Chapter 33: Chapter 32

LILLIAN

“Consider staying here longer,” her father suggested.

“Maybe even forever,” her mother chimed in, a hopeful note in her voice.

Lillian offered them a smile. She had found the peace she needed here, and it had given her the courage to broaden her job search.

She was ready to take on any job that came her way instead of waiting for her dream job to magically materialize.

“Maybe in twenty years,” she teased.

“By then we’ll be dead,” her mother retorted with a scoff.

“I doubt it. You’ll probably be off on another cruise, celebrating retirement.”

Lillian winked.

Her father smirked. “That doesn’t sound too bad. We haven’t seen enough of the world. But seriously, Lillian, you could stay here, find a job in town or the next one over. You wouldn’t have to worry about making it in the city. You could even stay with us and work as a freelance accountant. Who knows, in a year or two, you could have your own business and move out again.”

“Dad…”

It wasn’t a terrible idea, but…

“I know you have other ambitions,” he mumbled.

“Don’t make it sound like a bad thing. And the city isn’t that far away.”

“You’d visit more often if it were,” her mother reasoned.

“And you could do the same,” she countered, raising an eyebrow.

“True, but…”

“You never visited.”

“And you rarely did,” her dad shot back. “Don’t claim you like it there, because we won’t believe you.”

“Have you never wanted to live somewhere else? Even if it were just a fleeting thought?”

“Yes, but there’s no place like home,” her father said, reminding her of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.

She never cared for that movie or the book it was based on. Sure, the message was about appreciating what you have, but she did appreciate what she had.

That didn’t mean she couldn’t want more.

“Dad, my dreams were always bigger than this town and you knew it. There’s nothing wrong with the alternative you’re offering. In fact, it’s a solid plan.”

“You wouldn’t consider it.”

“I would, if I felt like I was out of options. But I don’t think I am yet. I don’t want to come back here because I feel defeated. I do like it here; this is my home, and you, my family, are here. But I can’t return for good. Not yet. I want to try my luck again because I don’t think all is lost for me.”

“And you should,” her mom agreed. “Chase your dreams. But don’t blame us for wanting our children close.”

“You have a child here and plenty of grandchildren to keep you busy. I know you love me as much as you love them, but I’m not on another continent.”

“Try to visit us a bit more often,” her father suggested.

“Once I find a job, it won’t be easy, but we can FaceTime more,” she promised.

And with that, she left them behind once again.

***

Home sweet home… She sighed. She had missed it, and it wasn’t the only thing she had missed.

She had missed Noah. Thoughts of him had crept into her mind even when she was with her parents, and she knew she shouldn’t have let them.

Talking to Maggie hadn’t helped because she only reminded her of him. After the third conversation, when Maggie asked her to say hi to Noah for her, Lillian had to admit they weren’t speaking anymore. Lying just seemed pointless.

“You two were sleeping together, weren’t you?” Maggie chuckled.

“Was it that obvious?” Lillian asked.

“In a way, yes and no.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you didn’t act much like lovers—especially you. But Noah isn’t the type to have female friends, and he doesn’t usually bring women over.”

“We were friends, you know.”

“Really?” Maggie asked, sounding surprised.

Lillian could almost hear the wheels turning in Maggie’s head—wondering how someone like Noah could have even one friend. But she kept that thought to herself.

“Yes, but I bet you thought he brought me with him because we were sleeping together.”

“Not exactly. We thought he brought you because he really liked you. He’s not known for being chivalrous with women, but he paid special attention to you both times you visited. And he was livid with Brad for trying to flirt with you.”

“I’m sure you’ve noticed they don’t exactly get along,” Lillian joked.

“Those two couldn’t be more different. But let’s not veer off topic.”

“I’m not. If you’re implying that he showed me special attention by taking me there, then he must’ve shown his ex-wife the same attention,” Lillian countered.

“Sure, by treating her like dirt,” Maggie shot back. “Dorothy, from what Asher told me, was a quiet, patient woman who endured his cheating with as much grace as she could muster.”

“Maybe because she was in love with someone else.”

“Even so, Noah being a terrible husband wasn’t justified. She barely said a word whenever they were invited over for dinner. I remember Asher saying he wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard her speak during their entire marriage.”

“So, he was basically a tyrant, and she was a timid woman?”

“I never saw them together, but Noah, despite being a jerk most of the time, wasn’t a brute. He didn’t care for her, and she didn’t bother being sociable for a man who couldn’t care less about her.”

Lillian knew this firsthand, having heard it straight from the source, but she kept that to herself.

“Dorothy made her feelings clear when the man she loved came back and asked for a divorce,” Maggie went on. “You, however, were just an assistant, and he’d gone through several before hiring you. He never brought any of them home, before or after his divorce, and he was sleeping with all of them.”

“Technically, he wasn’t my boss, and I wasn’t his assistant when we visited,” Lillian reminded her.

“I’m aware. I also know that because of your unique look, you didn’t meet the same fate as his other assistants. Yet, he showed you some affection long before sex got involved, which is a first for him.”

“You’re making him sound romantic, and Noah is anything but, I assure you.”

“I’m not one for romance myself, Lillian, so I wouldn’t be quick to assume that about someone else. Noah is mostly a jerk, but that doesn’t make him a villain—although he does his best to act like one.”

Lillian didn’t respond to that. Maggie spoke again.

“Are you in love with him?”

“Where did that come from?” Lillian laughed.

“Love can complicate casual sex, just like sex can complicate friendships and so on.”

