"What exactly did she tell you?"
"Many things, but mostly that your need to be needed by me
clouded your judgment. She was very surprised to learn you were going
to be married. She was sure you were protecting me for yourself' "Well, I'm not:'
"But you do protect me:' Gage said, glad to have it on the table for the first time. He'd been aware of this in the back of his mind but never let himself think about it.
"You don't see the looks!" Patrice snapped. "The women mooning over you--one of these days one is going to get her hooks' in you and make you miserable:'
"And you thought Arcie was the next candidate?"
"I guess I did:' the assistant admitted, calming down some and sitting back in her chair.
"What exactly did you object to?"
"She's such a mousy little thing, without a lick of style! She's all wrong for you:'
"You need to trust me when I tell you that there is nothing mousy about her:'
Patrice looked at him but kept quiet. She watched while he picked up the phone, dialed, and spoke into it.
219
"Mallory, I need everyone in here as soon as you can manage it. All right. Thank you:'
Gage replaced the phone, his eyes going back to the woman in front of his desk.
"I've been checked out for too long, Patrice. We're going to have a brief meeting. I'm not out to humiliate you, but the changes begin now:'
"Hello:' Arcineh said when Gage suddenly appeared in his great- grandfather's kitchen.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Fine. Yourself?"
"Doing fine."
"Will I be in the way in here?" Gage asked, wishing he didn't feel so nervous.
"No:' Arcineh said, not sure why he was there.
"How is it coming?"
"A little faster right now:' Arcineh answered, seeing that her hand was not so steady at the moment. "It's nice to hit a straightaway and make some progress."
The room grew quiet. Arcineh did her best to keep working. It felt as though the silence lasted an hour, but Gage spoke after a minute.
"I've always heard about people who looked good no matter what, but I never met one before you."
"Did you have breakfast?" Arcineh asked. "Are you feeling a little dizzy?"
Gage laughed, but added, "You even looked good in those low shoes and frumpy skirts and blouses you wore to the office." Arcineh looked up at him from her place on a stool.
"It was an interesting experience to become invisible. I'd never
220
known that before she said without conceit. "You were very kind during that time, and I appreciated that:'
Their eyes held for a few seconds before Arcineh made herself turn back to the tiles.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" Gage said, coming close to inspect a part she had finished.
"Yes. I didn't think of colors this vibrant for the time, but obviously I was wrong:'
"Have you seen the carpet that just came?"
"No:'
"Come on. I'll show you:'
Arcineh followed him, feeling this wasn't quite real. She had had a crush on this man at one time, and even though she'd been ready to hit him on her last day at the office, she was still very drawn.
"This is the carpet?" Arcineh asked, looking to where Gage had turned back the roll.
"That's it:'
Arcineh looked down at an amazing pattern of colors. Blues, reds, yellows--every color she could imagine--drawn into an intricate pattern Arcineh would have pegged as modern.
"It's so pretty:'
"Evidently my great-grandmother liked lots of color:' "And your great-grandfather let her have it:'
"She was the love of his life Gage said. Arcineh didn't know why, but it made her look at him. He was looking right back. Arcineh wondered how long they would have stayed like that had Bud not wandered onto the scene.
He snagged Gage's attention, who, after telling Arcineh goodbye, went on his way. Arcineh went back to work and would not admit to herself that the kitchen seemed lonely.
221
"So talk some sense into me," Arcineh demanded when she'd told Jalaina and Will the whole story. "I should hate this man, right?" The husband and wife exchanged a smiling look.
"What does that mean?" Arcineh asked, feeling uncertain. "He's sounds perfect for you," Will answered.
"How can you say that?"
"Do you remember how it was with Kevin?" Jalaina asked. "His not knowing about who you were held you back. Gage Sefton knows exactly who you are. He's seen you in every way, and he's still coming around:'
"I'm probably reading something into it. He's probably not interested at all."
Both Jalaina and Will laughed hysterically over this.
"Oh, no," Jalaina struggled to get up, her very pregnant abdomen
making it a challenge. "Every time I laugh, I have to excuse myself" Jalaina waddled from the room, and Arcineh looked at Will. "I didn't think you two would feel this way."
Will smiled and said, "Let me get this straight. You recently sat in a restaurant, raked this man over the coals, and he thanked you:' "Yes:' Arcineh's voice was quiet.
"And is this not the same man who was very nice to you when you wore those horrible shoes to the office?"
"Yes:'
"That's not normal," Will told her. "No one likes to be told how badly he's failed, and men don't have a tendency to look below the surface. This man has to be a little bit special, Arcie."
Arcineh had not looked at it this way. In a few short sentences, Will had given her a lot to think about.
"Gage, have you heard anything I said?" his sister asked.
"I think so:" He looked at her, trying desperately to catch up.
222
"If I didn't know better:' she muttered, "I'd swear you were in love. You've been in a fog all night:'
This said, Erika walked from the living room. Luke, on the other hand, noticed Gage's thoughtful face.
"What's her name?"
