The Japanese Lover

Alma misses an appointment with Lenny. With Neko gone, Alma struggles to sleep and finds herself feeling lonely. Irina tries to become more physically involved in Alma’s care, but Alma does not want to accept that she is starting to deteriorate. Lenny tells Alma that she cannot die before him, and Alma laments that Lenny is going to die at all. Lenny notes that he regrets going sober, giving up meat, and exercising, since he is running out of time, now. Alma only misses Nathaniel, noting that she sees her family as often as she would like. The gardenias from Ichi stop arriving, but Alma does not acknowledge the change. Alma gets confused at times, losing direction or misplacing objects, and she is afraid to move to the second level of Lark House, where she would need constant care. She resolves to shut down her art studio, arranging with Seth to get Kirsten a job as Cathy’s assistant with the Belasco family paying her wages.

Seth brings Alma three gardenias as a memorial for Neko, and he tells Alma that he knows the gardenias and letters she usually receives are from Ichimei. Alma is shocked that Seth knows about Ichi.