stick around after proceedings to document any changes made to Ryder's custody agreement."

"Meaning… if Rico gets full-custody…. It's in effect immediately following the trial?" Her brow quivered as it rose.

Anna's lips pursed and she fought to nod. "Unfortunately… That's exactly how it works."

Elsa's breath caught in her lungs. "I guess I'm glad I work in education, then."

"I guess I'm glad you work in education, too," she teased. "-but, hey… you'll do great! I'm sure of it."

With a deep sigh, Elsa shook her head. "I don't really have much of a choice now, do I?"

"I'm afraid not… but are you hanging around after to see how it turns out?"

She watched Anna's eyes enlarge hopefully. Elsa dropped her jaw, but her words briefly stalled. "I, um… hadn't decided yet."

Anna nodded in understanding. "Well, on the bright-side, if you decide to leave, Honeymaren's lawyer will get you a copy of the transcript in a few days… I'd, um, update you myself, but-"

"I get it," Elsa batted Anna off with a hand. "Confidentiality…"

The word rolled bitterly off her tongue and Elsa looked to her feet.

Anna waited, watching her sister closely. When Elsa's eyes didn't return, she sighed. "I'm sorry, but… I have to get in there."

Nodding, Elsa's attention slowly returned. "You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine here."

She frowned. Anna lifted her bag and jacket from the bench, keeping her eyes locked on Elsa. "I'm not worried.. I care about you, Elsa… and I'm really happy you decided to help."

Elsa shrugged. "It was the right thing to do… for Ryder."

"Well," she took Elsa's arm in her hand. "If you stick around, I'll see you after, okay?"

She merely nodded. Anna squeezed her arm before stepping back. "Good luck," Elsa whispered.

"Thanks!"

She watched Anna walk away toward the set of double doors Hannah Phillips had disappeared behind a few minutes prior. Elsa was alone again. The hallway where she waited was lined with benches and people scattered throughout. She wondered how many of them were there for Honeymaren, and worse, who was there in Rico's defense instead?

Surely, after everything he'd done, this was a fight Rico wouldn't be able to win.

Elsa sat for what felt like hours before her name was called by the clerk. As she approached the double doors, her anxiety spiked. Her skin grew damp beneath her clothes and her breathing quickened. Whether it was because of the trial or at the thought of seeing Honeymaren again, Elsa didn't know. Her anger toward Honeymaren was irrelevant right now. This was about Ryder, and he was Elsa's main concern.

With her folder in hand, she slipped through the doors. Elsa didn't find herself in the meeting hall like she expected. Instead, there was a narrow hallway before her, and many doors on either side. She followed the clerk down to the very end, listening to her own heels click sharply against the tile.

Voices surfaced beyond an arched opening. She could hear Hannah Phillips speaking to someone, but the words were unclear. Both Elsa and the clerk paused there briefly. He heard his cue and nodded, guiding Elsa to take the lead with his arm.

Elsa drew in a deep breath as she rounded the entryway. She held it, moving forward. When the room opened up, there were no stands nor rows of benches. The trial chamber appeared more like a dining hall than it did a courtroom. There were white walls and antique wood throughout. An audience area was situated at the back, with a lattice inlay for privacy.

The large table at the center was at capacity. With ten chairs on each side, twenty wide eyes looked up as Elsa came into view. Rico was the first person she recognized. He sat there facing her with his supposed lawyer and family at his side. Upon seeing Elsa, his face remained passive. He held his proper stance and kept his hands politely folded. It reminded Elsa of the first time she'd seen him. With his expensive clothes and clean-cut hair style, he looked just like he had that day in the coffee shop.

Elsa was ushered forward to the front of the room. Only then did the plaintiffs' side of the table come into view. Honeymaren had her back to Elsa as she entered; whispering to her mother while turning in her seat. The sight of her loose curls, though, was enough to make Elsa's palms sweat.

She was placed at a podium. The judge sat before her in his standard black robes at the head of the long table.

"State your name for the record," the clerk instructed.

She set her folder on the podium. "Elsa Aren."

"State your relation to Honeymaren Nattura."

Her eyes pulled up. They panned across the gathering before finding the browns that now watched her closely. "Both professional... and personal. Miss Nattura is my coworker and friend."

