Page 35 of Daigo

"Love you more."

His smile faltered as he caught sight of his mother's face. Alarm came when he noticed there were tears in her eyes.

"Mother?" Shoving from his desk, he ignored the ringing of the main line and crossed the room to sit beside her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She sniffed. "This is so embarrassing."

"I don't think so. What's going on?"

"You and her. Shelby-Anne. You fit each other perfectly. The love just oozes out of you when you speak to her. It's so lovely. I never saw it before because I didn't want to." She reached for his hands and pressed them. "You're happy and that's all a good mother would hope for her child. I was selfish. I wanted you all to myself and I didn't want to see that she was so good for you. I'm happy for you."

She blinked back the tears and felt foolish.

Lifting their joined hands, he kissed hers gently. "There's room for more than one woman in my life. You're my mother and no matter what, I'll always love you. Loving my wife does not take away that fact."

She nodded. "I'm starting to realize that. Thank you."

"No thanks necessary." He glanced over at the insistent pealing of the phone. "That would be my conference call to Japan."

"Go." She waved him away. "I'm fine."

Squeezing her hands, he let go and went to his desk. As he lifted the receiver, he watched her walk with her usual studied grace from the room.

"Konnichiwa..." he began.

*****

"This was a very good idea... Oww! What did you do that for?"

"You're eating all the popcorn," he pointed out, moving the big container that was almost empty out of her reach. "I've had only a couple of handfuls, and you ate most of it. Not to mention that you stuffed a few shell crabs and scarfed down the creamed potatoes at supper."

She glared at him and started to reach for the container again. He held it aloft and out of her reach.

"I'm pregnant."

"No excuse for being a glutton," he pointed out mildly.

They were in the theater room, with its cool red and blue décor, comfortable chairs, popcorn and soda machines and surround sound. The gigantic screen was flat on the wall, high enough to give the movie theater effect.

Her pout had him biting back a smile.

"You're calling your poor pregnant wife a glutton. How debilitating is that? I'm shattered, my self-esteem in tatters." She placed a hand on her mound for effect and gave him a wounded look. "I might never recover. Our babies will be affected..."

"Cut the act, darling, it's not getting through to me. Here." He shoved the box at her. "Eat until you're sick. Just don't expect me to rush into the bathroom behind you."

"You love me," she reminded him as she dipped into the bucket and scooped out some more.

"I'm beginning to wonder why." When she snuggled against him, he merely sighed and slipped an arm around her, pulling her close. "I must be insane."

"Insane about me."

He almost had a heart attack when she screamed and pointed at the screen. "I told you he would find them. Stupid white bitches. Who hides under the bed?"

"I guess I didn't need the last ten years of my life," he said dryly. "And aren't you the one who told me to watch my language?"

"Oops." She laughed and snuggled closer. Patting her stomach, she added, "Sorry, babies. Just a slip of the tongue. Won't happen again. Look at that b.i.t.c.h." She shook her head. "They're officially pissing me off."

"We can always watch something else."