Bamboo and Lace (52 page)

“Please name it, sir.”

“My plane leaves to go back to Kashien on July 14. Will you please marry my daughter before then, Gabriel, so I can be here when it happens?”

If he had offered Gabe the moon, he couldn't have made him happier.

“I'll find Lily as soon as we're done here, sir. And thank you.”

Owen nodded. “Lily said something about the workings of this kitchen. I believe I'll go and inspect those and let you go on your way.”

Gabe had all he could do not to run. He thanked his future father-in-law again, remembered to sign for the bill, and by the time he saw Lily was very calm, but the moments in between had been a mad scramble for Gabriel Kapaia.

“Where are we going?” Lily asked Gabe, who held her hand as they walked.

“To the office.”

A couple with two little children, all in swimsuits and headed in the direction of the pool, came across their path.

“How are you folks enjoying your stay?” Gabe greeted them kindly.

“It's great, thank you.”

“Have fun at the pool.”

“Thanks. We will.”

Lily waited until they were past before asking, “Do you have some business to see to?”

“I do, yes.”

“Oh, maybe I can help.”

“I'm sure you can,” Gabe said as he led Lily through the resort office, greeted Mollee, and then took her into his office where he shut the door.

“Here,” he directed her, “take a seat. I have to boot up this computer.”

Lily was glancing around, remembering the last time she'd been there, so she didn't immediately notice that Gabe had come back around the desk. When Lily finally snapped from her reverie, he was already pulling the chair next to her very close and had shifted them both so they could face each other.

“I would have liked a more romantic place than this, but I hope when you hear me out, you'll understand.”

Lily only looked at him until he picked up her left hand.

“Oh, Gabe,” she said when she saw the ring.

“Will you marry me?”

“My father said yes?”

“Yes.”

Lily could only watch in awe as he pushed the beautiful diamond onto her finger.

“You kept the ring.”

“I had to. It's your ring. I was just holding it for you.”

Lily threw her arms around his neck. Gabe kissed her, and she kissed him right back.

“I'll take that as a yes.”

Lily only laughed, but Gabe was already pulling her to her feet. “Okay,” he said in his excitement. “Now this is where it gets interesting. Come over here and sit on my desk chair.”

Lily laughed at the delight in his face but did as he asked.

“Okay, use the mouse and click on Wedding. That's it. Now click again on Announcement.”

What appeared on the screen floored Lily. She read it and read it again.

To be put in the bulletin under special announcements:

Sunday, July 9:
Please join us for the wedding of Gabriel Kapaia and Lily Walsh. The ceremony will be at 12:30 P.M. immediately following the second service. All are invited to the wedding and luau to follow. Lily's father is visiting and wishes to see his daughter wed before he returns to Kashien, so things are being arranged very quickly. If anyone would care to help with food, flowers, or music on this special day, please see Lani Pilipo, our wedding coordinator.

Lily turned to look at the man bending over her.

“This was your father's only request, that we be married soon so he could be here for it.”

“That's just four weeks away, isn't it?”

“Yes. Do you think we can do it?”

Lily nodded, her eyes filled with excitement, but she had one question.

“Do you think the church will mind?”

Gabe laughed. “Before I came and found you, I put a call in to Lani. I told her she had to stay quiet about it until I got back to her, but she was coming apart at the seams with excitement, and I could hardly get a word in.”

“What do we do now?”

“We print this out, go tell the family, and then get this to the church so it can be included in tomorrow's bulletin.”

He had done so much planning that Lily was amazed. Just minutes later they were getting ready to leave the office to tell the family, but Lily stopped at the door.

“Oh, no!”

“What's the matter?”

Lily looked at him and admitted quietly, “I've thought for some time now that it would be wonderful to honeymoon in Hawaii.”

“Why can't we?”

“You live here, Gabe. It won't be special.”

That man's smile was very slow. “Just let me take care of the details.”

“You're sure you don't mind?”

“Are you going to be there with me?”

Lily knew she didn't need to answer. She smiled and went up on her toes to kiss him. It was time to tell the family.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Bailey watched Lily hesitate as she studied the price tag of the first wedding dress and knew they were going to have a little conference.

“Can we have just a moment alone?” Bailey asked the saleswoman kindly.

“Of course. I'll check on you in a little while.”

“Lily?”

The younger woman turned to her.

“Does anything appeal to you?”

“They're expensive, Bailey,” Lily wasted no time in saying. “There must be something more economical.”

“Why don't you just see if something appeals to you?”

To Bailey's utter astonishment, a stubborn look crossed Lily's face as she shook her head no.

“When Gabe and I shopped for rings, he presented me with a tray. Thinking to save money, I looked for a small diamond, but Gabe told me he could afford everything on that tray and not to worry. I want the woman to first bring dresses that are reasonable; then I will choose from those.”

“I'll take care of everything,” Bailey said, finding she did not have to argue. Evan was paying for Lily's dress, and he had told Bailey what they could spend. Bailey simply informed the woman what the limit was, and dresses began to appear. Nevertheless, Lily did not look thrilled with any of them.

