Page 56 of Blossoms of the Heart
The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. The trees ran along opposite sides of the path displaying an effulgent array of color. Pink of varying shades and hues. Breathtaking and stunning flowing in the gentle morning breeze that provided that languid feel I longed for.
I could have been walking around in a dream or a depiction of paradise.
I sat by the lake and watched the swans for a little while. it gave me a much needed break for my tired body, mind and soul.
God, I’d been through so much.
Being in Japan felt like coming home. I was more at home here than I was in Chicago.
Chicago was what felt like the second home. It always did.
It wouldn’t really be that hard for me to move here. Maybe I should give it some serious thought.
The best part about being here was not having that constant presence of Jason around me.
He knew wouldn’t take what I did lightly. He’d come for me somehow for embarrassing him the way I did at his meeting, and in front of the Secretary of State.
I could handle whatever he threw at me but not having to deal with it would be even better. But then there was my job and I loved working with Dad.
He was close to retirement, but I didn’t think he was going to retire.
He’d probably want me to take the opportunity to stay here though, because it would be good for me.
I struggled with the idea of moving to the lake house and that was my little refuge. When I looked back now I couldn’t recall why it was so hard. I put work first because my apartment was a stone throw away.
This was Japan. Different and I’d be here for work.
I knew deep down I could find happiness again too, and maybe find myself.
If Tai didn’t make me crazy.
It was hard to go back to the office, but I did about two hours later, getting back for a few minutes past ten.
Scott and Kenny were sitting around their desks but there was no sign of Tai.
I went straight back to working on the journal .
Yesterday I browsed over the whole thing just to get a view of what I was up against. That was when I saw all the potential stumbling blocks. It made sense now that the first part of the journal seemed to talk about the samurai’s early life but then from the middle onward it became this weird mass of language overload and nonsensical words.
Normally I’d read through, then read again while translating.
The first read through would be to get the understanding. Since it was written in ancient Chinese I’d have to look up a few dialect customs I knew from those times.
But it looked like I’d have to make a host of notes and do some further research. It could actually take weeks depending on what I’d have to do.
I decided that what I’d do was make a plan. One full read through of the entire thing while making notes on what I was stuck on. Then I’d tackle those things. I had Dad as my fountain of knowledge to bounce ideas off and a few friends back at the Smithsonian.
I got the feeling I was going to need their help with this.
I began reading and continued until lunch time. Scott was a sweetheart and kept bringing me hot drinks and fruit until he and Kenny left for a meeting at the museum.
No sign of Tai though since this morning. He was gone yesterday too. Perhaps it was for the best. It would have been awkward being in the room with him.
Having the office to myself was nice. It was library quiet.
There was just me, the occasionalclick-clackfrom my fingers on the keyboard as I made notes and the shush of the wind rustling through the trees from the open window in the corner.
At one-thirty the door opened and in came Mitsuke. As always she looked like she’d just stepped off the runway. She beamed at me, smiling wide with her glossy red lips.
