White Chocolate Moments (34 page)

"It's a lot to take in right now. Just start reading in Genesis. Start in chapter one and read as much as you have time for. Write down anything that doesn't make sense, and the four of us will get back together and go over it:'

Simon had warm handshakes for the men and hugged Arcineh, who had to fight tears over his smile and compassionate voice. They left the church office, a little quiet but excited as well. Gage had come in his own car from work, but before they parted he told Arcineh he would pick her up at 5:30.

"We're still going to your sister's?"

"She's planning on it:"

"Have you told her about any of this?"

"No, I think I want to be like Sam and let them notice a change."

Arcineh smiled at him. Gage briefly touched her hand and told her he'd see her that night.

"This is delicious:' Arcineh said, not knowing that anyone outside of a restaurant could barbeque ribs this way.

"Luke's specialty:" Erika said, smiling at her husband before her eyes went back to Arcineh. She could not believe that this was the woman her brother had brought home. She had snuck into the balcony of

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the private room at the dance studio and seen her performing with the other women so many times.

"Leave room for dessert:' Erika suddenly said, trying not to stare.

"I forgot the ice cream:' Luke admitted.

"Oh, Luke" Erika shook her head at him.

"I'll go and get it as soon as we're done. You know everyone will be too full to eat more right now."

Erika rolled her eyes at him, but all was well. A few minutes later, Gage went off with Luke, and Arcineh helped Erika with the dishes. They were almost done before the hostess had the guts to ask her guest about her dancing.

"I thought you seemed familiar;' Arcineh said. "You're in Tina's aerobics class, aren't you?"

"Yes, and I've seen you with Windy City. You're very good:' Arcineh waved a hand. "I'm not the hero in that room. I'm the

youngest with no husband or children, and they've all been making

time for it for years. I'm just privileged to be invited:'

"But you've danced for a long time, haven't you?"

"I have, yes. It's about the only exercise I enjoy:'

"Can you show me just one move that you guys do?"

"Sure"

Before she could change her mind, Erika had whisked Arcineh into the family room and put on some music with a beat. "It's the move with the shoulders."

"This one?" Arcineh did a couple of moves, and Erika just about jumped with enthusiasm.

"Yes! I can do the shoulder part, but not with the feet, and I love that move:'

"The shoulders are the hardest part:' Arcineh said, having Erika stand right beside her. "You can do this:'

The music hit a good spot, and Arcineh went into motion, coaching all the while.

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"Now lead right here with your right shoulder, left foot back. That's it:'

The women were almost synchronized when the men came back, and for a moment they stood and watched. The women did not see Luke head to the stereo. Not until the music turned off did they look around.

Erika was about to complain when the slow sounds of Glenn Miller filled the room, and she ran to her husband in delight. They began to waltz around as Arcineh backed away, feeling shy. Gage would not allow this. He came toward her and took her in his arms. They danced in silence for a while, until Arcineh looked up to find his eyes on her.

"I like your sister:' she said.

"I knew you would:'

Just looking into his eyes made her emotional.

"All I can do these days is cry:' Arcineh whispered.

"It's okay:' Gage said, his chin going against her forehead as he pulled her a little closer and continued to dance. Arcineh closed her eyes and let him lead, her heart asking God why it had taken so long to find Him or Gage and then thanking Him it had taken no longer.

"Did she not tell you she has a performance this morning?" Sam asked Gage when he was at the house soon after Arcineh left. "No:'

Sam thought about this. It had been an unsettling week, but it might be more than that.

"You're welcome to ride with me, but you'd better stay slightly scarce in case she's embarrassed by your presence:'

Gage was willing to do anything not to miss this. After coffee from Violet, he climbed into Sam's car, and they drove to the hospital. It

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took a little doing to learn where the performance would take place, but when they arrived it was easy to stay in the back. Many of the staff had gathered, and some children had had to come in their beds. It was standing room only.

Sam and Gage had not been there five minutes when the music, "Me 01' Barn-Boo" from the musical
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,
started up. The women were in costume, with hats, bamboo poles, and all. Gage found Arcineh in seconds and could not take his eyes from her. As he'd seen before, dancing seemed to come naturally for her. She smiled at the children when she was in front of them and never missed a beat. There was one dropped pole in the middle of the number, but that was recovered quietly, and the children's cheers and clapping could barely be heard over the applause of the staff.

A couple came out next to dance around to "Toot Sweets," and then the women were all back to do "The Roses of Success:' There was no car to work around, and they did more dancing than in the movie, but all was a success.

Gage stood with Sam as the crowd cleared, and when Arcineh spotted them, she came over slowly.

"Hi:' she said, looking a little shy.

"That was fun," Sam said. "You look better than ever:' Arcineh made a face. "I can tell I'm not 16 anymore

"I'm thankful for that:' Sam teased her.

It took a little longer for Arcineh to look at Gage. He'd never taken his eyes from her.

"Hi:' she finally greeted him, feeling shy all over again. "Hi. That was well done

"Thank you. I didn't know you were coming."

"I didn't either since someone didn't invite me:'

"Didn't I?" Arcineh tried, but Gage wasn't falling for it.

"There will be a penalty for this:' he said. "You can take me to dinner tonight, and I get to pick the restaurant:'

Arcineh managed to look longsuffering when in her heart she

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was delighted. They had not had five minutes alone since Tuesday, and it felt as though they'd lived a lifetime.

