Contemplating

"Where have you been?" Alynna asked after Josh finally came back.

"Nowhere. I just thought I saw somebody I knew. Anyway, shall we go?" Josh quickly changed the topic. If Alynna finds out he looked for Mandy, she might be upset again.

Josh helped Alynna get off her wheelchair. He was surprised at how bony she was. She wasn't like this a couple of weeks ago. She was much lighter than before. Josh hailed a cab and the three of them went home.

. . .

Alynna lay on her bed. Josh had told her she should rest and recuperate. But Alynna kept insisting on helping Josh with the chores, especially when she saw how messy the house was when they came home. The living room was in disarray. The clothes were on the floor of the bathroom. The bedrooms looked like a hurricane stopped by and slept the night before.

"Just leave the mess for now," Josh said, his voice firm. "Just get some rest. I don't want you to spend another time in the hospital. You being in the hospital means me not going to work. And I can't afford losing my job. We need it, you know that, right?"

Alynna nodded.

"Besides," Josh added, "Stella missed you last night."

Alynna nodded again. She hugged a pillow and lay on her left side where she could face Josh better.

Josh kneeled on the side of her bed and kissed her forehead.

"How are you feeling?"

"I feel good. Don't worry about me. Tomorrow, you can go back to work."

Josh nodded in affirmation. He brushed a lock of Alynna's hair that fell on her face when she laid on her side. He then stood up and picked up something he saw on the floor. He thought the carpet needed vacuuming and he silently cursed himself for not having the time to do it. He had been so careless and unmindful of Alynna's struggles. He looked back at Alynna who now has her eyes closed. Josh gently closed the door.

"Uncle Josh, is Mommy sleeping?" Stella asked. She had been waiting outside the bedroom. She thought she would be called in to stay with her mother whom she missed so much, even though it was only one night that they didn't sleep together.

"Yes, she's asleep. Did you want to go in?"

"Yes! May I? I promise I won't wake her," Stella begged, her expressive eyes piercing through Josh's heart.

"Okay. But you have to promise me you won't make any noise while you're in there, all right?"

"YEY!" Stella shouted in excitement. "Oops, sorry. I promise I won't make another noise again."

"Okay, then." Josh slowly opened Alynna's door for Stella. Stella tiptoed going in. This time, Josh left the door a crack open. In case Stella calls him, he would be able to hear it.

Josh welcomed the silence of the house. He wanted to think. He wanted to meditate. He wanted to contemplate the recent events. But first, tidy up the house.

Josh surveyed the house. It was indeed messy but only because he didn't have time to clean up that morning. He and Stella were preparing to leave early that morning to go to the hospital to get Alynna.

Josh started to pickup up stuff on the floor, mostly Stella's toys and clothes. He then proceeded to vacuum the carpet and mop the kitchen floor. He washed the dishes they used that morning. He remembered that they had no food in the fridge. He decided they would just order pizza that night and then he will buy groceries tomorrow.

After he had done all chores, Josh felt exhausted.

"No wonder Alynna gets tired. I haven't been doing this for 3 hours and I'm tired as tired can be."

Josh went upstairs to change his shirt that had been drenched with sweat. He peeked in Alynna's room and saw that she was still asleep. Stella, also, had fallen asleep beside her mother. He watched them for a few seconds, enough to recognize how much they look alike.

Josh went to his place in the house. It wasn't an actual room, but rather a large closet where he put all his stuff in. The house they were living in wasn't big. It only had 3 bedrooms — 1 for Alynna, 1 for Stella (though she seldom sleeps there) and the last bedroom was used for storage because there was no storage room. So Josh ended up taking the closet downstairs where he had set-up a few shelves and compartments to put his clothes in and some shoes.

Alynna had insisted that they clean the "storage room" so that Josh can sleep there but he refused. He said he was comfortable sleeping in the living room's sofa bed. But the real reason he didn't want to occupy any room in the house was because he didn't want Alynna to feel that he was invading their home, that he wanted to stay there the rest of his life. No. The only reason he was there was to take care of Alynna until she has fully recovered from that accident with Lee.

