A Virgin for the CEO

12

Arianna was pulled back to the present by Tommy's voice calling her name. Her eyes focused on her brother as she felt her cheeks getting warm, silently thanking him for recalling her back to the present.

"Ate, can we give this watermelon at his price?"

"Ah, oh, oh. How much do you want?" she asked the patron with a smile, in a haggling mode, and was able to sell the watermelon at a higher price than what was being asked. That was the end of it, and they were able to return home with enough time to cook lunch.

During lunch, both of them acted like before, especially after their mother expressed relief that Tommy was again helping his sister sell garden produce in the morning.

"I will start helping tend the garden again. I was listening to the radio this morning and found this program with a doctor and his nurse-wife on it. The sun's rays and exercise should be able to help make me stronger," she enthusiastically added.

"Ay, Ma!" Tommy protested promptly. "You don't have to. You can sit on a sitter, though. We wouldn't want you to over-exert your-self."

"Tst. No. Sitting is not even exercise. A few bending here and there will do. I will not do more than necessary."

"You tend to forget because you like gardening too much. Where did you think we got out green thumbs from?" Arianna asked. "But you were right," she added as soon as she saw on their mother's face that she was feeling sad for not doing anything. "We will be watching, and make sure when we say you should sit down, you must sit down. Agreed?"

"Oh, she will. I'll carry her to the sitter," Tommy said in a sotto voice much like their father's when he was alive and being bossy about their mother's health that they all laughed.

"I can't decide on anything for myself these days," their mother was grumbling, though she was smiling.

"When you're stronger, Mama, we can bring you to the beach in the morning. You can have the benefit of the first morning's rays there, and fresh sea air!" Tommy promised.

"You can't bring me there in a tri-bike, hijo," she protested, but her eyes said she missed the sea.

"I can drive a motorbike. My friend taught me."

"When?" she asked before she could stop herself.

His head dived to his plate. "Uh, the last few days when I have nothing to do at work."

"You can't drive anywhere with anything yet, Tommy, except a bike. You know that. You need a license, and you are not old enough to have that," their mother reminded him worriedly.

But Arianna was curious about something else. She still hadn't asked her brother where he'd stayed when he went missing. She was thinking it would be this friend. A friend with a motorcycle, which meant he would be old enough to acquire one, or even old enough to have a job and buy one.

If he was a male, what kind of work was he doing?

She hoped her brother had not been with kids who were bad influences. She must ask him more when she got him alone. He ducked his head in such a way that got her concerned.

He was not trying to hide something from her because it was something bad, wasn't he?

"Why are you two suddenly so quiet?" their mother asked. "You must both be tired. Take a nap after this. You both worked hard this morning and should take your rest."

"I will, then I'll go to Mang Cardo's place and see if I can work for some fish," Tommy said.

Somebody's trying to avoid me.