Texas fury (54 page)

Sumi washed her face and combed her hair. She dabbed perfume behind her ears, a delicious gift from Sawyer, and guaranteed to drive men over the brink, or so Sawyer had said. She'd soon see.

Shadaharu Hasegawa couldn't sleep. He reached for his cane. A walk through his peaceful garden always helped his insomnia. He was standing in the dim shadows of the hallway, leaning heavily on his cane, when he saw his daughter Sumi literally run out of her room and down the length of the hall to where Cole slept. He sucked in his breath. His shoulders drooped wearily. "No," he muttered. "I was so sure ..." He waited.

Cole struggled through his thick sleep. Something wakened him, a sound, a touch. His heart almost stopped beating when he saw Sumi standing at the foot of his bed. He remembered another time when a young woman had come unbidden to his room. He had to say something, but his tongue was too thick, he couldn't get the words out, the right words.

"I came to say good-bye," Sumi said tearfully. "1 promised myself I wouldn't cry. Tomorrow everyone will be around when you leave. ... I wanted to ... I need. . . Please, Cole, love me, make love to me before you go."

Cole swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Come here, Sumi." Obediently Sumi walked over to stand before Cole, her eyes downcast. "This isn't what you want. It's not time. ... I wanted to ... so many times, but. . . Listen, I'm not leaving tomorrow. I called Texas and said I want to stay longer. I don't want to leave you, not ever; do you understand what I'm saying? I'm not real good at this."

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"You don't find me repulsive? You don't mind if I'm Japanese?" Sumi asked tearfully.

"Oh, Jesus, is that what you thought. .. think? ... My God, no. You are the most beautiful, the warmest, the most wonderful girl I've ever met. Don't you know how I feel? Can't you tell that I love you... ?" There, the words were out. He waited to see her reaction. Her eyes were like stars when she looked at him, her smile more beautiful than all the moonbeams in the world. "I don't want either one of us to... We have the rest of our life, Sumi, and eternity on top of that. I'll walk you back to your room."

"No. No, you stay here. I want to go to the garden for a little while. Forgive me for coming here. I've brought shame on myself."

"Never!" Cole exploded. "If you hadn't come here, it might have taken me days, weeks, to tell you how I feel. And how do you feel, Miss Hasegawa?"

"The same way you feel, Cole. I'm so happy that you will be in all of my tomorrows. I love you more than you'll ever know. I thought... Good night, Cole. I'll see you in the morning."

The cold shower was running as soon as Sumi closed the door behind her.

Shadaharu Hasegawa allowed himself a small smile. So his instincts about Coleman Tanner were right. The young American would bring no shame on the Hasegawa family this night or any other night. His step was light when he followed his daughter to the garden; there were prayers to be said in thanks for his insight. Coleman Tanner could very well be one of them.

Sweet, wonderful days followed for Cole and Sumi. At night, in the darkness of his room, there was always a smile on Cole's face as he fell asleep. He loved Sumi, heart and soul. One day he would marry her, but he had to straighten out his life first. If he was lucky, he could fix what was wrong between himself and Riley. Sumi would be at his side; he knew now he could do whatever he had to do. If it was necessary, he could sell Rototillers for Sears, Roebuck.

Should he tell the family? And what about Mr. Hasegawa? The old Japanese deserved to know his intentions in regard to his daughter. And what about Sumi? He hadn't mentioned marriage, nor had she. Did she assume, did she expect.. . did she want him the way he wanted her?.. . The night she'd come to his room had never been mentioned again. That was good, he

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decided. "Anything before the immediate moment was history." The family—telling his family—that was the biggie. But not yet. He wanted to hold on to this time, these feelings. They were his and his alone. Falling in love was such a serious business. It meant responsibility for another person, through good and bad, through sickness and health. If he had one wish, it would be that his marriage be as good and strong, as happy and loving, as his grandmother's, his mother's, and his Aunt Amelia's. He decided he would pray to that end. First, he would do it in the Christian way and then in the Japanese way.