Elsa quickly looked away. She watched as the judge flipped through his stack of papers. Elsa couldn't think, nor could she breathe; at the same time, she couldn't even remember what Honeymaren looked like mere seconds ago.

"You may proceed."

She felt the clerk moving away from her, back toward the side of the room. Elsa hesitated as she reached for her folder. She felt her shoulders tense and her temperature rise, but upon pulling out her statement and holding it in her hands, Elsa remembered who she was here for. She could see everything as clear as day in front of her…

And in Honeymaren's own words.

With that, Elsa found her voice.

"This boy was not like other children his age. He had a spirit, a gift. His one task in life was to teach me how to love, and he achieved that before I even held him.

But with him in my arms, I learned more than love. I learned patience, respect, and the value of time. Through all of those gifts, I was changed by the boy, and it seems everyone who meets him feels the same.

His laugh could cure illness. His smile is infectious as it blocks out the sun. He has an affinity for closeness, which is something I'd never experienced before he entered my life; but this story is not about what the boy gave me. It's a tale about what the boy saw in the world, and what the world gave to the boy in return."

Elsa paused. Her eyes met the judge's low stare.

"I must admit, I didn't write this. What I read was an excerpt from the prologue in Miss Nattura's own novel. The two of us had been friends and coworkers for five months before I was granted the privilege of reading her story.

"It's about a young child, referred to as 'The Boy', who sets off to explore the world. During his journey, 'The Boy' meets many people who are traveling elsewhere. Each of these characters has a very obvious flaw, but 'The Boy' manages to overlook them. Instead, he discovers a gift in every traveler he meets, and he learns to use those gifts - gifts like kindness, selflessness, and integrity. And when 'The Boy' returns home, after his journey is through, he shares those many gifts with his mother…

"Now, I'm aware this is a work of fiction produced by Miss Nattura, herself, but as she's never shared it with anyone before, I feel I'm the only one who can defend the relevance of her own words. Those gifts she discusses learning from her son- they were personality traits Miss Nattura already possessed. I have witnessed the use of these traits many times over, and each one has affected my life in some way; and all for the better.

"In the span of five months, I've seen kindness in the form of coffee, which she spent her lunch breaks bringing to me. I have witnessed selflessness as Miss Nattura elected to work extra hours in the event her department was under-staffed. She's sacrificed weekends, social outings, and her own health to make Ryder her number one priority. From the day I met her to the present, this has never wavered. Miss Nattura puts her son first, and has gifted him with the closeness she describes in her book; both physically and emotionally. Closeness during trips to the beach, through painting and movie nights, in colorful murals that take over his bedroom walls… More concretely, she has hand-prepared nearly every meal I've shared with her and her son. She celebrates holidays in excess; plans matching Halloween costumes, and day trips to pick apples.

"Miss Nattura makes certain her son wants for nothing, but the real testament to Honeymaren's character exists within Ryder, himself. Because while her son enjoys the trips and activities his mother arranges for him, I've witnessed firsthand that all Ryder really wants at any given point in time… is her."

As she finished her statement, there was only one person whose reaction she cared about. Unfortunately though, when Elsa looked up from her paper, Honeymaren's attention remained purposefully diverted. Her head was hidden behind her lawyer's, but Elsa could see the tight fists she held above the table.

"Does that conclude your statement, Miss Aren?" Hannah Phillips asked as she moved to the edge of her seat.

"It does," Elsa nodded.

"Yes, thank you for your time, then. The clerk will show you to the audience chambers and you will be allowed to leave upon dismissal."

The clerk motioned toward the archway where Elsa had entered. She grabbed her folder and followed. As she neared the exit, she briefly paused. Elsa's head turned back over her shoulder.

She caught Honeymaren's eyes and watched her mouth, "Thank you."

Elsa looked away just as quickly. She didn't nod or smile, nor did she provide encouragement of any kind… and that felt wrong. However, Honeymaren hadn't deserved it. Yet Ryder, he deserved it all. He was worth all the pain and the stress of allowing Honeymaren back into her heart for a final time.

They walked down the hall again and the clerk stopped in front of one of the many doors. He opened it for her with a nod. "You'll wait in here," he instructed.

Slipping past him, Elsa found herself in a small classroom. There were a handful of others waiting behind desks. She moved to the most isolated corner and sat patiently with her legs crossed.

