A Secret Kiss

by Alexia Praks

  Chapter 29

  An Unexpected Hope

  “You’re frowning,” Ned Fabre said from across the room. “It doesn’t become you. Stop frowning.”

  From across the studio, Sakura glanced at the man who had been like a second father to her. She saw that he wasn’t actually looking at her. He was concentrating on his painting. She knew he was teasing her because he had a smile on his wrinkled face as he concentrated on his work, moving the paintbrush ever so gently as if he were caressing the canvas with each stroke.

  “How did you know I was frowning when you’re not even looking?” she asked, returning her eyes to her canvas. She cocked her head to one side, wondering if she had overdone the green leaves.

  “I can tell when you’re frowning,” he said, carefully moving the tiny brush downward. Ah, the rose looks perfect now, he thought with a smile.

  “Really?” Sakura asked, eyeing the photo she’d clipped to the side of the canvas. It was of the cherry tree she had taken that day before she met the brothers. She picked this particular picture because the tree stood alone with petals floating across in the wind, and in the distance, there were hills and beyond that the sea of the island. It was perfect for her painting.

  Ned put down his brush and folded his arms across his chest, finally eyeing her. “So what’s bothering you?”

  Sakura flicked her eyes to him, taking in his silvery-gray hair, thin face, and slight frame. He was completely different from Beth considering the fact that they were siblings. Their personalities, too, were completely different. Beth was the outgoing one with a no-nonsense attitude while Ned was the laidback one, very quiet and preferring to stay in the background.

  Sakura had met him when she first moved into Princeton Mansion, and since then, he had become a very good friend of hers, treating her like his very own daughter and teaching her how to draw and paint. He had said that first day in the garden that painting was like meditation. It calms you down and makes you forget about the world. He had been right. When Sakura painted, she forgot about the world, so consumed she was with her work. Then when it was finished, it was like seeing her baby coming to life for the first time. She felt proud. That was why she loved to paint.

  “Nothing is bothering me,” she said, gently stroking the paintbrush against the white sheet, making another tiny green leaf.

  “You’re lying,” Ned said. “I can tell it in your voice.”

  Sakura chuckled. “It’s hard to hide anything from you, Ned dear.”

  “You’re mocking me, Sakura. I’ve known you since you were a wee girl, hiding behind the house crying your wee heart out ’cause Tara hit you and the boys wouldn’t play with you. Why you didn’t tell James is beyond me. But you know as well as I that he knew what was going on. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent you so far away to that bloody boarding school.”

  Sakura chuckled again. “Did you miss me that much, Ned dear?”

  “Bloody well I did, young missy, and bloody worried about you, too. Who’s to say you don’t get bullied again, even though that little brat Tara wasn’t there with you.”

  “Well, I’m glad Daddy James sent me away to boarding school. I met my two best friends, Mary and Katherine,” Sakura said. “They’re very nice to me.”

  Ned got off his chair and went to a desk on the other side of the large studio. He took out some paper and came back to her. “Let’s just hope Tara and Alaina don’t go whispering nasty things about you and turn their heads against you.”

  Sakura frowned at that. “That won’t happen.”

  “Who knows?” Ned said. “Here.”

  Sakura eyed the envelope in Ned’s hand with confusion. “What’s that?”

  “Open it,” he said.

  Sakura put down her paintbrush and took the envelope. She opened it and took out some papers. She flicked through them and widened her eyes in surprise. “Ned!”

  “Yes,” he said. “It’s your birth mother. You did ask me to help you find her, didn’t you?”

  “Well, yes, but I didn’t expect you to go this far. I mean, you got her name and everything.”

  He laughed. “There isn’t much I can’t do for Sakura.” He patted her head like he would his daughter.

  “How did you do it? I mean, I’ve e-mailed so many people, but—”

  “Now.” Ned chuckled. “You were just a wee baby when your mother was here, leaving you there at the orphanage doorstep. I’ll admit it was easy for me because I know a lot of people in this small town. Chasing up those women who used to work in the orphanage was a tad hard, and, mind you, they weren’t very cooperative either.”

  “I see,” Sakura murmured, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe Ned had found out who her mother was. “Thank you so much, Ned.”

  Ned chuckled. “Now, don’t you give me those distasteful big eyes. It’s disgraceful.”

  Sakura chuckled, too. Ned always said that every time she was about to cry. But this time she wasn’t about to cry because she was hurt. No, she was about to cry because she was happy with gratitude.

  “You’re wonderful, Ned.”

  “Nope, I ain’t wonderful. I’m awful. I should have found this out a long time ago.”

  Sakura read the name on the paper. It said Haruka Tanaka. Was that really her mother?

  “Now then, what are you going to do about that?” he asked, watching her carefully.

  Sakura put down the paper and stared at the half-finished painting. “I’m going to find her.”

  “It’s all in there,” Ned said. “She’s here, in America. New York City, to be precise.”

