The Little Teashop in Tokyo

by Julie Caplin

  By the time she reached the top, he’d moved into the other room, now fully lit, and had perched himself on one edge of the desk.

  She gave him a perfunctory smile, the knots in her stomach as taut as macramé. ‘Gabe—’

  ‘Fiona,’ he interrupted. ‘There’s something I should have said before. I didn’t recognise you at first but …’

  ‘You remember me.’ She froze, a flush of heat racing up to the tips of her ears. Oh God, let the ground swallow her now. She couldn’t look at him. Just couldn’t.

  When he spoke again, she was grateful for his gentle tone. ‘I realised the other day.’

  ‘Oh.’ The word dropped out of her mouth because she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  ‘Sorry, I … Perhaps should have said something before but … well, you hadn’t said anything so I wasn’t sure if you …’

  She lifted her shoulders and ducked her head, her toes curling with shame. ‘All a bit embarrassing.’ With a swallow she raised her head to sneak a peep at him.

  There was a quiet frown of concern marring his face.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ her tone brittle, ‘I won’t do it again.’

  His frown deepened. ‘I—’

  ‘I owe you an apology really. Ten years late. But I’m sorry. I behaved like an idiot. I don’t know what came over me.’ She ground to halt and hauled in a shaky breath.

  ‘Well that’s kind of disappointing.’ Her head shot up and she met his gaze. He was smiling, amusement dancing in his eyes. ‘There was me hoping it was my irresistible good looks.’

  He was joking about this? Now her breath whooshed out in a rush.

  ‘You mean … you didn’t mind?’

  ‘Mind? Why would I mind being kissed by a gorgeous, leggy blonde?’

  ‘I …’ She lifted her palms with a hopeless shrug.

  ‘Fi, you were young.’ His face softened and he lifted a hand as if he were going to touch her face but then he dropped it, a touch awkwardly. ‘It was flattering. Made me feel like a rock star or something.’

  ‘You were in those days. All the girls had a crush on you.’ She blushed and forced herself to go on. It would have been so much easier if she’d said something at the airport and got it out of the way, instead of behaving like a virgin bride with him. ‘I made a right tit of myself. I’m sorry.’

  Gabe laughed. ‘Funny how we come at it from different angles … like pictures. I recall this gorgeous young girl who kissed me. Spontaneously. Seizing the moment. Grabbing life by both hands. I loved your attitude then. You were fearless and inquisitive. And that kiss … what’s not to like, except I was six years older and your teacher, so it was inappropriate. But like I said, it was flattering.’

  ‘Really?’ Fiona stared at him. That had not occurred to her. And the things he said about her … She didn’t remember being fearless. Ever. That final term had school had crumpled her confidence like a used tissue.

  ‘Hell, yes. I’m a bloke. It’s not every day a stunning, blue-eyed blonde with legs up to her armpits plants one on me. But like I said, cute as you were, I was your teacher. The college tends to frown on that sort of thing. And I knew it didn’t mean anything. Hell, you were eighteen. Just a kid. So don’t get hung up on it. To be honest, I’d forgotten all about it … until you said something in the studio the other day and it popped back into my head.’

  Fiona was still trying to process ‘fearless and gorgeous’, not to mention ‘blue-eyed blonde with legs up to her armpits’. He made her sound … well gorgeous instead of awkward and clumsy and … well, not gorgeous. People like Avril with their perfect make-up and immaculate clothes were gorgeous. Fiona with her charity-shop buys and arty style … well, no one had ever called her gorgeous. Slightly bemused, all she could do was nod but Gabe was talking again so he didn’t seem to notice her stupefied silence.

  ‘Now it’s out in the open, we can laugh about it. I’ll never forget your friend’s face when she came round the corner and caught us!’

  Fiona winced.

  ‘Hopefully, kissing the teacher did your street cred some good.’

  ‘Something like that,’ she muttered through stiff lips.

  ‘But we’ve got an exhibition to sort for you, so we need to crack on with some work. I’m sorry I’ve not been that helpful. I realised today at Meji and Shibuya … well, you remind me of myself when I first started out. Today reminded me of what it’s all about. That magic when the reality of the shot mirrors what you’d hoped it would be.’ He wrinkled his face. ‘Do you think you can forgive me?’ He suddenly grinned. ‘I know you think I’m an arse.’

