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He blinked as she walked in. Katsuko was wearing a bright red dress patterned with dark flowers. He’d never seen her in a dress before—he’d never even seen her in a casual skirt before and he was surprised by how much it suited her. The dress was decorated with black flowers that matched her sharp dark hair.
She had a red leather bag slung across her body, black shoes with a cork sole and bright red lipstick.
She shot him a smile and joined him in the queue. ‘What are you having?’
You. On this base that response would probably get him jail time.
‘Just a cappuccino. You’re looking gorgeous. I feel distinctly underdressed.’ He tugged at his polo shirt.
She waved her hand with a smile that made him curious. ‘You don’t need to worry.’ She nodded to the cashier. ‘I’ll have a skinny latte to go.’ While they waited for their drinks he tried to tease out of her what their plans were for the day.
‘I heard Jay is out of ICU and on the road to recovery.’
‘Yeah, I went up to see him last night. He was tetchy. I think people forget that even though antibiotics fight off meningitis, the recovery process can be slow. At least he’s a teenager. He can tell us how he feels. Think of all the poor babies and toddlers who can’t put into words how they feel for the next few months.’
He’d noticed something else. The whole time he’d been around Jay’s mother she’d seemed quite rigid. But as soon as her husband had appeared she’d just crumpled. It was like she had been holding herself together until he’d been there to catch her. Their devotion to each other and their son had shone through. Their relief at having each other there had been almost palpable. It was a connection that he’d never seen between his parents—or their future partners. Another reminder of how little his family actually functioned.
She was looking at him a little strangely. ‘What?’
She shrugged. ‘You’re quite sentimental. I didn’t take you for that.’
He gave her a crafty look. ‘I have lots of hidden qualities. You just have to find them.’ He waved his hand. ‘Anyway, you didn’t tell me what to bring. Should I change?’
This time she laughed. ‘Believe me, you don’t need to change. You’ll be fine just as you are.’ She leaned forward to pick up their coffees. ‘At least I think you are.’
‘What does that mean?’
She shot him a cheeky wink. ‘All will be revealed. Let’s go.’
They headed to the subway and Katsuko bought them tickets to a station he’d never heard of. The gleam in her eye was unmistakeable.
It felt like payback. He’d hinted at something the other day. And he was still waiting for a response. She was hard to read. At work, it seemed like she only focused on the job. That was good. But it meant that there was only the occasional glimpse of what lay beneath the surface. She hadn’t objected when he’d suggested they see each other again. In fact, she’d responded almost immediately. But what was normal for Katsuko? He had no idea.
The subway wasn’t quite as busy as it had been the last time and he sat down next to her. ‘Tell me about your assignments.’
‘Why do you want to know about them?’
She shrugged. ‘Because you’ve been on lots of overseas assignments. I’ve only ever gone to Georgia to complete my nurse training.’
‘I spent some time in Georgia. It’s a pity we missed each other.’ Did she even realise how gorgeous she looked today?
‘Where else have you been?’
He settled back into the seat. ‘Ohio, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Afghanistan, Germany and Italy.’
‘What was your favourite?’
‘They all had something good. I probably learned the most in Afghanistan. It’s a combat zone—nothing else compares to that. You never know what is going to happen next. Florida had fantastic surf and weather. Texas was good for me as doctor. I got to shadow one of the doctors at NASA for a few weeks and learn a little about the qualifications I’d need to go into that field.’
Her smile was broad. ‘That sounds fabulous. Will you do it?’
‘I might. Competition is tough. I’d need to go back to Dayton, Ohio, and study aerospace medicine for a couple of years.’ He gave her a nudge. ‘Fancy being a nurse out there?’
She gave a little sigh and stared off into space. ‘A world of possibilities. I’m just not sure. I love being in Japan, but I’m a member of the US Air Force. I think it might be good for me to try someplace else.’
‘Because of your grandmother?’
‘Yes. And no. I’d hate to leave and something happen to her. I’m all the family she’s got left—even if she doesn’t want me. But sometimes I wonder just how long I should wait.’
‘What does the General say?’
She bit her lip. It took her a few moments to answer. ‘We don’t really talk about it much. Apparently he was a bit of a bear for the few months I was away in Georgia—even though he’s never said anything about it to me. We’ve never really discussed the fact that I should probably be based somewhere else. A few other colleagues have been and gone in the space of time that I’ve been here.’ She rubbed her hands on her thighs. ‘I kind of wonder if he feels like me?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’s practically put his life on hold to raise me. Don’s a good-looking guy. And he’s fun. I’m quite sure there are a whole host of women out there that he could have made a connection with and didn’t.’
It was instant. He could tell there was something else. ‘So why didn’t he?’
She shook her head and lowered her gaze, so he reached over and put his hand on hers. ‘Why do you think he didn’t?’
‘Sometimes I wonder if he was a little in love with my mother. He’s never said anything that led me to believe that, but he talks about her with real respect and affection.’
‘And how does he talk about your dad?’
She gave a little smile. ‘Much the same.’ The subway trundled to a stop and she looked up. ‘It’s the next station.’ Her fingers reached up and twiddled with her hair. ‘Then maybe the women that he’s met didn’t want to be lumbered with someone else’s child.’
Avery shook his head. ‘Please tell me you don’t actually think that?’
Her brown eyes met his. ‘Why not? There are lots of women in this life who wouldn’t want to take on someone else’s child. What if the love of Don’s life came along and he let her slip through his fingers because of me?’ There was a little wobble in her voice. He was struggling with this—probably because he could see her emotions bubbling underneath the surface.
‘You’re an adult, Katsuko. Not a child. Let me put it this way. Do you honestly think Don would have a serious relationship with the kind of woman who would make him choose between you and her? He doesn’t strike me as that kind of guy.’
She gave a sad kind of smile. ‘Probably not. I just hate to think that I’m the reason he’s stayed all these years and now I’m thinking about leaving.’
He grabbed her hand as the subway pulled into the next station. ‘All kids grow up and leave home. You’ve just left it a little later than normal.’
They exited the subway and she led him up a flight of steps. This part of Tokyo wasn’t quite as built up. It was lighter, with areas of green around them. The station was part way up a mountain that gave a good view over the city.
‘Where on earth are we?’
‘It’s all part of my master plan. Have you heard of a sento?’
‘A what?’
She held out her hands. ‘They’re all around here. A sento is a bathhouse.’
He looked stunned. ‘A bathhouse?’
‘Yes. The other alternative is an onsen, which is built around a hot spring. There is a whole variety around here. Some are completely modern, some more traditionally
built.’
She could see him look around the area. Some of the buildings were sleek, rising out of the mountainside and sheeted in glass. Others were constructed from wood, painted white, with their large, dark, gently curved roofs being the most visually impressive component. She pointed to the one straight in front of them. ‘This one is my favourite. It’s a super-sento.’
Avery stopped walking. ‘So, what actually happens in a super-sento?’
She was trying very hard not to grin. Avery had hinted about getting her alone. He had no idea what he was about to get into.
She smiled sweetly. ‘It’s a traditional bathhouse.’ She gave him a wink. ‘And it’s communal.’ She walked swiftly ahead.
‘What?’ Avery’s voice shouted after her. Then his footsteps pounded along and he pulled at her shoulder. ‘What did you just say?’
