Bamboo and Lace (37 page)

“What is it?”

“You can't discuss things with him. I think you say ‘dialogue.'”

Gabe nodded. “It's funny you should mention that. All I've prayed for the last week is that we would be able to dialogue about our feelings for each other. When you asked if we could skip the zoo and just talk, I knew that God had gone before us. I don't know what the future looks like, but being able to dialogue with you has meant everything to me.

“But now you tell me about your father, and I can't help but ask myself how you can be so open and ready to talk when your father isn't. Why aren't you more like him?”

“Because I've had people to talk with all along, Ling being one of them. Women in my country learn to be responders. If someone is kind to us, we respond with kindness. If someone is harsh, we know to retreat and hold our place and not trust that person so swiftly the next time. I have many kind women friends in Kashien, but to most Kashienese males women are invisible. Outside of Jeff, you are the first man who has treated me with deference. If my father would do the same, we could dialogue too.”

“Your father doesn't know what he's missing.”

Lily felt shy at the compliment and dropped her eyes, but not before thanking Gabe. They both went back to their food, but not two minutes passed before they were talking again.

“Hey, Mom,” Gabe sought her out in the family room as soon as they were back at the house, “I'm going to let Lily use the phone in your room. Is that all right?”

“Certainly. Did you two have a good time?”

“Yes. Very.”

Gabe found Lily still by the front door and took her through the living room and down the hall.

“Are you sure about this?” Lily asked for the fourth time.

“Yes. Just give him a call and tell him we're at this number. I know you want to talk to him.”

“But the cost. We'll be back at your house on Saturday.”

Gabe looked at her. He didn't want to treat her like a child, even though the temptation to protect her was very strong within him. He made himself listen and not roll over the top of her objections.

“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.

“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?”

“At 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?”

“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.

“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.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Lily, this is Melika,” Gloria said on Friday afternoon, “Carson's 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.

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 swimming 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.”

“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?”