She moved closer to Reyona, leaned her back against the headboard and started talking out loud as if in contemplation.
"Hmm, I must be mistaken truly. I am sure I didn't see that steamy look that passed between the two of you when he pulled you close. Oh my God, I am feeling feverish just from the thought of it" she said as she hastily dropped the crisps bag and blew herself with both hands while exhaling. "Phew"
"Did you see how easily they were talking and laughing together all day?" she continued, now directing her question to an imaginary audience in the room. "One could almost swear that they have been married for years. And the looks? Damn, I almost shouted, "Please, get a room!"
Reyona shook her head in exasperation as she tried not to think back to that afternoon to see if Toria was not exaggerating after all. But, of course, she was just being Toria. There was no way she had…
"And that little conversation they had when we were leaving? I am sure it had something to do with tearing each other's clothes off and…"
"Oh, come on," Reyona blurted out before she could stop herself. She turned towards Toria as unbidden warmth coursed through her at the vivid imagery that her sister's words sprung up in Reyona's mind. "It was nothing like that. Now, stop being ridiculous. I need to sleep."
Toria simply dropped her bag of crisps and turned to face Reyona. With both hands placed beneath her chin, she blinked innocently at her sister and asked "Tell me then, and I will give you all the space you want. What did he say? Was he proposing another benefit to this arrangement of yours? Something about cleaning out your…?"
"He offered me his place to stay, okay?!" Reyona blurted out in exasperation.
"Uh?" Toria asked with genuine confusion this time. "What happened to this place?"
Reyona sighed and explained what the clause on the documents they signed was.
"So he suggested that I could stay at his place if I wished since we don't know when the social worker might be dropping by."
"It wouldn't be a scheduled visit?" Toria asked and Reyona shook her head.
"I think that is the point of the visit. To catch us at something untoward or something. All we know is that she would always come around once a week, but then it could be any time or day. We might get an hour's notice at most."
"Ooh, that is tough," Toria said as she leaned back against the headboard again. "So, let me get this straight." She said in contemplation. "First, he asked you to marry him."
When Reyona wanted to talk, she raised her hand and said "Yes, yes, I know. Fake marriage. Now, stop interrupting!"
"Yes, ma" Reyona smiled and leaned back against the headboard.
Toria continued "So, he could have any woman in the world but he only wants you, and now he wants you to live together? Hmm,"
Then she looked sideways at Reyona. "What did you say?"
"What else would I say? Of course, I refused. It is just one day of the week, and we will get a heads-up anyway, no matter how short it is. So, I will make it work. I am not moving in with anyone because of that."
Toria was quiet for a while before she said thoughtfully, "He likes you."
Reyona scoffed as she looked at the bag of crisps and said "If I didn't have some of that; I would think it was laced with something else. Now if you are done philosophizing, I need to sleep. I've got work in the morning, and you have an early flight to catch."
"Rey, I am serious," Toria said as she pulled at Reyona's blanket before her sister could wrap it over her head. "I was not so sure of it before, okay? But today? Damn, have you seen how he looks at you? Even Celia could see it."
Celia would see romance anywhere. Reyona thought.
"Hell, even that social worker could see it too. Do you think she left so fast because of our tour and all? Well, yeah, that helped too, but I think she finally caved because of what she could see between the two of you."
"Okay, what is this nonsense? Have you been drinking while I was in the shower? I…"
"Rey," Toria called her name in a meaningful way that was devoid of any joke.
Reyona sat up abruptly and looked at her sister with stormy eyes. "What? I don't know what you are talking about. There is definitely nothing there. I…what do you want me to do?" she finished softly when her sister only kept looking at her with an indulgent smile on her face.
Toria took her hand and asked gently "What do you want to do?" she asked.
"What… nothing? I am not going to do anything. I have done enough." Reyona answered with a heartfelt tone.
"Of course, you have," Toria said as she kissed her sister's cheek. "You are a very remarkable woman, Rey."
Where had she heard that recently?
"I am so proud of you. And you know what? I know you are going to do what is right when you figure it out too. Good night."
So now she wanted to leave her?
When her mind was suddenly filled with churning thoughts?
In her move to get off of bed, Toria had forgotten about the half-filled jumbo-sized bag of crisps behind her.
Her leg caught it just as she swung her off the bed and the bag of chips went flying upward.
Floaty cheese crisps rained down on them.
Most of it adorned Reyona's hair like yellow flowers.
"Oops," Toria said as she pretended to hide her grin.
She couldn't hold back the more she looked at Reyona's decorated hair and her resigned face.
The tension in the air dissipated as the two of them dissolved into rumbling laughter.