‘Too busy, I’m afraid. When I’m in London, I’m usually there for work.’
He caught the eye of one of the busy waitresses and placed their order with Fiona exclaiming suddenly that they just had to have some ramen and telling him all about the meal she’d had in Kyoto. He smiled at her shining enthusiasm, recalling that he’d been in one of the finest restaurants in the city and had barely enjoyed a single mouthful.
‘Do you go to London often?’ asked Fiona, suddenly shy.
‘I still have a flat there. My brother uses it quite a lot. He keeps an eye on it for me.’
‘I didn’t know you had a brother.’
‘Fraser. He’s a lot younger than me. I tease him and my mum that he was an after-thought. He’s a good guy. He’s been out to see me a couple of times. Haruka adores him.’ His smile dimmed.
‘She adores you,’ said Fiona.
‘She thinks Fraser is more discerning.’
‘Why?’ Fiona frowned, intuitive as ever, scenting a story, perhaps because he was giving enough away to want to tell it.
‘He doesn’t like Yumi.’
‘Oh.’
‘Doesn’t understand that we’re friends. He doesn’t approve of us staying in touch. He thinks I’m … well, I’m not. We’re friends.’
Fiona nodded and in her usual quiet way didn’t say anything, just absorbed the information.
‘Is everything okay with your brother now?’
How did she do that? Home in on the nub of the matter straight away?
‘He pissed me off a bit but we’re still speaking. I’d say we’re at the stage of warily circling round each other at the moment.’
‘I always wanted a brother. Hoped he’d have been my champion at school. Seen off the mean girls.’ She stared away over his shoulder for a moment before giving him a half-hearted smile.
He reached over and put a hand on her wrist, stroking the soft skin on her inner arm, wanting to take away the pain of the memories. ‘I’m in London quite often. Perhaps we could meet up.’
At that moment he was interrupted by a waitress bringing plates and white packets of chopsticks to place on the table before them.
‘I’d like to come to your exhibition.’
‘You’ll have seen it all before.’
‘That’s not the same … and you know it. There’ll be an official opening. It’ll be a big deal for you.’
She pulled a face. ‘Now you’re making me nervous.’
‘The Japanese Centre will want to have some kind of launch event.’
‘Oh God. Really?’
He laughed. ‘They want to get something out of this. No such thing as a free lunch or a free trip to Japan.’
‘I know but … well I thought it would be.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Who am I kidding? My friend, Avril, remember I told you about her? Well, I know she’s going to make a big thing of it. If she doesn’t turn up with a film crew she’ll get one of her friends to feature it in a newspaper or magazine or something.’
‘Sounds like a good sort of friend to have.’
‘Mmm,’ said Fiona and looked down at her clothes. ‘She is. I shouldn’t complain. Most people probably think she’s a bit flighty and spoiled. She’s very glamorous and always immaculate but she’s incredibly kind. If she can help she always will. She’s very loyal.’
Gabe smiled.
‘What?’
‘I suspect you are too. I think Fiona Hanning, you would be a very good friend to have.’
‘It’s not hard.’
He raised an eyebrow. He didn’t want to think too hard about friendship and what it entailed. The direction of those thoughts was not something he had much faith in.
Right on cue, Fiona blushed and it made him forget all his earlier resolutions.
***
The first dish arrived, steaming hot and even in the less formal surroundings, still with the usual impeccable presentation on beautiful small blue and white oval dishes.
‘Oh God, I’m still rubbish with chopsticks,’ said Fiona, eying the plump pink prawns with their fine coating of crisp batter hungrily.
‘Here,’ Gabe took pity on her, wrestled his chopsticks out of their wrapping and picked up a prawn, lifting it to her lips and offering it to her. Like a baby bird she opened her mouth and took a small crisp bite. He watched her and then wished he hadn’t.
‘Mmm, these prawns are to die for,’ said Fiona with a throaty groan, closing her eyes in a blissed-out way that was