“Hey, Peter,” Gabe called to his five-year-old nephew the moment he was in the kitchen door. “Where are your folks?”
“Mama’s in the kitchen, and Daddy is somewhere.”
Gabe smiled and touched his head. “Okay, buddy. Thank you.”
Having already reached his brother, Ashton, to tell him he needed to see the whole family, Gabe headed toward the kitchen, where he found his sister, Bailey Markham. His three-year-old niece, Celia, was playing on the floor.
Set on the north side of Oahu, the Kapaia Resort was a special place. Started by Liho Kapaia and handed down from father to son for three generations, the restaurant, office, gift shop, large swimming pool, tennis courts, and 13 beach cottages were now owned and operated by Bailey, who was the oldest, her husband, Evan, their two children, and her two brothers. On top of all that, the six of them lived together in one large home.
The cottages had guests for ten months of the year, but the family took September and October off to rest and rejuvenate for the coming season. The phone still rang, but a secretary in the office usually handled that and other minor office duties. The restaurant was open year-round, but as with the office, they had a competent and faithful staff. This morning Gabe had told the secretary, Mollee, where he would be, and he now attempted to gather the family and explain Jeff’s predicament.
“Hey, Bailey, is Evan available?”
“Yes.” She looked up from the list she was making. “He’s in the yard. What’s up?”
“Jeff was just here to see me. I need to tell all of you about it.”
“Okay. Should I get the children busy doing something?”
“No. It’s not private. In fact, it involves all of us.”
Bailey’s curiosity was roused enough that she went for Evan herself. By the time she found him and they held the door from the kitchen to the main part of the house so Celia could join them, both of Bailey’s brothers were waiting in the living room. Peter had made himself comfortable in Ashton’s lap.
“What’s up?” Evan wasted no time, speaking as soon as he and Bailey had taken a seat.
“Jeff has been called away. He has to leave on Sunday. He’ll be gone for eight weeks.”
“But Lily just arrived,” 24-year-old Ashton said; he was the youngest of the family.
“Yes, she did, that’s why I’ve told Jeff that Lily can stay with us.”
“Good,” Evan said, and then remembered to look at his wife. She was also nodding her head but still had questions.
“How does Lily feel about that?”
“Jeff was headed home to tell her. He came here first because he was so upset.”
“Tell us the whole story.”
Gabe did just that, and for a moment they all sat and thought about the horrible disappointment. Jeff was like family. They all knew how excited he was when his father had finally given Lily permission to come to him. They also knew that this had to come as quite a shock.
“So, what’s the plan?” Ashton asked.
“Jeff will bring Lily over on Sunday afternoon. I think he’ll stay a little while to see that she’s settled and then head to the airport.”
“And how many weeks are we talking about?” Bailey asked.
“About eight. I think there’s a possibility that things could wrap up sooner for Jeff, but I don’t think he is counting on that.”
“Could it take longer?” This came from Bailey again, and all Gabe could do was shrug. Jeff’s finishing early had been more of a hunch on his part, so he kept his mouth shut.
“Is the guest room made up, Ash?” Evan wondered aloud. Ashton had been the last one to have company—a friend visiting from college—and that made the room his responsibility.
“The bed is fresh, but I don’t know if it needs vacuuming or dusting. I can check that today.”
“Thank you,” Evan said as he turned back to Gabe. “Is she allergic to anything—foods and such?”
“Not that Jeff has ever mentioned. I can ask him.”
With that settled, the meeting broke up, and each person went his or her own way.
“Come here,” Bailey invited her son, and Peter moved close; Celia had been in her lap for the whole meeting.
“Did you understand all of that?”
“I think so. Is Jeff coming to stay?”
“Not Jeff—his sister, Lily.”
“Oh. How come?”
Bailey looked into his huge black eyes and melted a little over his sweetness.
“Well, Jeff has to work out of town, and she needs someone to be with her.”
“What’s her name?”
“Lily.”
The little boy nodded, and Bailey was filled with a fierce protectiveness. She asked him to bring several books from the loaded shelf in the living room and decided to stay right where she was and read to her children.
Lily moved around the corner of the kitchen wall when she heard the front door open. Trying not to drop her eyes, she found herself smiling, so glad was she to see her brother. She had not wanted to call him, but he had been gone for hours, and she had started to wonder if something was wrong.
Forcing her eyes up, she saw from his face that something was wrong. Feeling compelled to ask but knowing she must not, Lily remained quiet, wanting to drop her eyes in the worst way.
“It smells good in here. Have you been baking?”
“I made cookies,” Lily said simply, not going into detail about all she had learned in the process. “I hope I didn’t use something you need.”
“I’m sure not. Have you got some coming out now?”
“No. They’re done.”
“Good. Come in here and sit down. I’ve got news that neither one of us will like.”
Lily did as she was told and sat in stunned silence as her dream trip fell to pieces around her feet. This was Thursday, which meant they would only have a few more days. Lily hated the thought of getting back on that plane so soon. If they had had the whole three months, at least she could have left with a heart full of memories. It was too soon, much too soon, unless…
“I’ll just go with you.”
“You can’t. I can’t even tell you where I’m going.”
