Page 143 of Blossoms of the Heart
Chapter 29
Tai
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With the investigation over, that just left us with the planning of the exhibit and getting ready for the event.
We had to make room for one more exhibit, the treasure box.
Diamonds intact and all.
When news spread of that we had the media all over us for days. There was excitement throughout the whole of Japan, and it was very fitting with Obon just a handful of weeks away.
I didn’t tend to get involved much in that aspect but this time was different.
We’d never discovered anything like this before. I felt privileged to be a part of it.
The extravagance and excitement also made a good distraction for the tenseness between Phoebe and me, which still continued.
And continued.
The week before Obon was when I really started getting antsy. She continued to either leave me before dawn, or go to the museum to work on the exhibit.
On the Saturday I thought I’d lesson the tension with a dinner celebration. I invited Phoebe, Akito, and Mitsuke, thinking it would be nice to get together.
I made a feast from my mother’s recipes which everyone enjoyed. We had a great evening. Phoebe sat next to me, and for a moment things were normal. I even caught either Akito or Mitsuke looking at us, beaming with pride
After the grand feast I suggested a movie. However, Akito declined.
“I need my sleep. I’m old,” Akito laughed. “But you guys stay and watch it.”
“He means you two. Notyou guysas in me included,” Mitsuke intoned, pointing at Phoebe and me.
While Phoebe’s cheeks turned a warm rose color, Akito started to laugh.
“Cookies my daughter?” Akito said to Mitsuke.
“Yes, Father.” Mitsuke beamed, linking her arms with Akito’s. The two walked out of the sitting room talking about what cookies they were going to make.
When I heard them leave, I turned to Phoebe.
She’d moved over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window to look at the coy carp pond in the back garden. The soft moonlight turned the surface silver and cast a glow on the cherry blossom trees that hung over it.
She rested against the glass and glanced over at me as I approached. Her blue gaze took me in with an admiration. A closer look revealed that that guarded look was down. Hadn’t been down in weeks.
She had a similar appearance to the woman she was weeks ago when I’d gone to see her at the little cave on Akito’s manor.
The mermaid’s tavern.
This was her. That beautiful siren that oozed sex appeal and bamboozled me.
Why did she change?
What happened?
“Phoebe.”
I reached out and touched the edge of her beautiful face, loving the feel of her soft, silky-smooth skin. She rested against my palms and closed her eyes. But, when she opened her eyes a tear ran down her cheek.
