Shuri Gate

  "Were you disappointed?"

  "Oh, no. I figured you would come sometime because I am such a seductive, svelte, and slender woman that you could not resist for very long." She hid her face in his shoulder so he would not hear nor see her giggles.

  Rick placed a hand on her firm butt and drew her as close as they could get in that position.

  "You’re fibbing to me. You were having a hissy waiting for me to get here to hold you, kiss you and make you feel like I'm seducing you."

  "My Lover, you have already seduced me. At least metaphorically."

  "Oh Jesus, an English major. Seductive, svelte and throw in metaphorically."

  "Did you like that? I have more time again in my life to study. You have adjusted my head to make me so, neh?"

  "I want to lay on you, but I cannot."

  "Another Christmas present?"

  "No. A pre-Christmas present on about the twelfth or thirteenth of December. In the meantime we will have to settle for nestling together with my backside against your belly.

  Now, dinner. Help me up and I'll fix it for us."

  "We will fix it. I'll be your servant and you can be the honcho. You're good at that."

  "Are you saying that I'm bossy?"

  "You're the one who runs a coffee house."

  "But you are the one who makes young men like Leo do his dirty work. How is Leo? He misses his wife very much doesn't he?"

  "Yeah. He does, but he also loves what he's doing. I think that she will help him work it out. She wants him to be happy and is willing to go that route."

  They stood at the kitchen counter with an arm around each other.

  "There is also some beer for you, cold tea for me and a salad called cole slaw that Cheryl made for you. She said that you love it and I have to learn how to make it if I want to hang on to you."

  "I'll kill her."

  "No, she’s my best friend. We are very much alike and if she was a man I would love her as she loves you. But not as I love you."

  "You love me differently?"

  "Yes. Cheryl does not want to make love to you, nor I with her even if she was a he. I do want to make very passionate love with you." Then Tomi added so softly that he could barely hear her words. "Like we have done today, but more."

  Rick stepped closer so he could kiss her lips gently. "I'm glad. She loves you also and really does love me but said that she was stepping aside for you to take her place in my life."

  "Did she really say that? Honto?" Tomi asked and leaned her head against his chest.

  "Yes. She has been a cross between a mother figure and sexy aunt. But I was never tempted to find out how sexy my aunt could be."

  "You love and respect her too much, neh?"

  "Yes, Lover. That's so right."

  "We can share her together. Also Bob. I love him too. He is funny, yet can be very quiet especially when he is around her. He leaves everything to her doesn't he?

  When do you have to fly again?” Tomi asked changing the subject.

  “I made the appointment at the university. The only day we can do it is Monday at 11 o'clock. Is that all right?"

  “It's very all right. I have four days off. I have to fly Tuesday. But it is just one daytime flight to Vietnam. Then as long as nothing happens and it doesn't get too exciting, we'll be home for a late dinner Tuesday evening"

  "Don't be too late coming home or I will get very hungry waiting for you."

  "What are you saying?"

  Tomi made eye contact with him. Started to blush.

  Before she could get the words out Rick spoke up. "I want to come home to you every night."

  "I want you to live with me and the baby. I want to share my bed with you every night. To feel your warmth and know that you are there with me."

  She stepped back into his arms.

  "That's what I want also."

  "If we keep this up we will never get anything to eat." Tomi said as she hugged him hard and kissed him passionately on the lips. "No more until bedtime."

  "Why don't you lie down and I'll fix dinner?"

  "I'm alright. I want to be close to you even if you do all the work. Somebody has to supervise this project."

  "When are you going to try to make me some cole slaw?"

  "Someday when I am with Cheryl. I will have her show me. I don't want to screw it up and use you for a guinea pig. I want to have it come out right the first time that I make it for you."

  "You've been around Cheryl too much. Screw it up? Use me for a guinea pig? Those are definitely Cherylisms.

  Everything is fine with you and the baby? Did the doctor give you some vitamins to take?"

  "Everything is very good. I am going to have a small horse. And yes, he gave me some sample vitamins. He said that we can get them at the PX. Do you want to do that?"

  "Of course. Is there anything else he suggested or that you want? I'll go to the Machinato commissary and PX either tomorrow or Sunday and get what we need and want."

  Rick helped Tomi get comfortable on the tatamis at the table with several pillows. As they ate, the many questions they each had would come to their minds and they had found that they could ask or answer the other easily and at times were anticipating what the other's answer would be.

  "Did you worry about me and the baby when you were on Guam?"

  "A lot. It was hard on my heart and head. I knew that I was in love with you yet we were separated before I could really tell you how much. Nor did I know for sure what your feelings were for me. I had an idea, but things were not easy for either of us. I was afraid to ask because I was afraid of the answer. I'm still amazed at the strength of our love for each other. I have never had such strong feelings nor felt them from anybody else.

  And I worried that the doctor would find something wrong. Or something that I could fix would happen to you here, while I was on Guam, unable to fix it."

  "I came into your life unexpectedly. We are learning about each other in the middle of life, Rick. It is going to be fine no matter what. We will figure out what we want from each other and from life. Also importantly, what we want for and is needed by the little one. We will never know what it is or was, to be just a couple. At least not until he is through college and on his own."

