Chapter 35: A Seasonal Smile

The only advice I can give you is to spend this ten days with your mother and bring her out to all her favourite places...

She needed someone to turn to but who?

But if you do have any difficulty facing these problems, please do come and tell me about it. Maybe, I could be of help to you, one of these days...

Takara headed straight for Dr. Nori's pet shop.

" Dr. Nori? "

The woman emerged from behind the counter in an instant. She was wearing a pair dirty overalls.

" Ah, Takara! How nice to see you again! Is it supposed to be your working day, today? "

Takara shook her head.

" I-I want to seek your help, Dr. Nori. I'm feeling lost. "

She wiped her hands on her overalls and smiled kindly at the girl.

" Certainly. Come, we'll talk it over a cup of tea. "

Dr. Nori placed her hands on Takara's shoulders and led her into the small 'kitchen' in the back.

" So, tell me about it, Takara dear, " she urged while filling the kettle up with water.

Takara clenched her fistx.

" My mother has lung cancer, Dr. Nori and she has only ten days left to live. "

The girl finally blurted everything out, with tears in her eyes.

NNN

The doorbell rang, its piercing sound shattering the silence of the Satake's house. Yumi wheeled her wheelchair into the hallway and headed towards the front door.

" Tamaki! " Yumi spoke up, looking shocked.

" May I come in, Mrs. Satake? " he asked.

" Y-Yes, of course. "

" Is Takara around? "

Yumi shook her head, wordlessly.

" That's good. I want to talk to you alone, Mrs. Satake. "

He pushed the wheelchair into the living room..

" Whatever for? " she asked, turning her head to look up at him.

Tamaki sat down and faced Yumi.

" This. "

He took out the locket and opened it. He showed her, the picture inside. Yumi took i. Tamaki studied her face, expecting her to look shocked but she did not.

" You are her, aren't you? That woman in the picture beside my mother? "

" Yes, I am. "

" I want to know who Takara is to me? I have a strange feeling that I've seen her before but I don't know when and where. "

Yumi smiled at him.

" I was waiting for you to say that, Tamaki. Your childhood friend, dear. She was your childhood friend but then we had to leave France. Both of you were really close, like two peas in a pod.. "

The sixteen-year-old looked shocked.

" My childhood friend? "

Takara's mother nodded her head.

" Does Takara know about it? " Tamaki asked.

" Yes, she knows about it. I told her. "

" But why didn't she say anything? "

" Guess she wanted you to find out on your own, " Yumi answered, smiling.

This is the woman that I was telling you about...

We were the best of friends and still are. If you wish, you can try to find her. In a way, you'll be able to stay close to me...

" My mother left me two years ago. She told me to find you and I did. She said that I would be able to stay close to her. "

" She said that? " Yumi asked.

Tamaaki nodded.

" Mrs. Satake? "

Yumi looked up.

" I know it's a stupid question but what does it feel like to have a mother wrap her arms around her child? "

He looked away. He was crying, Yumi knew. Her mother's instincts took over.

Yumi reached out and pulled the boy close to her. She hugged him, her own tears falling.

" Even though I'm not your mother, I'll be one to you. I'll love you just like Takara...like my own son. But I can't help wishing that I could see your mother, one last time, before I die... "