  Sakura felt her heart quicken. “Here? In America? But I though she lived in Japan.”

  “It seems she’s just moved. She’s working for some Japanese fashion designer. They’re opening another headquarters in New York. I heard they’re opening a new store soon. Supposedly the guy she’s working with is very famous in Japan.”

  “I see. That’d make things a lot easier, wouldn’t it?” Sakura asked herself. “Yes. After the wedding.”

  Ned smiled. “You know, setting up that gallery for you isn’t that easy either.”

  Sakura blinked and turned her attention to him. “Ned! You didn’t!”

  He chuckled. “Of course I didn’t.”

  She sighed. “If you did, it’d be so much work and—”

  “Didn’t want to waste your talent.”

  “Ned!” Sakura was shocked. “You?”

  “Yes, I did. Set up a gallery for you. Your paintings are all there, ready to sell. Got a sales assistant all set up at the shop, too.”

  “Oh, Ned.” Sakura jumped up. “But rent in New York? It’s so expensive.”

  “Ha-ha! Made a contract with one of your patrons, I did. He loves your work. Bought most of them online. He’s some real estate tycoon of some sort.”

  Ned didn’t dare explain to her that their landlord was Sebastian Princeton, the man who was infatuated with her paintings. If he told her, she’d flip and tell him to stop everything immediately.

  “Whoa!” Sakura couldn’t believe it. She placed her hand on her chest. Suddenly, she was feeling just a bit dizzy. “My mother and my paintings, both in New York.”

  “Waiting for you,” Ned said, chuckling.

  “Thank you, Ned,” Sakura said, tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”

  “Didn’t I tell you you look disgusting when you have tears in your eyes?” he scolded.

  Sakura chuckled. “You did indeed, Ned dear.”

  After that, they both returned to their paintings. Sakura was so engrossed that she’d forgotten about the time until Mary texted her.

  “Oh, damn!” she muttered under her breath.

  Ned glanced up. “Must be dinnertime,” he said. “Mother hen looking for her chick.”

  Sakura laughed. “Mother hen Mary,” she said. “Hold on. It is rather late. I better tell them to start without me.”

  “You’r
e not eating properly again,” Ned said. “This is when a husband comes in handy.”

  “Not interested,” Sakura said as she began to text Mary back.

  “That Mark person is interested,” Ned said. “So I heard.”

  “This Sakura person isn’t interested,” Sakura replied, packing up her gear.

  “Well, good luck with that,” Ned said. “Now home with you and stop bothering me. You’re wasting my electricity and paints,” he muttered.

  Sakura laughed. “I shall indeed come and waste more of your wonderful electricity and paints.” She grabbed her satchel and headed to the door. “See ya later.”

  “Say hi to Beth for me. Tell her she’s been neglecting me again. Tell her she’s starving me. Tell her I don’t miss her.”

  “Will do,” she said, waved, and left the cottage.

  Sakura couldn’t believe it. She’d spent her whole Sunday with Ned, painting. Although she admitted that she had thoroughly enjoyed it, and not seeing Alaina or Tara was the best part.

  The sun was setting on the far west of the island, and Sakura couldn’t help but fall in love with the glow of the orange sky. She quickly got out her camera and took some pictures. Once she was done, she headed toward the small pathway through the woods leading Princeton Estate.

  It was twenty minutes later when she sighted the stately mansion, and instead of walking in through the front door, she headed around to the back. She sneaked into the kitchen and nearly jumped out of her skin when Beth snapped at her. “You’re late for dinner.”

  Sakura chuckled. “Of course I am. It’s all your fault, Beth dear. If you hadn’t neglected your brother for so long, then I wouldn’t have to be there looking after him. If you must know, he’s starving for your affection.”

  Beth chuckled. “Affection my ass,” she said. “All that brother of mine wants is your delicious coffee, just like everyone else. Now they’re complaining about my standard coffee. Give them a cup and they’ll be good for the day.” She grabbed Sakura by the arm and nudged her to the coffee machine that apparently only Sakura knew how to make do magic. “Now redeem yourself and make nine cups of coffee before they all die of disappointment.”

  Sakura snapped her head up to look at Beth in shocked surprise. “Nine? Nine cups!”

  Beth folded her arms across her chest. “Now either that or you go in there and have a proper dinner with your family.”

  Sakura pulled her face. Beth knew she didn’t want to go in there and have her dinner with certain people, and she was making a threat. “Okay,” she said. “Once I’m done with the coffee, I’m off to my room. No disruption please.”

  “Of course. You have my word.” Beth said. She even crossed her heart.

  Sakura put her satchel down on the bench top and made her way to the coffee machine. Just when she was starting to grind the coffee beans, her phone beeped. She rushed back and picked it up to find she had a new text message. She noted there was no name, and she didn’t recognize the phone number either. She didn’t remember giving her phone number to anybody lately. Curious, she went ahead and read the message.

  Where are you?

  Huh? Sakura couldn’t help herself and texted back: Who is this?