While Cole contemplated his love for Sumi, she pored over bridal books, her hope chest, and anything else that related to marriage. There was no way Cole Tanner was going to get away from her. When he popped the question, she intended to be ready, right down to the last pair of stockings. So far, she had not confided in her sisters, knowing they would giggle and chortle and insist on helping. Getting ready for the most important day of her life was something she wanted to do alone, so she could pick out special moments and remember them with ease. She wondered what Texas would be like and how Cole's family would accept her. She knew they would, but her older sister's unhappy experience was something she'd never forget.

When was Cole going to ask her the all-important question? At last count, she had twenty-seven different ways to say yes.

Four days remained of Cole's extended vacation. She had to make them count, to make them the most important in both their lives, so important that Cole would be miserable in Texas without her, just as she would be miserable here in Japan without him.

Sumi fell asleep with a vision of herself in a long, trailing white dress full of lace, the background blurred—Texas or Japan. It didn't matter as long as Cole was next to her.

"Today, Cole, I'm going to take you on the Shinkansen Super Express. Here in Japan we call it the bullet train. Supposedly it is the fastest train in the world. Perhaps it is faster than the plane you fly. By the way, why do you refer to the Coleman plane as the DM or the Dream Machine? But first, do you have the nerve to ride the bullet?" Sumi teased.

"Do I have the nerve? I've traveled faster than the speed of sound. A train is a train," Cole grumbled.

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"Very well, Cole Tanner," Sumi smiled. "But when you fall off the seat, I will not pick you up."

"That fast, eh?"

"That fast." Sumi smiled.

"And after the train ride, what then?"

"My father has given us tickets to a Kabuki drama. I think you will love it, as I do. I'm so glad, Cole, that you like all the same things I do. We have much in common."

"Not so fast, young lady. There is one thing here that we do not have in common. You've tested my good nature four times now since I'm here. No more!"

"What? Tell me how I have... What have I done?" Sumi could feel a vise around her heart at Cole's strange voice.

"You have the same sickness all my family has, at least the women. I thought you would be different, but you aren't. It's the only thing that I ... I wish it was different, but... you can't change, just like they can't. It's so sad. ... I was hoping ..."

Sumi stopped in her tracks. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Tell me this instant how I have displeased you." She stamped her tiny foot in frustration.

"Sumi, Sumi, I was teasing. Please, don't cry. You could never displease me in any way. I'm sorry if I upset you. I meant shopping. Sometimes I think the women in my family were born to shop. Sawyer is the biggest offender. She can shop for days and then she collapses and says her feet hurt. Then she rushes out to buy new shoes for her aching feet. I was teasing about shopping on the Ginza. Truly, I enjoyed the shops and watching you haggle over the prices. It's an art."

"You are serious about this, aren't you?" Sumi laughed, her eyes sparkling with the tears she held in check.

"Sumi, I love you," Cole said softly.

There on the crowded Ginza with people streaming by, Sumi echoed her love for Cole.

"Later, after the bullet train, if I'm still alive, we'll talk, all right?" Cole asked softly.

"I'll hold you tight so you don't fall off the seat," Sumi smiled. "Yes, I wish to talk .. . about us."

Cole walked around the Hasegawa house for the last time. His heart ached that he was leaving this all behind. In two short weeks he'd come to love everything about Japan, particularly this family. He didn't want to be alone anymore. He didn't want to go back to Texas, but for now he had no choice.

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He'd start to put the wheels in motion as soon as he set foot on Texas soil. His thoughts brought him to the music room with all the family pictures. Again, he could feel the mist in his eyes as he stared at Riley and a Sumi he'd never known. His footsteps were leaden, his shoulders drooping as he walked out of the room. Good-byes were so hard.

Where was Sumi? She'd said she would be back in thirty minutes. Something about her father wanting something from the paper. It wasn't like Sumi to be late.

Cole's footsteps took him to the tranquil Zen garden. He would miss this peaceful place. If only. ..

Startled at the sound of a footfall, Cole turned to see the old Japanese behind him. "There are times when I believe I can hear my soul breathe in this quiet place. Can you hear your soul, Coleman san?"

"Yes," Cole said simply. "I'm happy that you are up and about. You're feeling better, then?"

"Somewhat. Has my daughter pleased you these past days? At times she is willful, with a mind of her own."