  "That's funny in ways, we are not teenagers or even twenty years olds and we're talking about not being a couple. Of having a third person in our lives from day one."

  "It doesn't bother you does it, Rick? Or am I seeing something that is a façade."

  "There's no façade. I am as you see me. The first time I saw you, Bob said that you were having a baby. I said no way. You were slim , svelte with a great butt and sexy breasts You had on a blue skirt that was so very tight and appealing."

  "You're making me blush. How can you do that? I want to hear you say things like that, but when you do I blush. I can no longer wear that skirt, but by New Year's I am going to wear it. Just for you. How did Bob know about the baby?"

  "He said it was because he was a father and knew from experience when a woman was pregnant."

  "I didn't really believe him that day."

  "But you came back the next day by yourself. Why? Didn't you think I was a married woman?"

  "That was the seventh of July and I was already fascinated by you. I never thought about or cared that you were married. And I still wasn't convinced that you were pregnant."

  "Then you came to see me in August. Six weeks made a big difference in my body. Didn't it put you off? An ugly fat belly pregnant woman."

  "Yes, there was no doubt that you were pregnant, but I was never put off by it. I still thought and still think that you are a very beautiful woman and I guess that I was already in love with you. Never did I, would I, ever see anything ugly about you."

  "You were thinking that I was married then? Six weeks later?"

  "Oh yes."

  "Yet you came to see me." br />
  "I was in love and didn't know it."

  "You are so sweet and honest, Rick. It is no wonder that I fell in love with you, though I did not want to.

  The day that I told you Brad had been killed in Vietnam, I half hoped that it would put you off and I wouldn't see you again. I was feeling guilty that I was carrying his baby, flirting with you and enjoying the attention you were giving me. That I needed you as a friend, was scaring me. And the other thoughts were that I wanted you to stay, and to come back to see me so we could get to know each other.

  Then I was afraid that I would make you a substitute for him. But you are not. I will always love Brad and hold a place for him in my heart. You are not a replacement. You are my own true love who will now be on the top of my mind and heart.

  I hope that you believe this, Rick."

  "You know I do. I never thought that you would hand out your heart on a whim or for any reason but that you truly love me."

  Rick was holding both of Tomi's hands in his and knew for the first time that something was missing. He looked down at her left hand and saw that her rings were gone.

  "I took them off a week and a half ago. The Sunday after you left. If I was going to be yours, I knew that it had to be completely."

  "You're going to keep them, neh? Brad should have them to give to his wife."

  "We will bring him up knowing that he has two fathers?"

  "Hai. You loved his father and had his child so there is no doubt in my mind that he was a fine person who would have loved you and his son. And his son deserves to know this."

  "Do you want to turn on the TV."

  "Not really. Let's leave the stereo on. I'll clean up the kitchen while you rest on the bed watching for boats. I'm also going to drink one more of those great Asahi beers while I slave in the kitchen."

  "How very terrible for you. Work all day flying around the world then being made the slave of a pregnant woman at night."

  "All right. I know that you're being a smart-ass again."

  “I am going to put on my nemaki, brush my teeth and then crawl under this lovely warm futon. You are quite welcome to join me any time that you get through playing in the kitchen and drinking beer."

  "That's an invitation that I cannot refuse. I've been waiting for it for weeks. I'll just skip the beer and hurry up." Rick laughed and watched as Tomi's blush reappeared.

  "See what you do to me." She said throwing her arms onto his shoulders and giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

  "This is your nemaki. I bought it for you on the first Saturday that you were on Guam. You will need at least one, maybe two more. We can pick them out together when we go to Kokusai Dori."

  "Thank you Tomi. I love the color and I'll look like an Okinawan husband."

  "Hurry so you can make me comfy and warm."

  Tomi was propped up on a couple of bed pillows and one of the silk covered pillows from the floor so she could look out at the ocean. She had both arms laid gently on her baby belly and the futon only pulled up to just below her stomach.

  She smiled when Rick turned out the lights and in the glow of Tomari Port's lights made his way to the bed. "You look very good in your new nemaki. Do you like it?"

  "It's really comfortable.

  Are you warm enough?"

  "I will be when I have you to cuddle against." With that she tossed the futon to the side away from the opposite side of the bed and patted the sheet next to her. "Dozo."

  Her smile grew and even in the dim light Rick had no trouble getting the full meaning of her smile and invitation. He laid down next to her. Made a small attempt to push her over on the pillows she was laying on. Tomi raised her shoulders so Rick could put his arm behind her and at the same time twisted slightly closer to him and threw her left leg across his thighs. He tightened his hold on her. Bent towards her and their lips met. As their passion deepened, Rick's right hand slipped down onto her bare thighs as her left hand also reached for him and came to rest on his bare hip.

  "I love you." She murmured between kisses.

  On its own volition, Rick's right hand came up onto her swollen stomach and started to gently caress her bare skin. He felt the baby move a little bit. It stopped, then moved again. Rick felt a lump under his hand and reached for Tomi's hand and guided it to her stomach.

  "That's his head. He's turning over. Getting ready to enter our world. He has been head down a couple of times in the last few days, but then he decides that he doesn't like it so he turns back up.

