they are Ichiro's babies."
"I can't, but I know Shaundra is not the kind of person to cheat. She's just a mother whose dedicated most of her life to taking care of her kids and who just wanted to have fun.
Unfortunately she got mixed up with us."
Amaya sighed. "So I went through all this for nothing?"
"I'm afraid so. You have nothing to be worried about. I'm not going to leave you for her, and I plan to be a pain in your ass for many more years."
Amaya laid her head against him. "Would you like to have a baby with me?"
"Someday," Yori said. "But after we are more stable with our marriage and our careers. I'd like to have a son. Or maybe four so we can start a singing group."
"No, you'll just need two. Shaundra will be supplying her two and we'll keep it in the family." She chuckled. "So what's for breakfast?"
"Anything you want."
"Waffles."
Yori kissed Amaya on the head. "Waffles it is."
"Do you think your stomach can stretch any further?" Hana asked Shaundra as she entered Ichiro's restaurant. Hana wrapped her arms around her for a hug.
"I don't know," Shaundra said. "I feel like I'm about to burst."
Hana led her to a table and sat her near the window. "I'll go tell Etsuko and Daichi that you are here."
Shaundra sat down and watched her sister-in-law walk away. She returned a few minutes later with her two other siblings in tow, and another young woman she didn't recognize. From the outfit Shaundra deduced that she was a waitress.
Daichi leaned over and kissed her on the head. "It's good to see you again.
Etsuko slid into the booth next to her once Daichi moved.
She hugged her too. "I'm so glad you've decided to come here for lunch."
"Who is this?" Shaundra asked about the pretty young woman with the long black hair and big brown eyes.
"Where are my manners?" Hana said. "Shaundra, this is Eri, Eri, this is our sister-in-law, Shaundra. Ichiro's wife."
The young woman bowed and smiled. The smile did not reach her eyes. Shaundra remembered her now. She was the one who had smiled at Ichiro the last time they ate at the restaurant. "It is nice to meet you Eri. Have you been working here long?"
"About six months," Eri replied.
"Eri wants to be a chef," Daichi said. "Ichiro has taken her under his wing and has been teaching her about cooking."
Was she imagining things, or was that a smirk on Eri's face. "That's nice," Shaundra said smiling. She was sure the smile did not reach her eyes either. Ichiro hadn't mentioned that he'd been tutoring anyone. "How often are your classes?"
"About once or twice a week," Eri answered. "I know he's a busy man so I appreciate him taking the time out to help me."
"Yes, my Ichiro is very helpful," Shaundra said. "He's one of the best chefs in the business."
Eri handed then some menus. "Please let me know what you would like to eat. I'll be back shortly with water and utensils." She walked away.
Shaundra watched the young woman leave, not impressed by her or fooled by her niceness. And she also wasn't foolish enough to eat anything she would prepare. "I still have to watch my salt intake," Shaundra told Daichi. "What would you suggest?"
"Lean beef and vegetables," Daichi answered. "I will make sure that the chef prepares them himself without any assistance."
Shaundra looked up at him. He winked at her. Shaundra winked back. "Thank you."
Daichi chuckled. "You are very wise."
"What are you two talking about?" Etsuko asked.
"Survival skills," Daichi answered. "It's something that comes with maturity."
Shaundra nodded. She was beginning to like her brother- in-law a bit more. He had her back and knew what was going on, even if he was much too polite to just come out and tell her that Eri was after her husband.
Daichi left after Eri came back to take their orders, leaving the young women alone with Shaundra.
"I heard that Ichiro is going back on the road," Etsuko said once her brother was out of ear range.
"Yes, they're going to Europe for a couple of weeks."
"It's a shame he will not be here to be with you," Hana said as she sipped her water. "A husband's place is at his wife's side."
"It would be nice," Shaundra said. "But it is Ichiro's job. I knew it when I married him."
"Well I'll try to visit as often as I can so you don't get lonely in that big farmhouse," Etsuko said.
"Ichiro expects you