Her children crowded on her bed like they had done when they'd been younger, kissing her and talking loudly at the same time. After a few minutes, they gave her time to breathe. The girls sat down in the available chairs while the boys remained standing.
"How are you feeling?" Clarence asked.
To look at him was like staring at a younger version of her late husband. He had really grown into a fine, responsible young man who only came to her occasionally for advice. "I have a slight headache, but I guess it could be worse."
"You were out for a couple of days. You had me worried. I can't ever remember you being sick before."
She'd tried to shield them from everything when they were growing up and tried never to let them see her sad.
"Do you remember what happened?" Clarence asked "I didn't at first, but then it all came crushing back a few minutes ago."
She paused. "How is the house?"
"A mess," Tricia answered. "The insurance man said it needs a complete makeover."
"How much of it was destroyed?"
"The first couple of rooms. The living room, downstairs bathroom, foyer and the formal dining room. Everything else downstairs is smoky and wet."
Shaundra grimaced. "Is the upstairs ruined?" All their baby pictures, books, diplomas and childhood memories were stored in chests in the attic.
"No damage, but we can't return to the house. It's been declared unsafe."
"Don't worry," Earl replied. "You two can stay with me until the house is repaired." Earl reminded her of her father. It was good of him to offer, but no way. As for Tricia, she had plans to stay on campus anyway and school would be starting shortly. "Thanks, but I know how young men need their space. I'll be okay."
"How was Japan?" Earl asked, changing the subject and probably trying to be nosey at the same time.
"Japan was great. Tokyo is a bit busy, but I liked Osaka because it reminds me of down south. The place where I stayed had a homey atmosphere."
"You know that's not what he's asking," Juanda replied.
"Oh," Shaundra replied. "Well, that's a very interesting story that you won't be hearing any time soon."
Tricia giggled. "Ichiro is so cute, and did you see his eyes? They're blue."
Shaundra nodded.
"Is Satoshi engaged?"
Shaundra eyed her youngest daughter curiously. "No, why?"
"Just asking."
Shaundra chuckled through the pain. "Girl, you're more like me than you know."
"I still think they look like a bunch of girls," Juanda replied. "But they're definitely men. Did you see the size of their hands and feet?"
"Huge," Tricia said, still giggling.
"Yes, they are," Shaundra agreed.
"Is it true that you're engaged?" Clarence asked.
Shaundra raised her left hand, showing them the engagement ring she'd received earlier. "I think I am. I can't be sure. I woke up and saw an angel smiling down on me. I think he proposed."
"But, Mama, he's younger than I am," Clarence argued.
"That just means the two of you will have things in common. Would you rather go to a ball game with an older step-father or one who can keep up with you?"
"How's he in bed?" Juanda asked as if the two of them we girlfriends instead of mother and daughter.
"I have no idea." That girl always made her head ache with her questions.
All four kids looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
"What?" Juanda asked. "You mean the two of you never slept together?"
"No," Shaundra answered.
"For some reason, I believe you," Juanda replied. "But I don't know why because, if I were you, I'd have been all over him."
Shaundra chuckled. The things that came out of that girl's mouth.
"What about Yori?" Juanda asked. "Don't think I was going to pass up this opportunity to ask about him. You think I don't remember you stepping out with him when you arrived in Tokyo."
Shaundra rubbed her head. "Why do you insist in making me out to be a hoochie? I haven't slept with Yori either." "What's wrong with them? Are they gay?"
"No, Juanda, they aren't gay."
"You two looked pretty chummy to me on YouTube."
"Looks can be deceiving. Why didn't you believe me before when I told you that nothing was going on between me and him?" She didn't miss the look Tricia gave her. Baby girl could read her inside and out.
The door to her room opened and Yori entered.
"Come on in and meet my kids."
"We've already met," he said rudely. "Can we talk?"
The boys moved away from the bed and pulled their puzzled-faced sisters out of the room behind them.
"Where's Ich?"
