Bamboo and Lace (16 page)

“Here.” Gabe handed her a glass of root beer.

Lily took a few sips, still feeling as though she had something jammed in her throat. Everyone went back to the movie, and Lily realized how blessed she was. The Kapaias treated her like family. They made sure she was all right, but they included her without special treatment and acted as though her presence were an everyday thing.

When the movie ended, the children were put to bed. They rode up the stairs on their uncles' backs, their father bringing up the rear to pray with them, dole out kisses, and tuck them in.

“That was fun, wasn't it?”

“Yes,” Lily agreed. “Can you imagine gaining all that knowledge so swiftly?”

“No, I can't. I can't even imagine knowing what you know.”

“Oh, Bailey,” Lily shook her head, “it's not as much as you might think. You knew most of it, didn't you?”

“Most of it? No. I knew some of it.”

“That's understandable, Bailey,” Lily kept on, her voice kind. “You have children to raise, a large home to keep, and a husband to take care of. I have none of those things, so I have more time for reading.”

“I think you're too modest.”

Lily had no idea how to reply to that, so she sat quietly.

“How is your burn doing?” Bailey asked, looking at Lily's still-red face.

“Much better. A week ago I wondered if I was going to live, but now I think I am.”

“And how about Jeff? Do you still miss him so much?”

“That's better too,” Lily was able to say. “I'm still sorry that our time had to be interrupted, and I find myself hoping he finishes early, but I think I'll be fine.”

“Why don't you write and tell your father that you're going to stay a bit longer? That way you and Jeff could maybe have six weeks or so together.”

Lily only nodded. How did one explain that you couldn't write Owen Walsh and tell him what you were going to do? At least his daughter couldn't. You could write and ask permission, but not tell.

“I'll have to think on that,” Lily said, hoping Bailey would not press her.

“You're easy to have around, did you know that, Lily?” Bailey suddenly said with a smile.

“No, I didn't, but I'm glad to hear you say it. I was wondering how this has been for you. I can see that you're used to having family everywhere, but another woman is different.”

“That's true, but I'm doing fine. You're such a big help that this might be the most relaxed time off I've ever had.”

“May I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Will Ashton and his wife live here too?”

“Not for the first year. They'll take one of the cottages and then move here later.”

“And how will that be for you? Will Deanne help out and such?”

“Yes. It helps that Deanne grew up around here. We've all known her for years. And something else you need to understand is that I've grown more laid-back over the years. As long as things get done, the method doesn't concern me anymore. If it's someone else's night for the dishes, he can do them at midnight if he chooses. I'm able to let it go, and then when it's my day, I do it my way.”

“When will Deanne be coming to marry Ashton?”

“She finishes with school in December, and the date is set for early March.”

Lily smiled. “The children keep talking to me about it. I can tell they're very excited.”

“They're both going to be in the wedding, and they also miss Deanne because she's been gone,” Bailey said with a chuckle. “Not to mention Ash. He's been just a little bit quiet since she left at the end of August.”

“May I ask you another question?” Lily vocalized the now-familiar phrase.

“Sure. You can even ask me a question without asking if you can ask a question.”

Lily laughed a little but still said, “What is laid-back?”

“Laid-back means easygoing.”

Lily blinked in confusion. That had been no help. Bailey tried again.

“Not easily upset about things. Ready to take life as it comes. Does that help?”

“Yes, thank you,” Lily replied, still taking it in. But she had another thought. “So there was a time when you were not easygoing?”

“That's right. It had to be my way or no way.”

“What changed for you, Bailey? What happened?”

“God worked in my heart. I had never seen anger as a sin. The boys are more naturally easygoing, but I was determined to have things my way. My parents just thought that was the way I was. But then Evan came into my life, and Pastor Stringer became our pastor, and they challenged me to see my actions through God's eyes.

“I used to get angry at Evan and Peter when they didn't do things my way. Then I understood that all anger is directed at God. If He's in control—and of course He is—then my growing angry at any situation means that I disagree with His rule and authority.”

“What a wonderful thing to realize, Bailey,” Lily said, even as she thought of her father's tendency toward anger and some of the moods she had been in since Jeff had left.

“I think so. CeCe tends to have my personality, so we're working with her early. We don't want her to see anger as an option.”

“You do such a good job, you and Evan both. The children are precious.”

“Did someone say I'm precious?” Evan teased as he joined them.

“Yes, dear,” Bailey said, her voice deliberately patronizing. “You're the most precious thing in the house.”

Evan plopped next to her and planted a kiss on her mouth. The couple then smiled into each other's eyes before Evan picked up his wife's hand.

Had Lily thought about such an action ahead of time, she would have been certain it would have caused her embarrassment, but she was wrong. It seemed natural and right and…Lily couldn't place the other word right now, but she knew this: Seeing Bailey and Evan in love made her heart smile.

Chapter Nine

“Lily, this is Wang Ho.”

Almost two weeks after Lily was burned, Evan introduced her to a small, older gentleman who had come unannounced into the kitchen.

“He's our cook at the Little Bay Restaurant. Wang, this is Jeff's sister, Lily. She's staying with us all the way from Kashien.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Lily said, her eyes down. She had been getting better about eye contact, even with Evan and Ashton, but this man looked like the men from her corner of the world, and long-taught habits die hard.

