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Chapter 29
An Unexpected Hope
“You’re frowning,” Ned Fabre said from across the room. “It doesn’t become you. Stop frowning.”
From across the studio, Sakura glanced at the man who had been like a second father to her. She saw that he wasn’t actually looking at her. He was concentrating on his painting. She knew he was teasing her because he had a smile on his wrinkled face as he concentrated on his work, moving the paintbrush ever so gently as if he were caressing the canvas with each stroke.
“How did you know I was frowning when you’re not even looking?” she asked, returning her eyes to her canvas. She cocked her head to one side, wondering if she had overdone the green leaves.
“I can tell when you’re frowning,” he said, carefully moving the tiny brush downward. Ah, the rose looks perfect now, he thought with a smile.
“Really?” Sakura asked, eyeing the photo she’d clipped to the side of the canvas. It was of the cherry tree she had taken that day before she met the brothers. She picked this particular picture because the tree stood alone with petals floating across in the wind, and in the distance, there were hills and beyond that the sea of the island. It was perfect for her painting.
Ned put down his brush and folded his arms across his chest, finally eyeing her. “So what’s bothering you?”
Sakura flicked her eyes to him, taking in his silvery-gray hair, thin face, and slight frame. He was completely different from Beth considering the fact that they were siblings. Their personalities, too, were completely different. Beth was the outgoing one with a no-nonsense attitude while Ned was the laidback one, very quiet and preferring to stay in the background.
Sakura had met him when she first moved into Princeton Mansion, and since then, he had become a very good friend of hers, treating her like his very own daughter and teaching her how to draw and paint. He had said that first day in the garden that painting was like meditation. It calms you down and makes you forget about the world. He had been right. When Sakura painted, she forgot about the world, so consumed she was with her work. Then when it was finished, it was like seeing her baby coming to life for the first time. She felt proud. That was why she loved to paint.
“Nothing is bothering me,” she said, gently stroking the paintbrush against the white sheet, making another tiny green leaf.
“You’re lying,” Ned said. “I can tell it in your voice.”
Sakura chuckled. “It’s hard to hide anything from you, Ned dear.”
“You’re mocking me, Sakura. I’ve known you since you were a wee girl, hiding behind the house crying your wee heart out ’cause Tara hit you and the boys wouldn’t play with you. Why you didn’t tell James is beyond me. But you know as well as I that he knew what was going on. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent you so far away to that bloody boarding school.”
Sakura chuckled again. “Did you miss me that much, Ned dear?”
“Bloody well I did, young missy, and bloody worried about you, too. Who’s to say you don’t get bullied again, even though that little brat Tara wasn’t there with you.”
“Well, I’m glad Daddy James sent me away to boarding school. I met my two best friends, Mary and Katherine,” Sakura said. “They’re very nice to me.”
Ned got off his chair and went to a desk on the other side of the large studio. He took out some paper and came back to her. “Let’s just hope Tara and Alaina don’t go whispering nasty things about you and turn their heads against you.”
Sakura frowned at that. “That won’t happen.”
“Who knows?” Ned said. “Here.”
Sakura eyed the envelope in Ned’s hand with confusion. “What’s that?”
“Open it,” he said.
Sakura put down her paintbrush and took the envelope. She opened it and took out some papers. She flicked through them and widened her eyes in surprise. “Ned!”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s your birth mother. You did ask me to help you find her, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but I didn’t expect you to go this far. I mean, you got her name and everything.”
He laughed. “There isn’t much I can’t do for Sakura.” He patted her head like he would his daughter.
“How did you do it? I mean, I’ve e-mailed so many people, but—”
“Now.” Ned chuckled. “You were just a wee baby when your mother was here, leaving you there at the orphanage doorstep. I’ll admit it was easy for me because I know a lot of people in this small town. Chasing up those women who used to work in the orphanage was a tad hard, and, mind you, they weren’t very cooperative either.”
“I see,” Sakura murmured, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe Ned had found out who her mother was. “Thank you so much, Ned.”
Ned chuckled. “Now, don’t you give me those distasteful big eyes. It’s disgraceful.”
Sakura chuckled, too. Ned always said that every time she was about to cry. But this time she wasn’t about to cry because she was hurt. No, she was about to cry because she was happy with gratitude.
“You’re wonderful, Ned.”
“Nope, I ain’t wonderful. I’m awful. I should have found this out a long time ago.”
Sakura read the name on the paper. It said Haruka Tanaka. Was that really her mother?
“Now then, what are you going to do about that?” he asked, watching her carefully.
Sakura put down the paper and stared at the half-finished painting. “I’m going to find her.”
“It’s all in there,” Ned said. “She’s here, in America. New York City, to be precise.”
Sakura felt her heart quicken. “Here? In America? But I though she lived in Japan.”
“It seems she’s just moved. She’s working for some Japanese fashion designer. They’re opening another headquarters in New York. I heard they’re opening a new store soon. Supposedly the guy she’s working with is very famous in Japan.”
“I see. That’d make things a lot easier, wouldn’t it?” Sakura asked herself. “Yes. After the wedding.”
Ned smiled. “You know, setting up that gallery for you isn’t that easy either.”
Sakura blinked and turned her attention to him. “Ned! You didn’t!”
He chuckled. “Of course I didn’t.”
She sighed. “If you did, it’d be so much work and—”
“Didn’t want to waste your talent.”
“Ned!” Sakura was shocked. “You?”
“Yes, I did. Set up a gallery for you. Your paintings are all there, ready to sell. Got a sales assistant all set up at the shop, too.”
“Oh, Ned.” Sakura jumped up. “But rent in New York? It’s so expensive.”
“Ha-ha! Made a contract with one of your patrons, I did. He loves your work. Bought most of them online. He’s some real estate tycoon of some sort.”
Ned didn’t dare explain to her that their landlord was Sebastian Princeton, the man who was infatuated with her paintings. If he told her, she’d flip and tell him to stop everything immediately.
“Whoa!” Sakura couldn’t believe it. She placed her hand on her chest. Suddenly, she was feeling just a bit dizzy. “My mother and my paintings, both in New York.”
“Waiting for you,” Ned said, chuckling.
“Thank you, Ned,” Sakura said, tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“Didn’t I tell you you look disgusting when you have tears in your eyes?” he scolded.
Sakura chuckled. “You did indeed, Ned dear.”
After that, they both returned to their paintings. Sakura was so engrossed that she’d forgotten about the time until Mary texted her.
“Oh, damn!” she muttered under her breath.
Ned glanced up. “Must be dinnertime,” he said. “Mother hen looking for her chick.”
Sakura laughed. “Mother hen Mary,” she said. “Hold on. It is rather late. I better tell them to start without me.”
“You’r
e not eating properly again,” Ned said. “This is when a husband comes in handy.”
“Not interested,” Sakura said as she began to text Mary back.
“That Mark person is interested,” Ned said. “So I heard.”
“This Sakura person isn’t interested,” Sakura replied, packing up her gear.
“Well, good luck with that,” Ned said. “Now home with you and stop bothering me. You’re wasting my electricity and paints,” he muttered.
Sakura laughed. “I shall indeed come and waste more of your wonderful electricity and paints.” She grabbed her satchel and headed to the door. “See ya later.”