"Arcie:"
"That's different:'
"She's different."
"Special or peculiar?"
"Special:"
"How does she feel about you?"
"I wish I knew:'
"Who is she?"
"Sam's granddaughter:'
"The one who just had a baby?"
"No. Arcie hasn't been around for a few years. I get the impression they're going to need to get to know each other, all over again:'
Both men heard Erika coming back from the kitchen. Luke had more questions but kept them to himself. Gage didn't bring it up again.
223
Chapter Seventeen
Help me to trust You, Sam prayed early one morning. I want Arcineh to know You. I want her to accept Your salvation, but I must trust Your timing on this. I know You can change her heart, but she's not been able to trust all the people in her life, and I fear that will spread to You.
Help me to believe Your Word and Your promises. Help me to be the example she needs, but mostly be the grandfather she needs. She might not want to see the family, but she seems to be all right with me. Please, Lord, please save both of us. Save me today, Father, and save Arcie for eternity. I ask You, Father, in Your Son's name and with all my heart. Amen.
Sam eventually climbed from bed, but his heart continued to pray, not just for Arcineh, but that he would learn a deeper trust and gain a deeper faith through all of this.
"Quinn has invited us over:' Sam told Arcineh when he saw her
224
at the old house a few days later. "A week from this Saturday. Jeremy and Tiffany will also be in town:'
Sam had brought lunch again, so the two had been visiting, but the tiler had not expected this. She was not thrilled. Her look spoke volumes but she didn't say no.
"Are you going to tell me what you're thinking?" Sam asked. "I'm trying to think what Quinn might be thinking:"
"She wants to see you but kn
ows it's more complicated than that. She'll understand if it will hurt you too much:"
Those words coming from Quinn, ones that said she was putting others ahead of herself, made Arcineh curious. Arcineh wished she could see her cousin without having to talk to her--watch her in action from a distance with no opportunity to be hurt by her--but knew this was impossible.
She also knew the invitation would only come up again. Arcineh took a moment to say that she would go, but she agreed only to get it over with.
"So how is it going?" Gage asked Mallory in a private meeting. "It's fine," she said--this is what she always said--and Gage stared at her.
Mallory began to look uncomfortable, thinking this was worse than trying to figure out Patrice.
"You can speak freely:' Gage said after a moment. "Patrice is trying to change. Don't worry about being made miserable:'
"Miserable on this job has become normal:' Mallory finally admitted,
barely believing those words had come from her mouth. Gage shook his head a little. He'd been foolishly unaware. But he
was trying to change as well.
"What was your impression of the meeting with Siena, Mallory? Were you in there at all?"
225
"I wasn't in the room, but it's been my job to type the notes, and I've seen inconsistencies. I didn't think that was what I was reading, but when all of this came up, I went back and looked:' She looked frightened for a moment but still admitted, "I even took a copy of the notes home with me so I could study them. It's subtle, but it's there:'
"Were you going to tell me?"
"I have about five pages left to read. I was going to talk to you once I'd marked everything. And I was afraid of what you'd say when you found out I'd taken them from the office:'
"It's all right, but as soon as you have them done, I'd like you to show me what you're seeing:'
Mallory agreed, and when the room became quiet, she mentioned, "It seems Arcie told you a lot:'
"What was your impression of her?" Gage asked, not bothering with Mallory's question.
"Quiet, but amazingly capable. There wasn't any job she couldn't do. I've wondered if that's why Patrice saw her as a threat. And Victoria knew!" Mallory grew animated. "We talked after your meeting with us, and she said she knew there was more to Arcie than met the eye:'
"She told me that also:' Gage said. He had a few more questions for her, thanked her for her time, and then went to find Patrice. He wanted all of this to simply smooth out so he could go back to the business of making sunglasses, but he couldn't do what he'd done before and let others handle things without being aware. It was not a good time, but he was not going to let the changes get the better of him or his business.
"What do you do at church?" Arcineh asked. It was the next Sunday afternoon, and Sam had picked her up again.
226
"We have a sermon, and then we split off into groups for Sunday school:'
"Do you go to Sunday school?" Arcineh asked, feeling drawn and somewhat horrified at the same time.
"Yes, we meet as families. I go with the group whose children are grown. Most have spouses, so I'm different in that way"
"What do you do?"
"We've been studying on the topic of fearing God for awhile. The teacher talks for most of the time, but there's lots of sharing from people in the room:'
Arcineh thought about this for a while and then asked, "What's 'fearing God'?"
"It's recognizing who He is so I think and act like Him:' Sam said, trying to keep it simple.
"Why do you believe in God after all this time? I mean, just believing in God doesn't suddenly make Him there. It makes no sense to me:'
"I had come to a time in my life that was pretty painful. You were gone; all Quinn did was sit around and cry for Tayte; and your aunt called every two minutes to check on her. Then I went to see Mason in the hospital, and he told me I was condemned. I don't mind telling you that I didn't take that very well.
