Bamboo and Lace (49 page)

He didn't need to say. Lily knew how hard it was. The last weeks had felt more like years. Her father had been slightly more civil since Lily had made her feelings clear, and Lily had been doing better with her emotions, but this time had been unlike anything she'd ever known.

Lily read the letter again, thinking that “impossible” was a great way to describe her father.

“He's never once told me he was sorry,” Lily suddenly realized, speaking quietly even though she was alone. “I think such words from him would be wondrous to hear.”

Owen gave Lily a week, thinking she might need a little time on her own, but his plan to talk to her and bring her happiness again was sincere. The only problem was how busy she had become. From the morning she'd told him of her feelings, she had been extremely occupied in the village. It niggled in his mind that this might be a tactic to ward off some type of gloom or sadness, but Owen wouldn't let himself go too far with such thoughts.

He kept working on dinner, something he hadn't helped with in years, hoping that because it was early, Lily would have a little time to spare when she came in. Owen had just finished brewing the tea when he heard her steps at the door.

“I made dinner,” Owen proudly announced when Lily walked in.

“Oh, my,” Lily said with pleasure. “It smells good.”

“I got fairly proficient while you were gone. I think I had started taking you for granted.”

Lily was slightly amazed by this statement but hid it behind a smile as she looked at the meal he'd prepared.

“Here, sit down while it's hot.”

“Thank you.”

They ate for a short time in silence, and then Owen did something that shocked Lily.

“I feel I need to apologize to you, Lily. You've been back for weeks, and I haven't asked you about the things you learned.”

Lily did not look up, but her mind filled with one thought.
So this is the way it's to be. You're going to ignore the fact that I've met someone and just go back to life the way it was.

“Was swimming the first sport you learned?”

“Yes, it was,” Lily managed to keep her voice normal and even be thankful that they were having a normal conversation.

“You said in your letter that it didn't go well. Did you get better?”

“I did, yes. I can't remember if I wrote to you about my sunburn, but that was all that really went wrong. I did learn to swim.”

“You got sunburned?”

“Yes,” Lily said, shivering at the memory.

“Was it a bad burn?”

“Very.”

“What did you do?”

“They put me in the hospital.”

Owen had all he could do not to react. His first thought was outrage that he had not been informed, but for the first time he saw that he was growing angry. He stopped in light of this knowledge, and also as he thought about Lily being ill.

“So Jeff was with you?”

“No.” Lily shook her head, wishing she could look up. “The Kapaias took me.”

Had Lily been looking, she would have watched Owen's eyes close. The thought of his daughter being so burned that she needed hospital care, and surrounded by strangers, was almost more than he could bear. He looked over at her and just stared. She was not a short woman, but she was slight of build and fine-boned. The horrible image of her burned and blistered caused him to tremble. He changed the subject, but the image stayed with him.

“What else did you learn?”

“Bailey Markham had this wonderful appliance that makes a perfect loaf of bread. I thought it amazing. You put all the ingredients in and it mixes the dough, kneads it, lets it rise, takes it back down, lets it rise again, and then bakes it.”

“How long does it take?”

“About three hours, maybe a little more.”

“Does Jefferson have one of those?”

“No, but he has a coffee machine that gives you hot coffee in about a minute.”

“That fast?”

“Yes.”

And the conversation they should have had her first day back ensued. It was not exactly what Lily had been looking for, but she was very thankful. Now she could write to her brother and tell him that it had been bad but things were greatly improving. For the moment she didn't want to think about what she would have to tell Gabe.

Oahu

It's time for me to face facts, Gabe. My father is not going to accept my having fallen in love. I told him more than a week ago that I love a man in Hawaii, and he has made no comment of any kind. I can see that he wishes for me to keep on here and for life to be as it was.

I can't quite believe I'm writing this to you, but it's not fair that you stay there and keep your life on hold. I hope that Mr. Kamioto will return your money, since we did not need to have the ring sized.

