CITRUS ~ A Long Way From Home / Trust

Chapter 25

Day 3

It was another work day for Ume inside the company trailer as she sat at her work bench, shuffling around paperwork of the new building her company was working on on the other side of Tokyo. Blueprints and artists conceptions were spread throughout the trailer walls as she worked alongside other architects and engineers, working together to move the construction along to the next phase, one floor at a time.

But as busy as she was, she was in good spirits today after Harumi and Himeko spent last night at her home to keep her company and enjoy the evening.

After making breakfast for them this morning, she left them at her apartment so they can leave when they were ready. She felt really appreciative that they made the time to come keep her company while Yuzu and Mei were out of the country.

As she and the staff moved around, reporting the progress and hurdles of the week, Ume couldn't help but think of this as another day at the office. It took many years to get to where she was, and took pride in the job she worked so hard to achieve.

Although the job can be extra busy at times, this was a fairly normal routine every few weeks. Which can take up so much of people's time away from personal obligations and family.

And although some might be use to that routine, she never felt completely comfortable with it while trying to raise a child on her own.

It was thoughts like this that made her think of her own family, and of all that she had to be grateful for. But it also bothered her when she had to spend so much time away from home.

Having to raise a daughter on her own, there were plenty of times when she wished she could drop everything and spend more time with her. She loved being a mother, and it was the most important job she'll ever have.

But her obligations and responsibilities towards her job were just as important. And like most parents in Japan, she had to teach her daughter to be self sufficient at a young age. So even though she was away at work, she took comfort in knowing that Yuzu was very capable of taking care of herself.

But things weren't too different after Mei came into their lives. Although she was very self sufficient and dependable in her own way, there were some things that Mei still needed help with. And it made Ume so happy to be there for her needs as well.

So no matter how busy she was, she still makes plenty of time for both her daughters needs and attention, with the kind of love that only a mother can give. And it always gave her a smile, knowing that she, Yuzu and Mei have developed a loving bond that any parent could hope for.

And it was because of that bond that she kept her phone beside herself this week in case she got a call from her daughters, who were both out of the country on their own for the first time in their lives.

Although she was confident that Mei could handle her business affairs, and that Yuzu would be there to help Mei in any way possible, she still couldn't help but to be a loving mother who worries about her daughters. And after the events that happened to them over the past few days while in America, she felt that she'll be needed more then ever.

But that didn't stop her looking at the clock on the wall. Yuzu or Mei never called here that morning, and it was already late in the evening in California. She couldn't help but wonder why either one of her girls didn't call. But then she reasoned that the girls might already be asleep by now. Probably exhausted from all the running around they had to do that day.

But although she had the urge to text them, she knew deep down that if her girls needed her, they had the confidence to call her anytime. Not hearing from them right away wasn't anything to worry about.