Bamboo and Lace (62 page)

Gabe's head came up, and his eyes opened to meet Evan's in the rearview mirror.

“Gotcha,” the older man said with equal calm, and Gabe let his head fall back with a laugh. It was simply wonderful to be home.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” Lily said softly to her baby daughter about three weeks later, her breath catching in her throat when Jasmine smiled at her for the first time. Lily had checked on her when she rose and didn't expect to find her awake, but much to her delight, those dark, almond-shaped eyes were wide open, and the moment she heard her mother's voice, she smiled.

Lily lifted Jasmine to her, and the baby just kept smiling. Distracted by the blanket touching her cheek, she lost sight of her mother for a moment, but as soon as their eyes met, she smiled again. By the time Gabe came back from the shower, Lily had coaxed smile after smile out of her and thought she might have heard a small laugh.

“Well, good morning,” Gabe said as he neared the bed to kiss his wife.

“Watch this, Gabe.”

Gabe was just as captivated with his daughter's smile, and his distraction with her almost made him late for work. The resort had recently opened back up, and today he had an early phone appointment.

“You'll come and see me?” he double-checked before kissing them both goodbye.

“Yes, we will. Her doctor's appointment is in two hours, and we'll come after that.”

“Okay. I'll see you then.”

Still in her robe, Lily gave Jasmine a bath and then walked her downstairs. She found Bailey already making breakfast.

“Can I ask a favor?”

“Certainly.”

“Jasmine has an appointment this morning. I forgot that Gabe had to be out early, and I didn't get in the shower before he left.”

“Just leave her, Lily. We'll be fine.”

“Thank you. I'll hurry.” Lily gave Sarah's little head a kiss as she passed her infant seat, but Peter and Celia were nowhere to be found.

“Where are the kids?” she asked, her hand on the door.

“Upstairs with Evan. We had a little attitude problem this morning.”

Lily left the kitchen knowing she could learn a lot from Bailey and Evan. They were very good about not correcting the children in front of others, keeping the matter private, and giving the children no reason to be embarrassed in front of their aunts and uncles.

Just two days earlier, Peter had been very tired and cross at the breakfast table. Lily remembered it because it was so unlike him. Not even a minute passed before Evan and Peter were headed out of the room. When they returned, Peter's eyes were red, but his father had been gently rubbing his little head, telling Lily that all had been settled.

“I could learn a lot,” the newest mother in the household was still saying to herself when she hit the bathroom door for that quick shower.

“How did it go?” Gabe asked as he lifted Jasmine from her stroller and kissed her tiny cheek.

“The nurses fell in love with her, even though she cried as though they were killing her—and that was only when she was being weighed.”

Gabe laughed.

“You can imagine what went on when she got her shot.”

Looking into her complacent little face, it was hard to believe. But Gabe had gone with Bailey one time to the doctor for Peter. If he remembered correctly, there had been many tears.

“What did the doctor have to say?”

“He said she's small, but that's to be expected. He's very happy with her overall health and says that if I want to start her on a little cereal, I can do that.”

“I understand you cried,” Gabe now said to his daughter before turning to Lily. “She says it's because she wanted cereal all along. Frosted Flakes.”

Lily was still laughing when Mollee came to the door to tell them they had a visitor.

“She said her name was Ana Banks.”

“Show her in,” Gabe said immediately as Lily looked to him in excitement. Bailey had told her that Ana had called when they'd been in Kashien, but Lily had found no spare time to return the call.

“Ana!” Lily said warmly as soon as she appeared in the doorway. “Come in and meet my husband and daughter.”

“You got a baby! That's great.”

Introductions were made all around, and after they had talked for a time, Lily invited Ana over to the house. She declined.

“My hours have changed. I work lunches now.”

“Oh, how nice for you. Do you see more of Nick?”

“Yeah,” she said with a smile.

“So does that mean that you and Nick are free to join us for dinner some evening?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah,” Ana said with another smile, “we might be.” She'd only just said this when she took a small step toward the door.

“Jasmine and I will walk you out,” Lily offered after Gabe had said his goodbyes. She put the baby back in the stroller and kissed her husband.

“You didn't tell me he was cute,” Ana said as they walked from the building.

