In one of their last conversations, Josune had told Antonio how proud she was of him, what a good man he was, how much she loved him. He wasn’t sure he deserved such praise. But now he was a father, he finally understood.
Because that was exactly how he felt about baby Josie. Every time his daughter did something clever, like lifting her head or making a noise that sounded like “Papa”—something he was absolutely, positively sure she was doing deliberately, no matter how doubtful Hana was about it—he felt the need to share it, to praise it, to video record it, to send it to all their friends. And even—in one particularly embarrassing incident his wife still teased him about—he couldn’t help mentioning his daughter in a company email to his eleven thousand employees. His cheeks went hot remembering that one. In his defense, Josie had done something remarkably difficult, sitting up all by herself for a full thirty seconds.
“She’s clearly a prodigy,” he’d informed his wife. She’d laughed, then informed him that his reputation in the business world for cold, ruthless savagery had taken a hit lately.
“Everyone’s starting to think you’re a big softy,” Hana had said, then laughed even louder at the horrified look on his face. Then he caught himself.
“It’s all part of my plan to lure them in. I’m ruthless as ever,” Antonio replied smugly. “Trust me.”
And he was ruthless. In business, when he wanted to be. But always, always ruthless about showing his family how much he loved them.
Now, in the two days they had to spend in Tokyo before they returned home to Madrid, Antonio wanted to do something for his wife. She didn’t care about money. She didn’t care about jewels. But she’d told him once about something she wanted.
As Antonio pushed their baby’s stroller beneath the warm spring sunshine, he led her to the best park in Shinjuku for cherry tree viewing. He’d already arranged a blanket to be set up. On top of it, a wicker basket was waiting for them.
“What’s this?” she asked, her forehead furrowed.
“A family picnic,” he said. “Beneath the cherry trees.” He spoke the Japanese word, just as his buddy Ren Tanaka had helped him practice. “Hanami.”
Her lips parted in shock. “Your accent—it’s perfect!”
Stopping beside the blanket, beneath the largest, most beautiful pink cherry tree against the bright blue sky, he parked the stroller. “I want to make all your dreams come true, querida. As you have mine.”
Hana looked astonished. “I’ve made your dreams come true?”
Antonio took her in his arms. “You know you have. And you do every day. Especially today.”
Hana blushed. She trembled. Then she whispered, “How did you know?”
“You told me last year that...” Then he blinked. “Wait. What are you talking about?”
Blushing, she ducked her head, her long dark hair falling in soft waves over her pale pink trench coat. “You said I made your dreams come true, especially today. So I thought...”
“Thought what?”
Shaking her head shyly, she gave him a slow-rising smile. “I thought you’d somehow found out...” Rising on her tiptoes, she whispered in his ear. He drew back. Now he was the one to look astonished.
&
nbsp; “I just confirmed it at the doctor’s before the wedding this morning. I heard the heartbeat.” Her smile lifted to a saucy grin. “Heartbeats.”
His eyes went wide. “Are you saying—?”
“Twins,” she said happily.
With a cry of joy, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again and again.
She laughed. “If we keep having babies at this rate, Josie will soon be part of a baseball team. You don’t mind?”
“Sounds like paradise.” Then, remembering how hard labor had been for her, he asked softly, “You’re not afraid?”
Hana tilted her head. “I’ll have more scars.” She put her hand over her dress, over her belly with its cesarean scar. Then she smiled. “But that’s all right. It’s kintsugi.” She looked up at him, her eyes luminous. “Do you remember?”
Antonio’s heart was full. “How could I forget? It’s the scars that make things truly beautiful.” Cupping her cheek, he looked into her face. “Even more beautiful than when they were new.”
Hana’s eyes widened, and he saw she was surprised he’d remembered. But he’d never heard anything so accurately explain what life should be.
He looked around them. Cherry blossoms were blooming again. Soon, they’d disappear. But every year, they came back. That was the beauty of life, the promise, the renewal. He’d lost so much in his life. But how much more had he gained?