“I would never leave you—not in that way. I promise. I swear.”
“You were once prepared to. Everyone thinks I do not know. At the time when your mother was still alive. When she was your mother and I was not.”
Tom Alan felt the slap that Erika had felt for real at the Tsuchino kitchen table.
“I know, Tom Alan. Then, you were ready to leave. Why not again? You are different, Tom Alan. You would have left us for Milo Fisher.”
Tom Alan shook his head. “I’m…I’m still going. Not forever, but…I’ve made arrangements to fly back to New York for a week or so, maybe longer. I’m sorry. I’m not abandoning you. I took your name. I am your family—forever. You can even come. You should come. And after…I don’t know what happens after. I’m not even necessarily leaving Japan…not for good. I am leaving my