“Nothing?” Bailey asked when the woman disappeared for a few minutes.

“They are all sleeveless.”

“It's very hot this time of year, Lily.”

A look of sudden misery covered the bride's face. It was brief, but Bailey caught it. When the woman came back, Bailey once again asked if they could have some time on their own.

“There are other stores we can check, Lily.”

“I'm sorry to be so difficult, Bailey. Maybe my father should choose this dress for me.”

“You're not marrying your father.”

“Be that as it may, it would not please him to see me looking immodest.”

“And that's how he would feel about a sleeveless dress?”

Lily nodded, wishing Gabe was here, even as she admitted, “It's not just my father's wishes. I am not comfortable in sleeveless clothing.”

Someone knocked at the door, and Bailey went to answer it.

“Would you ladies like something cool to drink? Tea or a soda?”

“Water for me, thank you,” Bailey said.

“Water, please,” Lily added.

“Okay, Lily—” Bailey was not giving up just yet and only waited until they were alone again—“let's try this. When the woman comes back, we'll explain everything to her. If she can't help us, then we'll head on our way.”

“She's already done so much.”

“It's her job.”

Lily had to repeat that fact to herself several times over the next 90 minutes, but when they were done, Lily had a dress—a lovely gown with short sleeves and a modestly rounded neckline. It had no train but fell to the floor with insets of lace and satin. It was so perfect for her that Bailey had all she could do not to cry when Lily had come out with it on.

“Will Gabe like it?” Lily asked when they drove away, both tired but content.

“Gabe will love it. How will your father feel about it?”

“I think he will approve. Will Evan be upset over the cost?”

“No, Lily. It's under what he said we could plan on.”

“Thank you, Bailey.”

“You're welcome.”

Lily put her head back and closed her eyes. By the time they pulled up in front of the house, she was sound asleep. Gabe had seen them and come out, but only Bailey emerged from the van.

“How did it go?”

“She found a beautiful dress.”

“Good. Did it need altering?”

“No, we brought it home with us. If you'll help me get it out, I'll take it inside.”

“It looks pretty,” Gabe said, having caught a glimpse of lace as he pulled it out and laid it across his sister's arms. She got herself in the door and ran into Evan.

“How did it go?” he asked as he took the dress from her arms.

“It took a little doing, but she found a beautiful dress.”

“No altering?”

“No. She's a perfect size four.”

“A four?”

“Yes, I haven't been that small since I was in the fifth grade!”

“Well, you won't hear me complaining,” Evan said, giving her a look that made her smile. “Where do you want this hung?”

“Lily's closet.”

“Where is Lily?”

“She fell asleep in the car. Gabe is getting her.”

Easier said then done, as that man was finding out. Once Bailey went on her way, Gabe opened Lily's door, but she was out cold. He knew that some of her tiredness was from jet lag and some of it was from the emotions of this time.

“Lily?” he tried softly.

Nothing.

“Lily, honey.” This time he touched her shoulder. “Can you wake up?”

Lily shifted and sat up very straight, feeling completely disoriented. She looked at the inside of the garage as though she'd boarded an alien vessel. She turned to Gabe and blinked slowly.

“I found a dress.”

“Bailey told me. Do you like it?”

“Oh, Gabe, it's so pretty, but I worry about the cost.”

“Evan told Bailey what he expected. She would not have ignored his wishes. Let Evan and Bailey do this for you—they want to—and don't forget how pleased your father was when they offered.”

Lily nodded, still feeling half asleep. She looked at him with lazy eyes and admitted, “I just want to be married to you.”

“The feeling is quite mutual,” Gabe said with a hand to the side of her hair. It was always so soft, and since it was very straight—a texture completely opposite his own coarse waves— he was fascinated with the feel.

“It's hot out here. Are you ready to go inside?”

Lily came out the door and around to the back.

“Bailey took it in for you.”

“Did you see it? Did you like it?”

“What little I saw I liked very much.”

“I don't want you to be disappointed.”

Gabe laughed. “Haven't you figured out that I would marry you if you wore a paper sack?”

“Well, that would have cost less money.”

They began to walk toward the house.

“Where is my father right now?”

“He was around for a little while after lunch, but then he said he wanted to walk on the beach.”

“Have you seen him since?”

“No, but Evan spotted a lone figure by the cove and was pretty certain it was him.”

As soon as Gabe said this he looked at his watch.

“I've got to go. I'm suppose to meet Ash, and I'm already late.”

“Okay. Thanks for waking me up.”

Gabe took her face in his hands. “I hated to do it, but it's awfully warm out here.”

“If the children want to swim, maybe I'll take them.”

“Um, I hate to miss that.”

“Go on,” Lily told him gently, and after giving her a soft kiss, he did.

Lily watched him walk away, her heart amazed that this man would soon be her husband. It was like a dream come true and more wonderful than any fairy tale she had ever read.