  ‘I …’

  With a laugh he pushed his hands through his hair. ‘Don’t deny it. You have one of the most expressive faces I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been thinking … your idea … I think it has real potential but we need to visit a few famous sights to make it work. Mount Fuji is a definite, it’s so iconic. But Haruka’s the one for that. Let’s talk with her over dinner. Truce?’ He held out a hand.

  She took it and ignored the tiny spark of something at the brief touch. ‘Truce, unless you start being an arse again. All bets are off then.’

  This time his laugh was rich and deep and did something very strange to her. She found herself grinning back at him, as if they’d been friends for years.

  ‘I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Fiona peered at him from under her lashes.

  ‘Let’s go and see Haruka and do some planning.’

  ‘Well, as you say, Fuji is a must.’ Fiona amazed herself with her even tone. ‘And I really want to see a tea ceremony.’

  ‘Well if we can’t fix that up with Haruka, we’re doomed. Now, while you’re here, why don’t we take a quick look at those shots at the torii gate and your mountaineering shots at Shibuya?’

  Fiona nodded shyly, not quite able to believe the transformation in Gabe and the huge weight that had suddenly lifted off her shoulders. It felt weird and yet wonderful at the same time. She turned all the words he used – leggy, gorgeous, stunning – over in her mind. They were so far from the image she’d had of herself that it was as if the fairy godmother had waved a magic wand. The boulder of shame, mortification, and embarrassment that had dogged her had been dislodged and she could almost believe the things he’d said about her. For a vain, stupid moment, she wanted to find a mirror and study herself, this new version of Fiona Hanning, to see if she could determine any difference.

  Chapter 12

  Kaito, Haruka’s husband, worked long hours and it was rare to see him in the evenings but tonight he was present for dinner, along with Setsuko’s husband, Mayu, and Gabe. It was quite the party and they ate in a larger room seated on cushions around a long table loaded with an array of small, beautifully presented dishes ranging from colourful salads, bright green wasabi, rich brown, salty soy, the fiery orange chilli dipping sauce through to glistening slivers of raw fish and neatly packed rice parcels of sushi. Haruka had gone to a lot of effort and seemed to be in her absolute element, tweaking and arranging the dishes.

  With a low bow of greeting, Kaito asked Fiona in perfect English – albeit with a slight American accent – how she was finding her trip and how the photography was coming along.

  It was with some relief that she was able to answer honestly as Haruka and Setsuko handed out white china plates with a small lip for dinner.

  ‘Gabe and I have been discussing an idea for the exhibition. We’re looking for recommendations of where to visit.’

  ‘Ah. That will cause a heated family debate,’ said Kaito with a wry smile at his wife and daughter.

  ‘I will tell you the best places,’ said Mayu stoutly. ‘Interesting places. Not boring old places. You should go to Disneyland and you must go to the Robot Restaurant.’

  Haruka let out a little moan of distress which Mayu chose not to hear. ‘The robots are awesome.’ She pulled out her phone and showed Fiona a picture full of colour and weirdness with girl
s dressed up in outlandish clothes riding giant robotic figures. ‘It’s seriously cool.’

  Fiona studied the picture. Not her cup of tea but she could see that it would enchant younger visitors and she had said she wanted her pictures to show all sides of Japan.

  She looked up in time to catch Gabe winking at Mayu. ‘What sort of places do you want to visit?’ asked Haruka serenely, as if oblivious to her granddaughter’s healthy disdain. She invited Fiona to take some of the thinly sliced raw fish laid out the long narrow dish in front of her. ‘This is sashimi, ahi tuna. You take it like this.’ With expert fingers, she used her chopsticks to dip the slice of fish into bright green wasabi.

  Fiona followed suit, with a little less grace, and popped the sliver of fish into her mouth. Wow. Her eyes watered and her mouth stung at the fiery burst of heat from the wasabi. ‘Gosh,’ she said blinking. Everyone very politely pretended not to notice her streaming eyes; even Mayu managed to duck her head to hide a smirk.

  ‘If you dilute it with the soy, it takes the fire out,’ said Gabe kindly, pouring a small dish of soy from the large bottle of Kikkoman on the table and pushing it towards her. Haruka gave him a regally approving nod and in response he grinned.

  ‘You have not tried wasabi before?’ asked Haruka.