  A second later she got another text, and it read: Doesn’t matter. Where are you?

  She gritted her teeth. What absolute nonsense. Was somebody playing tricks on her? She texted back: Go to hell!

  She threw her phone on the bench, frowning at it. When she was just about to turn, her phone beeped again. She sighed and picked it up, determined to ring whoever it was and tell him to leave her alone.

  She had another text, this time from a different number. What?

  It read: Sakura, where are you? You missed dinner. And I want your coffee with a teddy bear on it like Michael’s. Please come soon.

  Sakura cocked her head to one side, wondering. Conrad? But how on Earth did he get her number?

  She texted back: I’m in the kitchen, making your coffee. Yes, you will get a teddy bear.

  She turned off the phone so she wouldn’t get disrupted again. She went back to making coffee, and two cups later the door burst open and Conrad rushed in.

  “Hello,” he said, a cheeky smile on his face.

  Sakura nodded. “I’m doing yours now. A teddy bear? Are you sure?”

  “Nope, I’m not sure,” he said. “Come to think of it, teddy bears are for kids. How about a dragon?”

  Sakura laughed. “I can’t do a dragon. It’s too complicated. How about a swan?”

  “Okay. Swan is good. No, wait. I want to learn how to make coffee art.” He rushed around the bench and came to stand behind her.

  He watched her make the coffee, then she handed him the jug of hot milk.

  “What?” he asked.

  She pushed the jug to him. “You did say you want to make your own. Here.” She made him hold the jug and then with her hand on top of his, she guided him. “You have to do it quite fast. See?”

  Conrad wasn’t paying attention to what she was demonstrating to him. He was watching her, and he had a big, fat grin on his face.

  “See?” she asked again, looking up at him.

  He nodded, still grinning like an idiot. Sakura couldn’t help smiling back. She thought he looked adorable.

  “What?” she asked. “Why are you smiling like that?”

  “Nothing,” he said. “You got something on your nose.” He wiped the smudge of coffee debris from her skin. Once it was clean, instead of moving his hand away, he touched her cheek, pretending to clean there, too.

  “Is it all over my face?” she asked.

  Instead of agreeing with her, which would be a lie, he just nodded.

  Sakura blushed. “I don’t usually make such a mess.”

  He just kept on grinning as his fingers and thumb moved to her forehead, pretending to wipe nonexistent dirt. Then he moved his thumb to her lip where he couldn’t help himself and caressed it.

  “There, too?” she asked, uncomfortable because his thumb was in the way as she spoke.

  “Yeah, there too,” he said, moving his head closer to hers.

  Sakura gazed up at him, her heart pounding as he came closer and then—

  “Ah-hem!”

  Conrad jumped. He hastily turned to the door and saw Sebastian there.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were in the kitchen?”

  Sakura thought Sebastian was talking to Conrad, but then he said, “Why didn’t you text me back?” That was when she realized he was talking to her. Oh! So that first unknown number was his? But how did he get her number? From whom? And why would he text her?

  Good Lord! He looked mad. He sounded mad.

  Conrad moved away from Sakura and picked up his coffee. “I like swans,” he said and took a sip. “Hmm. Delicious.”

  Sakura returned to making more coffee as Tristan walked in. “Are you making one for me?” he asked, coming to stand behind her. Then, before she knew it, Logan and Hayden turned up as well and crowded the kitchen.

  “Smells good,” Hayden said.

  “What are you guys doing here?” she asked. She just wanted to get this done quickly and then disappear into her room.

  “Pass me that cup,” Logan said, reaching out. No one was paying him attention, however, and he stretched out his hand for the cup. He accidentally shoved Sakura’s bag to the floor, her stuff flying out everywhere.

  Sakura gasped, stopped what she was doing, and rushed around the corner.

  “Oh, shoot! Sorry.” Logan crouched down and picked up her bag for her.

  Sebastian helped by picking up the pieces of papers that were on the floor. Sakura saw he was about to read her very confidential report and snapped it from his hand, none too gently. She quickly folded it carefully and shoved it in her bag, her hands shaking. Sebastian noticed her odd reaction and was instantly suspicious but said nothing.

  Sakura put her bag farther away from them and returned to her coffee.
r />   “So what have you been doing this whole day? You just disappeared on us since early this morning,” Logan asked, leaning across the countertop.

  “Things,” she said and didn’t bother to explain.

  “What kind of things?” Hayden asked. “Have you had dinner yet?”

  “Nope. But I’m sure I can as soon as you guys leave me alone to finish this.”

  Tristan chuckled. “Touché.”

  The brothers watched in silence as she expertly made their coffee. Then some twenty minutes later, it was done, all eight cups. And by that time, Conrad had finished his.

  “Am I allowed one more?” he had the gall to ask.

  Sakura scowled at him. “Too much coffee is bad for you.” She turned to the others. “Now off with you. Take them. I’m off.” She grabbed her bag and practically ran out the door.