"Out in the waiting area talking with Mr. Niigata and Masaaki." He walked over to the bed, took her hand and kissed it like he had that night in the hallway outside her hotel room. Passion flowed through her body. If only things had been different. "How are you feeling? You gave me quite the scare." He stood at the side of her bed.
"I'm okay. I just have a slight headache."
"You were lucky to survive such an explosion without a scar." He paused, still holding her hand. "The police have the culprit in custody. It was a male fan of yours. He's the president of your New York fan club."
Shaundra groaned. "Isn't that something? I thought for sure one of your fan girls decided to take me out." She chuckled weakly. "They do love them some Yori."
"Do you?" Yori asked.
Shaundra didn't answer. She just raised her hand and showed him her engagement ring. He let go of her other hand.
"Ichiro?"
Shaundra nodded. "I knew you were going to go there when you found out."
He moved away from the bed and paced the floor in the room. "Damn right. What did you expect me to do when I heard the news?"
"Why does it matter so much to you? In a couple of months, you will be a married man." The pacing made her dizzy.
He ran his fingers through his hair, mussing up his bangs. "Did you accept his proposal because of that? We could have made some kind of arrangement."
Shaundra's head popped up from the pillow. "What? You think I wanted to be your mistress?"
Yori stopped pacing. "That was an option."
"Not for me. I don't share men."
He turned back toward her. "But Ichiro is a child."
"He's six months younger than Satoshi."
He moved to the foot of the bed. "But he's never been with a woman before."
Shaundra smirked. "Yes, I know." Ichiro was a glorified virgin. The though made her feel all giggly inside.
"I hope that's not the reason you accepted. He won't be able to satisfy you."
Shaundra raised up slightly in the bed. "How do you know that?"
He wiggled the middle finger of his right hand at her.
Shaundra rolled her eyes at him. "Leave it to you to remember that.
No, I didn't accept his proposal because he was a virgin and I'm a cougar.
But I will admit, it was a bargaining chip."
Yori sat down in a chair. "I thought I made a wise decision by setting that wedding date. I thought I could buy us more time and keep you safe from all those who threatened you. I didn't even mind Ichiro dating you after a while. I knew he wouldn't let anything happen to you and he would be there for you when I couldn't be." He paused. "But if I knew the little fairy would have taken advantage of the situation, I would have kicked his ass. If I had only known..."
"What? What would you have done differently, and don't call him a fairy."
"How can you marry him when we feel the way we feel toward each other? I've loved you from the moment you fell into my arms in that hotel lobby on the night you arrived in Tokyo."
"Don't do this, Yori. It's too hard. I've already made my decision."
"The wrong one. You chose Ichiro. I think that's a worse decision than the one I made. I could have accepted it, though, had it been Satoshi. He's wanted you from the first night he met you in that hotel lounge."
"What would you have done if I had chosen Takumijo?"
"That never would have happened. You're not Takumijo's type."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Never mind, this isn't about him."
"What is wrong with Ichiro? He's good, kind and the most generous person I know."
"That's the problem. He's too perfect. He's the only other man in the world who makes your eyes light up when he walks into the room. Your eyes used to do that for me until you met him."
It was true. "No one is perfect, Yori. Not even Ichiro."
"Can you honestly tell me that you love him?"
"No, I love you."
"See, I thought so."
"But I am in love with Ichiro."
The loud chuckle behind them made Yori turn his head around to see who it had come from. Ichiro stood in the doorway. "Told you, Yori."
Yori rose. "You were right. I just had to make sure." He and Ichiro hugged. "Take good care of her."
"I will," Ichiro replied.
Yori left, leaving her alone with her fiance. "What was that all about?"
Ichiro walked over to the bed and pressed a kiss to her forehead. He smelled like sunshine and reminded her of that starry Osaka night when she'd realized that she was in love with him. When he kissed her with the scent of cinnamon on his skin that made her feel warm and comforted like the way she used to feel as a child growing up in the south in her grandmother's kitchen. He felt like family.
"He just gave me his blessing."
"I don't understand."
"It's a man thing. In Yori's eyes, I am now a man and he doesn't have to look after me anymore."
Shaundra smirked. In her eyes, he had always been a man.