dress. And she was holding two plastic bags full of fresh food.
Chapter Eleven
Peering up at me from beneath her pink bangs, Nanako held up the bags and smiled warmly. "Hi Ethan, I've come over to cook dinner for you tonight."
I don’t know how long I stood there staring at her, working my way through the conflicting thoughts her words sent zooming through my mind. Foremost was the liberating relief that came from realising I had not hurt her feelings yesterday morning. Second was the sheer delight that I finally had an opportunity to spend time with her. This was followed by panic because I was due at my parents’ house shortly. There was no way I could fit dinner with Nanako and with my parents into the one evening. Then of course was the gut wrenching fear associated with the knowledge that it was not permitted for a single guy to be alone anywhere or at any time with a woman who was not a member of his family.
I realised I had to send her away, but as I stood there looking down into her hope filled face as she waited for me to let her in, I knew I couldn’t disappoint her again.
“That sounds wonderful – please, come in.” I said as I stepped back to let her in. As she walked past me, I noticed Councillor Okada standing a couple of doors down, either playing the part of chaperone, or watching to make sure she arrived safely at her destination, if not both. I wondered if I should ask him to come in too, but he bowed politely and walked away before I had the chance.
Nanako dumped the bags on my miniscule kitchen bench – the kitchen was beside the front door. She started digging through the drawers and cupboards beneath the stove and bench.
The view of her of slender thighs exposed between her over-knees striped socks and the shirt was so mesmerising it took a great deal of effort to find my voice. “Sorry, I don’t have much stuff.”
“Oh, that’s fine, I’ll make do,” she said cheerfully as she pulled out two dented saucepans and a battered wooden chopping board that I bought second hand at the market.
"I have to make a phone call," I said as I reluctantly tore my gaze from her thighs back up to her beautiful face.
"Oh – I haven’t interrupted your plans for this evening, have I?" she asked while chopping carrots with a speed I didn’t think was possible. I would have chopped my fingers off if I tried that.
"Oh no, it’s just some minor thing I can reschedule for another night," I assured her. Yeah, just a minor thing like working out my wedding date. "I'll be right back."
My flat was narrow but long, extending from one side of the building to the other. Opposite the kitchen was the enclosed bathroom with shower, basin and toilet. Next was the dining room with the dining table and an old ratty two-seat sofa that faced the TV. The dining room morphed into the bedroom, which was occupied solely by my double bed. Next to the bed was the rear window and back door that lead to the balcony.
I grabbed the phone from the shelf beside to the bed and rang my father. This was not gonna go well.
"Jones residence," my father answered.
"Hello Father. Look, I'm sorry, but something very important's come up and I can't make it tonight."
"Do not be absurd, Ethan. The King's are already here and your mother and sister are about to serve the meal. Get over here right now," he ordered brusquely.
My head burned red hot from the pressure of the fix I had gotten myself into. I knew the correct thing to do was to obey him, but when I glanced at Nanako studiously preparing our dinner, I knew I would have to defy father for the first time. "Father, I am otherwise detained and it’s not something I can get out of."
"What are you talking about, Son? Are you suddenly bereft of your senses? You knew the King's were coming tonight to finalise the wedding’s details. How can you be otherwise detained?"
"I'm sorry, Father, but as I said, I'm literally unable to come. Please pass my apologies to the King's
Chapter Eleven
Peering up at me from beneath her pink bangs, Nanako held up the bags and smiled warmly. "Hi Ethan, I've come over to cook dinner for you tonight."
I don’t know how long I stood there staring at her, working my way through the conflicting thoughts her words sent zooming through my mind. Foremost was the liberating relief that came from realising I had not hurt her feelings yesterday morning. Second was the sheer delight that I finally had an opportunity to spend time with her. This was followed by panic because I was due at my parents’ house shortly. There was no way I could fit dinner with Nanako and with my parents into the one evening. Then of course was the gut wrenching fear associated with the knowledge that it was not permitted for a single guy to be alone anywhere or at any time with a woman who was not a member of his family.
I realised I had to send her away, but as I stood there looking down into her hope filled face as she waited for me to let her in, I knew I couldn’t disappoint her again.
“That sounds wonderful – please, come in.” I said as I stepped back to let her in. As she walked past me, I noticed Councillor Okada standing a couple of doors down, either playing the part of chaperone, or watching to make sure she arrived safely at her destination, if not both. I wondered if I should ask him to come in too, but he bowed politely and walked away before I had the chance.
Nanako dumped the bags on my miniscule kitchen bench – the kitchen was beside the front door. She started digging through the drawers and cupboards beneath the stove and bench.
The view of her of slender thighs exposed between her over-knees striped socks and the shirt was so mesmerising it took a great deal of effort to find my voice. “Sorry, I don’t have much stuff.”
“Oh, that’s fine, I’ll make do,” she said cheerfully as she pulled out two dented saucepans and a battered wooden chopping board that I bought second hand at the market.
"I have to make a phone call," I said as I reluctantly tore my gaze from her thighs back up to her beautiful face.
"Oh – I haven’t interrupted your plans for this evening, have I?" she asked while chopping carrots with a speed I didn’t think was possible. I would have chopped my fingers off if I tried that.
"Oh no, it’s just some minor thing I can reschedule for another night," I assured her. Yeah, just a minor thing like working out my wedding date. "I'll be right back."
My flat was narrow but long, extending from one side of the building to the other. Opposite the kitchen was the enclosed bathroom with shower, basin and toilet. Next was the dining room with the dining table and an old ratty two-seat sofa that faced the TV. The dining room morphed into the bedroom, which was occupied solely by my double bed. Next to the bed was the rear window and back door that lead to the balcony.
I grabbed the phone from the shelf beside to the bed and rang my father. This was not gonna go well.
"Jones residence," my father answered.
"Hello Father. Look, I'm sorry, but something very important's come up and I can't make it tonight."
"Do not be absurd, Ethan. The King's are already here and your mother and sister are about to serve the meal. Get over here right now," he ordered brusquely.
My head burned red hot from the pressure of the fix I had gotten myself into. I knew the correct thing to do was to obey him, but when I glanced at Nanako studiously preparing our dinner, I knew I would have to defy father for the first time. "Father, I am otherwise detained and it’s not something I can get out of."
"What are you talking about, Son? Are you suddenly bereft of your senses? You knew the King's were coming tonight to finalise the wedding’s details. How can you be otherwise detained?"
"I'm sorry, Father, but as I said, I'm literally unable to come. Please pass my apologies to the King's
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