in Japan."
She spoke English a lot better than Shaundra imagined.
She hadn't published any contemporary romances in Japan so she meant the yaoi or gay novels. "You like yaoi?"
Etsuko nodded. "What's not to like about two handsome men and a lot of romantic action?"
Shaundra chuckled. This one she liked. Etsuko and Ichiro resembled each other around the eyes and mouth but Etsuko's eyes were a deep chocolate brown instead of blue.
She pulled another young woman away from a counter.
"Hana," this is Ichiro's wife, Shaundra. Shaundra this is my older sister Hana." The young woman whom Hana was talking to once they arrived, looked her over, bowed, and then left.
But not before Shaundra noticed the smile she gave Ichiro.
Ichiro's other sister was gorgeous and slender with short brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a classy black skirt set with an emblem of a dragon on the pocket. She bowed first and then hugged Shaundra.
"It is very nice to finally meet you." She broke the embrace, stepped back, and looked at Shaundra. "The pregnancy agrees with you. Your skin is glowing. No wonder my brother has been floating on a cloud since he married you."
"Thank you," Shaundra said. She never expected such warmth and love.
"Where's Daichi?" Ichiro asked.
"He's in the kitchen," Hana answered. "I will get him." She left and then returned a few minutes later accompanied by a man dressed in a brown suit, with short black hair and baring a striking resemblance to Ichiro. Hana introduced him.
"Konnichiwa," he said to Shaundra in Japanese. He bowed.
"Konnichiwa," Shaundra repeated. There was no denying the resemblance. Daichi was gorgeous.
"Ichiro is a very lucky man," he said taking her arm and leading her up the hall.
Ichiro just shrugged and followed. They entered a private dining room. Shaundra's eyes landed on a loving family portrait of the four siblings and felt a pang of jealousy.
"The chefs have prepared a wonderful meal for you,"
Daichi told her. "No salt and light on the seasonings."
He helped her into a seat. "Thank you," she said. So Ich had filled him in on her condition. She supposed she should be thankful. He sat down next to her for a few minutes while Ichiro sat across from them. The two sisters left and went back to work.
"Ichiro should have brought you around sooner," Daichi said.
"I went missing for a couple of months," Shaundra said trying to make light of the situation.
"No, before the earthquake. You've been married for quite a while now and he knows we've been dying to meet you."
"I've been busy," Ichiro said in his own defense. "She's here now; can't you be happy with that?"
"I'm very happy with this," Daichi said. "She is now the matriarch of the family and there is so much for her to learn."
Matriarch. Why did that make her seem like an ancient relic? "What do I have to learn?"
"Family traditions and history, and there are many relatives to meet. They are all anxious to get to know you."
Shaundra scowled. Ichiro hadn't mentioned any of this.
"When are the babies due?"
"In October," Shaundra said.
"What? That only gives us a few months to prepare."
"Prepare for what?" Shaundra asked.
"For the formal christening," Daichi told her. "There will be an elaborate ceremony to welcome you and them into the Yoshida family. And then there's the formal registering of their birth."
Shaundra looked over at Ichiro. He looked terribly guilty about something. "It all sounds so exciting," Shaundra lied.
She'd only come there for a meal, and now she had to put aside most of her plans to prepare for a christening.
"She's supposed to be on bed rest," Ichiro finally said.
"She can't participate in much of the celebration. She's very delicate."
"I understand," Daichi said. "And we will take every precaution."
They made it sound like she was about to be crowned queen of Japan or something. Wait, no, empress. She had to get her female monarchies straight.
The door opened and two waiters appeared with their meal.
"I have to get back to work," Daichi said rising. "Please enjoy the meal." He lifted Shaundra's hand and kissed it.
Their eyes met and Shaundra's widened by what she saw in his. "Ichiro is a very lucky man."
Shaundra also caught the look of surprise on Ichiro's face as his brother released her hand and left the room. Is he jealous? Good!
The waiters left, leaving her alone with Ichiro. He moved over to the seat Daichi vacated. "My brother seems much taken with you," he said as he tested the food before serving it to her. She knew