Dearly Beloved (Siren Publishing Allure) (9 page)

Ebony nodded. “Yes, I couldn’t bear to be in a country where I could not be with the man I love.”

“I do understand,” Gina said. “I feel the same way about Eiji. Try not to let what Mother says get to you. She will eventually grow to love you.”

Yeah, when hell freezes over
. Ebony didn’t say that aloud. Gina probably didn’t know what the old cliché meant. Her sister-in-law was sweet, but she didn’t have a clue just how vindictive her mother-in-law was.

Rika Fukushima bowed to the older woman and joined her at the table. Imagine her surprise when she received a call from Setsuko Nakamura inviting her to lunch. For a fifty year old, she still looked very good, and she was wearing an outfit from Kanpachi Collection. Rika thought the rose-colored dress made Setsuko’s cheeks look rosy. “It is so nice to see you after a long time,” Rika said politely as a hostess served them tea.

“It has not been that long,” Setsuko said. “I’ve been meaning to meet with you for a while now, but I’ve been so busy running my home and taking care of my family.”

Who is she kidding
? Everyone knew that Gina Nakamura ran the house now. “Perfectly understandable,” Rika said looking around the beautifully decorated private dining room at the restaurant Setsuko had selected. The woman didn’t even have the decency to invite her to her home.

“How is your family?”

“They’re well,” Rika answered. Her father owned a string of clothing stores around Tokyo, but Setsuko Nakamura hadn’t considered her good enough to marry into her family. In fact, the old bag interfered so much that Rika cut her ties with Tomio and went her separate way. After that, she moved to Osaka and opened her own clothing accessory shops, and had been living there for the last five years. She had only returned to her native town to look after her ailing mother. “Is everyone in your household healthy and happy?”

“Yes,” Setsuko answered.

The hostess returned and began loading the tables with side dishes that Setsuko must have ordered before she arrived. She supposed Tomio’s mother had also taken the liberty of ordering her main meal. Moments later, her suspicions were confirmed when the hostess placed Chicken Teriyaki in front of both of them. She refilled their teacups and left them alone.

“Tomio is married,” Setsuko announced.

“I’ve heard, to a foreigner.”

Setsuko turned up to her nose. “Yes, she is an American from Louisiana.”

“A southerner? I had no idea that Tomio had such peculiar tastes.” Rika picked up her bowl of rice and began to eat it, but only after seeing Setsuko eat hers first. “And let me guess, you don’t like her.”

“No, I don’t,” Setsuko admitted.

“Is this what the meeting is about?” She knew Setsuko well enough to know that she didn’t do anything without an ulterior motive.

“Yes, I want you to break them up.”

Rika put down her bowl and swallowed the food in her mouth. “Why would you assume I would do something like that?”

“Because I happen to know that you are still in love with my son,” Setsuko answered.

“I have just returned to town after being away for five years. I could be married for all you know.”

Setsuko laughed. “There is no ring on your finger, and you know I’ve checked that out before I called you.”

Rika frowned. Of course she had. “You don’t like me either.”

“You are the lesser of two evils.”

“You mean a Japanese daughter-in-law is better than a black one.” She had done her homework, too.

“Exactly, so you see my dilemma.”

“Why choose me? Tomio has dated a lot of other women, before and after me,” Rika said.

“But none of them are as special as you when it comes to handling this type of situation.”

True, she had stolen Tomio from her best friend Eriko Ayase. “Ah, but a child wasn’t involved.”

Setsuko frowned. “Let’s just forget about it. That is just a minor inconvenience.”

What a bitch.
Tomio’s new wife must be a handful for his mother to act this way. “What’s in it for me?”

“You get Tomio and become my number one daughter-in-law,” Setsuko answered.

Rika smirked behind her teacup. She did want Tomio, but becoming Setsuko’s daughter-in-law and slave was not on her agenda. “Okay, but the moment you start interfering in our relationship, I will pull out and tell Tomio everything. I don’t need a man that bad.”

