A strange man greets me when I wake up next. He is shorter than Rick's father and brother had been, with brown hair and glasses. I sit up and watch him as he gathers the various flowers which had accumulated in my room as I slept. There is a brief panic that Tina had friends but then I recall she had said I was her first Japanese friend. She didn't even have family. At least we had that in common and I wouldn't have to lie about it.
"Ah, Hizuri-san you are awake." The bespectacled man says with a genial smile.
I begin to question the name but then I remember who I am supposed to be. Tina. I am Hizuri Tina now and I am a widow. "Tina, is fine." I speak the name and wonder if he can hear my conscious screaming.
"Tina-chan, I am Yashiro Yukihito. I have brought you the luggage we could salvage from the wreckage." He says motioning towards two suitcases.
"Thank you." I say stiffly.
There could be all sorts of incriminating evidence in there. Like pictures of Tina and Rick together. Irrefutable proof that I am not the gorgeous and elegant Tina, but some pregnant nobody Rick and Tina had been kind to. And I had repaid that kindness by stealing her life. I knew putting on that wedding ring was bad luck, but I thought it would be me who was punished. Instead, I am here, and three innocent people are gone.
"Crying, that's a nice touch. Though I'm not certain if you're crying over the loss of my brother or because your material belongings have been returned." A grating voice brings me out of my panicked thoughts.
Rick's brother has sauntered into the room to stand over my son. He's probably scrutinizing the baby's face and picking out every detail that is neither a reflection of me nor a likeness to his family.
"Kuon, don't be mean." Yashiro-san scolds before turning to me. "You should get dressed then we can all head down to the car."
"The car?" I ask looking from Yashiro-san to Rick's brother.
Rick's brother speaks as though he is talking to a five-year-old. "It goes vroom, vroom to get you from point a to point b."
"Kuon!" Yashiro-san barks but the taller man ignores him.
"Do they not have them where you're from? Where are you from again? I forget." He says with a challenging smile.
"America." I reply with a wild guess. Tina spoke perfect English and she was blonde. It had to be England or America, right? She didn't really have a thick accent to give me a clear indication of where she had lived before coming to Japan.
"Where exactly? I can't make out an accent." The annoyingly observant man asks. "California? Texas? The Midwest? Canada?"
"California." I reply hoping Rick had never told him this before. If Rick had told him any small obscure detail, then I'm screwed. Hopefully, I can discover some details in Tina's suitcases.
"Oh, we have a home there. If you want, we can send you to live there." He says eagerly.
"Kuon, that's enough." Yashiro-san says shoving a vase and balloons into the taller man's arms. "Take these to the car."
"I was only offering her a more comfortable place to stay." Rick's brother says with a challenging smile in my direction.
"You were offering to ship her away so you wouldn't have to face reality. If she's not here, then you are free to pretend that Rick is somewhere in America as well." Yashiro-san says wiping the smile from Rick's brother's face. "Go. Car. Now."
Rick's brother throws me one last annoyed glare before leaving my room.
"Forgive him he's just…" Yashiro-san blinks at me thinking of a way to describe the tall jerk. "In any case you'll get used to his surliness. Then again, he's rarely home so you may never see much of him after today."
My heart jolts when he says home. We wouldn't be out on the streets tonight. My son would have a roof over his head and a bed to sleep in. He would be safe and warm for the night at the very least. Happiness mixes with my guilt and I am torn. If lying is bad than why is it being rewarded with kindness and safety? Shouldn't I be punished for stealing from Tina?
"Kuon, will be the only one at the house today. Julie-san and Kuu-san are making plans for the fun…" Yashiro bites back his words holding his breath as he looks at me. When I give no reaction, he lets out his breath and cocks his head at me. "In any case, Kuon will keep to himself in his study working from home. He may join you for dinner, but I doubt it. I will be available if you need anything, though."
It occurs to me too late that he was about to say funeral and I should have had a reaction. My husband just died, and I need to act more like a grieving widow. It's hard though when my heart is elated at the prospect of my baby sleeping in a house tonight. He'll have a grandma and grandpa who already adore him and this Yashiro-san who seems nice. There is the surly uncle to contend with but if he mostly keeps to himself then I don't see why we can't get along.
We stand there for a moment, me not knowing what to do or say, and him seemingly waiting for me to do or say something. I look at the suitcase then to the door. It would be rude of me to ask him to leave. We can't keep standing here doing nothing though.
I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it. "Forgive me where are my manners. I'll take the rest of these gifts to the car and let you get dressed. Please do so as quickly as you can. Mr. Grumpy insists that he needs to get back to work in an hour."
