Bamboo and Lace (23 page)

“All right, I think.”

Had Lily waited until she stood up, she would not have answered so agreeably. They hurt! And they didn't hurt just her feet, but the back of her legs as well. She was distracted for a moment when Peter skated up to her with ease, but just watching him told her she was never going to master this. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if Jefferson had wanted her to learn this, but she realized just in time how rude that would sound.

“This is what I want you to do,” Evan instructed. “Hold onto the porch railing and just move along the pavement, real easy-like. Can you do that?”

“I think so,” she said on a gasp she wasn't able to control. Her feet felt encased in rocks.

“It hurts a little at first,” Evan encouraged, “but you'll get the hang of it in no time.”

“Hi, Lilyee,” Celia called from the porch.

“Hi, Celia,” Lily managed but didn't dare look up at her. She was certain if she took her eyes from her feet, she would go sprawling onto the pavement.

“You're doing good, Lily.” Peter came up to skate next to her. He smiled up into her face, but Lily wasn't willing to shift her eyes for him, either.

“How's it coming?” Evan skated up after a few more turns around the drive.

“Okay,” Lily said, knowing she was lying through her teeth.

“Does it hurt too much?” Evan asked.

Lily didn't answer. She was trying not to fall, but mostly she didn't want to lie anymore. That she could tell Evan how this felt did not occur to her. They were taking time to help her, and she wasn't going to repay them with complaining.

Not sure if he should tell her to quit or give her time, Evan looked up to see Gabe headed their way, some papers in his hand.

“I'm going to put these on your desk, Evan,” Gabe began. “I just came across them on my desk. I thought I had already given them to you.”

“What are they?”

“Those contracts from Mains.”

Evan nodded. “They knew they wouldn't hear from me before the first of the year anyway, so it's not a problem.”

“How's the skating going?”

Evan smiled. “I would say she's pretty miserable.”

Gabe laughed a little as both men watched Lily trying to make her way along the porch.

“Are you going to let her off the hook?”

Evan suddenly looked at his brother-in-law and asked quietly, “Why don't you go see how she's doing?”

Gabe's eyes came to his. “And what would be your point in my doing that?”

“I don't know. She's always been the most comfortable with you and Bailey. And I guess I find it hard to believe that you're not just a little interested.”

“I've only known her for three weeks.”

“You
met
her three weeks ago; you've
known
her for years. But all that aside, I'm not suggesting you propose. Just get closer.”

While the men discussed this, Lily finally made it to the end of the porch. All she could think about were her feet. Peter was trying to talk with her, so Lily forced herself to listen.

“When you get really good, Lily, we can go all the way out to the road and back.”

Lily wanted to groan at the very thought but did her best to smile at Peter. She turned around slowly, wondering how long she could do this.

“How is it going?” Gabe asked.

He had come up without Lily noticing. When she turned around, it was to find him directly in front of her.

For just a moment Lily's eyes pleaded with his. She then glanced in Peter's direction before saying, “I'm not sure I'll ever be as good as Peter.”

“Whose skates are those, Pete?”

“Mama's.”

“Do they fit you, Lily?”

Lily looked him in the eye and shook her head over her own stupidity. Her voice held wonder when she admitted, “I thought it was my not being used to them. They are too small.”

Gabe smiled. “And you're in agony.”

Lily dropped her eyes.

“Can you look at me?”

Lily did, her face now composed and still.

“Was there some reason you felt you couldn't tell Evan and Pete?”

“Do you not find me ungrateful when I complain, Gabe?”

“When have you complained?”

“How's it going?” Evan approached.

“The skates are too small,” Gabe informed him.

“Oh, mercy! I'm sorry, Lily.” Evan was genuinely contrite. “Let's get those off.”

“I'm sorry it didn't work out, Evan,” Lily said as she and Peter worked the buckles. “I appreciate your trying to show me.”

“It doesn't matter, Lily. You're still working on your tennis, and I think Gabe is going to teach you to golf this week.”

That Gabe had no idea this was the plan was communicated with eyes that told his brother-in-law that he knew what he was up to. Since Lily was bent over busily removing the skates, Gabe even had time to roll his eyes at Evan's mischievous grin.

By the time Lily and Peter looked back up, all vestiges of teasing and motives were gone from the men's faces. Lily thanked Evan and Peter again and headed back to the house. Peter ran to put the skates on the porch for Lily, and for a moment the men were alone again—something that was fine with Gabe. Clearly the scene yesterday at the dining room table had put thoughts into everyone's mind. Well, it had put thoughts into his mind too. But before he let them run too far, he had a few questions he wanted answered.

Chapter Thirteen

Her feet still throbbing from the pressure, Lily went indoors and found Bailey alone at the computer.