“I didn’t expect you to show up,” Rika said to Tomio when he appeared before her in the bar. She had called his office using a number he’d given her years ago. It surprised her that it still worked. Damn, he was still fine, and he looked good in the dark blue business suit. He had filled out a lot in the shoulders, and he had a muscular build. Since the last time she’d seen him, he had aged, but in a good way. He was still so handsome. Had she known all this, she might have stuck around longer. She stood up, hugged him, and kissed him on the jaw.

“I was curious,” Tomio said after they sat down at the table. “You look good.”

Rika smiled. Tomio was still a silver-tongued devil and knew just the right things to say. “So do you. I just got back into town and was looking up old friends. Imagine my surprise when I ran across your number.”

A waiter appeared and she ordered for both of them. Bourbon on the rocks and one beer.”

“You remember?”

Rika nodded. “You always ordered that when we dated.”

“So what brings you back? I heard you moved to Osaka and started a business.”

“My mother’s health isn’t so good, and since I’m the eldest, I came back to look after her.”

The waiter returned with their drinks. “Thank you,” Tomio said. He paid for them. He picked up his and sipped. “I’m sorry to hear that. I liked your mother.”

She expected him to mention their breakup, but he didn’t. “How are your parents?”

“They’re still the same, just five years older.”

“And the family business?”

“We’re not as active as we used to be. The members of the organization are still troublesome. They still think of me as a kid.”

Rika chuckled as his joke. “And Akira?”

“He’s good. He’d be shocked to learn that I’ve heard from you,” Tomio said.

“He didn’t drive you here?”

Tomio shook his head and relaxed a bit. “No, he’s off running errands. I’ve been keeping him busy lately.”

“Is he still dating Aki?”

“No, they broke up. He’s now dating a butcher who treats him like a prince and gives him only the finest cuts of meat.”

Rika laughed. “I used to be so jealous of him. Not only did he get to spend a lot of time with you, but he dressed better than me and smelled better than any guy should have. And he got more attention from the men.”

Tomio chuckled. “He still does.”

Akira and Tomio had been close since they were in elementary school. Their fathers were recruits for a mob boss named Kunio Maruyama before Hajime branched out and took on his own territory. For a time, she thought Tomio and Akira might be lovers, but later learned they were just devoted friends. Their being a part of the mob had excited her in the beginning, but as she grew older, she learned what they really did. She and Tomio couldn’t go on a date without having to take the bodyguards along. Since he had entered the bar alone, she guessed they had relaxed the rules. “I heard that you got married to an American.”

“Yes,” Tomio said. “She is a very good woman. We are expecting a child.”

“Congratulations,” Rika said with forced excitement. She signaled for a waiter. The same one from earlier returned. “Bring us Bourbon on the rocks and a beer.” The guy left. “So when is the baby due?”

“September,” Tomio answered.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

“No, Ebony and I want to be surprised.”

“Ebony? What a pretty name. How did the two of you meet?” Before Rika knew it, she had Tomio talking about his new bride. She smirked. Tomio never could hold his liquor.

* * * *

Tomio woke up in a bed in a strange room with Rika Fukushima asleep next to him. He was naked and there were empty condom wrappers on the nightstand next to him.
Shit. What have I done?
He got out of bed and dashed into the bathroom for a quick shower. The woman’s perfume was all over him. He found his clothing spread neatly over a chair. Without thinking, he dressed and left the room. His car was parked in the motel’s garage next to Rika’s. He remembered it. The small toy he’d won for her at a fair still hung from her rearview mirror. The sun was just starting to come up. Ebony was probably beside herself with worry. Damn. She would never believe that he had been out drinking all night with an old friend. He dialed her number just as soon as he got into his car.

“Hello? Tomio?”

She sounded frantic. “Yes, Ebony, baby, it’s me. I’m so sorry. I stopped to have drinks with an old classmate and must have gotten drunk and passed out.”

“Are you okay? Akira and I have been looking everywhere for you.”

“I’m fine. I must have left my phone in the car. I’m on my way home.”