  He will be all right and will stay down so he can be born correctly."

  "He has what? A month to get in the right position?"

  "Hai. I think he will be born on December 10. The doctor is not so sure. He thinks Brad will come a few days sooner than that.

  Feel? He went back up. He thinks that it is fun to mess with his mother's mind."

  "Are you ready to settle for the night, Love? Shall I get rid of the pillows?"

  "Hai. I use two since my belly has been full of baby and I get . . . maybe heartburn?"

  "Sounds right. Here let me get them."

  "For a little while I will lay on just one pillow so you can hold me until I get more sleepy. Then I will use two under my head, dozo."

  Tomi snuggled down under the futon as close to Rick as she could get. Her stomach was pressing against him and she was bent so she could reach his lips.

  "We can make love if we are careful ." She spoke softly. "I can feel that you want to." .

  Rick raised himself over her upper body, leaned into her and gently kissed her several times. She wrapped her arms around his neck keeping him down close to her.

  "I don't think that would be a good idea. You are almost into your ninth month and have not made love for that long. It could be very uncomfortable for you."

  They kept holding each other.

  "I want to turn over now and have you hold me very close.

  Is that all right? I don't want to tease you, but I think it would feel very nice. And you could . . . you know, if you wanted to."

  "I'm fine. Here's your other pillow."

  Rick spooned up against her backside and drew her tightly up to him. Tomi took his right hand which he had across her shoulders, and pulled it under her nemaki and firmly placed it on her bare right breast. "Is that too much? I like it. It is comfortable. That is the wrong word, neh?"

  "I think you mean comforting. No, it isn't too much. I enjoy touching you. I love you Tomako-chan."

  "I love you too. Yes, it is comforting."

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Rick slowly returned to the awake world as the scent of fresh brewing coffee penetrated his senses.

  "You are alive. I was beginning to wonder." Tomi sat on Rick's side of the bed and gingerly bent over to kiss him on the lips. "It's 10 o'clock. You have slept for over eleven hours. The kohi is fresh and I'll bring you a cup, but I think that you will probably want to wash your face and use the bathroom first. Then you can get back in bed if you like while I bring you kohi."

  "When did you get up, Tomi?"

  "About 8 o'clock. When I stay in bed too long I need to use the bathroom and get very hungry. I have become a buta. A pig. I want to eat all the time.

  It was so very good to sleep next you. Whenever I woke up I would move close to you, feel your warmth and skin touching me and I would go right back to sleep. For a long time when I was alone, I would wake up and lay awake for what seemed forever, before I would go back to sleep."

  Rick threw off the futon and swung his legs off the bed.

  Tomi hugged him making eye contact and smiling. "Do you want fresh kohi or a shower first?"

  "Okay. I'll have the kohi first."

  Shaking her head Tomi stepped around the bed and picked up the coffee pot and two cups from the end of the kitchen counter. "I'll have a cup with you. Then it's a shower for you. I have already taken mine." She said wit
h a shy smile.

  "Can we just stay home and relax today, Rick. I think that we both need to rest and relax."

  "Sure. We have to meet the Kruses and Leo at the Club tomorrow night. Is that all right for you?"

  "Cheryl and I talked about it and I told her it would be fine. I would like to take a slow walk down to the Port though. To get the fresh fish I am going to cook for you tonight.” Would you like some sashimi, Rick? We can also get some when we go out."

  "Sounds very good to me. Do you have enough beer to get you through the weekend?"

  "Eeee! You are terrible Rick Davis! You know I don't drink beer!"

  "My, we are getting excited."

  Tomi came from the kitchen and stood over him where he sat at the table on a cushion with a bottle of Asahi watching a freighter headed for Naha Port. There was a warm, gentle breeze coming in the slider. She had on a pair of shorts that refused to stay on her stomach. She was bare down to the waistband of her panties which also refused to stay up and looked more like bikinis than the modest women's panties they were.

  She kicked him gently on the thigh. "Put your knees down so I can sit in your lap. I want my belly rubbed and for you to feel this child and tell me what you think he is doing. He is flipping back and forth every few minutes and kicks like he's scuba diving."

  With her back to him, she lowered her self slowly down onto his lap before leaning back and laying her head on his shoulder. Then she took both his hands and placed them on her stomach.

  "What do you know about scuba diving?"

  "I'll have you know that I went twice. Scared me, but I wouldn't admit it. I do like to snorkel though. I'm alright as long as I'm on the top of the water."

  Rick rubbed her belly, felt the baby move slowly a couple times.

  "You're so gentle. He knows that it is you rubbing his mother and settles down. I think you put him to sleep.

  Mmm. Don't stop. Go lower, dozo. The tops of my legs are tired."

  "Your thighs?'

  Hai. Were they meet my belly." She guided his hands onto the lower part of her stomach and slowly moved them down onto her thighs.

  "I have to buy some more panties. All the ones I have are like these and won't stay up. Either the elastic stretches beyond use or they were just not very good to begin with. I need at least two new bras. I have none that fit me, but I'll only need them for a couple of months. Just until I get back to normal size."