I suppose the kitchen is really the only place she has it. I haven't seen her since I left home. She never comes with my father on his visits. I’m surprised since he seems to be becoming more frequent. Honestly, I don’t understand their relationship at all.
“Probably for the best this way.” He snags another cookie off the tray.
“Why did you marry her?” I ask. I’m curious how he ended up with my stepmother. It doesn’t make sense that he was so good at pairing Kazuo and me together but not when it came to his own relationship. My father somehow knew Kazuo and I would be a perfect fit without us ever meeting. It doesn’t make sense that he put himself into a loveless marriage.
“Sachi’s life wasn’t easy. She needed protection, and I needed a mother for my daughter.” I stare at him. Sachi doesn’t have an affectionate bone in her body.
“I know she was terrible at it.” He sighs. “I thought she’d be better at it than I am, but I was wrong.”
“You were wrong?” I repeat. Did he just say that?
“Grief does that to you. I knew I’d never love Sachi. My heart was safe, but she was more broken than I realized back then. I was drawing on my own guilt.”
“Over Mom?” He never speaks of her, though pictures of her still hang in the house.
“I can fight many things, but cancer isn’t one of them.”
I reach over to take his hand. The sorrow in his eyes breaks my heart for him. I don’t want to think of a world without my Kazuo. “Kazuo gives you what I could not.”
“He was your way of making it up to me?”
He nods.
“Thank you for sending me here.” I give his hand a squeeze.
“He’s gonna catch me!” Sakura screams, running out of the house. In the blink of an eye, my father moves, sweeping Sakura up into his arms and into his lap. Kazuo comes strolling out of the back door with Kuzi beside him. It’s not long before Kuzi jumps onto the table.
“I’ve caught you now.” Dad starts to tickle Sakura. She bursts into a fit of giggles, stealing a cookie in the process. My heart melts seeing them together.
“I see you’re not quick enough,” I tease my husband.
“That’s where you’re wrong, little rebel.” He plucks me right out of my chair into his arms. “You’re babysitting,” he shouts over his shoulder to my dad.
“I’m not a baby!” Sakura shouts back.
“She’s growing up fast.” I wrap my arms around Kazuo’s neck as he carries me up the stairs to our bedroom.
“Don’t worry. There will be more.” He drops me onto the bed.
“You’re going to keep me knocked up for years, aren't you?” I go for his belt.
“You know you want it. Always greedy for more.” I lick my lips.
“For you I am.”
“Only for me.” He grips my chin. “Pregnant or not, I’ll still spank your little ass.”
“Good.” I smirk, making him smile.
I love this man with everything I am. I wouldn’t change a single thing that put me on the path to him. All of my rebellious ways led me straight to my perfect match.