I nod closing my mouth so as not to continue looking stupid. Yashiro-san exists the room promising to knock when he comes back up. I wait for the door to shut all the way then as quickly as possible pull the suitcases onto the bed. There are only two and they are not very heavy. That makes me worry as I open the first one to find only clothes. Dainty clothes which scream elegance and quality. The other suitcase contains much of the same with the addition of a toiletries bag neatly packed into one corner. So, I know Tina was neat and she liked frilly clothes that I could never afford. She had no family, but I just know somehow that she came from money and would have fit in well with the Hizuri family. Not at all like me who was sleeping in the gutter not too long ago.
Resigned to play the part of rich young lady I pull out a lilac dress. The fabric feels smooth against my skin unlike my old rags. I'm sure Tina wouldn't mind me wearing her clothes even if they are a little long for me. I pull the dress on quickly then dig in a side compartment to find undergarments and a silver locket. I open it up to reveal a photo of Tina with Rick. I hold the locket to my chest giving thanks to them for helping me on the train and apologizing for what I am about to do.
"I am Tina." I say securing the locket around my neck. No one else would ever get ahold of it or see what was inside.
Tina's bras do not fit me. That comes at no great surprise as my chest was never noticeably big even while I was pregnant. Sighing that even my pregnancy breasts wouldn't be considered big, I toss her bra back into the suitcase and pull on the slightly too tight panties. They're better than nothing I suppose. I dig in both suitcases until I find a light sweater and pull it on to cover the fact that I'm not wearing a bra. As soon as I'm able I'll start working again and the first thing I'll get is a new outfit.
The knock at the door announces Yashiro-san and I give the ok for him to come in after I close up the suitcases. It is not Yashiro-san who saunters into my room pushing a wheelchair towards me. Rick's brother eyes me curiously before motioning for me to take a seat in the chair.
"I can walk." I say making my way over to my baby.
"Doctor's orders." He says with a smug smile. Then his face falls slightly, and he shutters, "Mom would kill me if I didn't wheel you out." So, he's afraid of him mother. I smile at the notion as I pick up my baby.
"Your clothes don't fit you." He comments as he watches me.
I panic but look down at the bundle in my arms. "I just had a baby. It's only natural that I would lose some…"
"Height?" he interrupts my explanation.
"Weight." I snap with a glare.
"Why are you wearing a sweater?" he asks abruptly switching the subject and he has the audacity to tug on my collar.
I brush his hand away and say, "I'm cold." Which prompts him to raise a brow at me.
"We're in the middle of a heat wave." He states then waits for my excuse.
"Outside maybe but in here there is air conditioning and I'm cold." I say then ask, "Where is Yashiro-san."
"Yukihito is filling out the remaining paperwork to get you discharged. Our family physician will come check on you at our house. Don't worry you'll have the best medical care money can buy. You'll always have the best of everything now, Tina." He says in an almost threatening tone as I take a seat in the wheelchair. "Even knew clothes."
"I don't need any of your money." I say coldly. He isn't making any of this easy for me. "As soon as I am able, I will get a job and I can find my own place."
"You'll do no such thing." He says suddenly in front of me trapping me in the chair. "I may not want you in my house, but you are family now. We take care of our family. My nephew will never want for anything."
My mind replays the word family over and over. I've never been anyone's family. Are there really people who take care of their families? The concept is intriguing, and I fear I may grow too accustomed to being cared for. Even this surely boorish man will care for my baby and me as his own. I feel tears prick my eyes and look down at my baby. I should tell him the truth now. He would not be so unreasonable as to punish me. I would probably just be left here and forgotten about.
"Have you named him yet?" Rick's brother asks and as a piece of cloth obstructs my view. I blink a couple times before registering in my brain that it is a handkerchief. I take it numbly and dab at my eyes. "If I may, I would like to suggest Eric."
"Eric?" I asked stupidly.
"Eric." He says with a nod then cocks his head at my look of confusion. "Rick." He adds and I could just hit myself. Of course, Rick was short for something. "It's fine if you don't want to. The two of you probably already chose a name."
"No, I never…we hadn't chosen a name." I say hiding my face and pretending to cry.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I… please stop crying…"
"Kuon, what have you done now?" Yashiro-san asks, and he stomps into the room. "I gave you one job. One! You couldn't even take her to the car without making her cry."
"I didn't mean to." He tries to defend himself but Yashiro-san steps behind the wheelchair and motions for him to move.
I feel bad. He wasn't being rude that time and he hadn't really upset me. I don't deserve the pat on the head from Yashiro. Kuon doesn't deserve the scowl Yashiro throws at him. I cuddle my baby and remind myself that this is for him. He will not be out on the streets. He will not want or anything.
"Are you hungry, Tina-san?" Yashiro asks as we board the elevator. "Kuon will pay for anything you would like to eat." He adds with a pointed look in Kuon's direction.
"I'm fine." I say meekly still looking down to hide my face.