  Fiona shook her head, still trying to catch her breath and get the fiery taste off her tongue. ‘It’s powerful stuff. A bit like horseradish or mustard, I guess.’ And to be fair she liked both of them. Desperate to reassure her hostess, she added. ‘I like it a lot, it was just … unexpected.’

  ‘Try some sushi,’ said Setsuko. ‘Dip it into the soy. This is maki, and the rice is rolled in nori, which is a seaweed wrap, and there are different fillings in the rice. Shrimp, avocado and cucumber. And this,’ she nudged a plate of pink slices, ‘is pickled ginger. Good to eat between to cleanse your palate.’

  ‘Right,’ said Fiona grateful for the explanations. A little clumsily she picked up one of the delicate parcels, marvelling at the patience it must have taken to create each tiny one; they were little works of art. Managing to hang on to it and dip it into the soy, she was rewarded with a bite of savoury bliss; inside the salty wrap of seaweed, the milder rice offset the sweet, meatier flavour of a large piece of prawn to perfection.

  ‘Did you make these?’ she asked Haruka. ‘They’re wonderful.’

  Haruka nodded and the faintest of pleased smiles touched the corners of her mouth.

  Not wanting to appear too greedy, Fiona held back for a moment before selecting her next one, desperate to try the sushi with the roll of cured salmon. It tasted every bit as good as it looked and before long she’d worked her way through several more under the approving eye of her hostess.

  ‘You were talking about places you’d like to visit,’ encouraged Kaito, clearly keen to hear the details.

  ‘I’d like to go to a variety of different places. Places that epitomise Japan but also that draw tourists, both local and international,’ she explained as she chose what Setsuko told her was a maki roll filled with rice and pickled cucumber.

  With the aid of Gabe, she tried to explain her idea as everyone ate.

  ‘You want to take pictures of tourists?’ Mayu waved her chopstick in slight disbelief and from the expression on her face, Fiona got the impression she thought it was lame.

  Haruka, after an initial nod of reproof about the chopstick waving, pushed another dish towards Fiona. ‘Eat. Eat.’

  ‘Sounds …’ Mayu pulled a face.

  ‘I want to illustrate their response to the place. Why they’re drawn to it.’

  ‘I think it’s a great idea,’ said Gabe, expertly picking up a piece of sushi flecked with tiny bits of green with one hand and nudging Mayu with his elbow. She nudged him back. They were like a pair of school children and although Haruka ignored the two of them, there was a faint smile on her face. It was clear that Gabe was very much one of the family. She was surprised to see this lighter side of him.

  ‘Mount Fuji is a must,’ said Setsuko, neatly popping a piece of sushi dipped in the fiery wasabi into her mouth. ‘It is iconic and most people recognise it.’

  ‘But boring,’ protested Mayu looking towards Gabe to back her up.

  He held his hands up in surrender. ‘Your mum is right. It’s a symbol of the country.’

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  Fuji was a definite but Fiona wanted something a little closer to home. She turned to Setsuko. ‘I’d like to take some pictures of the teashop and you serving in there, if I may.’

  Setsuko smiled both, pleased and modest. ‘I’d be most honoured.’

  ‘And I’d very much like to see a tea ceremony.’ Fiona turned to Haruka, not sure if it was appropriate to take photos during such a ceremony. There seemed to be a lot of importance placed on the ceremony and she didn’t want to cause offence.

  ‘One day this week,’ said Haruka. ‘I have a few small groups coming. You may join us the day after tomorrow if you would like. I have a group booked in for the afternoon.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Fiona felt that she’d been accorded a huge honour and from the solemn expression on Setsuko’s face, it would appear she had. Even Mayu looked quite impressed.

  ‘If you go to Fuji,’ said Kaito, ‘you will need accommodation. When would you like to go?’ He encompassed Gabe in his calm bow.

  ‘I have a day’s work in Kyoto tomorrow. A previous commitment.’ Gabe nodded at Kaito as if reminding him. ‘I’m taking pictures of Ken Akito. But after that I’m free,’ said Gabe easily, turning to Fiona.

  There was a stunned silence around the table as the family all stared at Gabe before Mayu launched into enthusiastic Japanese and Fiona picked out a couple of ‘cools’ which, along with the bounce in her seat and beseeching expression, suggested that this Ken person was a very big deal.

  ‘Sorry, pipsqueak. No can do. This is work. And definitely no autographs; it’s not professional.’

