Page 85 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
Joe frowned. “You love him. You told me so.”
“But everything’s different!” she protested. “What kind ofguy wants a wife who’s going to be twenty-nine forever?”
His frown deepened. “Is that a trick question?”
That earned him a flurry of small thumps. “Don’t bemean.”
“He’s here, and he’s waiting.” Joe eased off the bed andmade for the door. “Just do me a favor. When it’s time to talk, let him gofirst.”
Tami was already pulling things out of her closet, but shehesitated. “Thatwould be mean. What if he wants to propose orsomething? It might be kinder if I ….”
“No,” Joe interrupted, more sternly than necessary. “Let Ashgo first. Promise me?”
His sister held his gaze and gave in. “I promise.”
Tami slowly ascended the weathered rungs oftwo-by-fours nailed into the old barn’s exposed studs. This building wasn’tused for much more than storage anymore, but it had once been home to horsesand cows. The lower part was divided into stalls, and Grandad still used theupper section for stockpiling the bales they used for seating, displays, andhayrides. She and Joe had often played up here, where pigeons cooed andswallows nested and mama cats hid their litters.
Near the top, she softly called, “Ash?”
“Here.”
He sat among the bales, looking worried enough to worry her.Tami tried to smooth over any awkwardness. “This is a surprise. I didn’trealize you even knew where I lived.”
“Kip mentioned it.” Ash stood and shuffled his feet. “Niceplace.”
“Thanks. I can give you the tour sometime.”
“Sounds good.”
Tami usually didn’t leave conversations to flounder. It wasso much easier to take charge. But Joe had made her promise to let Ash gofirst, so she chose a seat and held her peace.
He came closer, crouched before her, searching her face. “Ineed to apologize.”
She hadn’t expected that. “What for?”
“I haven’t been entirely honest.” Ash grimaced. “I neverlied, exactly. But there are vows I can’t break, people I need to protect,secrets that aren’t easy to talk about.”
Tami’s heart sank. “Are you trying to tell me you’re alreadymarried?”
“No! Not those kinds of vows.” Ash quietly added, “This isharder to explain without Kip.”
Now she was really confused.
“I can’t undo the illusion on my own.”
A broad hint. As good as a confession. She knew then—atleast in part—but she had to wonder how Joe had known. “You’re Amaranthine?”
“Half.” He lowered himself to his knees and held out a hand.“I wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
Tami placed her hand in his. “Half?”
“My father was Amaranthine.” Ash curled his hand into aloose fist and pressed into her palm, much as Cyril had done earlier.
“You have claws.”
“Yeah. I have to be careful.” He eased a little closer.“It’s easiest if I keep my distance.”
Taking his hand in both of hers, she tested each digit. Eventhough her eyes were telling her that his hands were as human as could be, herfingers traced the tapered points of the truth. “An illusion?”