"See what you've done. Poor girl is petrified." Yashiro scolds.
"Tina-san, I don't mind really. If you're hungry just say so." His voice is cool and detached. He doesn't really want to offer to buy me food, but he doesn't want to be rude either. That annoys me more than if he were to have accused me of wanting his money again. It isn't as though he's been nice to me up till now. He should just be his sullen inconsiderate self and refuse to buy me anything.
"No thank you." I say failing to disguise me dislike of him. "I'd rather not eat lunch with a hostile jerk."
There is silence in the elevator after that and it carries over to the car ride. I can't tell if I've hurt his feelings or pissed him off, but Yashiro-san doesn't try to speak with him, so I don't either. If my lies are to remain hidden, then I need to find a way to get on this man's good side. His unreadable eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror as I pull at the sweater. It really is hot outside. I drop my hand fearing for a moment that he can see right through me.
"Look," He begins, startling me. "I'm sorry I'm being rude, but my brother died and left us to care for two complete strangers. I don't blame you for that. It was just the way Rick was. Irresponsible and inconsiderate…"
"He got a girl pregnant and married her. That sounds pretty responsible and considerate to me. There are who would leave a girl to starve on the streets rather than support his own child." I say without thinking.
"Yes, he got you pregnant after knowing you for all of two months." Kuon snaps and I can see his knuckles on the steering wheel turning white. "He used to always warn me about pretty girls but then he goes and marries some random stranger. The idiot."
"He wasn't an idiot." I say unable to control my impulse to defend a man I didn't even know.
His assessment of Rick and Tina makes me physically ill. I already know he thinks Tina is a gold digger. Hell, he probably assumes Tina somehow caused the accident. I can't just sit back and let him bad mouth Rick too on the assumption that he was dumb enough to be duped by Tina. Whatever else Rick and Tina may have been, they were for a brief moment my friends.
"He was one of the only people I ever met who was kind without reason. He didn't want anything from me, and he had no intention to harm me or anyone else for that matter. What you see as irresponsible I see as romantic and chivalric. You say inconsiderate, and I say he was kind-hearted. Yes, it may have left him open to being taken advantage of, but I'll take compassionate over cold wealth any day." I'm talking out of my ass. All I knew of Rick was that he took pity on a pregnant girl being taunted by other girls. Who am I to inform his brother about his personality?
"I didn't mean to offend you Tina-san." Kuon says as he slows the car to a stop. "I'm sure you are a genuinely nice person, but what I am saying is that Rick didn't take the time to get to know that. He also didn't give his family the time to get to know you. Now you are ours to take care of and he's gone."
"Are you angry because of me or because he died without your permission?" I ask understanding the sentiment.
"Both I guess." Kuon says under his breath but I hear him anyway. "We're here." He says in a louder voice.
Yashiro is opening my door before I can reach for the handle. He takes the baby and offers me a hand to get out of the car.
The Hizuri house is not a house at all. It is massive and intimidating like Kuon only less cold somehow. I fight my natural instincts to imagine myself entering a fairy kingdom as I am escorted into the house. I don't belong here. At least not as a resident. I wouldn't even be suited for working as a cook in such an impressive home. Anything I cooked would surely taste rotten compared to what they are accustomed to. Maybe I could clean the bathrooms in such a place, but I would never be allowed to live here.
"Tina-san," Yashiro-san says her name and I am reminded of the only reason I am permitted past the front gates. "I can show you to your room now. You can shower then we'll have something to eat."
"Thank you." I say feeling small and stupid. Kuon is right, I am a gold digger. It may not be my intention to con them out of money, but I am usurping Tina's life to make mine more comfortable. Perhaps I am more despicable than a gold digger. All they want is money, but I want their love for my son. I want them to love my son so much that even if they end up hating me, they will still keep him.
I follow Yashiro to my room. Of course, it is furnished with a bed larger than I could ever need and a large dresser with a vanity mirror. There are double doors to the left of the room which lead to a nursery. Yashiro disappears into there and I follow to see him set my baby into a brand-new crib. There is a changing table as well as a rocking chair. I close my eyes and back out of the room. This is all too much.
"The bathroom is through there." Yashiro says coming out of the nursery to direct me to the door on the opposite side of the room.
I'll bet that behind that door is a lavish bathroom. It probably has a bidet and a bathtub with jets. It might even have a tv. Shoutaro had always wanted a bathroom with a tv.
"You can shower or take a nap until lunch is ready. Julie-san and Kuu-san will be out until later tonight. I'm sure they will want to see the baby when they get home." He informs me.
"Eric." I say before I can change my mind. Since I'm already a despicable person there is no point in not doing everything I can to endear them to my son. "His name is Eric."
Yashiro gives me a solemn smile and says, "I look forward to watching little Rick grow up."