The Little Teashop in Tokyo by Julie Caplin Page 0,74

the delicate acer beside her was perfect. Rather than fearing the exhibition, Fiona realised that she was now looking forward to it. She wanted people to see these pictures and share the joy she’d found in the immense variety of the country. She had a title in mind. People of Japan.

‘I must go prepare for the tea ceremony,’ said Haruka with one of her small neat bows.

She paused, ‘Today … your hair, it is very beautiful in the sunshine.’ She leaned forward and stroked it with a fond smile. ‘You should wear it down more often. It brightens your eyes. Lifts the soul. It is the kintsugi of your soul, the golden glue that brings a pot back to its whole.’

Fiona stared after her, a little spooked by the woman’s insight. Gabe’s revelation last night had mended something. A little part of her that had festered for far too long. She swung her long hair back off her shoulder. Kintsugi, golden glue. She liked that.

Rather than return to the house, she stayed in the garden, sitting on the engawa, dangling her feet over the edge and listening to the water and the strains of music drifting over from the teashop.

Which was where Gabe found her half an hour later. Without a word he sat down next to her, their legs dangling companionably together.

‘How are you today?’

‘Fine,’ she said warily, hoping he wasn’t going to bring things up again.

‘I got the pictures of Ken off and the picture desk is delighted with them. I thought you might want to know.’

‘That’s good.’

‘They’re interested in me going to LA to take pictures of David Beckham.’ He actually sounded excited.

‘Wow.’

‘Yeah. I’ve not had a really big commission like that for a while. Thanks.’

‘Why are you thanking me?’

‘You made a difference.’

‘What, holding the light reflector at the right angle?’

‘Exactly.’

She rolled her eyes at his silliness, relaxing a little. Friends would be good. If she could be friends with Gabe. She liked him a lot more now than she had when she arrived.

‘And I also came to tell you that Kaito has fixed up a trip to Mount Fuji for us. The day after tomorrow, which is good because the forecast for the next few days is sunny and bright. Otherwise the view of the peak can be shrouded in cloud. We’re going to stay near Lake Kawaguchiko, which is very scenic anyway, so you’ll get lots of shots there.’ Gabe was gabbling which was not a Gabe thing to do. It was rather endearing.

‘Brilliant. I don’t think I could get away with not having Fuji in the exhibition. It’s such an iconic landmark.’

‘And many times photographed. I’ll be interested to see the Hanning take on it.’

She gave him a suspicious look.

‘I’m serious. You’ve got a good eye. You’ve always had good eye.’

‘Thank you.’ She rubbed at the knee of her jeans, knowing there was a subtext here and he was referring to last night’s conversation. A truce. And she was grateful for his subtle permission for the two of them to move on without having to say anything more.

‘I’ll pick you up the day after tomorrow. I’ve got stuff to do tomorrow. You don’t mind, do you?’

Pleased that he’d bothered to ask, she shook her head.

‘No, I promised Mayu I’d go to her Robot Restaurant and I want to take pictures of Setsuko in the shop. I’ve got plenty to do.’

‘Great. I’ll come here at nine; it’s about a two-hour train journey and you’ll need an overnight bag as Kaito’s arranged for us to stay for two nights in a hotel in Fujiyoshida, near the lake. It’s been a while since I’ve been out there. I’m quite looking forward to it. And now I’ve surprised myself by saying that.’

‘Goodness, are you ill?’ she asked, still getting used to the idea of a truce. Of moving on.

‘I think I might be,’ he grinned at her and she couldn’t help smiling back at him. ‘Don’t get used to it.’

‘I’m not planning to. I’m sure you’ll be back to your usual old curmudgeonly self very soon.’

‘Old? Less of the old. I’m only thirty-four, you know. Do you really think of me as that much older?’

‘No, not really. I feel older than my own mother and she can give you a good ten years.’

‘How is she?’

‘Complaining of chest pains today. Eventually I told her to take some indigestion tablets.’

‘Harsh.’

‘She had an Indian takeaway last night. They never agree with her. She’s been texting me since seven o’clock this morning.