Josh looked at the time and realized it was already late in the afternoon. He thought of waking the girls but decided not to. He would just wake them when dinner arrives.

He ordered pizza — pepperoni and cheese - Stella's favorite.

The pizza arrived after about 40 minutes. Josh haven't even opened the box but the smell of pizza filled the kitchen.

Josh went up to wake the girls. It was still early for dinner but he had 2 reasons to eat dinner early: sleep and more sleep.

. . .

Mandy sat on the swing of their garden. Her doctor advised her to go home straight from the hospital and get some rest. She had to cancel all her meetings and appointments for the rest of the day but she didn't mind. Taking over her father's job was just overwhelming for her. She wasn't used to the pressure, she wasn't used to the people, she wasn't used to working late. She was going to work as an obligation rather than a passion. She had always believed that someone should enjoy what they are doing so that it doesn't feel like "working".

Mandy watched the sky while she was contemplating on what transpired earlier in the day. The sun had almost completely set and the sky was a beautiful hue of orange and purple. She had not seen sunset for a long time. She was so caught in watching the gorgeous sky she didn't notice her father was coming.

"May I sit with you?" Donald Enriquez asked.

"Of course, Dad," Mandy replied. She stood from the swing and sat with her father on the tea table just a couple of steps from the swing.

"What are you doing out here? It's getting chilly," Donald started, concerned that Mandy might get sick.

"I was just watching the sunset, Dad. I can't remember the last time I watched it." Mandy gave a happy sigh.

Donald nodded. "I can see that. Your mother loved this spot in this garden. She would also tell me how beautiful the sunset is. And even if she sees it everyday, she would sound like it was her first time to see it."

Mandy nodded. She also recalls that. Her mother would be drinking tea while watching the sky turn to different hues. There was a time when she thought of buying a camera and capturing it but she didn't push through. She realized that only by seeing it actually happening can one capture its true beauty.

"How are you feeling today?" Donald asked, interrupting Mandy's thoughts.

"I feel okay, Dad. Please don't worry about me. I think my body is adjusting to the kind of work I am doing right now, that's all."

Donald looked away, but Mandy could read his thoughts.

"I won't end up like Mom, Dad," Mandy said. She reached out for her father's hand that was on the table. His hands were warm.

Donald nodded slightly. It's hard to rely on words when he doesn't really know what the future holds — for both of them.

Donald decided to change the subject.

"And who is this man I hear so much about?" Donald said, pouring tea for Mandy and him.

"What are you talking about, Dad? I've never said anything about any guy," said Mandy, surprised by her father's question. She tried to remember a time when she said anything about ANY guy but she can't remember any.

"Well," said Donald, "I didn't say you're the one who told me." Donald chuckled.

Mandy's eyes grew big. Somebody was feeding her father information!

"So, who is this Xander Green? I mean, besides being the Director for Marketing."

Mandy's jaw dropped.

"Close your mouth, dear," said Donald, taking a sip of his tea. He smiled at Mandy.

"It seems you are at a loss for words?"

"Who told you that, Dad?"

"Mandy, I own the company. I have ways of finding out everything that is happening within the building walls. And you still haven't answered my question."

"Well, I… I mean he and I… we are just friends, Dad."

"Uh-huh. And you actually expect me to believe that?"

"Yes. Because it's the truth." Mandy noticed her voice was getting high pitched.

"Okay, if you say so."

Mandy breathed a sigh of relief.

"But," Donald persisted, "I think he is into you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taken you to the hospital. He could have just let an ambulance take you to there."

Mandy thought for a moment. There were tender moments between her and Xander but she never thought they were an item or a couple. They are flirting but she never thought it would really become serious.

"Mandy, remember that you are my daughter, heir to our business. While I do want you to be happy, I also want you to be practical and choose someone who will not only make you happy, but also someone who will contribute significantly to the business."

Mandy looked her father straight in the eye. As much as she would have liked to defend herself, she wasn't given a chance. Donald was already getting up. He started to walk back to the house, leaving Mandy with her thoughts.

The sky was dark now and stars are starting to appear.