"All the way back to my car, I talked to God and told Him He wasn't there. I then sat behind the wheel and said, 'If You're not there, who am I talking to?' It was a defining moment for me since I was thinking differently than I had. I'd never read the Bible, but what did I have to lose? If I was so sure that God didn't exist, why not look in the book? I thought it might be a good fantasy read:'
Sam suddenly smiled. "I was captivated. I knew that people believed in creation, but I'd never looked at the order in which it happened or considered Satan's part in the garden. I could not stop reading.
"Mason didn't live much longer, but he did live long enough for me to go back and ask him some questions. He couldn't answer
227
much--his own faith was fairly new--but he sent me to my present church. I've not missed a Sunday in more than two years:'
His own faith was fairly new. Arcineh didn't know what to do with that statement. She had longed for a renewed relationship with Sam for so many months and years, and now he was not the man she remembered. There wasn't anything she could object to, but there was comfort in sameness--even when the sameness had been far from perfect.
"What bothers you about it the most?" Sam asked with tremendous kindness. His heart was so full of love for this woman that he barely held his emotions when she was with him.
"I don't know:' Arcineh said. She thought it was the change in him but suddenly wasn't sure. "I guess:' Arcineh tried to begin, "we have such history together, but not like this. I've been content without that, and your needing God surprises me."
"I can see how that would be true. I just hope you'll ask me questions if you have them:"
"Why is that important?"
"I hope we can be closer than ever, and if you find me odd or inconsistent, I think that will put distance between us."
This was definitely not the grandfather she knew, but for the first time she was comforted by his words.
Sam, watching her face and seeing something different, did not have a chance to question her. The phone rang, and this Sunday it was Violet. When she learned that Arcineh was back in Sam's life, all she could do was cry. When the tears abated, Sam had to talk her into staying where she was. Arcineh tried as well, and Violet agreed, but both Bryants had the impression they would see her very soon.
That night Sam read in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your
228
God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"
Thank You for Your words, Lord, Sam prayed. I have to remember that my job is to trust You while You work Your plan. I asked You to bring Arcineh back to me, and You did this. I need to trust You for her salvation. I am foreign to her, and she doesn't know what to do with me. Please don't let me stand in the way of her knowing You. Please give her a hunger to know more and to understand that You are there.
Sam was out of words then, remembering the day that God had changed his mind toward Him. Before he slept, he cried. He cried in grief and thanksgiving, awe and fear, his heart a jumble of emotions but mostly wanting to be obedient. Reminding himself of how much God loved him, Sam finally drifted off to sleep.
"Is that Gage?" Arcineh asked Sam when they exited her apartment building midmorning on Saturday. Someone was already sitting in the passenger's seat of Sam's Maybach.
"Yes. I thought we needed an impartial party:"
Arcineh had to smile. She would not have thought of such a thing, but it wasn't such a bad idea. However, she would not have considered Gage. She was still working out his presence when they neared the car and Gage opened his door.
"Actually," she said to him, "I think I'll be more comfortable in the back, but thank you:'
"Are you certain?"
"Yes: Arcineh said, proving her point by opening the door and slipping in behind the fro
nt passenger's seat.
Gage, with only a glance at Sam, got back in the front. He had
229
not intended to take Arcineh's place, but outside of blocking her way, there was nothing he could do.
Once again he hadn't counted on being nervous but got back into the car feeling slightly rattled. He didn't know what this woman had that put him on edge, but she had it in spades. It also didn't help that she looked fabulous in simple jeans and a light pink sweater that only worked to accentuate her dark hair and eyes.
"Do you have a specific time you need to be back?" Sam asked his granddaughter after they were underway.
"I think I have an hour:' she joked, bringing a smile to Sam's mouth as he began to navigate the city.
The men fell to talking, initiated by Sam, with Arcineh only half listening. Her mind had drifted back to times with Quinn, times of hurt and confusion. She had thought she was over those, but they had come back to haunt her. Somewhere in her mind, she realized Sam was talking to her.
"Are you asleep back there?"
"No, just wandering. How close are we?"
"About ten minutes:'
"Ten minutes?" Arcineh's voice betrayed her panic.
"Yes. Are you all right?"
"I need to stop!"
Sam did not argue. He pulled off the road as soon as it was safe, and Arcineh opened her door. She swung her feet out to rest on the cold curb and attempted some deep breaths.
"Arcie?" Sam was in front of her--he'd even hunkered down on his haunches to be at her level.
"I don't know if I can do this:' she said breathlessly.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but try to trust me on this:'
"You don't know, Sam:" Arcineh whispered. "It was awful:'
"Yes, it was, but unlike before, I'll believe everything you tell me:' Sam looked into her face and knew that she was ready to back out. He had to try something. "Try to think back as far as you can to the
230
old Quinn, the Quinn that was fun and not mean. That's the Quinn she is now."
"What happened?" Arcineh asked with a good deal of doubt. "She believes differently:'
"Like you?"
"Yes:' Sam said briefly, not explaining how recent a decision Quinn had made for Christ, but still knowing she was a woman at peace for the first time.