“Nothing,” she denied.
“Don’t be so different. I think he was having an affair with Lexie now. She seduced Sir Aiden away from you. That’s what secretaries do in novels and TV dramas. They’re the villains in the main characters’ love lives.”
She shook her head. "No. Aiden is not ready to marry yet. Just like me. It happened too fast. We don't live in a drama. Miss Lexie was kind to me. But if they wanted to date now that Aiden and I have broken apart, why not?"
“That’s all. No bitter moment?”
“That’s all. The only thing that’s mattered to me is my brother. nothing more.”
The van finally stopped in front of their house. Cynthia Lyn and Mrs. Isiig came to meet them. She introduced Luvelyn and Mr. Epong, the driver, and they attended to them.
“Where’s Jeremy?” she asked and looked around.
“He must be playing in the garden.”
“He might have climbed a tree and fall. He should no be left alone.”
Cynthia Lyn stopped her hand. “Just let Jeremy be. You should eat first. I’ll call him myself…”
“No. I’ll do it,” she said and pulled away. She wanted to see for herself how Jeremy was doing. She had not seen him for four days.
She found him in the garden, busy digging on the side of the fence. He was not alone. He was Amadeus. “Hurry up, brother. I heard the vehicle already.”
“It’s almost done. Be quiet,” Amadeus scolded.
She put her hands on her waist as she stood behind them. “What are you digging in my garden?”
The two slowly turned to her. Guilt was all over Jeremy’s face in an instant. “Sister, you’re here. H-how was your trip?”
She widened her eyes at Amadeus. “What’s that? Don’t you know that I hate people tinkering the plants here?”
“Don’t be upset. I was just helping Jeremy plant. He said it’s his surprise for you. You did not have the time to replace the dead plants after the flood,” Amadeus said and wrapped an arm around Jeremy. “Don’t get mad. Your brother just wanted to make you happy.”
Esmeralda then noticed that the branches of gardenias he buried on the ground were neatly planted. She could not get mad because her brother made an effort to make her happy.
Jeremy glanced at him in confusion. “Why me, brother? Weren’t you the one who told me to plant gardenia for Sister Esmie so she could smell it and see it when she wakes up every morning?”
She arched an eyebrow at Amadeus. "Did you really say that?" He could not answer and look away. It was the first time she saw him speechless.
“He wants to pursue you, sister,” Jeremy said and giggled.
“I did not say anything like that,” Amadeus denied.
Esmeralda glared at her brother this time. “You’re still young to know things such as that. Get inside and greet Nurse Luvelyn. You should clean up, too.” Jeremy ran back to the house.
“I should be going, too. I might be needed in Andoy’s house,” Amadeus said. “Go get some rest.” He was escaping her now because he knew he would hear a sermon from her.
She was tired from the trip, and she had no time to argue with him. Besides, Nurse Luvelyn would ask more questions if she saw him. But she noticed that there was a tear in his polo shirt. “Amadeus, come back here. Your shirt is torn.” She went to him and showed the tear at the back edge of his shirt.
He turned. “Ah! It was snagged by a nail when we were looking for plows at the basement.”
“Take your shirt off…”
He looked at her mischievously. “Really, Esmeralda, you want to frolic on public…”
She flicked his forehead. “Frolic your face. Stop with your dirty thoughts. I’m just going to fix your torn shirt.”
“I still have other shirts.”
“I don’t’ care. You can’t go walking around with that torn on your shirt.” She should at least make up to him for buying the sewing machine for her. “This won’t take long. Give me five minutes. Let’s go to the hut. I’ll just go get my sewing kit.”
There was an open hut in the backyard under the trees. It was near a water pump. When she came back, Amadeus was already washing his face. He had taken off his polo shirt, so he washed his naked body next. His skin was ruddy from a week of bathing in the sun. She swallowed when she saw the movement of the muscles in his body. While he was refreshed from the touch of water on his skin, Esmeralda felt like she was running out of breath.
She turned around. I don’t like this view. I get so weak.
“Esmeralda, where are you going?” he asked.