Gabe could not read any more. Sitting at the kitchen table where he'd found the letter, he remained utterly still and in shock. For a moment his mind ran with wild thoughts, wondering exactly how old Owen Walsh was and whether Lily could come to him after her father passed on.

Gabe realized he was being foolish. Even if the man died this year, it would be the longest year of his life. Looking at the letter again, he finished reading. There was no silly face at the bottom telling him it was all a joke. He had determined to honor Lily's father, and they had done that. Now Lily would never be his.

You've gotten me through things that I never thought I would survive, Lord. I fear I need You to do so again.

Lhasa

“Oh, Father, I'm glad you're here. I just finished that chapter in Genesis and wondered if you would have time to look it over.”

“Certainly. The mail just came,” he said, passing to her the letter that had her name on the front even as he took the Genesis chapter from her hand. He would have gone right to work on that, but one of his letters caught his eye. The postmarks were numerous, and it looked as if the first stamp was from all the way back in September. Setting all else aside, Owen opened that letter to find it was from Jeff and had evidently been lost in the mail.

Dear Father,
he began…

My request to have Lily come for a visit has gone from bad to worse. I left Lily in the care of the Kapaia family, knowing she would be as safe with them as she would be in my care. What we all failed to realize was how little she knew of American customs.

Lily has been badly sunburned. She is in the hospital even now. Gabe Kapaia—I have written of him often—is there with her at all times. He is taking full responsibility, even for her hospital bills—something Lily does not know.

I am confident that in time all will be well. Lily is strong, stronger than she thinks, and as hard as it is to have her ill when I'm away, Gabe has assured me that he and the family will see to her every need so that she makes a full recovery. Gabe is a man of great faith and honor. He will see to it that Lily is fine.

Lily and I won't have much time together when I return, but she'll have learned much in the period I am away, and I know it will be fruitful for both of us. I thank you again for letting her come.

Owen put the letter down. He looked up to tell Lily, who had sat in her own chair, about the missing letter, but he never spoke a word.

Lily was reading her own letter, a smile on her face so like her mother's that Owen was stunned. As he watched, she smiled a little more and even laughed softly. For a moment she let her eyes go to the window, her face thoughtful, until she went back to her reading, which put the smile back on her face.

Owen had the unsettled feeling that he was witnessing a very private moment. The thought gave him little comfort. Gathering his papers, he stood. Lily never noticed as he exited to his bedroom and stood looking down on his bed. He had been alone in that bed for many years, but it was to this house and this bed that he had brought his wife home. Both of his children had been conceived and born in that very bed.

Do you really want to deny Lily that joy?
Owen asked himself for the first time. He didn't need much time to know the answer. His heart wondering how he would ever survive, Owen began a letter to his son.

“Why, Lily,” Ling whispered because Charity and Daniel were still napping, “I didn't think I would see you today.”

“Is this a bad time?”

“No, come in.”

Lily entered the Chen home, trying not to cry. She desperately needed to talk to her friend but knew she would break down.

“You are sad. Can you tell me about it?”

“I think so.”

“Is it your father?”

“No, he's very normal again—kind even. He hasn't been this kind in a very long time.”

“I'm glad, Lily, but something is hurting you.”

“I got a letter from Gabe.”

Ling stayed quiet to let her friend share.

“I can tell by the way he writes that he has not yet received my letter.” Tears came to Lily's eyes; they would not be stopped. “It was such a fun letter, so like Gabe. I can hardly stand the thought of his reading my letter and hurting the way I hurt when I wrote it.”

Ling let her friend cry. She ached for her, but there was little she could do but speak the truth to her. After a moment she began.

“I need to tell you something, Lily Cathleen,” Ling-lei said gently, having handed her a small handkerchief. “It may not be a comfort today, but in time you will see. You have honored your father, Lily, and God will bless such obedience. Right now it seems that your heart will break without Gabriel, but God can be all to you, since you have kept Him first in your heart.”

“Thank you,” Lily managed, sniffing a little. Ling was right— Lily did feel as though she would never survive, but her friend had done her a great favor by reminding her that God was to be her all. No person on the earth could substitute for God and His all-encompassing love.