in the pond outside, Briana replied bleakly. “It also takes treasures.”
Seemingly intrigued now, Joy was undeterred. “That it does, but the fun is digging them up a hundred, or several hundred years later.”
For a brief second Briana turned to look at the woman with unabashed horror, then regrouped and smiled pleasantly. “You’re an archaeologist?”
“No.” Joy forked a piece of chicken and kept her gaze down.
Okay, we’re back to the single syllables again .
Keito rose to remove Naoki’s plate. Hefting an eyebrow in her direction, Briana could feel the elder woman trying to analyze the placid smile glued to her face.
Keito knew her too well. Through long nights, over steaming cups of tea, this astute woman had become her surrogate mother. Granted, they had met only a few years ago when Briana was already an adult. But still, even at that mature age, the need for a maternal bond was strong. Naoki had only been three when his parents were killed in an earthquake in Kobe. He was too young to remember them. He had his grandparents all along. Briana had known the love of her parents—and then that love was gone.
Only thirteen when they were taken from her, she recalled it being an age where she was old enough to taste independence, and young enough to cry tirelessly for them. The ensuing search by Social Services produced a great aunt in Oregon that was willing to support her. Briana survived that spell, and when she was old enough, she returned to the land she considered home. Pristine white sand was her only native soil.
For so long she had been alone, and when Naoki first brought her to his house after work, independence and belligerence still hardened her.
If ever there was a more cantankerous, independent woman in the world, it was KeitoTakanawa. And with time, Briana grew to love her completely.
“Would you help me clean up in the kitchen, dear?”
With a distracted nod, Briana rose and smiled at her infatuated cohort and his peculiar date.
She followed Keito into the kitchen, where the only salvation from the pity in Keito’s eyes was the shrill ring of the cell phone. Briana delved into her purse and extracted the pulsating device.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Holt?”
“Yes? Who am I speaking to?”
“It’s Kathy.” A slight hesitation.“Kathy Bishop, from Moku.”
“Oh yes, Kathy.” Briana frowned. “It’s a Sunday. I hope you’re not calling from work.”
A slight hesitation, the sound of a printer, and then the unmistaken staccato of fingers on a keyboard preceded her next words. “Actually, I am. Ms. Holt, I found something interesting—are you going to be dropping by the office today? I could show you.”
A sudden opportunity for escape afforded itself. Briana felt guilty because she truly wanted to welcome this new woman into Naoki’s life, but Joy made her uncomfortable.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
Naoki walked in just in time to hear that declaration. “Be where shortly?”
“There’s something I have to do at the office.” Lying to her friend wasn’t a good option, but neither was explaining her rash curiosity.
“Bree?” H e nearly whined as he glanced over his shoulder into the dining room.
“Naoki, Joy is lovely, and Keito and I are both glad you brought her over. Why don’t you two go out on the town tonight, I’ll understand if you’re a little late in the morning.”
Naoki’s glance jumped from Briana’s resolved one, to the impassive dark eyes of his grandmother. He sighed. “She really isn’t that bad once you get to know her.”
“Does she speak?” Keito asked.
“Yes she speaks,” he replied in irritation. “She’s highly intelligent. Look, Bree, if it’s something you need me to work on, I can come in tonight.”
Briana dropped her hands on Naoki’s shoulders. She leaned over and dusted a kiss across his cheek. “Sweetie, have some fun, don’t worry so much.”
Naoki shook his head in indecision. He looked to his grandmother
Seemingly intrigued now, Joy was undeterred. “That it does, but the fun is digging them up a hundred, or several hundred years later.”
For a brief second Briana turned to look at the woman with unabashed horror, then regrouped and smiled pleasantly. “You’re an archaeologist?”
“No.” Joy forked a piece of chicken and kept her gaze down.
Okay, we’re back to the single syllables again .
Keito rose to remove Naoki’s plate. Hefting an eyebrow in her direction, Briana could feel the elder woman trying to analyze the placid smile glued to her face.
Keito knew her too well. Through long nights, over steaming cups of tea, this astute woman had become her surrogate mother. Granted, they had met only a few years ago when Briana was already an adult. But still, even at that mature age, the need for a maternal bond was strong. Naoki had only been three when his parents were killed in an earthquake in Kobe. He was too young to remember them. He had his grandparents all along. Briana had known the love of her parents—and then that love was gone.
Only thirteen when they were taken from her, she recalled it being an age where she was old enough to taste independence, and young enough to cry tirelessly for them. The ensuing search by Social Services produced a great aunt in Oregon that was willing to support her. Briana survived that spell, and when she was old enough, she returned to the land she considered home. Pristine white sand was her only native soil.
For so long she had been alone, and when Naoki first brought her to his house after work, independence and belligerence still hardened her.
If ever there was a more cantankerous, independent woman in the world, it was KeitoTakanawa. And with time, Briana grew to love her completely.
“Would you help me clean up in the kitchen, dear?”
With a distracted nod, Briana rose and smiled at her infatuated cohort and his peculiar date.
She followed Keito into the kitchen, where the only salvation from the pity in Keito’s eyes was the shrill ring of the cell phone. Briana delved into her purse and extracted the pulsating device.
“Hello?”
“Ms. Holt?”
“Yes? Who am I speaking to?”
“It’s Kathy.” A slight hesitation.“Kathy Bishop, from Moku.”
“Oh yes, Kathy.” Briana frowned. “It’s a Sunday. I hope you’re not calling from work.”
A slight hesitation, the sound of a printer, and then the unmistaken staccato of fingers on a keyboard preceded her next words. “Actually, I am. Ms. Holt, I found something interesting—are you going to be dropping by the office today? I could show you.”
A sudden opportunity for escape afforded itself. Briana felt guilty because she truly wanted to welcome this new woman into Naoki’s life, but Joy made her uncomfortable.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
Naoki walked in just in time to hear that declaration. “Be where shortly?”
“There’s something I have to do at the office.” Lying to her friend wasn’t a good option, but neither was explaining her rash curiosity.
“Bree?” H e nearly whined as he glanced over his shoulder into the dining room.
“Naoki, Joy is lovely, and Keito and I are both glad you brought her over. Why don’t you two go out on the town tonight, I’ll understand if you’re a little late in the morning.”
Naoki’s glance jumped from Briana’s resolved one, to the impassive dark eyes of his grandmother. He sighed. “She really isn’t that bad once you get to know her.”
“Does she speak?” Keito asked.
“Yes she speaks,” he replied in irritation. “She’s highly intelligent. Look, Bree, if it’s something you need me to work on, I can come in tonight.”
Briana dropped her hands on Naoki’s shoulders. She leaned over and dusted a kiss across his cheek. “Sweetie, have some fun, don’t worry so much.”
Naoki shook his head in indecision. He looked to his grandmother
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