Bamboo & Lace

  "So it's really okay that you wait? You're not eager to discuss any of this with Jeff right now?"

  "No, I'm fine. I would like to talk to him, but I can wait until we get back."

  "Okay," Gabe agreed, "but just tell me if you change your mind. Don't worry about the cost; Mom and Carson won't give it any thought. If you want to talk to Jeff sooner than Saturday, say the word."

  "I will. Thank you."

  Standing in the hallway outside the bedroom door, Gabe looked down at her. Lily looked back. With a gentle hand, Gabe pushed the hair from her forehead and then placed his hand on her slim shoulder.

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  "Of all the things we need to talk about in the weeks to come, the one that's most on my mind is the conversation that we started on the porch yesterday."

  Lily nodded. "Were you serious about your feelings on adoption? Could you raise another person's child?"

  "I think I could, but there are other issues just as important as that. How would you feel if you could never be pregnant? What if you could never have a biological child?"

  lily looked thoughtful. "I see what you mean. My first response is to say I'd be fine, but it would be wise if I think about it for a time."

  "Good. Tell me when you're ready to talk some more." "Okay."

  The twosome went in search of the family and found them here and there. They settled in the family room to talk to Gloria, who was keeping an eye on Celia so Bailey could sleep. And it didn't take long for Gloria to see that something had changed.

  "Where did you eat?"

  "AI'mo's."

  "That's one of my favorites. Did you have a Reuben?" Gloria asked to tease her son.

  "How did you know?" Lily asked.

  Gloria laughed. "Did you really have a Reuben?"

  The three had a good laugh as Gabe explained what had happened.

  "So after all these years, you find you like Reubens." Gloria was clearly pleased. "Your father would be delighted."

  Gabe was telling her how he'd thought of his father in the restaurant when Carson joined the group, Peter and Evan in his wake.

  "You're just the lady I'm looking for," Carson said to Lily as he took a seat next to his wife. "I have a question for you." "Okay," Lily answered, reminding herself to look up. "What books of the Bible have you translated into Kashienese?"

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  "Oh, let me see. All of James, 1 Peter, and John. Then select passages from Psalms and Proverbs. Right now I'm working my way through Genesis."

  "Is that all?" Gabe teased from beside her, and Lily turned to smile at him.

  Carson, however, was not finished with the subject. "So by the time you're done," he asked, "do you basically have the books memorized?" "Pretty much."

  "Give us James," he commanded good-naturedly. Everyone laughed when Lily said, "In English or Kashienese?" "English, please," Carson got out between chuckles, but then stopped Lily before she could start. "Can I test you in James?" "Certainly."

  Carson went for the Bible he and Gloria kept on the kitchen table, excitement showing in his eyes.

  "Okay," he began once he'd found the text, "give us James 2:5."

  "Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?"

  "Word perfect! How about 1:8? What kind of man is unstable in all his ways?"

  "A double-minded man."

  "That's two for two," Carson said, now warmer to his subject than ever. "How about 4:10?" "Quote it?" "Yes, please."

  "Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you."

  Carson beamed at her. "That was great."

  "You don't have a television at home, do you, Lily?" Evan asked with a smile.

  Lily smiled back at him, the fondness showing in her eyes. "No, not even a radio."

  "Is it terribly time-consuming for you?" Gloria asked.

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  "It would be if I didn't control it. Every other week I devote three days to it, and on the off week just one day. My father still wants me involved in the village and not spending all of my time bent over the translating."

  "So you know Greek and Hebrew?" Carson asked.

  "Yes, my father was taught those languages in seminary and he has taught me."

  "And how long does it take to do just one verse?"

  "It depends on where I am in the text. I try to stay within the context of the passage. So if I'm just starting, it's very long and drawn out, but once I know where I am, it moves smoother until the story line changes. Genesis has been the most challenging that way."

  "And you've been doing this for how long?"

  "Since I was 15, so about nine years."

  "Is there anything about translation you don't like?" Gabe asked from beside her, and Lily thought him most perceptive.

  "When the church isn't doing well, I sometimes ask myself why I bother. If I'm not careful, I can have a poor attitude."

  "So what do you do to combat that?"

  "I remind myself that I'm not doing this for this life but for eternity, and that it's a privilege to be in God's Word for any reason."

  Gabe smiled into her eyes, and Lily smiled back. For a few moments the couple just looked at each other, something that only the children in the room did not notice.

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  Chapter 21

  "Lily, this is Melika," Gloria said on Friday afternoon, "Carsons daughter, and her husband, Koma."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you," Lily told the couple who had come for Gloria's birthday party.

  "That little streak of lightning that ran to find Peter is Niko," the birthday girl continued, "and the butterball in Carson's arms is Kimi."

  "How old is your daughter?" Lily asked Melika, finding it easier to meet her eyes.

  "Ten months, and the apple of her grandfather's eye." "She's beautiful."

  "Well, we tend to think so," Melika admitted, "but then we admit to being biased as well."

  "Can you wave at Lily?" Carson took Kimi's arm and moved it. "Wave at Lily."