“How did it go?” she called, turning to face the younger woman.

“Not too well. My feet are longer than yours, and the skates didn't fit.”

“Oh, well,” Bailey said with a smile. “At least you tried.”

“That's true.”

This said, Lily set her shoes on one of the bottom steps and then turned back to Bailey, her heart praying about what she needed to say.

“Are you terribly busy right now, Bailey?”

“No. I'm only working on my grocery list, and I've almost got it done.”

Lily looked very serious to Bailey, so she grabbed another chair and set it close to hers.

“Here. Sit down, Lily.”

“Thank you,” Lily said as she came forward, her face and voice subdued. She was ashamed to have eye contact with Bailey over what she had done but forced herself to do the right thing. After a moment she began.

“I feel I must ask your forgiveness, Bailey. I did something very improper. I spoke with your husband and told him I thought you were expecting. On further review, I feel that was very rude and presumptuous of me, and I'm very sorry.

“And on top of that,” Lily finished, “you didn't even need me. You already knew.”

“We didn't know,” Bailey shocked her by saying, placing a soft hand on Lily's hand. “Evan bought one of those home pregnancy tests when I was asleep on the sofa. We did it this morning, and it was positive.”

Lily's mouth made one of her silent “ohs” as she stared at her hostess.

“We have you to thank, Lily, or we might not have known so soon. Now I can be careful of what medicines I take and also have plenty of time to schedule my first checkup with the doctor.”

“So you don't feel I need to apologize to Evan?”

“Not at all. We've been planning to thank you but wanted to do it privately. We just haven't found the right moment.”

“I'm so relieved, Bailey. It's bothered me more than I can say. You're quite certain?”

“Very certain.”

Lily smiled. Bailey was so easy to like and be around. Lily hated the thought that anything would ever come between them.

“Do you know what I just realized?” Bailey asked, her brow furrowed.

“No, what?”

“That we've never given you any time to use the computer. Did Jeff show you his?”

“No, there wasn't time,” Lily said, eyes already on the screen.

“Well, come in close. I'll show you how I do my menu for the month and the shopping list, and then you can play around some.”

Lily looked as if she had been handed a sack of gold. The phone rang, the family came and went, but Lily saw and heard little of it. She was finding out firsthand that computers were amazing.

“Tell me something, Evan,” Gabe asked when both Peter and Celia were busy on the porch and out of hearing range. “What happens if you all start pushing me toward Lily and she wants nothing to do with me?”

“That's not going to happen.”

Gabe gawked at the other man.

“Have you become prescient on us, Evan?”

“No, but I can already see that Lily cares for all of us. If you were to show her any special attention, her heart would melt.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“First of all, Gabe, I hope you know that I don't want this if you don't.”

“I understand that.”

“Okay, just as long as you do.”

Gabe's nod encouraged Evan, and he continued. “Even amid thoughts of this new baby, it's been pretty hard to forget what happened at the table yesterday. Lily has been so easy and undemanding to have around, and then suddenly she wasn't. Suddenly she was wife material for you, and I personally want that very much.”

“But she hasn't done any changing,” Gabe reminded him quietly, his heart clearly in turmoil.

“True, but nothing is the same for me. Now that I've had my eyes opened, I can see how well she suits you. She's godly, sweet, and intelligent, and if anyone can handle all you've gone through, it's Lily Walsh.”

Gabe was suddenly swept back to the way he felt after his run with Lily the morning before. When she had left him alone in the living room, he had realized what a good time he had been having and how much he wanted to hear her laugh again.

But what had Evan just said?

“What did you mean just now when you said Lily would melt if I showed her some attention?”

“I can't say that to too many people, Gabe, but I know you're not going to take advantage of Lily's vulnerability in this matter. If I had to describe her, I would say that she's very intelligent and analytical, but I doubt if she's ever had someone hold her hand or send her flowers. Just having watched the gentle way she handles the kids makes me think there's a sweet and romantic heart inside her, but she may not even know it's there.”

“And do you think it's fair of me to do anything that might unlock that, Evan?”

“Who better than the man she's going to marry?”

Gabe had all he could do not to throw his hands in the air. Instead, he said, “You've lost your mind; I hope you know that, Evan Markham.”

But Evan wasn't convinced. “Do yourself a favor, Gabe. Give Jeff a call. Tell him your feelings have changed and ask him what he thinks. You know he'll tell you the truth.”

“Papa,” Celia called. She had been calling to him for a few minutes, but he had ignored her.

“Coming,” Evan called to his daughter as he clapped Gabe on the shoulder and went on his way.

The younger man stayed where he was, left with more to think about than he had bargained for.