Bamboo and Lace (19 page)

It's getting easier
, Lily told the Lord that night.
But the little speaking up I do and having all this eye contact is wearing me out.

Lily wondered at that moment if any of the Kapaias had a clue. They were such a warm, accepting family, taking people at face value, that she wondered if they had an inkling of how hard it was to be Kashienese-raised and now living in the USA.

Do they know how often I hold my tongue? Should I be speaking up more? Should I share my opinion more and not go along with everything?

The moment these questions materialized, Lily realized she was getting better. She still wanted to please everyone, but she had been rather bold on the phone with her brother.

“Of course,” she said to the ceiling, “it's easier when you can't see someone.”

Thinking back on the conversation with her brother, Lily knew she would do as she said. If Jeff didn't come back within a week of the scheduled time, she would write her father that she was delaying her return. Tired as she was at the moment, her resolve was firm. She wouldn't be able to see her father, and at times that made him easier to disobey. And for more time with her brother, she would risk the confrontation.

Lily studied the lines that Gabe pointed out to her on the tennis court: the service line, singles and doubles sidelines, and baseline. He showed her how to hold the racket and explained the scoring, which she understood right away. But when he actually stood across the net and hit a ball in her direction, only fear of her father's wrath kept her from running.

Gabe saw the anxiety on her face and knew another tactic was needed.

“Why don't you start here, Lily?” he said, signaling her to his side and taking her to a solid wall at the rear of the courts; everything else was fenced. “You stand here and practice hitting the ball against the wall. When you're ready, you can hit one to me.”

“Is this playing tennis?”

“It's learning how.”

Lily looked at him from under her bamboo hat. “Jeff told me that you're very good.”

Gabe smiled a little. “I've been playing a long time, which might make it hard to teach you.”

“Because you do it automatically.”

Not for the first time Gabe was struck by how swiftly she caught on.

Lily didn't wait for an answer but began to carefully position herself to hit the ball. She held the racket correctly, so Gabe stayed quiet and let her work. In just five minutes he saw that he had made the right choice. Lily's eyes and reflexes were fast, and she was swiftly getting the hang of it.

She and Gabe were back to the net a very short time when Ashton came looking for his brother.

“Gabe,” he called as he came, “Mom and Carson are here.”

“Thanks, Ash. I'll be right in. I'm sorry, Lily,” he said to his student. “We'll have to postpone the rest of the lesson.”

“That's fine,” Lily replied, while internally working up her courage. “Gabe, may I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Would it be all right if I went for a run on the beach?”

Gabe looked surprised. “I had forgotten that Jeff told me how much you like to run. Have you gone at all while you've been here?”

“Not since Jeff left.”

“Give me your racket and have at it.”

“Well,” Lily tried again but thought that perhaps she shouldn't keep him.

“What is it?”

“Would it be all right if I ran more than just today?”

“Lily,” Gabe said, a smile on his face, “you may go for a run anytime you like.”

Still she looked hesitant, her gaze down.

“What is it?” he tried again.

“If I go early when no one is up, I don't have a key to let myself back in.”

“Don't lock the door when you leave, especially if you go out onto the beach. No one comes near the patio doors from the veranda.”

Looking up, Lily smiled, her face instantly relaxed. She had been so tense, wanting to run but afraid to ask.

“When you're done,” Gabe continued, putting frosting on the cake, “I'll introduce you to my mother and stepfather.”

“All right. Thank you for the lesson, Gabe.”

“You're welcome. We'll come back to it as soon as we can, but if you get a chance to come out and hit balls on your own, that's good practice as well.”

“Okay.”

Lily, who was slowly learning the lay of the land, went from the tennis courts to the beach. Gabe made his way inside, always glad for a chance to visit with Carson and his mother.

Liho Kapaia—Bailey, Gabe, and Ashton's father—had been dead for ten years. Liho had run the resort his father had left to him, with plans that his own children would one day take over. That he would die when they were all so young had not been his plan. But his wife, Gloria, knowing the wish of his heart, kept things going strong until his children were old enough to step in and take the job.

Gloria had never planned to be apart from the resort. She loved the business of hospitality, the nearness of the church family, and the life they had built. But five years after her husband's death, she had met Carson Hana. He lived on the big island of Hawaii. The two were still as smitten with each other as the day they married. They were semiretired and tried to come over to see Gloria's family every month or so.

And the visits always began the same way. Any and all family members who were available would gather in the living room for a time of catching up. The sharing of news was in full swing by the time Gabe arrived, but after hugs were exchanged he settled right in.

“How did Lily do with tennis?” Evan asked when there was a break.

“Very well. She's a fast learner, and I think it helped when I told her she could go out and work on her own.”