It wouldn't be much longer now, she assumed. Within the hour, Honeymaren and Ryder would have met their fate.

Time continued moving at a snail's pace. Elsa's attention switched between her phone and the door. Her stomach was in knots. Her fingers twisted uncomfortably in her lap. Elsa wanted out of there; more than that, she worried for what was to come.

The door itself was in constant motion. The first few times it opened, Elsa nearly jumped from her seat. Now, as people came and went, Elsa stayed seated. When Honeymaren's lawyer appeared at the door, Elsa did a double take before recognizing her.

"Honeymaren Nattura versus Rico Henson- the witnesses are dismissed. The trial is terminated. Thank you all for your statements and please exit to the right."

Only a handful of people stood. They made their way toward the door, but Elsa found herself briefly immobile. She watched the others leaving as she pulled herself to stand. Were they not at all curious about the verdict?

When Elsa reached the hall, she looked toward the courtroom. There was no movement beyond the arched opening and she wondered if they were still in session. The thought had her blindly following the few others back to the lobby. She was frowning when she passed through the doors. Her heart said to stay, but her feet were making their way toward the exit.

In that moment, though, she was pulled from her course. Arms wrapped around her waist. Elsa was dragged into a firm hug.

"Elsa, that was- I was in the back, and that was beautiful!" Anna released her. Her blue eyes swimming and rimmed red with tears she hadn't yet shed.

Elsa felt her cheeks growing dark, "Thanks, I- I was telling the truth."

"I know you were! Everyone did! Oh, Els, that was… there aren't any words!" Anna took a step back, bringing a hand to her chest.

"The verdict… did they make one?" Her brows shifted nervously between high and low.

Anna's jaw wavered. She looked down.

"Oh… that's right. You can't tell me…"

When Anna's eyes returned, her sadness dissipated. "I might not be able to tell you, but… I see someone else who can."

Elsa's head tilted and shook. She followed her sister's gaze, turning to see where she looked. Elsa's heart lurched painfully. Her shoulders pulled back and her mind grew faint. Honeymaren approached her from a few short feet away.

"Hi…" she whispered, her feet coming to a stop before Elsa's.

Elsa didn't respond. She tried to reel in her shock, allowing her eyes to fall away. But Honeymaren wasn't looking at her either. Her attention fixed to her hands.

"Listen, I wanted to thank you-"

"The case," Elsa cut her off. "How did it go?"

She felt Anna squeeze her arm. One minute she was there, and the next she'd slipped out the exit, giving them their privacy.

Honeymaren pulled her attention from the floor. "I've been given primary custody…"

"That's good. That's what you wanted, right?"

Honeymaren's shoulders pulled up. "It's bittersweet, I guess. I think… I don't know. Part of me still wanted Ryder to know his father…"

"I understand," Elsa's lips tugged to the side. "I know none of this has been easy for you."

Biting her lip, Honeymaren's eyes were diverted to the wall. "Or you…" she whispered, nearly inaudibly. "I… your statement- it was more than I expected."

Elsa shook her head. "I wanted to help… for Ryder."

"Of course," she nodded. "I… really appreciate it."

"Honeymaren!" someone called to her.

Both turned to where Honeymaren's mother waited beside their lawyer.

Honeymaren sighed as she looked back. "I'm sorry… I've got to get back over there."

"It's fine. I'm just glad everything worked out." She watched her brown eyes waver as Honeymaren tugged idly at her collar. "I'll let you go."

Elsa spun on her feet. She started for the door, the folder clasped tight against her chest.

"Elsa, wait!"

Her feet stopped before she could bring herself to face Honeymaren. Sixteen days. It had been sixteen days since she'd heard her name leave those lips.

When she turned, Elsa's eyes briefly closed.

"Could I-" Honeymaren shook from her discomfort. "I'd like the chance to speak to you. I know I don't deserve it, but…"

Elsa's brows shot up to her hairline. "I'm not sure. I think-"

"After the holiday party, at work." Honeymaren rushed as her voice edged into pleading. "If you decide that you don't want to, I'll understand… But if you might consider it until then…"

Elsa's face hardened and her teeth ground down behind her lips. "I'll consider it," she said shortly.

"That's all I ask."

Cheers,

M.