“Lily Walsh,” Wang said softly. “This is not a Kashienese name.”

“No, sir.”

“And your eyes are not Kashienese, but they are down.”

Lily nodded, a smile coming to her mouth—one that matched the smile she heard in his voice.

“You are in America now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lily made herself look up, and although eye contact was very brief, it was long enough to see that he was smiling.

“Now listen, Lily,” Evan went on. “Wang is family. The only reason you haven't seen him before is because he's been on vacation. He'll be in and out all the time, and if you're smart you'll visit him in the kitchen of the restaurant often. He always has something to offer, all of it mouthwatering.”

Lily smiled.

“I'll plan on that.”

“Today,” Wang said. “Come today.”

“All right. I will.”

“Are you set, Lily?” Ashton now came through, Celia on his back.

“Yes, I am.”

“Wang!” Ashton spotted him, swung his niece around until she was in his arms, and went to give Wang a great, one-armed hug. “How was your trip?”

“Very good. I took pictures.”

“I want to see them.”

“You shall.”

“Good. Right now Lily and I are off to check on the cottages. She hasn't seen them yet.”

“Do you have sunscreen on?” Evan asked.

Lily assured him that she was covered. She also had her bamboo hat along, and in just a few moments she was headed out the door with Ashton. Talking all the while, explaining almost more than Lily could take in, Ashton took Lily around to the large garage area and toward a small four-wheeled vehicle.

“Climb in.”

Lily did as she was told, and in no time at all they were scooting out onto the beach. Ashton took it easy, as Lily was still somewhat sore, but it didn't take long for Lily's skin to recede to the back of her mind. Since Sunday Lily had made a point to come out and see the ocean every day. She knew she would never grow tired of it. It was too glorious for that. But today was even better. Today she was off the veranda. With the wind blowing in her face and the glorious smell of the salty air filling her senses, Lily couldn't find the words to describe what she was feeling.

“I'll show you the nicest one,” Ashton told her as he drove past other cottages to a small house with a number six over the door.

After first going onto a spacious covered porch that sported bamboo chairs and a table, they entered the small structure, and Lily saw just what he meant. The door opened immediately into a nice-sized living room, dining room, and kitchen area. Everything was clean and neat, and Lily saw that a person could live there permanently and in remarkable comfort. Large windows in the living-room area looked out over the sea.

“And back this way are the bedroom and bathroom.”

Lily was impressed with all the space and wondered what a night in such a cabin would cost.

“And you say this is the nicest one?”

“Actually, they're all very nice. This just happens to be my favorite.”

“Are they all the same layout?”

“No, they're very diverse. Some even have two bedrooms.”

“So more than two people can sleep there?”

“Actually, this cottage sleeps five, because the sofa becomes a bed, and there's a roll-away in this closet.”

Ashton was opening doors and showing her everything as he talked.

“The two-bedroom units have the same amenities and then some, so they can sleep up to eight.”

“And did you and Gabe and the others build these?”

“No, our grandfather did. He started the resort in 1951.”

Questions flooded Lily's mind, but she didn't wish to be presumptuous. Instead she centered on the things in the cabin, hoping that Ashton would not grow frustrated with her.

“Ashton, could I possibly see how a sofa becomes a bed?”

“Sure. I'll show you.”

After the demonstration, which Lily found quite wonderful, Ash showed her the small back porch where a grill and a compact clothesline for hanging wet items were provided.

Once outside, Ashton patiently stood back, smiling a little over her wonder, and watched as Lily thoroughly examined the clothesline. It was the type that folded down into itself when not in use, and he could see that she found the mechanism utterly captivating.

That inspected, Lily looked around at her surroundings. She didn't say so, but what most impressed her was the privacy. The ocean was visible from almost all the windows of the cottage and of course the porch, but with the way all the small dwellings had been set back amid the foliage, she had the feeling she was alone.

“And how many did you say there were?” Lily asked as they headed back out front.

“Cottages? Thirteen.”

“And what do you call this vehicle?” Lily asked as they climbed back in.

“It's a large golf cart. We have four of them.”

Lily had read about the carts that golfers took around the course. It made her wonder how many acres the Kapaia Resort was. Ashton drove her past the rest of the cottages, telling her different aspects as he thought of them. More questions occurred to her, and Lily kept Ashton talking until they suddenly stopped at the rear of the Little Bay Restaurant.

She watched her host get out of the cart but did not presume to follow.

“Come on,” Ashton urged her. “We've got to check out what Wang is cooking.”

Lily finally knew where she was. Not having seen this building from the rear, she had not been able to guess.

The two walked through a rear door that put them almost immediately in the kitchen. Everything was impressively clean, and Lily thought the aromas that filled the busy room were marvelous. Wang greeted both of them with tremendous grace, and before Lily planned on it, she was sitting at a huge steel island amid the hustle of workers, a bowl with some type of pineapple mixture in front of her.

“Eat this, eat this” was the order, and she obeyed.

“How do you like it?” Ashton asked around a mouthful.

“It's wonderful.”

Wang had wandered off, but Lily suspected he knew she enjoyed it.

“Your eyes are starting to look green again.”

Lily stopped eating and looked at the man next to her.

“Can you explain that to me?”

Ashton smiled.

“For a few days there, the burn was so intense that your eyes didn't look as green. Now the color is coming back.”