"That is awful. Why didn't you say anything?"
Toria shrugged as Reyona set aside the file she was going through and turned to face her sister fully.
Toria straddled one of the chairs facing her sister and said "Because you have a lot going on too. Then I didn't know that the bastard would go after her again. I thought we had gotten rid of him. At least, we were on it when…"
"... When you got called about my accident," Reyona said compassionately with concern on her face.
Toria nodded and sighed again. "I just don't know if I can leave you like that. Mum and Dad just left yesterday and now…"
"... Now you need to go do what you think is best. I am fine. You know I am better already. If not, my tyrant doctor and the chiropractor wouldn't give me a clean bill" Reyona said with a roll of her eyes.
The worry on Toria's facelifted as she grinned. "You mean you let them think they are the boss while you do what you want anyway," she said, swinging her legs.
"Hey," Reyona said with an exaggerated pout. "I will have you know that I have been the perfect patient in the past week. I could even get a medal for being so good."
"How could I have forgotten that?" Toria said with an innocent look and they both laughed.
A momentary lull settled between them and Reyona could see the thoughtful look that crept into her sister's face again.
"When do you want to leave?" she asked with a smile.
Toria looked at her and shook her head as she said "I should stay, don't you think? I don't really have any reason to meddle in a thing like that. I mean, we've only known each other for a couple of weeks and…"
"Toria" Reyona called her sister with a look of understanding.
Toria looked at her and gently smacked her hand against her forehead in resignation. "You are right. I wouldn't stop fretting until I could see for myself that she is fine. Oh my God. Someone I barely know" she said with feeling, then turned to Reyona as she said "But she is such a sweet lady, and she doesn't deserve all this crap because she married wrong." She swung her head back and groaned as she asked the ceiling "Why am I so nosy?"
Reyona went around her desk to meet Toria. She said "You are not nosy, silly. You simply care, and you don't like to see people treated badly", Toria took her head down as Reyona stood in front of her and added, "That is why I love you."
Toria grinned "Just that? Out of all my legions of attributes?"
"Don't let it get to your head," Reyona said with a roll of her eyes as she sat on the edge of the table. "Do you need help with these?" she asked as her smile dwindled.
Toria shook her head while looking at the window in thought. "No, I got this. I had someone keep an eye on her and… well, when I get there, I…" She looked back at Reyona as she said. "I just don't think I should…"
"Go. You should go. When are you leaving?" Reyona asked.
Toria scrunched her face up in mock displeasure as she grumbled playfully "Sounds like she can't wait to get rid of me! Hmmph!"
"You read my mind," Reyona said as she waited for an answer.
Toria smiled and looked at her watch. "I can leave in the next few hours if I start making arrangements now," she said in a serious tone.
"Then do it," Reyona answered. "Let me know if you need any help handling this."
Toria nodded as she looked at Reyona, then ordered, "Walk to the door, and back."
Knowing what she meant, Reyona rolled her eyes and said "Yes, Mum."
Without protest, she stood and walked as fast as she could towards the door. She even made a pirouette that had Toria grinning, then she walked back to her sister.
Yes, she still felt a bit of a pull and slight twinge when she walked, but she was way better now. Since that day that she had overdone it, she made a vow to herself not to pull such a stunt again. She listened to her doctor and chiropractor and ate all the muscle and bone-healing meals her cook could conjure up for her.
She was given a clean bill by her doctor and her chiropractor two days ago. Of course, they warned her that she might still feel slight discomfort for a long time. As a matter of fact, she felt it as she walked briskly like a model on a runway, but then she was not about to show that to her sister, who seemed to be looking for the tiniest opportunity not to go do what she wanted to do badly.
So she curtsied in front of her and said "Satisfied, ma'am?"
Toria stood up.
With her hand on her chin, she circled her sister slowly as if scrutinising a specimen while nodding her head exaggeratedly.
Then she suddenly hugged Reyona as she said "I am going to miss you, Rey."
"I will miss you too, silly," Reyona said as she hugged her sister tightly, and breathed her comforting scent of oleanders. "Send my regards to her and let me know how I can help, okay?"
"'Kay" Toria said as they separated. Then, as if she remembered something, she said "Actually, there is one thing. Send me the number of that lawyer of yours, okay? I couldn't get her to agree to it the other time, but maybe…"
"I will send it to you. Take care of yourself too, Toria. I know you mean well but don't…"
"I can take care of myself, Rey. He will not come anywhere near me if he knows what is good for him."
With that, she picked her long string purse from the chair, hurriedly hugged Reyona again and dashed towards the door. With her hand on the door, she said "Do you know why I took to her instantly?"
"Why?" Reyona asked me.
"She reminds me of you. Different circumstances, I know, but you understand. No woman is supposed to have to deal with that because she gave her heart to an asshole. It is not fair." Toria said in a heartfelt tone.
"Toria" was all Reyona could say as she saw the tears sheen in her sister's eyes.
"Thank God that chapter is closed and over for you, though," Toria said with a bright smile countered by her glistening eyes. "Love you!" she said airily as she pulled open the door and was gone instantly.
"Love you too," Reyona said to the closed door as guilt stirred up because of her sister's statement. "Is it really over though?" she thought as she walked to the window.
Her sister was right though. No woman should have to go through certain crap just because of her choices.
Just as she shouldn't have to tolerate some things just because some overbearing nutcase thinks she should.
As her sister went on her way to help a woman she befriended most unexpectedly, Reyona went to her desk to pick up her phone.
Enough is enough!