Thank God for that, Cole thought. He searched for the right words. He turned till he was facing the old one. He led him to his seat and took one opposite him. "I've fallen in love with Sumi. Your ruse worked. Mind you, I didn't figure this out myself; Sumi told me you would never, under any circumstance, take to your bed, unless there was a reason. I must return to Texas today, but I'll be back. Thank you, Mr. Hasegawa."

"And I thought I was being so clever," the old man said fretfully. "You see, I have no secrets anymore." His tone was still fretful when he said, "I don't suppose Sumi told you she pestered me to come up with a plan so you could spend some time together."

Cole's eyes were full of awe. Then he threw back his head and laughed. "We've been had!"

"Ah, so, now you understand. That is good. Your fam-ily..."

"My mother speaks of Sumi often. She loves her. Grandmother Billie says she is like Otami. She, too, loves her. My family will accept her. You need have no fear on that score."

There was fear in the old one's voice when he asked, "You will take Sumi away from here?"

"No. I wouldn't do that. I'm surprised at your question. I thought we understood one another."

There was sadness in the old man's voice. "Once, not so long

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ago, I thought I understood, but I was wrong. One must hear the words, Coleman san, not once, but several times. The more times the words are repeated, the more meaning they hold."

Sumi returned, her eyes soft and compassionate as she leaned over to kiss her father's dry cheek. "What have you been telling him?" she asked.

"All your secrets, you willful child." The old man smiled. "Where are you taking him now?"

"To the Shinto temple, as you instructed, and from there to the airport. You said he must see the fifty different kinds of mosses that grow there. For his Japanese education." Sumi's tone clearly indicated she would much rather do something else.

"One must see these things, be aware of them. In Texas they have no moss, only... tumble weeds. Go along, now. Did you bring me the cigar you promised, and did you leave the sake in my bedroom?"

"But of course, Father. We made a deal, did we not?"

"Yes, but you are a wily one. Sometimes you try to trick me and think I'll forget. Light the cigar for me, Coleman san. Be sure to close the front doors and pull the curtains. Tell your sisters I sleep. I want to smoke it down to the end."

Cole hid his smile as he struck a match to the cigar. A real Havana. He puffed till the tip glowed red. He handed it reverently to the old man, who reached for it greedily. "Go! I want to smoke in peace."

Sumi closed the door softly and drew the curtains. Two of her sisters hovered about. She spoke rapidly in Japanese. Once he heard the word cigar. The sisters nodded and withdrew.

"It's a conspiracy." Cole laughed. "They know!"

"Of course they know. They know about the sake, too. It keeps Father's wits about him. He enjoys tricks and devious-ness." Sumi laughed.

"Let's get on with the moss business," Cole grumbled.

"You do not wish to see the Shinto temple?" Sumi giggled.

"I don't care. As long as I'm with you, that's all that matters."

"If you don't mind waiting one more minute, Cole, I want to fetch my raincoat. You will want to say good-bye to my father in private. I'll join you shortly."

Wise, wonderful Sumi. Of course he wanted to say good-bye in private. He had a favor to ask of the old Japanese. His eyes dropped to his flight bag. All the old one could say was no.

Cole squared his shoulders and rapped softly on the garden

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door. When the old man told him to enter, he bent down and hefted his flight bag to his shoulder.

"I came to say good-bye and to thank you for a wonderful visit. I ... I was wondering ... I have a favor. ... It isn't exactly a favor.. . it's more like a request. . . . Would you ... do you think you could ..." Cole bent down, to the old man's puzzlement, and then handed something to the old Japanese. "I would like it if... if you could put this in ... in there with the others. If you think it doesn't belong, I'll understand." Cole held his breath, waiting, hoping the reply would be favorable.

Shadaharu Hasegawa's hands trembled. Nothing had prepared him for this moment. He looked down at what he held in his hand and then into Cole's eyes. His voice was soft, barely above a whisper. Cole found himself straining to hear the words. "You honor this old man, Coleman san, but you are too late."

Cole's heart sank. "Too late? I don't understand."

Cole followed the old man to the music room. His eyes searched out Sumi's growing years and then Riley's. He waited.