Chapter 13: A Little White Lie

Theme #27 - Splash

Aurora splashed cool water, from the tap, against her heated face more so to wake up from what she assumed to be a daydream than to cool herself. Yes, what had indeed transpired on the playground had to be a figment of her imagination. There was absolutely no way in the world that Adam – pain-in-the-ass Adam Hayakawa – had actually helped her take care of the children. No way! There must have been some cosmic shift in the galaxy or something to cause such a thing to happen. The last time she remembered speaking to the man, he had all but insulted her!

She shook her head slowly and wiped her face dry with a paper towel, wondering why he would suddenly change his mind and actually act nice towards her.

He’s probably still feeling guilty over what happened, she surmised with a thoughtful frown. That’s the only logical explanation for it. That must have been his way of saying he’s sorry. Hmph, I’d rather hear it from his lips…although they do say action speaks louder than words…

“Eek!” She jumped at the light tap on her shoulder, eyes widening in panic as she spun around quickly to stare into Sakura’s amused dark eyes. For a moment she had actually thought Adam had sneaked up to her and must have heard her thoughts.

“I’m sorry for frightening you, Freewill sensei,” Sakura said with a wide grin. “I thought you had heard me come into the restroom.”

“Ah…no…” Aurora blushed as she met Sakura’s eyes. There was something in the Japanese woman’s gaze that seemed to know why she was feeling this uncomfortable. “I just wasn’t paying too much attention to what I was doing,” she added quickly.

“Eeeh? And what’s got your mind so occupied, hmm?” Sakura looked positively delighted about something and Aurora could feel her cheeks becoming even hotter as she tried to force herself to be upset.

“I’m just thinking about the work for the students tomorrow. I’ve got to…”

“Or maybe it’s Hayakawa-sensei, hmm?”

“Hiromi-san!” Aurora cried out as Sakura burst into giggles. “That’s…that’s not true! I have no idea why he showed up to help me since he wasn’t on the schedule but…”

“But you enjoyed it, didn’t you?” Sakura asked with a wink. “It’s okay, because Hayakawa-sensei said he had fun too.”

Aurora, who was in the process of bolting out of the room, stopped in her tracks. “He…he did?” Her heart was pounding much faster now and she kicked herself inwardly for even showing her concern.

Sakura nodded and patted her face dry with a towel. “Yes, he did. In fact, he says he might join you again next time…if you don’t mind.”

Aurora was sure her jaw must have been somewhere on the floor. “You’re…he…he didn’t say that! Why would he…?”

Sakura grinned again as she walked past the woman who seemed frozen to the spot. “Because he likes you, why else? See you after school!”

As the door closed behind the other woman, Aurora felt her knees give way. She slid to the floor, still staring blindly at the row of sinks before her.

No way. No way! There was absolutely no way Adam could possibly like her. Sakura was just bluffing and trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. So just because Adam helped her out today didn’t mean that the man liked her at all.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” she muttered to herself as she placed a hand against her chest in an effort to still her rapid heartbeat. “Don’t get your hopes up at all, Aurora Reed. Until you hear those words from him, don’t you dare get your hopes up.”

And satisfied that she had talked herself out of the ridiculous notion of Adam having feelings for her, she rose to her feet and made her way out of the room.

---

The children had been the buffer between them and Adam had been aware of that from the beginning. He hadn’t dared make personal comments towards her or she would have thought that he was…well…coming on too strong. Instead, he had settled for using the children as a means to get her to smile and laugh – the latter being something he had found himself reluctantly admiring. It was a light sound, something between a giggle and a chuckle that had caused her hazel eyes to sparkle in a way that left him staring helplessly for several long seconds. Oh, it would have been so easy to embarrass himself if he was alone with her and never was he more grateful for the children being around to break him out of his semi-dazed state several times.

“Why are you smiling?”

He blinked, his hand stilling its motions of peeling an orange. His cheeks grew hot as he met the dark but amused eyes of his grandmother on the narrow bed, and he shook his head slowly as if getting rid of his thoughts.

“Nothing grandma,” he replied, hoping she wouldn’t tell he was lying. She was quite capable of telling whenever he wasn’t being honest after all she had raised him for most of his young life.

“Now why don’t you go back to resting while I finish these,” he continued as he leaned close to place a soft kiss on her cheek. He tried not to show his concern at how dry and papery her skin felt against his lips but it wasn’t surprising considering how old she was now. Her once hearty and plump features had become narrow and wrinkled with old age. She had suffered a stroke sometime last year and had to be admitted into the hospital, where she’s been all this time. It killed Adam to know that she would never be able to walk again since Grandmother Akiko had always been the outdoorsy type. The stroke had left both legs and the left side of her body paralyzed and even though Adam did his best to make sure she was as comfortable as she could be, there was no denying that her death was fast approaching. The doctors had predicted she would pass away a month ago, but like a stubborn mule, Akiko had refused to give in, saying she’d only leave when Adam had settled down with a nice young woman.

