Gabe put his arm around her.
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"I will want you to bring anything you have that's important to you, but that's not what we're about today. Today, I want you to tell me if any of these rings appeal to you."
Lily looked down at the tray and then sighed very softly.
"Aren't diamonds pretty?"
"Yes, they are. Does anything stand out to you?"
"Oh, my" was all Lily could manage before she stood in painful indecision. Finally she looked back to Gabe. "Can you pick something?"
"Don't you like any of them?"
"I like all of them."
"Then go ahead and try one on."
Still she hesitated. Gabe spotted some tall stools and brought two of them over. He ordered Lily to sit and then slid the tray a little closer to her. Gabe sat close on another stool and watched her. After a good deal more study, Lily picked out a ring with a minuscule diamond.
"Is that the one you like?"
"Yes, and it looks like it won't be too costly."
"I can afford everything in this tray, so you need to select the one you like the best and not worry about the cost. I would tell you if I couldn't afford it."
"There is one I like better."
"Which one?"
Gabe saw what she picked and smiled. It was the very one he'd spotted earlier that day. "Try it on."
Lily started to do that, but the wedding band moved to the side and the two rings separated. "I broke it!" she gasped.
"No, you didn't. These two rings will be soldered together, but not until after the wedding. Here, try just the diamond."
It was rather exciting for both of them when the ring fit perfectly over Lily's slim finger.
"It's so pretty," Lily kept saying.
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Gabe kissed her temple before going to tell Lee they had a winner.
"I want you to know,'' Gabe said once they were in the car, one hand holding the small jeweler's box and the other hand holding Lily's, "that I understand you can't wear this home, but will you please take it with you?"
"Oh, Gabe, my heart would break if something happened to it, and without it being on my finger, I would be worried all the time."
Gabe nodded in understanding. "Will you wear it until you leave?"
"I want to, Gabe I can't tell you how much but can we please wait? That way I won't have to take it off again."
Gabe set the box aside so he could reach up and stroke the smooth skin of her cheek. The wait was going to be one of the hardest things he had ever gone through, but Gabe reminded himself that Lily was at the end.
"It looks like Bailey has been doing some decorating," lily commented as she and Gabe parked in front of the house and saw the wreath on the door.
"Oh, yeah," Gabe said, hoping he had given everyone enough time. He didn't see Jeff's car, but maybe he'd put it in the garage to help with the surprise.
Gabe stayed on lily's heels as she entered through the front door, so he saw at the same moment she did the Christmas lights come on all over the tree they'd put up.
"Merry Christmas!" everyone yelled as the family came toward her.
"Oh, my" was all Lily could manage for several minutes. Gifts were pressed into her arms, and she stared in wonder at her brother, Ashton, Evan, Bailey, and the children.
"Come on in," Evan directed. "It's Christmas right now and time to open gifts."
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Lily suddenly found herself the center of attention, gifts surrounding her. She couldn't speak for a time, and when she did, it was in panic.
"I don't have anything for you. I didn't shop! I never even thought of it."
"You have gifts for them," Jeff stated calmly, and Lily blinked at him.
"Jeff," she said quietly, "could I possibly see you in the next room?"
"It's all right," Jeff said, his voice filled with laughter. "You go ahead and pick out a gift to open. Just tell me who it's from, and I'll take it from there."
Lily looked at him for a moment but did as she was told. The gift closest to her was from Peter and Celia. Lily opened it to find a dictionary, the very type she'd been hoping to own.
"Oh, thank you, Peter. Thank you, CeCe. I'll use it all the time."
"Okay!" Jeff said in excitement, reaching into a bag near his chair. "It looks like Lily has a gift for Peter and one for Celia. Who's going first?"
This little routine became hysterical as Lily leaned in close each time to see what "she" had purchased for each person. It didn't take long to see that her brother had shopped while he was away, and she knew he was giving up his own Christmas gifts for her.
"Lily" gave Celia a doll; Peter got a set of tiny cars. From Bailey and Evan, Lily received a thick book on Hawaii's history. She gave them a wooden cheese cutter. Ashton gave Lily a T-shirt from Deanne's university in California one that Deanne had sent when she learned of the early Christmas party. In return, Ashton got a book on classical cars, a passion of his. Jeff gave his sister a thin gold bracelet, and he was more than happy with the hug she had for him.
When it was finally time for Gabe's gift to Lily, a gift bag was set in her lap. It was heavy.
"I wanted to wrap the gift we just bought together, but you'd already seen it. I had to settle for this."
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More curious than ever, Lily moved the tissue paper and laughed in delight when she saw the contents. It was gum, every conceivable type and flavor.
"Are you sure you want to feed the addiction?" Jeff teased Gabe as he took the last gift from his bag.
I've decided not to fight it," Gabe said dramatically, starting to open his gift from Lily.
"What is it?" Peter asked when Gabe only stared at the frame in his hand. At last he turned it and everyone looked at the five-by-seven close-up photo of Lily's face. It was in a silver etched frame, and the original picture had been taken at Carson and Gloria's. Lily was on the porch, and the photographer had captured her sweetness as she'd been looking down at the children.
