Unwound

He thought back to the ugly scene with Amery’s parents. Their accusations, ultimatums, and embarrassment about the path Amery had taken. He’d watched her crumble after swearing it didn’t matter. But that kind of rejection is hard, no matter how old you get.

Then he had a pang of awareness—had he done the same thing to his family? Rejected them because he believed they wouldn’t understand his life choices?

Sobering thought.

“Ronin-san?”

He smiled at her and the only term of endearment she ever used. “How is Grandfather?”

“Old.” She ran her hand through her hair. “I’ve never said that about him because he’s always seemed so invincible. But he’s had some health issues in the last year. Which doesn’t sit well with him.”

“And you are bearing the brunt of that?”

She shrugged. “It’s what I do.”

“Why didn’t you ever remarry? Then you wouldn’t have to be at your father’s command.”

“He doesn’t command me.” She sounded affronted. Then she sighed. “I wondered if you’d ever ask me about this.”

Ronin waited.

“None of the men in my social circle hold a candle to your father. He was an electric charge; other men were dim bulbs. My father kept trying to fix me up because he didn’t want me to spend my life without a companion like he had.”

“But I thought Grandfather was mad that you eloped.”

She frowned. “He was upset because he couldn’t give me a proper society wedding. I eloped because I couldn’t imagine my life without your father. And after he died, your grandfather understood what I was going through and he begged me to return to Japan.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“How could you have? You were eight. I grieved. I grieved to the point I couldn’t care for you or your sister. He had to step in.” She squinted at him. “Don’t you remember him working with you on your Japanese language issues?”

An image jumped into Ronin’s head of sitting at the table with paper and pens, Shiori curled up in their grandfather’s lap while he patiently drilled Ronin on reading and writing. “I’d forgotten that.”

“I’m not trying to paint Nureki Okada as a saint. But he’s not a villain either.” She smiled softly. “Well, not all days.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

She stood. “Because you, your sister, and I need to discuss some family things.”

“What things?”

“I’ll go into more detail tomorrow. Lunch will work, since you’re not teaching during the day, and who knows what Shiori is doing with her time since she quit.”

“She quit? Quit what?”

Her eyes turned shrewd. “Your sister resigned from Okada weeks ago. How else could she spend all this time here?”

His jaw dropped. “She never even f**king mentioned that.”

For once his mother didn’t give him a pinched look about his language. “I’m not surprised. But you’ve been so wrapped up in your own life that you hadn’t noticed all her free time?”

Chastised, he retorted, “I had a couple of life-changing events, a couple of health issues, so I wasn’t as aware as I might’ve otherwise been.”

She offered him the half smile that signified the conversation was over. “It appears you and Amery worked things out.”

“Mostly. The rest will be handled after she’s living here permanently.”

“Your Amery is a beautiful girl. I can see she makes you happy.”

“She does. She also has that electric spark that lights my life.”

The remaining house tour didn’t take much time. Amery had made the bed in their room and put away the silk scarves. When they finished the tour in the kitchen, he saw Amery had fixed her hair and put on makeup. He found it sweet she wanted to make a good impression on his mother.

“Would you like something to drink?” Amery asked.

“Tea?”

“We have pretty much everything except for that.”

“Of course. Do you share Ronin’s dislike of tea?”

“No. After I move in, I’ll stock it for when you visit.”

Message received: Amery wasn’t going anywhere.

That pleased rather than annoyed his mother. “Excellent. I look forward to having tea with you, Amery.” She faced Ronin. “I apologize for dropping in and interrupting your evening. I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.”

“Where are you staying?”

“With Shiori at the Ritz. She’s got an extra bedroom in the penthouse suite she insists on.” She patted his cheek. “So much more fun to cramp her style than yours, Ronin-san.”

He grinned and walked her to the elevator. “Want me to ride down with you?”

“Not necessary.” Right before the doors closed, she said, “Sweet dreams, my handsome boy,” in Japanese, like she used to when she tucked him in at night.

Amery’s arms circled his waist. She rested the side of her face against his back. “You okay?”

“Oddly enough, yes. But that was bizarre. Must be the month for surprise parental visits.”

“Looks like yours went better than mine. You two were on the roof for a long time.”

“She gave me a few things to think about.”

“Like?”

Ronin turned around. “Like I wondered why Shiori was still here, but she hedged every time I asked. Come to find out, she quit Okada several weeks ago.”