But she’s suffering, he thought sadly as he listening to her raspy breath. There was a breathing apparatus in the form of two clear tubes inserted in her nostrils. It looked painful and Adam couldn’t even begin to imagine how it must feel for the woman he had always loved and admired.

How long can she go on like this?

“Keep frowning and your face will remain in that position for ever,” Akiko rasped and then began to cough – a dry sound that wracked her entire body. Adam dropped the oranges, and helped to sit her up, his hand patting her back gently in an effort to ease the grating sounds.

“I’m fine now,” Akiko said weakly, allowing Adam to place her gently against the fluffed up pillows.

“Just take it easy, grandma,” he muttered as he gave her a quick hug before sitting back on his chair and fighting the urge to wipe his brow or to give a huge sigh of relief. Yes, she was suffering and yes, she would die soon, but Adam didn’t think he was mentally prepared for that day. He still retained the guilt of killing his parents and didn’t want to have the same thing repeated with his grandmother. He was determined to look after her until she took her last breath.

“So have you found a bride yet?” Akiko asked after several minutes. Her dark eyes – still sharp and knowing – stared intently at her handsome grandson.

A sudden image of Aurora laughing flashed through his mind and Adam nearly dropped the knife on his foot. What in the world was he thinking?!

“No, grandma,” he replied quickly. “And I really wish you’d stop asking me that each time I come here. How do you expect me to find a wife in a day?”

“You’re twenty-eight years old, Adam, you aren’t getting any younger you know.”

He gave her a weak smile. “Thanks, ma. I really needed to hear that from you.”

“But you were smiling,” she continued persistently. “And that was the smile of a man who’s in love…”

“I am not in love with anyone, grandma!” He immediately felt ashamed for raising his voice but his face was now burning with embarrassment. “I’m not…there’s no one yet,” he finished quietly. “Sor…sorry.”

He lowered his gaze and scowled at the pieces of fruit, beginning to cut even faster as if angry at himself. He heard her sigh and felt even more of a heel for making her feel this unhappy. What was wrong in keeping her hopes up? He could always say that he was dating Akari and be done with it. However, the thought of Akari becoming even more attached to him had Adam shaking his head softly. He couldn’t even begin to think of spending the rest of his life with her…as husband and wife at least. He had always seen her as a friend – so yes, sleeping with her had been a mistake – but that was it. Akari was definitely out of the picture. So who else could he use?

Aurora.

He groaned and closed his eyes for a moment, wondering if he was finally going insane. He couldn’t use her! They had nothing in common and if it wasn’t for the children today, he was sure she would still be on non-speaking terms with him!

But it’s to make your grandmother happy, isn’t it? Just throw Aurora’s name out there and that’s it. It will make her stop asking too many questions. And besides, Aurora wouldn’t have to know.

He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, lifting his gaze to meet his grandmother’s curious one. “Well…there is one actually,” he began slowly, weighing his words and hoping he would sound convincing enough. He watched her eyes light up with delight and prayed to God to forgive him for what he was doing.

“Well, who is she?” Akiko asked with barely concealed excitement.

“Her name is Aurora Freewill,” he replied, trying to remember everything he could about the girl. “She’s an American…like my mother.”

“Oh!” Akiko’s eyes really widened – at least her right eye – and she lifted her frail hands to clap them together in delight. “What fate! When your father told me he had fallen in love with a gaijin, I didn’t quite know what to make of it and now it’s happening again. Oh, God has blessed my family greatly. How old is she? When did you see her? How did you meet her?”

Even he had to laugh a little at her enthusiasm. “Relax, grandma, I’ll tell you everything I know.”

Which wasn’t that much, now that he thought of it. All he knew was that she had arrived almost a month ago and that she must be rich (not that he mentioned that to Akiko). He wasn’t sure of her age but guessed around early twenties. The rest he made up and hoped Akiko would buy it.

Apparently she did because she soon blurted out quickly, “I’d like to see her, Adam.”

“Wha…what?!” His features paled considerably. Oh hell no! It wasn’t supposed to be this way! Akiko was just supposed to buy the story and leave it at that! Why the sudden need to meet Aurora?

“I would like to see her as soon as possible,” Akiko demanded quietly but firmly. “She sounds like a wonderful young woman and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind visiting your only living relative.”

“But grandma…” Oh god, how was he going to get out of this?!

“I’m dying, Adam,” she interrupted softly. “I know that I don’t have much time left so the least you can do is grant me the pleasure of meeting the mother of my future great-grandchildren.”

“Fut…?!” Future great-grandchildren?! He shifted restlessly in his seat, afraid to admit that a brief vision of hazel-eyed children belonging to he and Aurora looked oh-so tantalizing…

But wait! It’s a lie! It’s all a lie, grandma! I can’t…she won’t come! She hates me and we have nothing in common and you’re going to see that we have absolutely no chemistry!

He seriously doubted the idea would make a splash with Aurora and although his mind screamed continuously for him to reconsider his decision, he found his lips forming the words that would condemn him to his fate.

“Don’t worry, grandma. I’ll bring her with me next time.”