Now, seeing him again, Cole was even more nervous than I was. He didn’t know what to do with his hands.
When I offered him water, he said it was the best water he’d ever tasted.
When I invited him to sit on the edge of the heated brick bed, he said it was the most comfortable seat he’d
ever sat on.
His earnest, bumbling manner made me laugh.
Seeing me laugh, he scratched his head in embarrassment. “I’m not very good with words. I’m sorry if I ma- de a fool of myself.”
“No, no,” I quickly reassured him. “I wasn’t laughing at you.”
We fell into a companionable silence.
After a moment, Cole suddenly remembered he had brought something for me. He pulled a small packet of malt candy from his pocket and pushed it across the table.
S
“It’s our first meeting. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I just bought some candy. I see the other girls in town
eating it.”
The candy was wrapped neatly in oil paper. It was a thoughtful gesture.
I unwrapped a piece and popped it in my mouth.
Seeing me eat his candy, Cole broke into a wide, happy grin.
He was so simple and honest. I couldn’t deceive him.
So I told him the truth.
“I was married before,” I said. “You saw him in town, the one who sold tofu with me. He was a high–ranking official from the capital who was convicted of a crime. I bought him.”
>
“But he found me coarse and didn’t want to live with me. His case was overturned a few days ago, and he has returned to the capital.”
Cheshira Lusty
Most men would have been put off by such a story.
But Cole just kept smiling his simple, honest smile.
“It’s alright,” he said. “It’s good that he’s gone.”
