Page 24

Reiko picked up her glass and turned to lean on the counter. “Except in old times. I’d have to get out a step stool to reach the glasses.”

Nodding, Mari closed the fridge and turned to stand beside her friend. “That feels like yesterday and forever ago.”

Looking out at the joint living room and kitchen area of her family’s home, Mari could almost see her mother and father sitting on the couch side by side. Her father with the newspaper and her mother smiling as she watched her Japanese language shows on TV.

Reiko leaned against her shoulder and sighed softly. “I miss them, too.”

Mari nodded and took a sip of her juice.

“You’re home early,” Reiko straightened up and turned to put her hip against the counter. “Did something happen at the rehab center?”

Mari shook her head.

There had been a time or two when her visits had been cut short or preempted all together because of medical emergencies that popped up.

“Nothing bad. I saw Missus Tamura. She loves Ebi.”

Reiko grinned. “And Ebi loves her.”

Ebi, Mari reminded herself, loved everyone except her.

“And there was a man there, I hadn’t seen before.”

Reiko’s eyebrows lifted at that.

“Ebi treated him like her own private couch.”

Lucky little shit.

Reiko didn’t say anything and Mari took another sip of her juice, thinking about the way he’d looked walking beside her.

The way she’d felt with him there.

“Mari! You like him!”

Mari almost choked on a sip of juice but managed to save herself.

“What are you talking about?”

Reiko reached out and pulled a piece of paper towel off of the roll and pushed it into her hand.

“You. Like. Him.”

“I don’t know him.”

Reiko laughed at that. “I don’t know Rip on Yellowstone either, but the man sends shivers down my spine. You can like a guy you barely even know. All it takes is a look.”

“Ha ha.” Mari tried to laugh it off, but it was like trying to lie to her mom, Reiko had known her too long. “I have eyes. He’s handsome. But that’s about it.”

At their feet, Ebi was munching through the bits of food like she was playing Hungry, Hungry Hippo.

“He picked her up by the scruff of her neck.” Mari shuddered at the memory.

“You know that cats are okay with that, right?” Reiko tapped the tip of her finger against the side of her glass. “Bunnies, too.”

Mari shuddered again. “I can’t help but think it hurts.”

Reiko turned toward her, wagging her eyebrows with a big grin. “Maybe get this man you met to put his hands on the back of your neck and give you a squeeze.”