Summary

In Chapter 16, as Takao lay dying of lung cancer he asked his son to have Kemi Morita, the Oomoto spiritual leader, come to him. After praying over him, Kemi told the rest of the family that Takao’s ancestors were waiting to guide him to the other side. He gave Ichimei through the priestess. He said the Fukuda family sword was still buried in the garden at Sea Cliff. It was now Ichimei’s responsibility to go, dig it up and see that it was placed on the altar of the family’s ancestors.

When she returned home to Sea Cliff Alma felt out of place. Isaac was ailing after a heart attack. Lillian had begun putting together recipes to strengthen him and going to all of his doctors appointments. He received a burst of energy when Alma returned home. He had always...