  "I can do waves," Celia came close to Grandpa Carson's knee to say.

  "Of course you can," he said as he gently put her on his other knee, needing no time at all to see the jealousy. "You're such a big girl," he praised her as she cuddled close.

  Celia heard him, but at the moment she noticed Kimi watching her. The two little girls grinned at each other and, a moment later, Carson put them both on the rug. Kimi took only a moment to crawl over and try to sit on Celia. That three-year-old laughed in delight, which made everyone in the room laugh with her.

  "

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  lily saw her opportunity and rose quietly. She had volunteered to help Gloria in the kitchen and still had a few jobs to do. This was where Gabe found her.

  "Oh, what's this?" he asked when he saw the little hors d'oeuvres she was putting together.

  "I don't know what they're called, but your mother showed me how to make them."

  "Can I try one?"

  "Yes, but take it from this side. The others have mustard."

  "So my secret's out," he stated as he leaned against the counter and took a bite of what looked like a tiny hot dog wrapped in a crust.

  "What secret?"

  "That I don't like mustard."

  "Now that you mention it," lily teased, "you have been rather difficult. You don't like corned beef, and you don't like mustard. I'm starting to wonder about you, Gabriel Kapaia."

  "Is that so?"

  "Yes, it is," she told him, not able to hide her smile as he did so often with her.

  "Okay, I'll make a deal with you. I'll keep trying corned beef if you'll go swimming with me after we get back."

  "Why wouldn't I go swimming with you?"

  "Because you don't like to be out in your swimsuit."

  "Oh, that's right." Lily paused as she thought about it, remembering back to the day she and Jeff purchased it. "Why do you want to go swimmin
g with me?"

  Gabe hesitated. They were alone in the kitchen, but that could change at any moment.

  "Ask me later."

  "Okay," lily said, still watching him. "Is it something bad?" "No, but the answer isn't a short one, and I don't want us to be interrupted."

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  "Okay," Carson's voice came to them even before he showed up, "we're headed into the kitchen now, and yes! We have found some people."

  Gabe began to laugh as Carson approached with a video camera held so he could view the tiny screen.

  "You'll have to get used to this, Lily Carson has taped all of Mom's birthdays since the day they were married."

  "How does it work?" Lily asked, fascinated with the small camera.

  "Come over here, and I'll show you," Carson offered. "You stay there and pose, Gabe."

  Gabe tried for a sophisticated and debonair look and then stuck his stomach out and slouched.

  "Which one did you like?" he asked innocently.

  Lily was trying not to laugh because Carson was taking the time to explain his camera to her, but it wasn't easy.

  "Okay now, Lily," Carson instructed, "you get in front of the camera and wish Gloria a happy birthday."

  Lily felt suddenly shy about this but gave it her best shot.

  "Happy birthday, Gloria. You do me an honor when you include me in your special celebration. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality in this beautiful home. I pray God's blessings on you today and in the year to come."

  Carson hit the pause button and lowered the camera.

  "Was that all right?"

  "That was great, Lily. No one has ever mentioned honor before. What was that phrase you used?"

  "I think I said that I'm honored because Gloria included me."

  "And honor is important in your village?"

  "Honor is important all over Kashien. In fact, it's so important that I can't find the English words to describe it."

  "Say it in Kashienese."

  Glad that he was not recording her, Lily quietly vocalized the foreign words that spoke of the high value of honor not just her own honor, but also that of others.

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  "And what word or words in all of that don't translate?" Gabe asked.

  Lily told him and helped him pronounce it when he asked her. Carson put the tape back on for this and then thanked them when he was ready to move on.

  I'm falling in love with you," Gabe whispered the moment they were alone. "You know that, don't you, Lily?"

  "How is it possible, Gabe, that we care so much about each other after such a short time?"

  "I think it's because of our connection " Gabe had no choice but to cut off when Bailey and Celia came looking for a drink, but somehow Lily knew that Gabe was going to mention her brother. She went back to work on the hors d'oeuvres, her hands moving without a lot of thought as her mind was centered on her brother and how well she knew Gabe because of him.

  The party was an unqualified success. Carson's son and his family had come just before the meal, and with 18 in the house, it had been a loud and joyous celebration. The children were drooping a bit Celia had already been put to bed, and the two babies were sound asleep in laps when Gabe asked Lily to go for a walk with him. After they left, the adult conversation in the living room turned to the absent couple.

  "Am I out of line," Carson's son, Kale, asked, "to ask if Gabe and Lily are seeing each other?"

  "We think so, Kale," Evan took the liberty to answer, "but its rather new."

  "As in today," Ashton put in. "Or have I had my head in the sand?"

  "No, I think you're right. Something must have happened when they were out today."

  "And Lily is here for how much longer?"

  "Till the end of November, but I think she's talking about delaying her departure if Jeff doesn't come back on time."

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  "Did you hear about that, Kale?" Melika said to her brother. "She had no more arrived than Jeff was called away. She was only coming for three months, and he was sent away for two of those."

  "How did she handle it?"

  "Like she handles everything," Bailey answered. "With quiet grace and dignity."