For a long moment Lily and Gabe stared at each other, reminded once again that very soon, memories and pictures would be all they had.
The days and hours between Lily's surprise Christmas with the family and the time to say goodbye and go to the airport disappeared at a horrific pace. Lily was utterly silent in the backseat of Jeff's car, having just said goodbye to Evan, Bailey, the children, and Ashton. And she had not yet been required to say goodbye to Gabe or her brother. She was glad they were in the front seat. Not having to look at them just now was a mercy.
They had not given themselves tons of excess time, so the wait was not long. The three talked about general things, and when the first seating announcement was made, they began their goodbyes.
Jeff held his sister for a long time.
"Have I told you lately how proud I am of you?"
"I don't think so."
"My mistake," he said. "I should say it more often." Lily gave him a watery smile. "So I should tell Father that I didn't shame him?"
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Jeff only laughed, hugged her again, told her he loved her, and did not attempt to hide the moisture in his eyes. Lily then turned to Gabe.
"You need to understand that when you come back, I won't let you go again."
Lily could only nod.
"I think it might be easier to get cancer again than to have to say goodbye to you."
Lily put her hands on his face. "Please don't get cancer again, Gabe. Please be here waiting for me."
"I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. I'll be here. I'll wait for you, Lily, no matter how long it takes."
"Please hold me one more time."
His arms brought out all the tears that had waited for this moment. She sobbed as he embraced her, feeling that she couldn't do what she had to do. As it was, most of the plane was boarded before she picked up her bag and left them, still crying.
Gabe watched her go, unable to believe she was leaving them.
"Bring her back, J
eff," he said quietly.
"For both of your sakes, I wish I could."
Both men hoped and prayed that Lily would be all right and even enjoy her flight. They would have laughed to know that once in her seat she berated herself for the baby she was, but her scolding did no good. Feeling as though she would never recover, Lily cried all the way through takeoff and for many minutes in the air. By the time she was able to control herself and doze off, she had a huge headache. There was only one consolation: The waiting was over. She was on her way home.
Capital City, Kashien
"Lily"
She heard her father's voice as she came from the jet way, eyes down. Without having to look up, she saw that he was off to the side and went to him. She was so tired she could hardly think
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straight and was thankful she still remembered all the right things to do. It seemed to her that she had not been here for years.
"Are you well?" Owen asked.
"Only tired."
"Then we will go home."
Lily followed behind him, hoping she could keep ahold of her case. It was heavier this time than when she left, and to her weary arm it felt like lead. She wished her father would notice her and take it, but Lily followed him and remained quiet.
The journey home was made more difficult by her fatigue, but Lily was thankful that her father was not full of questions. They traveled by bus and then cart to their village. Lily did not even ask if she could be excused, but once home went directly to her room and lay down, thinking she would be sick if she did not get some sleep.
Had she but known it, her father had been more sensitive to her needs than he let on. He would not have stopped her from sleeping for anything, but he did go to her room and stand looking down on her sleeping form. His heart was overjoyed with praise to God that she had come safely home to him.
"Lily!" Ling-lei gasped at the sight of her friend and nearly pulled her inside her small home.
"How are you?" Lily asked, so glad to see her. "And how is that baby boy?"
"My baby is perfect," Ling said with a smile, "but we will speak of him later. How are you, my friend?" Ling asked. "You look more beautiful than I have ever seen you. How are you?"
Lily smiled. "You will make me be selfish by talking about myself first?"
"Yes. Now, what is his name?"
Lily's mouth opened.
"How did you know?" Lily asked softly.
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"I am a woman who still longs for my husbands touch, Lily Walsh. Of course I know. What is his name?"
"Gabriel."
"Like the angel."
Lily laughed. "He's wonderful."
"He must be. You have a glow about you."
"Ling." Lily's face was suddenly worried. "My father does not know, and I must pick a time."
Ling put her hand up.
"I will say nothing."
"Thank you. Do you think me deceitful?"
"No. If he asks and you do not tell, that is wrong. But sometimes waiting is best."
The women began to catch up. The girls were with their grandmother, and Daniel was sound asleep. Lily was sorry to miss the girls, but time alone with Ling was rare, and they had so much to share. Ling had loved all of Lily's letters but had written none of her own.
"I have something for you," Lily said when the women had talked for nearly an hour. She brought out the water dome, smiling at her friend's reaction.
Ling had never seen anything like it, and Lily had a glimpse of herself as Ling asked more questions than Lily could answer. They ended up laughing at how many times lily said, "I don't know."
It didn't take much longer before ling just threw her arms around her friend, telling her in no uncertain terms that it was wonderful to have her home.
Lily settled back into the village with amazing ease. Her heart was never far from thoughts of Gabe and her wonderful time in Hawaii, but she fit back into her old routine as though she'd never left.
