Reaching out, he took his mother’s trembling hands in his own. “There’s nothing to forgive, mama.”
With a cry, she reached her arms around her much taller, broad-shouldered son. He leaned forward to hug her, and for a moment, they held each other. Then finally, he pulled back.
“I love you, Antonio,” his mother said, wiping the tears still glimmering in her eyes. “And your wife. For bringing you back to me.”
He lifted his head. “My wife...”
Josune gripped his hand. “Never forget to tell her you love her. We always must tell each other. Because you never know how many chances we have.”
Antonio looked at his mother as a crack of brilliant, warm gold light finally broke through the gray clouds.
Memory stirred. Gold through the cracks. He heard his wife’s voice, telling him about broken Japanese pottery rejoined by solid gold. Something broken and repaired is more precious and beautiful than something unused and whole. It shows history. It shows life.
“You’re right.” Rising to his feet, Antonio said, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Go, my son.”
Turning, he started running down the hall of the hospice, out into the misty village above the sea. To find his wife.
To find his heart.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“YES, OF COURSE I will marry you!”
Hana smiled as she watched her best friend rise eagerly to his feet and embrace the woman he loved. He’d proposed on one knee, holding out the diamond ring he’d shown Hana in Madrid, at a party he’d organized in a fantastic bar near Shibuya Square, surrounded by their family and friends.
Of course Emika had said yes, Hana thought, watching as the Japanese girl hugged Ren, her pretty face crying with happiness. Ren was beaming, looking like the proudest man in the world.
Hana watched them with a lump in her throat.
It was strange to be back in Tokyo, at another party in another hotel, celebrating another union of two people. But this was very different from the last.
Her own sort-of wedding reception had been more of a business celebration, actually, and held at a sleek, sophisticated luxury hotel. Then, it had been April, with the cherry trees brilliantly in bloom.
Ren and Emika’s party was different. This bar was modern and colorful and hip, with brightly colored manga on the walls. It was on the second floor, with huge windows overlooking Shibuya Crossing, with all its big neon signs lighting up the night. It was the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world, where two thousand people or more could cross the street each time the light changed.
And yet, even surrounded by people, Hana felt alone.
She’d thought her love could save Antonio. She’d hoped, when she left him, he might come after her.
He hadn’t.
Since their wedding, spring had turned to autumn. All the bright, innocent hope she’d felt the last time she’d been in Tokyo had been lost. Just like the cherry trees—her happiness had bloomed briefly, then faded, then fallen.
It was October now, the haunted, wistful month of longings and regret. Her baby was due in less than two weeks, and her whole body ached. She put her hands on her belly, which had been tensing up strangely all evening. Braxton Hicks contractions, she thought. And her lower back had been aching for hours, but what did she expect, after such a long flight? But just in case, she’d go to the doctor first thing in the morning.
“Are you feeling all right, Hana?”
Looking up, she saw Ren’s worried face.
“Of course.” Trying to smile, she nodded toward Emika, who was showing her diamond engagement ring to her clamoring, excited friends. “I’m so happy I got to see your proposal.”
“I’m just happy she said yes,” he replied wryly.
Hana smiled. “She loves you. Anyone can see that.”
He came closer. He had a strange expression on his face. “Delacruz loves you. I know he does. Give him another chance...”