Page 106 of Praising Haru

“I thought you said you found all the owls during a school trip.”

Haru shrugs. “I thought it was all the owls. Turns out it was just the owls in and close to Millennium Square. They probably didn’t want a group of ten-year-olds running around all over town for hours.”

“I guess not.”

The leaflet has a map, so we plan a route and set off. At every location, we rope someone into taking a goofy photo of us in front of the owls. Lots are stone or gold, but there are also tapestries and coats of arms. One is a stained-glass window. The mural on the side of the Platform building isn’t on the guide, but we make sure we get to a good vantage point so we can take a photo of it looming over the railway station. It’s fun, and for a few hours, our conversation is full of laughter, our thoughts on our task and each other, not on Haru leaving.

When we’re done, I take him out for food, and then we go home and enjoy each other late into the night. We play with our new toys, keeping things low-key and relaxed, and eventually fall asleep in each other’s arms, sweaty and sated.

Sunday morning is lazy and mostly spent in bed. We talk, Haru finishes reading the adventure novel to me, and we make love. Eventually, we drag ourselves up and through the shower so we’re not late for Sunday dinner.

“Something smells good,” Haru says as we walk in the door.

“My mum is a good cook.” I kiss his hair and whisper in his ear, “Don’t tell her, but you’re better, gorgeous.”

“Don’t tell me what?” Mum asks from the kitchen.

“She also has ears like a hawk.”

“I also see as well as a hawk does.” Mum taps the side of her nose and then beckons to us. As soon as we approach, she grasps Haru’s hand and looks him up and down, appraising him. “Well, aren’t you a sweet thing?”

He’s giving off boy-next-door vibes in clothes that accentuate the softness of his features. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Scott.”

“And so polite too. Call me Margaret. How long have you been seeing each other?”

Haru glances at me. I should have predicted this question so we could discuss it in advance. Do we date our relationship from when we met in person at Blayd’s or from when we started chatting online? The lines are too blurred for me to be able to make a judgement call.

“A few weeks,” Haru replies. “But we’ve known each other for a while.”

“Oh? Why have I never met you?”

“I was living in London.”

My gut twists. And he will be again. Soon.

“But you’re based here now?”

“Not permanently.”

Mum presses her lips into a fine line.

I put my hand on the small of Haru’s back. I should have predicted her reaction.

“Dinner’s ready.” Mum goes into the kitchen.

Haru clings to my arm. “She hates me.”

“She doesn’t, beautiful. No one could hate you. She wants me to settle down.”

“Here,” Haru says in a dull tone.

I sigh. “Yes.”

“I get it. My parents would love me to stay in Leeds too.”

I hug him. “She’ll come around. You’re amazing.”

“She probably thinks I’m trying to steal you from her.”