The Devotion of Suspect X - Keigo Higashino [51]
“What about you, Kudo? Is it all right for you to skip out on dinner with your family?”
“What about me, indeed.” Kudo set down his coffee cup and rested his elbows on the table. “Actually, one of the reasons I invited you out to dinner today was to talk about that.”
Yasuko lifted an eyebrow, looking into his eyes.
“That is to say—actually, I’m single now.”
Yasuko gasped out loud.
“My wife got cancer. Pancreatic. She had surgery, but it was too little, too late. She passed away last summer. She was young, but once it started it went quickly. It was over in blink of an eye.”
He spoke evenly, which had the effect of making his story sound almost unreal to Yasuko’s ears. For several seconds, she merely sat there, staring at him.
“Really?” she finally managed.
“I wouldn’t joke about something like that,” he replied with a wry smile.
“No, of course you wouldn’t. I just don’t know what to say—” She looked down at the table, then bit her lip before looking back up. “I … I’m sorry for your loss. It must have been difficult.”
“It was. But, like I said, it was over quickly. She went to the hospital complaining of a backache. Then I got a call from the doctor and she was admitted. She went into surgery. I came in to be with her—one thing after the other, like we were on a conveyor belt. I was hardly aware of the days passing, and then suddenly she was gone. It wasn’t hospital policy to tell patients about their cancer without family consent, so I’m not sure whether she ever knew what she had.” Kudo picked up a glass of water and drank.
“When did you first learn she had it?”
Kudo thought for a moment. “Around the end of the year before last … so, two years ago.”
“I was still at Marian then … you were still coming to the club.”
Kudo laughed quietly, his shoulders shaking. “Pretty insensitive, huh? Here my wife is on the brink of death, and I’m going out drinking.”
Yasuko froze. She didn’t know what to say. All she could remember was Kudo’s smiling face at the club.
“Well, if you want an excuse, let’s just say I was tired. I needed a break, I wanted to see you.” He scratched his head, frowning.
Yasuko thought back to when she had quit the club. On her last day, Kudo had brought her a bouquet.
Work hard and be happy—
What had he meant when he said those words? How had he felt? He must’ve been in far more pain than she, yet he had never let it show. He’d sent her on her way with good wishes and flowers.
“Well, sorry for killing the mood,” Kudo said, pulling out a cigarette. “What I was trying to say is, you needn’t worry about my family.”
“What about your son, then? He’s got exams coming up, doesn’t he?”
“My parents are taking care of him for the time being. They live closer to his high school, and I’m pretty useless around the house. Can’t even make the kid a proper dinner. I think my mother’s happy to have someone to look after.”
“So you’re living alone now?”
“If you call going back to the bedroom after work, falling on my face, and sleeping ‘living,’ then yeah, pretty much.”
“But you didn’t say anything about that the last time we met.”
“Didn’t think there was a need. I came to see you because I was worried about you, after all. But I figured if I asked you to dinner, you would worry about my family—and you certainly have a right to. So, that’s the story and here we are.”
“I had no idea…” Yasuko lowered her eyes.
Kudo’s intentions were clear now. He was letting her know that he wanted to see her more often. He wanted to date, officially this time. And dating with the possibility of a future together. No doubt that was why he wanted to meet Misato, too.
After that they left the restaurant, and Kudo gave her a ride home in a taxi just as he had the other night.
“Thanks for dinner,” Yasuko said before she got out.
“I hope it won’t be the last?”
There was a pause, then Yasuko smiled and said, “Yes.”
“Then, good night. My best to your daughter.”
“Good night,” she