Page 89 of Blossoms of the Heart
“Really? He was affected by it?”
“Yes. He never said much but he didn’t have to. He came back the following summer and it was perhaps the worst for both of us. It was the first summer for me without your family here and I realized for him it was the first summer he’d had without you.”
It was nice to hear something like that and it made me wonder now if Tai had behaved the way he did the other night because dare I say it I’d made him jealous.
I didn’t think guys like him could get jealous.
After our talk at the cave weeks ago I assumed he would get back with Candace. After all that’s what he was driving at. But his actions spoke differently and I didn’t think it was my place to ask.
“It was a horrible summer for me too. Instead of going to Japan like I thought we were my mom enrolled me for the summer program at Yale. She didn’t even want me to go to Yale in the first place, and she hated that I wanted to do archeology and be like dad. She wanted me to go to Brown’s and do English. Like Emma.”
“I guess for her that was a safer bet.”
“Everything got so messed up after that. I went to the college I wanted and studied what I wanted but everything else was a disaster. She was the one who introduced me to Jason.”
“I know. But thank God you aren’t with him anymore.”
“Mitsuke told me that Tai never knew I got married.”
“He doesn’t know anything like that. He kind of went off the radar for a few years with us when he moved up in ranks in the Marines. He just kept in touch to let us know he was alive. It was probably six years like that. Then one day he just turned up at the center and I gave him a job.” He laughed.
That sounded like Tai.
“He’s good at his job.”
“Yes, he is definitely good. You both bring a different set of skills to the table. That’s what excites me. But that’s work. Want some advice?”
“Always.” I smiled.
“Things aren’t always what they seem. People hide their emotions especially from those they care about most. I think you know that more than most.”
“I’m different now Akito. I have this thing over me that I have to be aware of all the time.” My eyes welled with tears and one ran down my cheek which he caught.
“No, my dear you never head into something thinking about failure first. Think about possibility. That way you enjoy life more.”
“It’s hard. I feel like I have to say to anyone remotely interested in me that they shouldn’t consider anything serious with me because I’ll never be able to have kids.”
“That’s ridiculous Phoebe. There are many women like you, many. And that is definitely not the attitude or outlook to have. I do understand though that must be the sort of understanding you got from that no good ex-husband of yours.”
“It was.”
“You’re in Japan now, a place where you don’t have to see him. And may I point out that if you take me up on my offer you wouldn’t have to see him again.” His smile widened.
“You’re really working this idea of me staying here aren’t you?” I laughed, then sighed dabbing at the corners of my eyes.
“I will try everything in my power.”
“Then maybe I’ll consider it.”
“Fantastic.”
Yeah… I couldn’t help but agree.
