Bamboo and Lace (31 page)

It was the type of meal that would have been nice to linger over. Much to everyone's delight, Wang and Lily had prepared a rice dish to go with lean roast beef, and it was delicious. However, everyone had to be out the door for Bible study by 6:45. The meal wasn't rushed, but neither was it a dining experience. Lily felt a little uncomfortable about this and said something to Wang when they had a moment alone.

“You worked so hard, and we're all rushing off.”

“You worked hard too.”

Lily shook her head. “I just did as I was told. The hardest work is brain work.”

Wang smiled.

“Go, Lily. Have a good time at Bible study.”

Lily still looked uncertain.

“I'll be at one of the other Bible studies, Lily; don't forget that. Don't deliver pity where there is no mailbox.”

And with that she was rescued. By the time they all got to the van, things had become a bit rushed, so Lily took the driving time as an opportunity to pray and calm down. And she was glad she did.

This was the night that Pastor Stringer devoted to communion and prayer; they spent no time in study. After they broke bread, people all around the room shared their prayer needs. Some were heartbreaking, and Lily was glad that she was not distracted. Then they broke into small groups, and Lily ended up praying with two women she didn't know. Lisa had just miscarried her baby. The other, an older woman—Lily hadn't caught her name—had a mother who was dying of cancer.

Lily was tense when it was her turn to pray, but then she realized how foolish that was and simply opened her heart to the Lord.

“Father in heaven, I thank You that You know all of our needs before we even speak them. You know my heart tonight, Lord, and how unfamiliar I am with so many of the people here, but I still ask for Your grace to be upon each one. Help us to remember that You are in control at all times and we can trust You. Forgive the sins in our hearts, Lord, so You can bless us. Open our eyes to new truths, that we might become more like You. Amen.”

“Thank you, Lily,” Lisa said when they were through.

“Yes, thank you, Lily,” the older woman agreed. “It's hard when you don't know folks, but you covered us all very well.”

Lily smiled in genuine warmth, wanting to say thank you right back for the way they had included her.

Lily heard the phone ring just ten minutes after they had arrived home, but she was not in the habit of picking it up. And, too, Wang said he would be back for the book she'd told him about, and she wanted to make sure it was in the kitchen before she went to bed.

The aromas of the marvelous dinner they had enjoyed still lingered in the kitchen air, and Lily was thinking of getting out some leftovers when Bailey stuck her head in the door.

“The phone's for you, Lily.”

“Oh! Thank you, Bailey.”

Lily went to the phone, a smile on her face. It was so fun when Jeff called.

“Hello?”

“Lily?” her father's voice said, sounding as far away as he was.

“Father,” Lily said, automatically switching to Kashienese, her eyes dropping unconsciously. “Where are you calling from?”

“Hankuo,” he said, his voice sounding pleased. Lily's last moments with him had been rather tense. It was wonderful to hear his light voice.

“How are you?” she asked, genuinely wishing to know and so pleased that he sounded the same.

“I am well. How are you?”

“I'm very well. I've learned so much.”

“Tell me about it.”

Lily did, her voice excited with the wonder of it all. She rattled on for some time until she remembered that morning.

“I think things were going well until we went golfing this morning.”

“What happened?”

“I didn't do well,” she admitted. “We're going to try again tomorrow, but I hit a ball into a man's cart and felt terrible about it.”

“What did it do to the cart?”

“Dented it,” Lily answered with dread. Already her father's voice had started to change.

“Lily,” Owen now said, all playfulness gone, “you have shamed me.”

“I am sorry, Father.”

“You will make a promise to me, Lily.”

“Yes, Father.”

The door from outside opened behind Lily, but she took no notice.

“You will not eat until you have learned to golf.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Say it back to me, Lily, so I know I am understood.”

Like a child, Lily repeated the words back to him, her voice low and repentant. Her father did not stay on the line much longer, but his voice was no less displeased before he hung up.

Lily stood for some time staring at the wall when the discussion ended. It was not a terribly harsh sentence; after all, they were going to golf again in the morning. But with the turn in the conversation, Lily had not had time to inquire after Ling-lei or anyone else in the village.

Finally taking herself off to bed, Lily realized this made her as sad as having her father angry at her from across the ocean.

“Was that Jeff?” Gabe asked when Bailey came back to the television.

“No, I think it was her father.”

“No kidding!” Evan sounded pleased. “That's great that he could call.”

“Where do you suppose he calls from?” Ashton asked.

“Maybe Capital City,” Gabe guessed.

Celia called from the top of the stairs just then, her voice very wobbly, and Bailey rose.

“What are you doing out of bed?”

Bailey's question was met with full-blown tears, so she moved to the stairs.

The sports highlights came on just a short time later, and all at once the men were absorbed. Had Bailey been in the room when their guest came through, it might have been different. As it was, Lily went from the kitchen to her bedroom for the night without having to speak with anyone.

“Something has come up, Lily,” were Gabe's first words to her the next morning.

Lily, who was reading on the veranda, looked up from her book. She had been planning to start the day with her customary run but then realized how hungry that would make her. Concern that something would keep her from eating—as was about to happen—had stopped that idea. Lily opted to read instead.

“Can we do our golf lesson tomorrow?”

“Certainly,” Lily told him, managing to smile.

“Thanks, Lily. I appreciate your flexibility.”

Lily smiled again.

“Well, I've got to run. I'll probably see you this afternoon.”

“Okay.”

Lily shut the book as soon as Gabe went back inside. She stared at the ocean before shaking her head a little. Her father had required this of her, and it had never occurred to her to question him. And then she had foolishly promised—something both she and her father knew better than to commit to. Lily went back to her book, knowing she was going to have to ignore her stomach all day.

The resort store was delightful. Water toys, sand buckets, T-shirts, magazines, gum, mints, candy, and much more, all waited for Lily to feast her eyes on. By lunchtime she had become quite hungry and knew that the book she was reading was not going to distract her any longer. It was then she had remembered Bailey's words about the store. In less than ten minutes Lily was at the door, her small coin purse in hand.

The woman in the office said that no one was actually manning the store today, but Lily could let her know if she found something she wanted.

“Will it be a problem if I take a long time looking?” Lily had asked.

“Not at all,” Mollee had assured her with a smile. “We don't close until 5:00.”

With that, Lily's mind was taken completely off her stomach. The postcard rack alone kept Lily busy for a long time. The cards were three for a dollar, and Lily chose several to send home and even a few to keep for her own memories.

From postcards she moved to the seashells. Many shells could be found on the beach, but the ones inside the glass case were very special. Perfect in shape, with no broken or chipped pieces, some were so intricate and lovely that Lily knelt down to gain a better view.

Lily read every single T-shirt messag and inspected all of the tourist books and maps, but not until she discovered the water domes did she know what she would take to both her father and Ling. The glass globe with the sunset and palm trees, where tiny pieces of glitter floated in the water, would be for Ling. Her father's was of the beach with minuscule particles of white sand floating all about.

Lily set the two she wanted to one side and continued her perusal of the store. Dozens of bottles of every type of suntan lotion filled one shelf. Other shelves held film, disposable cameras, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and so much more. Her hunger receding from her mind, at least for a time, Lily read and explored every item she could lay her hands on. It wasn't the way she had planned to spend the day, but it was going to work out fine.

Much later that day, Gabe did a double take when he climbed from his car and found Wang Ho waiting for him. Normally a picture of tranquillity, the older man was the most agitated Gabe had ever seen him.