Lily nodded and began to second-guess making the trip in the first place.
“Should I call the airport about my ticket?” Lily asked. It would do no good to cry. That would only make Jeff feel worse and not change a thing.
“Do you remember all the times I’ve written you and Father about Gabe and his family?”
Lily nodded.
“Well, I’ve just come from seeing Gabe, and they want you to come and stay with them.”
Lily nodded, her face serene, but in truth she was experiencing her second shock of the day.
“They’ll teach you to swim and do all the educational things that Father wanted, and then when I get back—I’ve already called my boss and confirmed it with him—I’ll take off work for the rest of your visit. We’ll have time to just relax.”
Lily smiled in his direction, not wanting him to be upset, but also aware that a deep sadness was mirrored in her eyes.
“All right,” she said, thinking she should voice her agreement and not expect him to see it in her smile. “I’ll go stay with Gabe and his family.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with that, Lil?”
“If that’s what you want me to do, I will.”
What you want me to do.
Jeff had cried in the car on his way home. He thought he could again. Lily had been raised to be subservient to authority, especially to men, and flexible in all situations. At times he struggled with these aspects of her upbringing, but never as much as now. Right now he hated it.
“Is that what you want me to do, Jefferson?” Lily asked again, not sure what the look on his face meant.
What I want you to do, Lily, is not be the sweetest person I’ve ever known. What I want you to do is to get angry at me and make it easy to leave. What I want you to do is explain to me what God’s plan is for this, because I feel as though my heart has been ripped out of my chest.
“Listen to me, Lily. I was so upset about this that I went to see Gabe before coming home. It wasn’t that I was afraid to face you, but I’m more upset about this than I guess I’m letting on.”
Lily nodded. This she understood, since she was trying to hide her pain and planning to cry all the way back to Kashien.
“So when I went to Gabe, he suggested you stay with them. I love these people—you know that from my letters. I wouldn’t think of leaving you with anyone else. They will take great care of you, and even though your stay won’t look the way I’ve been imagining it, we will still have four weeks together in November.”
Lily nodded, telling herself to be brave. Jeff was being brave. Why should she demand any less from herself?
“That’s fine. What day will I go there?”
“Not until Sunday,” he said, knowing he would have to take her at her word. “You and I have a lot to do in the next few days.”
“Like what?”
“Well, first we’re headed to Honolulu to do a little shopping.”
“For what?”
“Your swimsuit.”
Lily made an “oh” with her mouth, even though no sound escaped. Jeff had not eaten breakfast, so after he wolfed down a bowl of cereal, the two hit the road. Had Lily known what she was in for, she would have been tempted to defy him and stay home.
Evan Markham came back into the house just ten minutes after the meeting broke up, the thought in the back of his mind still niggling enough that he wasn’t going to ignore it. He found his wife and children almost as he had left them and knew just what he must do.
Making a trip to the bookshelf for two books, Evan approached the threesome. He waited for his wife to finish the sentence she was reading and look up at him. Evan’s eyes, however, were on Celia.
“You there, with the face,” he pointed at her playfully. “You sit right here.”
Celia, in her adorable, pudgy way, crawled from her mother’s lap and into the chair her father indicated.
“Okay, CeCe,” Evan said as he put the book in her lap. “You sit in this chair and look at this book.”
“’Kay.”
“Now, Pete,” he continued, turning to his son, “this is your chair and your book. I think this is the one with bears.”
“If I finish this, can I get another?”
“Yes, but then get right back into your chair.”
“Okay.”
Evan saw the second child settled before turning to his wife.
“And you,” he said, pointing to Bailey, “head upstairs to our room.”
This was far from the first time he had done this, so Bailey went wordlessly to the stairs and started up.
“All right, you two,” he addressed his children one more time, “you stay in your own seats. No wrestling. We’ll just be a little while.”
Evan took the stairs two at a time and ended up just a step behind his spouse. As soon as he followed her into their bedroom and shut the door, he spoke.
“All right. What’s going on?”
Bailey hated being so transparent to her husband but still said, “I don’t know what you mean.”
Evan heard the playfulness in her tone and kept his light too.
“Come on now. Out with it.”
Bailey turned to look at the man she had been married to for almost seven years. She adored him and knew the feeling was mutual.
“I thought wives were supposed to be creatures of mystery.”
Evan shook his head. “You’re going to have to work harder to pull that off with me.”
Bailey stared at him and didn’t answer, but Evan still knew what was on her mind.
“If you didn’t want Lily to come, you should have said so.”
“Then Gabe and Ash would have wanted a reason.”
“What is the reason?”
“Do you really not know?” Bailey looked crushed.
“Tell me; don’t just get upset with me.”
“Evan, we’ve been waiting to get pregnant, thinking that when you slow down, it will happen. Now I’ll have another woman in the house to take care of, and I’ll be the busy one. I thought we both wanted another baby.”
“We do, but I don’t think Lily is going to be any extra work for you—not if she’s anything like Jeff has described.”
Bailey looked thoughtful as she mentally agreed with him. Lily was a grown woman, not a child who would need looking after.