  Mayu tried again with a new bid, putting a hand on Gabe’s arm and even in Japanese, Fiona could discern the wheedling tone. Gabe shook his head and grinned at her. ‘Sorry, kid.’

  Mayu pouted and Setsuko smiled, explaining to Fiona, ‘Ken is a very popular film star. Mayu is a big fan and she wants to go with Gabe. Says she’ll be his assistant. Or she’ll do anything.’

  Gabe grinned. ‘What, clean my studio for the next year?’

  At Mayu’s eager response, Setsuko and her husband exchanged knowing smiles. ‘She doesn’t like chores,’ whispered Setsuko to Fiona as Mayu continued to beg and plead with Gabe.

  Haruka shook her head, her dark eyes sharp, flicking from Mayu to Setsuko to Gabe before she suddenly said, ‘Fiona could be your assistant.’

  The words silenced the whole table and everyone turned to look at her, even Gabe.

  ‘Oh, no. I couldn’t do that. I’m sure Gabe can’t take anyone with him. I’ll be quite happy here. I can … well, I can find things to do.’

  ‘Actually, why not?’ said Gabe, his forehead furrowed as if giving the idea serious consideration. ‘It would be a good opportunity to see me at work. Proper mentoring.’ The latter was said with a quick smile and without rancour. ‘It’s an overnight trip but we’ll be back in time for = Haruka’s tea ceremony.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. The publicity people aren’t going to want a hanger-on,’ said Fiona, a blush staining her face. Observing Gabe at work would be fascinating and suddenly she wanted it more than anything else. To see how he approached his work. Just watching Gabe was … inspiring. Those long, strong fingers handling his camera. For some reason, her pulse began to skitter about like a colt on ice at the very thought of it. ‘You can’t take me with you.’

  Gabe grinned, his face lighting up with sudden devilish charm. ‘I’m Gabe Burnett, babe.’ He raised both eyebrows and his eyes glinted with arrogant merriment. ‘They want me. I’m the best at what I do. My terms.’

  Haruka’s head shot up like the lioness of a pride and her eyes narrowed a
s they rested with disapproval on Gabe.

  To Fiona’s astonishment, Gabe ducked his head and bowed as if in apology. It seemed that he really cared what Haruka thought. The revelation made Fiona study him with new eyes. She’d seen a much softer and more carefree side to him during dinner, as if he’d dropped his usual cynical barriers and allowed himself to be one of the family.

  ‘Even so,’ said Fiona, doing her best to tamp down the fizz of excitement dancing low in her stomach, ‘I can’t come with you.’

  ‘I’m staying at the Four Seasons in Kyoto. I can arrange another room easily.’

  Mayu muttered under her breath, very disgruntled. It didn’t take much to imagine that the words ‘it’s not fair’ had been voiced. Setsuko placed a placating hand on her daughter’s forearm and Mayu lapsed into sulky silence, shooting her grandmother a glowering death stare.

  ‘Maybe you could take me to this Robot Restaurant when I’m back,’ suggested Fiona. ‘I could take some shots of you there, maybe in your blue wig.’

  ‘Cool. You’re gonna love it. We could get you a costume too.’ She eyed Fiona a little sceptically. ‘My friend is tall but she’s not as tall as you. She has a Princess Gothic outfit.’

  From the corner of her eye, Fiona saw both Haruka and Setsuko quash almost identical shudders of horror.

  ‘The restaurant sounds perfect, although I’m not sure about the dressing up,’ said Fiona, wondering what on earth she’d let herself in for.

  ‘Rather you than me,’ said Gabe, pulling a yeugh face at Mayu, who stuck her tongue out at him. ‘Your eyeballs will be burnt out.’

  Mayu contented herself with yet another roll of her eyes and went back to her phone, busy tapping out a text with one hand while using her chopsticks with consummate ease to select another piece of sushi which Gabe equally deftly wrestled away from her.

  In seconds he was teasing her again while she laughed and complained to her mother and Haruka looked on with fond indulgence.

  Chapter 13

  ‘Now at least I feel like a proper photographer’s assistant,’ said Fiona attempting to sound cheery as she picked up one of the black cases and followed Gabe with his little portable trolley down to the platform. She’d had four messages from her mother already this morning. It was going to be a long journey if she continued in the same vein, which Fiona had a horrible feeling she would.