  "And does that come from her upbringing?"

  "I would say so, yes," Bailey answered before Evan spoke again.

  "And the funny part is how sorry we all felt for her. She didn't know what a bread machine was. She had never used a computer or learned to swim, and we thought in some ways she was just a little bit pathetic. But she's never been distracted by the media, so she's had all sorts of time to read and learn.

  "One night we watched a movie that had scenes from a quiz show. Some of the questions were impossible, but she knew every answer."

  "Not to mention having books of the Bible memorized," Carson added.

  "Entire books?" Koma asked.

  Carson smiled hugely as he nodded. "I quizzed her on the book of James. You can give the reference of any verse and she'll recite it for you."

  "And you think Gabe has fallen for her?" Lydia, Kales wife, asked.

  "I hope so," both Gloria and Bailey said at the exact same time, putting the room into enough laughter to wake the babies.

  "Was it rude of us to leave the party, Gabe?" Lily asked as they walked side by side down the beach path.

  "No, I don't think so. We've had good visits with everyone, and things are winding down. When the two families get together, you never know they might still be talking when we get back."

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  Lily didn't reply to this. It was nice just to walk in the warm sand and feel the breeze on her face. The sky looked extra wide tonight and full of stars. Lily could have easily lain down and counted them until she fell asleep.

  "I want to answer your question now, Lily."

  "Oh, all right, Gabe. I'm glad you remembered."

  Gabe took a moment to start, his voice sincere.

  "The water and swimming have been major parts of my life since the day I was born. I've used water for exercise, for fun, for sports, and at times for therapy. I've watched other people use it for romance. I've watched my sister and her husband and Ash and Deanne cavort and chase each other in the water, and they made me wish for someone special of my own. I'm not suggesting anything improper, but I want to go swimming with you, Lily. Its something I want to share with you. I want to be back on the surface of the pool and float and talk while we look at the clouds. I want to sit in the hot tub and hold your hand."

  The man in him wanted to do more than that, but he knew he couldn't let his mind go there. The last thing he wanted to do was give Lily the impression that he couldn't control himself.

  "Thank you for telling me."

  "Did I say too much? Are you afraid to swim with me now?"

  "No, but it is hard to be outside my room with so little on. I'm not used to that."

  "First of all, I want to say that I think your swimsuit is very modest, Lily, but beyond that, do you feel that way even if it's just me swimming with you?"

  "I think I do feel more comfortable with you, Gabe, but how would I know that it would be just you?"

  "The family has a schedule."

  Lily looked at him. "A schedule?"

  "In a loose sort of way, yes. Right now only Bales and Evan use it, but once Ash and Deanne are married, I'm sure they'll want some time alone in the pool too."

  "How does it work?"

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  "The pool and hot tub close to the public at 9:00. If Evan and Bailey want to be alone at the pool, they tack a ribbon on the bulletin board in the kitchen."

  Had there been any more light, Gabe would have witnessed one of Lily's silent "ohs."

  "Please don't misunderstand me, Lily. I'm not suggesting that we head alone to the pool at night, but I do want to swim with you, both in the pool and in the ocean."

  "I've never swum in the ocean."

  "It's very safe in the bay."

  "Is that the almost-round-looking area over by the
restaurant?"

  "That's the one. It's a great place to swim."

  Lily nodded, not thinking about the fact that Gabe couldn't see her. He had taken them in a wide circle, and they were now headed back toward the house. It was well lit from within, and the sight made Lily feel warm.

  I'll swim with you, Gabe." Lily suddenly realized she needed to give this man an answer. "I can't say that I'm completely comfortable with it, but I would like to try."

  "Oh, lily," Gabe said on a sigh, "you do wonders for my heart."

  "How is that?"

  "You don't really know, do you?" "No, I don't think I do."

  She sounded so uncertain that Gabe almost reached for her hand.

  "Let's just say," he said kindly, "that you're one of the bravest people I've ever known."

  Lily had all she could do not to look around.

  "Were you talking about me?" she finally asked.

  Gabe's laughter sounded in the night, but he didn't answer. Fatigue, both emotional and physical, was starting to find him. On top of that, they were almost back to the house.

  "I shouldn't have said that unless I was willing to explain myself right now, lil, but I must admit to you that my brain is getting fuzzy."

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  Lily wasn't tired at all, but she still understood. "Can we talk about it another time?''

  "Absolutely. Thanks for understanding."

  They finished the walk back to the house in silence, Lily thinking on the events of the day and all they had talked about.

  Getting to know someone is nothing like I imagined, she ended up telling the Lord, a smile in her heart. But I'm still having fun.

  "Will you miss the children?" Lily asked Bailey once they were in the van and leaving the airport for home.

  "Yes, but this will still be good for me. The week will alternately drag and race by, and before I know it, they'll be back, and I'll be more than ready to have them. However, Evan has already told me to rest and not work on projects like I usually do when they're gone."

  lily smiled. She could well imagine how easy it would be to dash around and get things done when you finally had the time, but Evan was wise. Even though the projects would be waiting, Bailey should rest while she had the chance.