The person who surprised her was her father. He was different, but not in the way she had anticipated. She'd been home two
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weeks, Christmas had come and gone, and he had yet to question her over what she had learned on her trip. Indeed, Lily thought him quiet in all respects. She prayed for opportunities to talk on a personal level with him, but when he did not invite conversation, even when they were alone in the evenings, Lily kept all thoughts to herself.
Letters arrived from Bailey, Jeff, and Gabe. Lily saved Gabe's until last, savoring the words and thinking about his dark head bent over the paper as he wrote. She thought he would type them on his computer and wouldn't have minded, but it was special getting a letter in his neat, bold writing style.
When she wrote back to Gabe, she told him how odd she found her father's behavior. She wrote Jeff about the same thing, but she had no more than mailed the letters when his behavior seemed more normal again. He was talkative about what was going on in the village and excited when Lily showed him her progress with the translating.
The bombshell didn't drop until one night on Lily's third week back. Lily and Owen were alone in their home and the two of them sat reading in the quietness.
"I was so afraid you would have changed," Owen suddenly said.
Lily took a moment to respond, eyes down, before looking up without being told and saying, "I have changed, Father, and I've been hoping to talk to you about that."
Hearing the difference in her voice, Owen looked up to see Lily's eyes on him. He frowned, but Lily did not drop her eyes.
"What are you doing?" Owen demanded, his own eyes growing angry.
"Just looking at you," Lily said softly. "Is this what you have learned from your trip away to disrespect your father?"
"No, Father, but I was hoping we could discuss it." Lily would have said more, but Owen stood.
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"My hopes were wrong." His voice was flat and cold. "You are changed. I waited to see, but I did not wait long enough."
Owen stalked from the room, leaving Lily feeling crushed and broken. His silence had all been a test. For one horrible moment lily wished she'd never gone to Hawaii.
"I wanted to go, Lord," she whispered in prayer, feeling breathless with pain. "I thought it would be wonderful, and it was. But now will I forever long for that life while I live in this one?"
lily couldn't even let her mind think of how far away Gabe was just then. She didn't think her heart could take the memory.
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Chapter 26
"Hope," Ling-lei called to her daughter during one of Lily's visits. Lily had been home about a month. "Do you wish to tell Lily what happened?"
The five-year-old came over, her little face alight.
"Come sit in my lap," Lily invited. Having received an offer she would not pass up, the little girl climbed into Lily's lap and let herself be held close.
"You grew very big while I was gone."
"I'm five."
"Yes, you are."
"I'm a Christian."
"Oh, Hope..." Lily held her tightly, her heart pounding. "Can you tell me about this?"
"Mama and I looked in the Bible. We looked at the words from God."
"What did they say, Hope?"
"That I'm a sinner, but Jesus wants to save me."
"So what did you do?"
"I prayed," she told her with a peaceful smile. "I told God I was ugly with sin but that I wanted Him to live in me. And now He does."
"Will He ever leave you, Hope?" "Never."
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Lily kissed her brow and rocked her a little.
"You have learned, little one, what many take too long to grasp. How wonderful to know that you and I have the same God living inside us."
"He's with me when I'm scared."
"Yes, He is."
Lily's eyes met those of her friend. Ling was crying. "Thank you for telling me."
Hope climbed from Lily's lap, and the women sat in quiet wonder for
a time. Lily prayed for Hope, asking God to bless her with a heart that would be strong and asking that she would walk with Him for all of her life.
"How are you?" In her quiet way, Ling cut into Lily's prayer.
For the first time since that night with her father, Lily let her shoulders droop and her true feelings show. She looked tired and discouraged. She didn't cry, but she did share openly.
"He still won't speak to me, Ling. It's been the most miserable time of my life even worse than when my mother died. I don't know what to do. I feel he sees my going away as some type of betrayal. Jeff told me to write and he would intervene, but if Jeff gets involved, I think that will just put up a greater wall."
"So you're not writing to Jeff, or not mentioning the situation when you do write?"
"All I'm saying in my letters to Jeff and Gabe is that the time isn't right and to please keep praying."
Ling nodded and then asked, "Have you tried speaking to your father?"
"Well, I call to him, but when he won't answer I just stay quiet. Is that what you would do?" Ling thought for a moment.
"I think I would say more," she concluded at last. "You are so good on paper, Lily. Maybe he would read a letter from you. But you never yell, so I know if you speak to him it would be with respect."
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"So you think I should try?" "Maybe a little at a time."
Lily thought about this all the way home, and to her surprise, her father was in the house. He did not look up or acknowledge her, and at the moment Lily figured she had nothing to lose. She took her chair across from him in their small living room and did as Ling had advised her.
"I wish to say something to you, Father. I hope you'll listen." Lily hesitated, but even though he did nothing, she went on. "I have not changed completely, but I was hoping that when we were alone, I could look at you without your permission. I know it would be a great change for us, but I don't wish it out of disrespect." Lily finished with what was foremost on her mind. "I wish we could at least discuss it."
When he gave no indication that he'd even heard her, Lily ended with just a few more words.
"I learned so many things while I was away, and you haven't asked about one of them. It feels as though all you want is to keep control of me, and I wish I understood why."