“Be careful,” Ebony said. “I’ll call Akira and let him know what happened.”

“I love you,” he said to her.

“I love you, too. I’m so glad that you’re okay.”

Tomio disconnected the call, started up his car, and drove out of the parking garage. He felt bad for what had happened between him and Rika. Hell, he didn’t even remember it. But he was glad that he had used protection. He still didn’t know what had happened. He’d had three drinks. Usually that was not enough to render him drunk. Maybe Rika had slipped him something when he wasn’t looking. That was the only way he would have slept with her.

The sun was high up in the sky when he finally made it home. Ebony opened the door for him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I was so worried. I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”

“I’m sorry. I only meant to stop for one drink.” It was the truth.

“Come on inside. I’ve drawn your bath and breakfast is ready.”

Ebony was so good to him after all he had put her through. She removed her arms from around him and he headed for their bedroom. His gaze landed on the bed. Either she had just made it up or she had not slept in it. The thought of her staying up all night and looking for him did not set well with him. And he would have to tell her the truth…the whole truth. He might have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t a cheat. He hoped that Ebony loved him enough to forgive him.

He joined Ebony in the kitchen after he had showered again and changed into a fresh suit. She had prepared a Japanese breakfast for him, but she only had fruit and cereal. “You need to eat more than that.”

“I’m not very hungry.”

“Are you suffering from morning sickness again?”

“Yes, but hopefully it will pass quickly.”

“Do you want me to stay at home with you?”

Ebony shook her head. “No, Akira is on his way over to pick you up for work. I will be okay.”

He felt lower than low. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me,” Ebony said. “You are a good husband and you deserve to relax with friends every now and then.” She paused. “Is it someone I know?”

“No, it was an old friend from elementary school.”

“You’ll have to bring him home for dinner one of these days,” Ebony said.

Just like that, she had forgiven him. Now he had to forgive himself for being unfaithful. “Ebony, honey, there’s something I need to tell you. My friend wasn’t a guy.” It was the longest conversation he’d ever had to have with her, but Tomio told her everything. Akira called his cell phone when he arrived. Tomio kissed Ebony goodbye. Ebony appeared to be in shock after his confession. She had a blank look on her face, and he seriously feared for his life for a moment. Tomio climbed into the car and Akira drove away from the curb.

“Well, I’m glad to see that you weren’t dead in a ditch.”

“I think I might have screwed up my marriage,” Tomio confessed.

“Start talking,” Akira said. “I have all morning.”

* * * *

It had taken her a couple of days to get over the incident with Tomio, but the morning sickness had disappeared, and she had finally eaten a big breakfast. It was just about lunchtime when someone rang her doorbell. Ebony opened the door only to find a beautiful, well-dressed Japanese woman on the other side. The woman appeared to be around her age, maybe older, and she had stylish, shoulder-length black hair and big brown eyes. Ebony looked down at her own clothing. She was wearing one of the casual maternity outfits Tomio had brought her, and she hadn’t bothered to put on any makeup. “Yes, may I help you?”

“Hello, my name is Rika Fukushima.”

Ebony stared at the woman, instantly recognizing the name. “How can I help you, Ms. Fukushima?” The woman spoke perfect English.

“Are you Ebony Nakamura?”

“Yes.”

“I’m an old friend of Tomio’s.”

Ebony studied her for a moment and then she stepped aside. Normally, she didn’t let complete strangers into her home, but this was someone she needed to talk to. Whatever she was there to say must be important, since she was foolish enough to show up on her doorstep. “Come in. I’ll make tea.” She could certainly see what Tomio saw in Rika. “Please, have a seat.” Rika sat down and Ebony went off to prepare the tea. She had thought about lacing it with poison, but she would be the first one the authorities would suspect, being a foreigner and all. Once the tea had brewed, she added slices of a cake she’d baked earlier and carried it all back into the living room. Ebony served her guest first. Rika had gotten comfortable in the same spot that Setsuko had sat in on her last visit. “I’m sorry that Tomio isn’t home to greet you.”