Love and Truth (33 page)

“God, Nic, you are so sappy. I never thought I’d see the day! I don’t mean to be insensitive, but shit. Only a short time ago you were getting ready to leave for Japan, telling to me how you weren’t going there to find a guy.
Yada, yada, yada…
Now here you are, going back with hearts and stars flying out of your ass.”

I gaped at her. “Well, thanks a hell of a lot, Annie. That was shitty, you know? I’m being freaking serious with you, but you just have to say some dumb smart-ass crap, huh?”

I turned to look at her and she started giggling.

“What? Now you’re getting all irate. It’s funny,” Her smile evaporated. “Look, I’m sorry. I was just trying to lighten the mood. Don’t be such a downer. We’re having a good time today, not a depressed pity party. So snap the fuck out of it, Nic. Pick your vagina up and snap the hell out of it.”

God, she could be so brash. I can’t really complain because it has always been one of the reasons I loved her. She never backed down, even when I got all sensitive.

“You know, Annie, if I didn’t love you so much I might just smack the hell out of you!” We started laughing and the tone for the day was set. We went to the movies, hung out at the mall, and ate terrible fast food. It was a great day and I loved every minute of it. We were headed back to my mom’s and the day of my return to Okinawa was fast approaching. It would be Friday afternoon when I arrived, so thankfully I’d have the weekend to try and reconnect with Jonathan before returning to the academy.

We pulled in to the drive and it was time for another goodbye.

“I really wish I could ride to the airport with you tomorrow, but now that I’m working at the deli part-time and going to school I don’t have time to go. I’m really sorry.”

“I know, Annie. I totally understand; don’t sweat it.” She walked me to the door and I could tell she was trying not to cry. She knew my cry rule. I gave her a quick hug, trying to keep it light. “I promise I’ll shoot you an email as soon as I arrive.”

She squeezed me and smiled. “Okay, chica. You go over there and get that sexy-ass man back, you hear me?” She sniffled a little but there were no tears.

“I’m going to try! I’ll let you know, as soon as I can, what happens. Wish me luck because I feel like I’m going to need it.”

I walked inside and let Mom know I was back. Mom’s new dog trailed me to my room. She said the house was too empty without me so she had adopted a chubby, wrinkly English bulldog named Garfield. The funniest part was his name – a poor dog being named after a cat.

I reached down and scratched his wrinkly head. “Sorry, buddy. Your name is awful. Can’t believe someone did that to you.” He snorted and tried to jump on me.

“Nic, stop giving Garfield a complex about his name,” Mom said. “It’s a good name. He’s fat and happy, just like the famous cat. Plus he would eat all day long if I let him.”

I giggled and looked back at Garfield, who gave me a sad face.

“Mom, I don’t think he agrees.”

“Oh gosh, Nicole. He doesn’t care what his name is, as long as there’s food in his bowl and a good back scratch here and there. Enough about the dog. Are you all packed and ready to head out tomorrow morning, honey?”

She was washing dishes and I looked at her, thinking about how lonely it must be here for her now.

“Mom, are you okay? I mean, are you doing okay here alone? When are you going to consider possibly dating?”

She scrubbed a plate without looking up. “Honey, I’m perfectly fine and dating is not a priority. I was a busy mom and wife for over twenty years, and even though I loved both of those roles it’s been nice to slow down.”

Her response sounded solid and her voice sounded confident. I hoped it was true because I felt awful sometimes, thinking about her being here alone.

“Okay, Mom, but I worry about you. I promise to do better this time about calling and emailing.”

She smiled approvingly.

“That would be nice, honey.”

“I’m going to my room. I just want to make sure I’m all set and not forgetting anything.” Gran’s music box sat on my dresser. I grabbed it and sat back down. I wound it up and opened it, smiling on the inside as I listened to the lullaby play. Once the song stopped I placed the music box in my suitcase, deciding to take it with me. I had the glass heart from Jonathan in my purse and I packed the jar of sand in my carry-on. It was small enough they’d allow it. I planned on giving it back to him because my heart still belonged to him, too.

He just didn’t know it yet.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Getting off the plane this time felt surreal. Emiko was supposed to meet me; we were taking a cab back to the house together. I scanned the area for her after getting my luggage. Finally, I saw her and waved wildly as I walked toward her.

“Emiko!” I screamed. “Emiko, hi!” She smiled from ear to ear and waved back.

“Nicole san. I’m so happy you’re back. I missed you so much.” We gave each other a big hug. “How was your flight?”

“Long. Very long and tiring.” I was completely exhausted from the trip.

“Well, you can rest when we get home since you don’t have class ‘til Monday.”

