Bamboo and Lace (60 page)

“Not in the least. But like most men, if I'm sexually satisfied, I forget to show tenderness at other times. I need you to remind me and tell me what you need.”

“So your needs are being met?”

Evan looked at his wife.

“I guess it would be nice to have you pay attention to me a little more often too.”

Bailey nodded but didn't say anything.

“Bailey, please keep in mind that our youngest is still a very little person, and you're nursing her. We're both going to be more tired—you the most—and I'm not sitting here disappointed in you and wishing my life away.”

“Like I was doing?” Bailey said, still feeling crabby at herself and about the whole situation.

“Do you still want me, Bailey Markham, or is there someone else involved here?” Evan asked firmly.

“No—” she looked shocked—“I just want you.”

“And you're who I want. As soon as Gabe and Lily arrive back with that little girl, things are going to change around here for the newlyweds. But the next time you see Gabe put his arms around Lily or look up and find their door shut, come and kiss me or hug me. I'll do the same for you. If we need those little reminders to be more affectionate, so be it!”

Bailey smiled at him.

“I like you an awful lot; do you know that, Evan Markham?”

“I do know that, but it's nice to hear.”

“Have you got any room left on your chair?”

“For the woman I love? Plenty.”

Bailey stood up and squeezed into the lounge chair with her husband. It wasn't built for two—and Peter could come looking for them at any moment—but for right now, they needed this closeness. They needed to remember the vows they'd made eight years earlier and be committed all over again to cherish each other in their marriage.

Lhasa

On her first day home, it was very special for Lily to take her daughter and husband to the church in the village where her father was the pastor.

The service would be in Kashienese, so Lily and Gabe sat in the back so she could translate quietly for him. Before they even sang a song, however, Pastor Walsh, with great pleasure in his voice, introduced his son-in-law, welcomed his daughter back, and told the congregation that he was now a grandfather.

The group of 27 adult believers, plus their children, most of whom had greeted Lily and the baby earlier, cheered with delight over this news. Owen then asked Gabe to stand and say a few words. Gabe had not been expecting this, but he gladly came forward and spoke slowly so Owen could translate his short speech.

“Thank you for this warm welcome to your church and beautiful village. It's a delight to be here with you and finally see the village that my wife loves so well. Thank you to all of you who prayed for us and helped in any way with the adoption of our daughter. Please know that we will take her home with plans to teach her about God's saving love and to raise her to fear and serve Him with all of her heart.”

Gabe returned to his seat amid respectful bows of the head from men on all sides.

“That was wonderful,” Lily whispered as soon as he sat down.

“Was it appropriate?”

“Yes, very.”

Gabe experienced great relief, having known some trepidation that he would unintentionally make a cultural or social blunder. However, in the next few minutes his mind was taken completely off himself. They sang several songs, but the moment Owen opened his Bible, every head in the place was up looking at Lily's father, even the women's!

“The women are looking up,” he whispered to Lily, whose eyes he found looking forward as well.

“In church, during the reading of God's Word, yes. My father instituted it years ago. At first the men were against it, but Papa wanted the men and women to respect and have great awe for God's Word. He believes that if God were here speaking to us in person, He would expect all eyes to be trained on Him. We've done it this way for all of my life.”

Gabe wondered when the surprises would end. Things were not as he'd expected them to be. He thought he would arrive in this village and find dozens of Owen Walshes, but that wasn't the case. As they had walked to church, he saw many men leading their families, the women and children dutifully behind, but once inside the simple wooden structure that was their church building, the men showed more care for their wives than Gabe would have expected. That Owen did not act this way with Lily made it even more of a curiosity.

At the moment, Gabe knew he needed to let Lily translate for him so he could get something out of the sermon, but he planned to ask her about his confusion as soon as he had a chance.

The chance came sooner than he expected. They had just finished lunch when Owen was called away. Jasmine was sleeping in her basket, and Lily was washing a few dishes.

“I noticed it too,” Lily said thoughtfully.

“So it hasn't always been that way?”

“No, but there are more elders now. For years there were only two who served with my father; now there are five. Two of them are rather young men, and I think they might be introducing some new ideas. My father is all for such changes, as long as the men can prove from Scripture that God would approve.”