Lily laughed but changed the subject.

“So will you come to dinner sometime so I can meet Nick?”

Ana looked at her.

“If you let me buy Jasmine a gift.”

“Why, Ana, that would be wonderful.”

“What does she need?”

Lily had been thinking about this just that morning.

“She needs the smallest, most modest one-piece swimsuit you can imagine.”

Ana smiled.

“I'll give it a try.”

On impulse Lily hugged her. “Thank you for coming.”

Ana didn't say anything beyond a soft goodbye, but Lily had the distinct impression that she would hear from her again.

With Jasmine fed and put down for her nap and a load of laundry started, Lily gathered her Bible and translating materials and settled in the living room to work. She hadn't had much time for that since she'd returned and wanted so much to still make it a priority.

“Hi, Lily,” a small voice said. Lily looked up to see Celia coming her way. On some days she seemed to be at loose ends without Peter. Just the day before she'd had a friend over, but right now she looked in need of company.

“How are you, CeCe?”

The little girl didn't answer but sat beside Lily on the sofa and looked at her papers.

“Are you reading your Bible?” she asked.

“I am, yes. Do you know a verse from the Bible?”

“In Sunny school.”

“In Sunday school? Can you tell me what it is?”

“In Sunny school.”

“Is that the only place you can say it?”

“Yeah.”

Lily put an arm around her and pulled her close.

“I love you, CeCe.”

“I love Lily.”

Lily kissed her small forehead.

“Can we swim?” the little girl asked.

“Oh, I can't, CeCe. Jasmine is sleeping, and I have to stay where I can hear her when she wakes.”

“Sarah's sleeping.”

She sounded so sad when she said this that it tore at Lily's heart.

“Why don't you get a game we can play?”

Celia was all for this, and in little time she was back with Chutes and Ladders. Lily played with her for the next hour, amazed at how long Celia could concentrate for a four-year-old. It crossed her mind several times that nothing would get translated at this rate, but looking into the small, trusting eyes of this special little niece, Lily was able to push the thoughts away.

After lunch Celia fell asleep on the sofa by the television. In the main section of the living room, Bailey had just settled down to feed Sarah, so Lily, with Jasmine and her bottle, joined her there.

“Bailey, how can two people live in the same house and not even have time to visit?”

Bailey laughed and admitted, “I was just wondering the same thing. How are you doing?”

“Tell me something, Bailey,” Lily said without answering the question. “This baby has become my whole life. Is that normal?”

“If you mean you don't have any time to yourself and she's constantly on your mind, yes, that's normal.”

“And how long will it last?”

Bailey smiled. “Not being able to think of much else will go on for a time, but eventually you'll work out a schedule where you have time for you. You'll figure out that she's not going to starve if she's not fed right now, and you'll understand that no one is going to come and take her away.”

“In other words, I'll learn to relax.”

“Well, there's that, but it's also just gaining some experience. There's no excuse for anxiety, but even with all the help you've given me with my own gang, you're still getting used to the constant care a baby needs. Even when you're not doing something for Jasmine, you're thinking about when you'll have to. It can be very draining.”

It was so lovely to have someone understand. While the babies ate, Lily picked Bailey's brain about things that had been on her mind and then tried to relax and enjoy her baby.

It was another few weeks before she realized it wasn't working. Gabe found her in the bedroom in the chair by the window. Jasmine was asleep in her bed. He approached quietly and saw in an instant that his wife had been crying.

“Hi,” he said quietly after kissing her cheek and before going to sit against the wall by the window so he could see her face.

“Hello,” Lily said and used another tissue. There was already a small pile on the floor beside her.

“What's up?”

“Oh, don't pay any attention to me, Gabe; I'm just feeling sorry for myself.”

“Maybe if I paid some attention to you, you wouldn't feel sorry for yourself.”

Lily smiled. “You're not the problem. I am.”

“How is that?”

“Gabe,” Lily answered testily, “do you know the last time I studied my Bible, let alone did any translating?”

Gabe waited a moment, wanting to word his encouragement well but not sure where to start. He didn't speak right away but moved farther along the wall so he could move Lily's feet until they were resting on his knees. He gently rubbed her ankles and calves, using light pressure to ease the muscles.