The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin Page 0,116

bear to let her go.

Finally, she dared lift her face up to his. She blinked as his familiar, handsome face came into focus and lifted a hand to his cheek. Those blue eyes softened as he searched her face. ‘I missed you.’

She managed a small smile. ‘Me too.’

And then he kissed her.

A tender kiss full of pent-up longing, as his hands roved over her face as if trying to reacquaint himself with every dip and plane. The tenderness of it brought more tears spilling out and he kissed each one.

‘Please don’t cry. I’m sorry I didn’t come before.’

‘Why didn’t you?’ She thought of the bleak emptiness of the last two weeks.

‘Oh God, I’m sorry.’ His smile was gentle but worried as his eyes searched hers. ‘I wanted to. I … I went to the airport but you’d already gone through.’

‘You were there? I didn’t know.’ But if she had, would it have stopped her getting on the plane? Probably not.

‘I nearly caught the first plane after yours back to London. But …’

She took pity on him. He deserved her honesty. ‘I might not have listened … or believed.’

With a half laugh, he took her hand in his again, lacing his fingers through hers. ‘Good old Haruka. She tried to tell me as much. Interfering old bat.’ His dark eyes twinkled as he said it, reminding her of the conversation they’d had when he’d taken this very picture. That gorgeous day in the shadow of Fuji on the edge of the lake.

‘I did wonder why she was suddenly so keen for me to leave.’

‘Testing me. And punishing me, a little. For being such an idiot for such a long time.’

Fiona lifted her chin with a touch of impish mischief. ‘You don’t expect me to defend you, do you? I’m with Haruka on that one. you were. What changed?’

He winced. ‘You, making me see what had been there all the time.’

She saw the chagrin in his rueful slow blink and didn’t need to know the details. She shook her head but squeezed his hand in understanding. ‘You were the only person that couldn’t see it.’

‘I’m sorry. I realised that night that I didn’t love her. I’m not sure if I ever really did. Not real love. Not like …’ He cupped her chin and placed a kiss on her mouth. ‘I came to find you in the morning but you’d gone. And that’s when I realised I needed to show you. To show you the you that I see. The you that I fell in love with before I even knew it.’

He nodded towards the picture. ‘I was worried words weren’t enough.’

‘A picture is worth a thousand words,’ she said, gazing up at the picture, still not quite believing what he’d done. Each of the images were stunning. ‘You are brilliant.’

‘Thanks to you.’

‘I don’t think so. You have an extraordinary talent. I’m glad you’re using it again.’

‘So am I.’

For a moment they both stared at the picture, each lost in their own thoughts.

‘When did you know?’ she asked softly.

‘When did I know what?’

‘That I was in love with you. Before or after you saw the pictures.’

‘Then,’ he pointed to the final picture, the one from Tenjozan. ‘When I asked you not to care too much and you lifted your chin as if you’d go into battle for me. And I fell a little bit in love right back because you cared even though I told you not to.’

They lapsed into silence.

‘Can I ask a question?’ she suddenly said.

‘Mmm.’

‘Why did you call the train picture “Tupperware”?’

Now his eyes danced with amusement. ‘Do you know something about Tupperware?’

She frowned, completely lost. ‘The proper stuff doesn’t leak and it lasts for ever.’ Perplexed, she raised her palms. ‘What does that have to do with—’

‘My parents’ marriage is the kind I’d like one day; their relationship is durable and reliable … like Tupperware. Everything that my relationships have not been. During the tea ceremony I was thinking about my values and where I’d gone wrong.’

She glanced back at the picture and he squeezed her hand. ‘Not very romantic I’m afraid but in that moment, you reminded me of what I’d lost along the way. That I’d been chasing the wrong things and how different I’d been when I first came to Japan. And the enthusiasm and wonder in your eyes made me start to see things differently.’ He grinned. ‘Tupperware somehow seemed appropriate.’

She rolled her eyes.

‘I know it’s not very romantic but there’s a Japanese word,