“Lily,” Gabe asked something that had only just now occurred to him, “why didn't you marry right here in the village?”

Lily smiled.

“I read one time that when blond women go to Mexico, the men go wild. Fair women look so different and attractive to them. It's not the same way here. Kashien men love Kashien women. I'm not particularly attractive to the men here, and although many men marry just to have someone to cook for them, they at least want to find their wives tolerable to look at.”

“So are you telling me that you grew up thinking yourself rather homely?”

“I don't know if I gave it much thought, Gabe, but you were the first person to ever tell me that I was somewhat appealing.”

Gabe had all he could do not to gawk at her. Somewhat appealing! He found his wife downright gorgeous. Her dark-green eyes, small nose and mouth, wonderful skin, and dark straight hair were more attractive to him now than ever. Were the men here blind?

Lily laughed at his face. “Have I surprised you?”

“Tremendously.”

Lily only chuckled, her face a picture of contentment.

“You don't care, do you?” Gabe suddenly realized.

“No. I didn't want anyone to notice me before I met you.”

Gabe came and put his arms around her.

“I love you.”

“And I love you,” Lily said as she turned in his embrace, having told him the absolute truth. Gabe Kapaia was the first and only man to ever seriously catch her eye. That she caught his eye as well was something for which she would give thanks for as long as she lived.

“She sleeps a lot,” Gabe complained as he looked down into his daughter's basket. Lily had set it on the kitchen table Monday morning. Breakfast was over, and Lily was soaking some beans for lunch.

“What did you expect?” Lily asked.

“I want to play with her.”

Both Owen and Lily had a good laugh over this.

“It won't be long,” Owen warned, “and you'll be wishing she would sleep more.”

“You're probably right, but I wanted to get a picture of her with her eyes open, and they never are.”

Gabe's wife and father-in-law were still very amused when they heard a commotion outside. Owen went to the window and then turned to Lily.

“I believe you and Jasmine are wanted outside.”

Lily smiled with sudden excitement. She knew instantly what was going on, but having one for herself never once occurred to her.

“Gabe—” Owen called him to the window—“you'll want to come and watch this.”

While the men stood looking outside, a circle of 11 women formed directly in front of the house. As they watched, Lily walked out, Jasmine in her arms, to stand in the midst of them.

“It's called a coorah,” Owen explained. “It a village tradition and the equivalent of an American baby shower.”

“A coorah?”

“Yes. It means ‘new gift,' which refers to the baby who has been born.”

As Gabe watched in delight, Lily faced first one woman and then another. She would walk to the woman, hand Jasmine to her and, in exchange, receive a simply wrapped baby gift. Someone had set a basket at Lily's feet, and after bowing in thanks, she would put the gift in the basket, take the baby back, and turn to the next woman.

“As she hands Jasmine to this next woman,” Owen explained, “she says to her daughter, ‘Jasmine Ling, please be honored to meet Mei-sun.' Mei-sun will hold Jasmine and say a few words of advice or encouragement to Lily and then admonish Lily's daughter to be obedient and bring honor to her family. Then it's repeated with the next woman.”

“Wow,” Gabe could only say. He couldn't believe how special this was and only wished his mother and sister could be a part of it.

“The gifts will be simple and not all new: a little shirt, a tiny hat, a wooden rattle, but almost all will have been made right here in the village.”

Outwardly Gabe was speechless, but in his heart he prayed.

I know that not all days will be this sunny, Lord. There will be times when Jasmine is sick or I'm tired of being a parent, but I thank You for the blessings You keep giving. Thank You for the love being shown to us in this special act.

Help me to remember that on days when I can't see the sunshine, You're still there. Thank You that You never change, and that You died for my Jasmine as You did for Lily and me.

“She is perfect,” Ling proclaimed of the infant in Lily's arms. The families had dinner together that night. The men were talking in the living area, and the women were at the kitchen table, the children nearby.

“Isn't she special?” Lily asked, her eyes on her daughter as well.

“This is what you always dreamed of, my friend,” Ling said. “Your heart has always yearned to adopt, and now here she is.”