“Is she homesick?” Gloria asked. “I keep thinking about her with Jeff's being gone.”

“I think she must be at times.” Bailey fielded that question. “But for the most part, she's very content.”

“Grandma?” Peter slipped into the conversation suddenly, and his grandmother looked down to see that he could not get his piece of gum unwrapped. Grandma Gloria always brought gum.

“I'll help you, dear.” She bent close to assist him and then noticed Celia. Her little jaw was already working away; she resembled a small cow.

“How did CeCe get hers off?” Gloria asked.

“I don't think she takes the paper off,” Peter stated quite logically.

The family had a good laugh over this as Evan signaled his daughter over and asked to see the gum in her mouth. Sure enough, she had been chewing a wad of paper and gum.

“I'm impressed, Mom,” Bailey gently teased when the laughter died down.

“With what?”

“I think Gabe has been inside for a full 15 minutes, and you haven't asked how his appointment went.”

Gloria smiled. “I was getting to it.”

“What did the doctor say, Gabriel?” This came from Carson.

“That everything looks good. He doesn't want to see me for a year.”

Gloria and Carson exchanged a smiling look.

“Had you been worrying, Mom?” Gabe asked.

“No, but it's been on my mind for some reason, and I keep bringing it up to Carson.”

“Do you want me to call you next time?” Gabe offered.

“It's all right, Gabe. If it's on my mind again, I can call you.”

Mother and son exchanged a smile—a smile the family knew well.

Chapter Eleven

Lily came in by way of the kitchen. She had cooled down some on her way back up the beach, but thirst had now hit, and when Peter pushed open the door, he found her drinking a large glass of water.

“My grandma is here!” he told her excitedly.

“How fun for you,” Lily said, coming to sit in a chair so their faces would be closer. She noticed he had some pink paper in his hand. “Did she bring you something?”

“Gum.” He displayed it proudly as he told her. “Wanna piece?”

“Yes, please,” Lily said fervently; she had been hoping to try some.

“You have to peel it back like this,” Peter instructed as he gave her the piece and tried to help with the wrapper. It took a little doing, but Lily finally popped the cube of gum into her mouth.

“It's sweet!” she said in surprise, forgetting her manners and speaking with her mouth full.

“I can blow a bubble.”

“Show me!” Lily commanded, coming to the edge of her seat to watch, her mouth moving to manage the wad.

Peter produced a small bubble that popped almost immediately, but Lily was still amazed. The little boy went into gales of laughter over the excitement in her face.

“Do it again! Teach me!”

This was the scene that Ashton and his mother came on a few minutes later. The bubble-blowing pair did not immediately see them.

“Can I try it, Peter?”

“You might have to wait.”

“Okay.”

“I mean, is your gum still sweet?”

Lily nodded yes.

“It doesn't work as well.”

Having seen the confusion in her eyes, Ashton came forward and said, “It's the sugar.” Gloria remained by the door. “Until the gum is more rubbery, it doesn't make for the best bubbles.”

“I can feel the grains of sugar in the gum,” Lily told him.

“Right. When those dissolve to where you don't notice them, that's the best time to blow bubbles.”

Ashton smiled when Lily began to chew her gum in earnest, her brow knit with concentration. He knew his mother wanted to meet her, but he thought Lily might be very embarrassed if the introduction took place just now.

“Is it ready?” Peter asked Lily just as he spotted his grandmother. “Come here, Grandma. Watch Lily.”

Seeing they were not alone and with her gum-covered tongue just beginning to protrude from her mouth, Lily was embarrassed indeed. She tried to get the gum back out of sight, but it caught on her lip. Her right hand came up to snatch it from her mouth. She stood, feeling the wad stick in the palm of her hand.

And amazingly, Gloria and Ashton missed the whole thing.

“Lily, this is my mother, Gloria Hana. Mom, this is Lily Walsh.”

“It's good to meet you, Lily,” Gloria said warmly, her hand coming out to shake Lily's.

Lily's composure almost slipped, but she caught herself just in time. With a slight bow of her head she spoke, her voice at its most formal.

“Forgive me, Mrs. Hana. It's an honor to meet you, but my hands are not clean just now.”

Gloria was surprised by this until she felt Peter pulling on the hem of her shorts.

“She's holding her gum, Grandma. She doesn't want to stick to you.”

Lily smiled down at Peter, but her eyes held a hint of strain. Thinking nothing of it, Gloria laughed and filled in the breach.

“Shaking hands doesn't matter, Lily. I'm just so glad to meet you. Are you settling in well?”

“I am, thank you.” Lily relaxed very little. “Your family is beyond kind.”