“A what?”Rafa asked while Aveline nearly burst out laughing.
“That’s missing the point, Sybelle,” Arthur said, also trying to hold back laughter.“So, this cool book is where?”
“It’s being appraised,” Aveline responded.“Currently, we don’t know its value or if Rafa can really bring it to the Philippines.”
“Iwillbring it to the Philippines,” Rafa snapped.
Sybelle cleared her throat.“Rafa…” she started, her voice gentle.“But what’s the reason for bringing it to the Philippines?Is it for Sal?”
Rafa nodded, a bit embarrassed he had snapped at Aveline when she was only trying to explain things.
“Are you guys going through a rough patch?”Arthur followed up.
“No.We’re fine,” he said, head bowed.He didn’t have the heart to explain to them that his staying for the business was eating him up inside.“I just want to help her,” he said, looking up at all his siblings, who all appeared unconvinced and concerned.
“It’s okay, Rafa,” Sybelle said.“Achi called us home, anyway.She said you were going to the Philippines.She needed help to manage the business without you here, so we came.”
“The work you do for the business requires all of us to be honest,” Arthur added.Rafa knew he meant it as a compliment.
Was this it?He didn’t have to ask?He could just go?Relief came over him at the realization that the business would be with people he trusted, and that he didn’t have to over-explain himself.But more than that, he also felt a deep sense of gratitude.“Thanks for coming over on short notice,” he said, head still bowed.“I was worried about Mom and—”
“Don’t worry about me, dear,” their mother interjected.“Now that your siblings are here, they’ll do the heavy lifting.”His mother smiled.“And son, you don’t have to tell us what you’re going through if you aren’t ready.Just remember we are here to listen when you are.”
Rafa felt his heart swell as Aveline patted his back, as though telling himYou don’t have to carry it all.We’re here.
Sybelle rose to her feet.“Well, it’s been a hot minute.Until that friend of yours gets the book appraised, let’s play some board games!”She ran up to the second floor, and Arthur followed.
“Dibs on the game choice!”Arthur called after Sybelle.
Rafa’s spirits lifted with his siblings’ arrival, a welcome change after he’d been overthinking and exhausting himself for months.Also, he was going to see Sal again.The thought excited him.He thought of Kimmy and Hana and whether he would bring them.Then, by habit, he mentally listed all the things he and Sal could do together for the art show, but for the moment, he just wanted to enjoy this time in the company of his siblings.
1..International Appraisers Association
2..Provenance is the paper trail of an object’s life story.It’s the record of where it came from, who owned it, and how it changed hands over time.
3..Dichi is a hokkien label/endearment which means “second eldest sister”.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A Brief Detour
SAL
Somewhere in Cebu
Salstudiedtheiritineraryin Cebu while wearing her sunglasses.Salty air caressed her light skin as she got out of the hired van at the Airbnb they had booked.The three-bedroom beachside vacation home with a modest strip of fine white sand overlooked the Cebu Strait.It was a modest and beautifully designed place that could house a family of five.
Sal learned that Harmon’s team was staying at the Radisson Blu somewhere in the capital.It was a luxury hotel that touted five-stars.Good for them, she thought magnanimously.That would keep him busy while she traveled to Bohol.At the thought of Harmon, her thoughts immediately moved to Rafa; strangely, he was unreachable by phone.No matter how many calls she made, they weren’t going through and he wasn’t picking up.I hope I can get a hold of him before I leave for Bohol.She eventually decided to just send him a message instead.A lot had happened in the short time before they went to Cebu, and she was aching to let him know.
A few nights ago, all three of them sat around the coffee table in the small rented apartment, discussing their strategy for the art show.
Theola looked to be deep in thought.“So we’re not going to Davao or Cebu anymore?”she asked, noting down everything in one of her glittery pink notebooks.
Willow leaned back on the palms of her hands.“Well, I really wanted to go to Cebu at least,” she said, appearing slightly dejected.
“Let’s still go to Cebu!”Sal suddenly interjected, a little shriller than intended.“I mean…we don’t want Harmon knowing too much about our budget constraints, and besides, it’d be nice to tour around.”She let out a sheepish grin toward Willow.
“Oh my God, finally!”Willow exclaimed, dropping her head in relief, her red curls swaying behind her.“But wait, what are we gonna tell Harmon?Do we still coast along during the museum visits?”
