Tsubaki was replacing the empty trays in the large three tiers glass display racks with new batches of fresh breads. After taking out all of the empty trays, Kohana helped her by bringing them to the kitchen. Chiyo who had just waving a couple of mother and son goodbye quickly hopped to her side.
"Let me handle this, Sister Tsubaki. Aren't you busy with your sweets for Old Madam Fuse's party?" Chiyo took a tray of cinnamon twists from Tsubaki's hands. She put the tray on the first tier before her hands moved to take another tray.
"They are still in the oven. I'm going to bring some to the old house tonight." Tsubaki wiped her hands using a damp towel. Earlier, Grandma Fuse called her and asked for her and Ren to have dinner at the old house. She had texted her husband but there was still no reply from him.
"The celebration is in less than two weeks, right?" Chiyo put the last tray inside the rack. She slid the glass closed to avoid the breads from being contaminated by the air outside. "Aren't you nervous, Sister Tsubaki? You'd be introduced as Mr. Fuse's wife in front of the public for the first time."
Tsubaki laughed while nodding her head. "I am so nervous, to be honest. But Grandma and Ren always tell me that it'd just be a simple introduction. I just need to know some basic etiquette."
"Oh~ so you're already on the road to be a proper lady of high society?" Chiyo nudged Tsubaki's elbow playfully while the latter chuckled.
"I..."
Tsubaki was cut short when her phone chimed, notifying her that a new message had arrived. She had just wanted to take her phone out of her apron pocket when a group of new customers entered the bakery. Ignoring the notification, she swiftly changed her focus to the new customers.
"Welcome!"
After the customers left, Tsubaki glanced at the wall clock and was surprised when it was already noon. The bakery would be busy for lunch hour in few minutes. In the midst of her baking sweets for Grandma tonight, she had forgot to call Hibiki to come pick up Ren's lunch box.
Tsubaki quickly took her phone out. It was then that she noticed that the message from earlier was from her husband. She opened the message. Once she read the content, her little face instantly bloomed with smile.
Sweetheart, I love you.
"Aye aye, showing affection to us single people," Kohana jokingly said when she saw her boss' smiling face. She had just returned from the kitchen.
Tsubaki giggled. She pondered for a bit before she decided to make a call instead of replying with a message. Tsubaki walked towards the resting room. She sat on the long couch while dialing his number.
He didn't pick up her call. Twice.
Tsubaki didn't think much of it. He might be busy. As she was afraid it might be too late for lunch, she placed a call for Hibiki instead. It was ringing for a few times already but the call was yet to be connected.
Are they still busy? Tsubaki recalled that Ren had important events going on today.
Right before she decided to end the call, the call was finally connected.
"Hello, Hibiki. Is Ren with you?"
"I'm sorry, Madam. Both of us are out of the city. There's an emergency at Summer City Hotel." Hibiki's tensed voice answered her question.
"It is serious? I called him earlier but he didn't answer." Tsubaki was baffled. She didn't expect that Ren wasn't in the city. It would be a really serious matter if he forgot to inform her beforehand.
"It's nothing, actually." Hibiki's voice grew distant and unclear, as if the call was interrupted by the signal. "I'm sorry, Madam! I need to go now. I'll tell Master that you've called him."
"Thank you, Hibiki. But, just focus on your work first. I don't want to disturb him."
"Yes, Madam." Hibiki's voice turned gentler. The call ended.
Tsubaki stared blankly at the phone in her hands. She felt that something was not right but what was it? Even after thinking for a long time she still couldn't point out what was bothering her.
Tsubaki stood up from the couch. She didn't want to overthink things. If Ren was currently out of the city, maybe they couldn't have dinner with Grandma tonight. It might be late at night when he would finally return.
Just as Tsubaki wanted to get out of the room, her phone rang. She quickly looked at the screen. It was him!
"Ren, I heard from Hibiki that you're having an emergency. Are you okay?." Tsubaki didn't as much as saying hello. She was partially frantic.
"You're still at the bakery, love?"
His calm voice soothed her heart. Tsubaki's free arm fiddled with the hem of her blouse. She nodded slightly even though she knew he couldn't see it.
"Yes."
Ren chuckled at the end of the line. But somehow it didn't sound like his usual cheeriness. Tsubaki opened her mouth, wanting to ask him what was wrong but he had beat her to it when he resumed talking.
"I might not coming back home tonight. Do you want to stay at the old house? My job here might take a few days."
"It's okay, Ren. I'd just stay at home." Tsubaki declined his suggestion. If possible, she wanted to stay within the compound of their own home. It would make her feel calmer.
"How about just tonight? I don't want you to be alone," Ren persuaded his wife. His tone remained gentle.
Tsubaki wanted to further refuse him but she paused as the uneasiness that was budding inside her heart started to grow. In the end, she relented. "Okay, hubby. I'll stay at the old house tonight."
"Thank you, sweetheart." Ren said in gratitude. There was a trace of relief in his voice. "I need to go now. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Okay. Don't overwork yourself." Even though Tsubaki was reluctant to end the call, she knew she had to. "Come home as soon as you can, okay?"
Ren laughed but it sounded distant. "I'll come home to you. Safely. I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, hubby."
As Ren ended the call, Tsubaki slumped herself on the sofa. This feeling was like what she had felt whenever Ren was on the phone with his PI friend. What was he hiding? Knowing Ren, he would rather keep it from anyone.
Such a bad habit! She needed to do something to fix it.