"Did you start in Genesis yet?" Gage asked when they had taken seats in the small diner, one of Gage's favorite spots.

"Yes, but I didn't get very far. I kept having to write down questions:'

"Like what?"

"Like 'in the beginning: What beginning? Where does time begin in that verse?"

"That's a good one. My question is about the days. Were they longer than 24 hours at that time?"

"Oh, that's good too:'

For a moment they just stared at each other. It felt as though they'd been saved in the nick of time, as though a building or room had been ready to crumble beneath them and they'd been snatched to safety just in time.

"I can't believe all the places God is," Arcineh said quietly. "I just never knew He was all around me:'

"It's huge, isn't it?"

"I talked to my cousin today. Well, I guess I cried to her. Neither one of us could manage many words:'

"A part of me wants to talk to Luke and Erika' Gage said, "but I feel like I need to know more:'

"Do Erika and Luke go to church somewhere?"

"No. They're like I was, having gone to church as children and thinking that belief in God is all you need:'

Arcineh sighed. "I have to talk to Jalaina. Even before I understood, I knew that her belief was different from Sam's. At some point, I want to tell her what's happened:'

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"What does she believe?"

"I don't know exactly, except that it's not very personal."

Their orders were taken in the next few minutes, but the conversation never lagged.

"Are you thinking much about the trial?" Arcineh asked. "Worrying is a better word. It's so hard to have it completely out of my hands:'

"But it's not in the judge's hand, either' Arcineh pointed out. "That's true. Keep reminding me of that:'

They ended up sharing a meal so they would both have room for the fabulous pies under the bakery glass. Arcineh got the key lime pie, but Gage went for chocolate cream. They shared bites and talked until almost ten. Even at that, it didn't feel like long enough.

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Chapter Twenty-Three

"Thanks for coming, Sam:" Gage welcomed that man to his office on Sunday afternoon. "Stan called. They want to settle out of court:' "When did this come up?"

"I got a phone call as soon as we got home from church. Their lawyers just left. My team is waiting in the conference room for me. I wanted to talk to you."

"What brought this on?"

"My lawyers told them about Arcie's testimony"

"What are you thinking right now?"

"That I want my life back. This whole thing has eaten me alive, first the original deal and then finding out they lied and going through all this litigation. I want to study my Bible and really know it. I want to run my business the way it's meant to be run--no lawyers, no trials. I want to see Arcineh more' Gage gave a short laugh. "I want to court and marry the girl."

"And what do you hope I'll tell you?"

Gage sighed. "I want to make sure I'm doing the right thing as a believer:'

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"Are you satisfied with their terms?"

"Yes. They won't admit that they were wrong, but they're willing to repay the money and cover my fees. The old Gage would have demanded an admission of guilt, but now I know they'll answer to God, and it's not my problem:'

"I would settle," Sam told him. "Like you said, they are in God's hands and you can have your life back:'

"Thanks, Sam," the younger man said. "And I'm sorry about calling you down here like this:'

"No problem. Shall I let you tell Arcie?"

"No, feel free. Tell her if I can get out of here at a decent time, I'll go to church with you tonight:'

Sam went on his way but knew what would happen. Gage was tied up with the lawyers for hours, and they did not hear from him again that day.

"It's amazing news," Arcineh said into the phone. Gage had called

her on his way out the door to work on Monday morning.

"It is. I can't tell you how relieved I am. The only downside is how

busy the next few days will be, possibly the whole week:' "Will you make it to Sam's party Friday night?"

"Yes, and my lawyers know I want this wrapped up ASAP:' "Good:'

"I miss seeing you."

"I miss you too:'

"Are you headed to work at the storage units today?"

"For a while, I think, but with the family coming this weekend, I don't want to be an emotional wreck, and that's easy to do with my Aunt Tiffany"

"I remember what she was like. Very interesting:'

His tone made Arcineh laugh, a sound Gage loved to hear. They

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didn't stay on much longer as Gage was getting into traffic, but both looked forward to their next meeting.

Just like old times, Jeremy and Tiffany were coming to town to celebrate Sam's birthday. Austin and Lexa were also coming and bringing their little boy. Quinn and Megan would be staying as well. Arcineh didn't think she would be too tense, but the closer it got, the more anxious she became.

She went to dance class on Thursday night, her head in the clouds, so that even when she got home, showered, and changed, and found Gage watching television with Sam, she looked right through him when she sat down in the room.

"How did it go?" Sam asked.

"Fine," Arcineh said and then remembered Gage. "How is it going with the lawyers?"

"We're done. We finished today. I'm even thinking of taking tomorrow off"

"I think that's a good idea: Sam put in. "It's been a long run for you."

Arcineh watched the men as they talked, but her mind had wandered again. Not until Violet needed Sam to do something in the kitchen did Arcineh come back to earth.

"Come here Gage patted the sofa cushion next to him, and Arcineh went that way. "Closer," Gage invited, and Arcineh smiled and sat right next to him.

"You're distracted:' Gage said.

"Am I? I'm sorry:' Arcineh apologized, curling her legs under her so she could put her shoulder into the sofa back and face him. "Tell me all about how it was settled:'

Gage gave her the details that the lawyers had covered. "I was

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given an encouraging word by Stan just before we finished. He said he'd never known someone who grew calmer as things progressed instead of less. I know it was God working in my heart."