“Noah and I had an understanding, Maggie. I knew what kind of guy he was, and I was okay with it. I didn’t ask for more than he could give, because honestly, I didn’t need more than he gave.

“It was him who started acting strange and then—the night we got back here—he said he needed space from me.”

“Oh, I see.”

Maggie chuckled before dropping a bombshell. “So, he’s the one in love with you then.”

***

She resumed her city walks when she returned from her trip. A week later, and she hadn’t made any significant progress.

The big companies had turned her down; the smaller ones had let her down gently, saying they didn’t need her services at the moment, and most other jobs required experience.

The only other thing she knew how to do was wait tables, but she wasn’t sure it was worth the hassle. Sure, she had come back determined to take a lower-paying job, but working her fingers to the bone for peanuts wasn’t her idea of a career.

The problem was that most people did just that, and while she wasn’t above them, she wanted some room to negotiate.

She had to admit she was a bit spoiled in that regard. Was she being a brat? Maybe.

But she saw it as not being desperate enough to waste her skills like that. Still, she decided to change up her routine a bit.

She figured there was no harm in going old school with her job hunt. So her walks weren’t just for relaxation anymore.

Many stores advertised job openings the old-fashioned way, with signs in their windows. Not that she had much luck with that either, but on the bright side, she was discovering parts of the city she hadn’t seen before.

She was out and about again when she spotted Tamara in the distance. She did the only sensible thing she could think of.

She turned the first corner she came to and took a completely different route to her destination, which was…nowhere in particular, or rather, in the opposite direction of where her former boss was headed.

The last thing she wanted was a confrontation with that woman.

She was a fighter, but she didn’t want to have to prove that now that she was free from Tamara’s control. That choice, that tiny deviation in her path to avoid a woman she despised, led her to a charming tea shop that made her pause and look.

She hadn’t suddenly developed a preference for tea over coffee or even hot chocolate, but she was drawn to the shop. The sign on the front door, announcing they needed help, caught her eye.

Feeling particularly helpful, she pushed open the door, the bell chiming to announce her arrival to the occupants inside.

In this case, the only occupant was a man standing behind the counter, arranging a collection of vibrant teapots. The atmosphere was calming, the Asian décor transporting her to another world.

The beauty of the place struck her, and she knew instantly that if she didn’t get the job, she’d be disappointed.

The man looked up at her. He was about her father’s age, she noted, and he greeted her with a warm smile.

He was Asian, Japanese she guessed, but she could be wrong. She wasn’t an expert in identifying people’s origins, but it didn’t matter. She found him likable, and that was enough.

“Good morning,” the man said politely. “How can I assist you?”

“Actually, I’m here to assist you,” she replied with a smile, gesturing toward the sign on the door.

“Oh! I see. Do you have experience with this kind of work, Miss?”

“Not really. I mean, I did some waitressing years ago, and I’m not even a tea lover, but your shop is incredible, and I need a job.”

“It’s a part-time position,” he clarified.

“I don’t mind. My name is Lillian, by the way. Lillian Astaire.”

She extended her hand over the counter.

“I am Mr. Aoki. You can call me Hikaru if you like.”

He took her hand gently, shaking it before letting go.

“You’re looking for something better, aren’t you?” he asked.

“How did you know?”

“This sign you saw is quite common here. People like you come, stay for a few months, and then they find their dream job and leave.”

He said it with a smile, no trace of bitterness, but she could see a hint of sadness.

“You bring them luck then,” she said kindly.

“I hope I do.”

“It must be tough for you to have employees coming and going every few months.”

“I’ve gotten used to it,” he assured her. “People your age have dreams, and they rarely limit themselves to working in a small tea shop.”

“It’s a lovely place, though,” she said, looking around once more in genuine admiration. “It’s a shame that it’s empty.”

“Oh, you came at a quiet time. It’s never bustling, but we have a steady stream of regulars and newcomers who come mostly in the mornings and afternoons. This time is usually quiet because it’s lunchtime.”

“You’re right. Still, you’ve done an amazing job here. It’s so peaceful and relaxing. I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

“My late wife is responsible for what this place is,” Mr. Aoki said. “In her time, this tea shop was always filled with people who enjoyed our brews at all hours—not just mornings and afternoons like now.”

“Oh… I see… Don’t you make the tea the same way she did?”

“I do, but she had the most beautiful smile and a knack for giving advice to troubled souls. I couldn’t compete with that. I’m more reserved, you see.”

“How long has it been?”

“Ten years.”

“Do you have children?”

“Yes. Three. They were born here, but they all chose to live in Japan. They visit me occasionally, and they’re trying their best to convince me to move back there, but this tea shop was Keiko’s dream, and I can’t let it go.”

“You could open a shop there and be closer to your children, couldn’t you?”

“Yes, and I love my children. But you see, my wife’s dream was to see more of the world than our hometown in Japan. She wanted us to come here and see if we could make it work. She studied the language on her own for a year before we moved here. She was so passionate, and she started teaching me what she knew. I learned to please her, and I found that I didn’t mind sharing that dream.”

“What about your dream?”

“I’m a simple man, I’m afraid, my dear. My dream was Keiko.”

He paused for a moment, giving her a curious look.

“I’m not sure why I’m spilling my guts to you. I’m usually more of a closed book.”

Lillian responded, her steps quick and purposeful as she moved behind the counter, a peculiar spark igniting within her.

“How about you start by teaching me the ropes and share what you know? Who knows, I might even develop a taste for tea.”