“And you’re doing God’s planning for Him again, Bailey. Leave it to Him. You know your job, and that’s all you’re expected to do.” Evan added, “You just attack me every night at bedtime, and we’ll leave the rest to the Lord.”
Bailey’s light laughter filled the bedroom, and Evan came to take her in his arms. He held her close, and Bailey sighed when her head rested against his chest.
She realized then that she had had her mind on herself to the point that she hadn’t even prayed for Lily and Jeff. She knew right now they needed it more than she did.
Lily came from the first dressing room, her face a dull red, her eyes down.
“How was it?” Jeff asked, trying not to laugh at the horror on her face.
“I can’t do this,” she said, her voice so low that he had to bend to catch it.
“Lily,” he tried, but the laughter in his voice made him stop and start again. “Tell me how it looked.”
“A lot of me showed.”
Again Jeff wanted to chuckle.
“Well,” he began, trying to be pragmatic and wishing he had asked Bailey about this, just as he had when he bought Lily’s clothes, “was the suit cut high on the leg?”
“Yes!”
“Show me here on the side of your pants.”
Lily indicated the top of her thigh, by no means the high-cut area.
“You thought that was high?”
“My whole leg showed!” she whispered in panic, and Jeff had to cover his mouth and take a moment to recover.
He had picked out a very modest suit, a swimmer’s suit with a high front and comfortable back, not having many exposed areas that would make it immodest.
“How about the neckline—how high did it go?”
Lily’s hand went almost to her collarbone.
“And the back?”
“I don’t think I looked.”
“Go put the suit back on and come show it to me.”
She looked as though he had suggested she undress on the spot.
“I don’t think I can do that, Jeff.”
“It’s all right. Hardly anyone is in here right now, and you won’t be swimming on the beaches of Waikiki.”
“That makes a difference?”
“I’m just saying that even if the suit turns out to be all wrong, we don’t know anyone in here, and you’ll just pop out, show me, and pop right back. There’s no reason to be embarrassed.”
He could see she wanted to argue but did not. He watched as she moved wordlessly back to the dressing room and wondered if she would ever come out again.
“Gabe, it’s Jeff.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I’m sorry to call so late, but I had to wait until Lily was in bed.”
“That’s fine. I was still up.”
“There’s something I forgot to tell you.”
“Okay.”
“Lily won’t look at you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, she won’t look at men. It’s the way my father raised us. Women are not to raise their eyes in a man’s presence.”
“And she does that even here?” His voice sounded as amazed as he felt.
“Yes, it’s all she’s ever known. You’re going to have to tell her to look at you, or she won’t.”
There was complete silence on the phone.
“Gabe?”
“Yes, I’m here. I’m just thinking. Does she really not look up at men?”
“Right.”
“Is she afraid?”
“No, just showing respect the way she was taught. She’s been getting better with me, but she’ll have to start all over with the three of you. Added to that is the fact that she doesn’t know any of you.”
“Well, Jeff,” Gabe responded, his voice returning to normal, “whatever it is, we’ll work it out. We do know each other through you, so I’m sure that given a little time, we’ll all do fine.”
They talked for a few minutes before Jeff was able to hang up in peace. His friend was not just cheerleading. He honestly believed things would work out fine. Gabe was like that. And although Jeff was tempted to worry, he was working hard not to.
That phone call made, Jeff pulled out his briefcase and went to work at the kitchen table. He had much to do before he got on that plane Sunday afternoon. But if he had to work all night in order to sightsee with his sister all day, it would be worth the effort.
“You wrote to Father?” Lily asked on Saturday afternoon. They had just 24 more hours.
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
“I just explained the situation. I don’t suppose he’ll go all the way down to Hankuo to use the phone, but I even enclosed the number in case he feels a need to contact me. I also gave him the resort phone number and the address.”
“What is the resort like?” Lily suddenly asked.
“Oh, we can go by there. In fact, maybe we should so you can meet everyone now.”
“That’s all right,” she was a little too swift to say. “I think tomorrow will be fine.”
Jeff didn’t have the heart to tell her to look at him. Eyes averted, she was doing her best not to twist her fingers together, and he knew she was scared to death about the whole affair. There was so much he could say, but he didn’t know where to begin.
“Do you remember the family names?”
“I think so. Gabriel Kapaia is your good friend. His brother is Ashton, and his sister is Bailey. Her husband is Ian…”
“Evan.”
“That’s right! Evan. And their children are Peter and Celia.”
“Wow, you do remember. Now about the resort. There are 13 guest cottages on the beach, but you’ll be staying in the main house with the family.”
“They all live together?”
“Yes. They’ll have to tell you how it works, but it does. I know that Evan has someone come in and help Bailey clean up a bit two mornings a week, but I think they always eat together.”
“Okay.”
“And do you know what I just remembered?”
“What?”
“I’ve got to do some laundry before I pack.”
“Okay.”
“Gather anything you need to have washed, and I’ll teach you how to use a washing machine and dryer. And bring a book, or it’s like watching paint dry.”
Lily’s laugh did much for his heart. Doing laundry on their last night was not exactly memorable, but Jeff thought it might be best to stay as “normal” as possible.