The Salaryman's Wife Read Online Free Page B

mention his male colleagues. With perfect timing, the door next to his opened. The woman in question emerged wearing just a yukata and her magnificent pearls.
    “What is it now, Hugh?” She spoke to him as intimately as a wife.
    “Ah, just practicing my English conversation skills. Bathtime, is it?”
    “Yes. How about you?” Her voice was inviting.
    “Done it already. Rather hot, that water. Once burned, twice shy.” Hugh winked at me.
    “Excuse me, but do you mean to wear your necklace in the water?” I interrupted, my eyes on Setsuko’s mammoth pearls. As much as I disliked her, I couldn’t stand the idea of anything precious being destroyed.
    “Certainly. This particular mineral bath is excellent for pearls. It refreshes them.” Setsuko caressed the pearls. “Being an American, you probably don’t know that.”
    “Americans prefer diamonds, isn’t that right?” Hugh teased.
    If that was an attempt to defend me, it stank. I decided both of them deserved a short lecture of the type I used with my most unruly classes of young salesmen.
    “In my museum work, I’ve learned an occasional salt water bath is relatively harmless for pearls.” I watched with pleasure as Setsuko’s posture become rigid. “However, the exact saline content of the water here is unknown. The reason I’d advise against immersing your pearls is the water will weaken the knots between them and possibly lead to a break. That’s why, when you have your pearls cleaned every year, they are re-strung.” I paused. “You do have your pearls professionally cleaned?”
    “At Mikimoto.” Setsuko narrowed her round eyes before swishing off.
    Hugh gave me a mocking salute. “Well done, but do you know as much about the care of textiles? I have some ironing…”
    “No,” I spat. “And why don’t you go bathe with her? Maybe this time you’ll burn your problem off.”
    Hugh Glendinning’s annoying foreign laughter followed me downstairs, and I cursed myself for not being able to leave well enough alone. It was a problem I needed to work on seriously. Maybe in the new year.

3
    Sun filtered through the window’s shji screen and tilled my bedroom on New Year’s morning with pale, diffused light. I peered at my watch, which told me it was seven-thirty. I knew I’d better pry myself out of the quilts fast if I wanted the bathroom to myself.
    Since I’d shut off the gas heater for safety during the night, leaving bed was painful. I flipped the heat up to high, gathered my clothing and raced downstairs.
    The bathroom door already had the women’s sign on but stuck when I tried to open it. I fiddled with the doorjamb, and when the door swung open, I saw the dressing room had one basket filled with clothes. The pink turtleneck, ski pants, and lacy underwear could mean one of two women. I undressed but nevertheless wrapped a towel around myself before pecking in the bath chamber.
    “The shower on the left has the best spray. Comequickly, you are surely frozen!” Yuki Ikeda, her face flushed pink, was up to her shoulders in hot water.
    “What about your husband?” I couldn’t believe they weren’t enjoying the bath together.
    “Sleeping like a big pile of garbage!” She rolled her eyes, making me laugh.
    The warm shower was a joy, but slipping into the steamy bath was heaven. I took the side opposite my new friend, who politely looked at the ceiling as I laid my towel aside.
    “Why are you up so early?” I asked in Japanese since there was no bossy husband around to insist on English practice.
    “It’s crazy! Taro and I wanted to have a romantic bath yesterday evening, but there was a WOMEN ONLY sign on all night. I tried to check the dressing room, but the door was locked.”
    “It was jammed with a scrap of paper. I had trouble this morning, too, but it’s fixed now.”
    Yuki shook her head. “To be frank, I think this place is getting a little sloppy. When I came this morning, the bathroom was very messy. The bath