I was so glad that it was Friday. I definitely wouldn’t want to have to get up in the morning and go to class. Plus, I really wanted to go see Jonathan. On the flight I practiced what I wanted to say to him in my mind over and over again. I was completely ready to swallow my pride and lay it all on the line to get him back. I hoped the bridges weren’t burned, so we could go back to where we were before everything got so messed up. I really couldn’t imagine a life without him in it. Or at least I didn’t want to see a life without him in it.

“Emiko,” I said anxiously. “I want to go see Jonathan tonight.”

“Really? Already? Don’t you want to rest up first? Does he know you’re coming?”

Too much time had gone by already. I didn’t care how tired I was. I wasn’t waiting anymore. She had no idea how agonizing it had been all this time not seeing him, not talking to him, not feeling his warm embrace.

“Emiko, I can’t take a chance on losing him completely. You said he wasn’t taking the break-up well, so I want to go to him and let him know I’m here. I’m still his. He doesn’t know I’m coming. I tried calling him but he never called back. I don’t know why, but I’m thinking if I go to him, see him face-to-face, it will impact him more.”

We hurried through the terminal and out into the warm Okinawan air. We quickly got into a cab and the driver tore off. I let out an exhausted sigh and massaged my temples. The cab driver made me feel nauseated with the death ride he was taking us on.

“God, Emiko, I hope we make it home alive. This guy is driving like a bat out of hell.”

“Aren’t you used to it by now?”

I wished I could say I was but I wasn’t. It was truly frightening.

“I can’t imagine ever getting used to this.”

“You will. Trust me, it’ll be the norm for you after awhile. You’ve been gone for too long, that’s all.” She smirked.

We got closer to the Nakamura home. I couldn’t wait to shower and get ready to go see Jonathan.

“Do you want me to go with you to the beach house?” she asked. “Hiro and Izo are practically living there now. I can come for moral support, you know?”

I guessed it was a good idea. I wasn’t excited about the idea of having an audience, but if his friends were there, I supposed I should bring her with me.

“Sure, that’s a good idea, I guess. I’m really nervous but I have to do it.”

We pulled up to the house and she helped me get my things from the trunk.

“I’m going to take a shower and a short nap,” I said. “After your parents get home and I get to see them we can catch a cab to Okuma. How’s 7 pm sound?”

“That sounds good. Take your time and rest up a little. The jetlag will set in before you know it.”

After my shower, I unpacked and figured out what to wear. I decided on something casual because I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard. I figured a white maxi skirt and a red tank top with my silver sandals should be good. I’d wear my hair down because he liked it that way best. I laid down on my bed and released a deep sigh. I felt so many emotions about the evening ahead. Just the thought of seeing him made me feel all warm and full of excitement. He would definitely be a sight for sore eyes.

I pulled a light blanket over myself and decided to close my eyes for a bit. I drifted off to sleep with Jonathan in my thoughts.

“Nicole san…Nicole, wake up.”

I moaned and opened my heavy eyelids. The jetlag had me disoriented.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Nicole, it’s 6 pm. I figured you would be ready to get up now if you still want to go out to Jonathan’s.”

Crap!
It was 6 pm already. Good grief. I slept like a bag of bricks.

“Yeah, definitely. I still want to go. Are your parents home?”

“Yes, they’re home and are looking forward to seeing you.”

I dragged myself out of bed slowly.

“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute. Just let me get changed.”

I walked over to the mirror and was horrified by what I saw.
Ugh
, I looked like hell. My eyes were all puffy and bloodshot and felt like they had sand in them. I must’ve been way more tired than I realized. I attempted to refresh myself with a cold splash of water to my face. I applied my moisturizer and a little makeup – nothing fancy, just enough to not look like death. I put on my clothes, brushed out my hair and headed downstairs.

“Nicole san, how are you?” asked Mrs. Nakamura. I smiled at the sight of her. “We’re so happy to have you back. I hope your flight wasn’t too bad.”

“Thank you Mrs. Nakamura. I’m glad to be back. The flight has me beat but I’m okay.” Mrs. Nakamura smiled and put her arm around me. She seemed really pleased to have me back.

“Emiko tells me that you’re going to see Jonathan san tonight. Are you sure that’s a good idea, dear? He hasn’t been well since you left. I spoke to his mother yesterday and she’s very worried about him. He hasn’t been home in weeks and he stopped playing the piano altogether. His job at the music school contacted him and he resigned his teaching position. I’m afraid that you may not be going to see the same man you saw when you left.”

God, I had no idea he resigned from his teaching job. He had said how much that meant to him. How could he quit? This was all ridiculous. I definitely had to go see him and fix this.