Bamboo and Lace by Lori Wick

Author:Lori Wick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2010-12-03T05:00:00+00:00

Gabe lowered the paper and looked across to where Lily had sat back on the edge of the pool, her feet in the water again.

“This is excellent.”

“Thank you.”

“What made you think of studying this passage today?”

“I’m not sure that it was anything in particular. I was thinking quite a bit about my father, but with no answers or conclusions. The book I’m reading is interesting, but it was hard to concentrate because I was so hungry. So I eventually turned to Luke—it’s my favorite Gospel—and tried reading very slowly and carefully. I was struck by Gabriel’s response for the first time.”

“If you could do today over, Lily, what would you do differently?”

“I would have told you this morning about the conversation with my father. I know you were in a hurry and needed to go, but I would have asked for your advice.”

“What if there hadn’t been anyone to ask? What if we’d all been called away and Wang hadn’t heard the conversation?”

Lily thought for a moment.

“Maybe I would have tried to golf on my own, or maybe I would have eaten a little just to get through until you could teach me.”

Gabe was upset with Lily’s father all over again. He didn’t want to show his anger, but he wished for answers to the questions rolling inside him. He suddenly wondered if Lily could help.

“It’s hard for me to imagine a person like your father,” Gabe admitted, working to be tactful. “I want to understand, but that type of treatment is a bit out of my realm. How do you deal with it?”

“When I’m at home or here?”

“Both.”

“Well, at home I just know my place, and I keep it. And here, well,” Lily had to stop. Gabe watched her shrug a little before she said, “Please do not picture me miserable and ill-treated at home, Gabe. My father does take some things too far, but I have been raised to submit to God and to authority, and I think that is a very good thing.” Lily paused a moment before going on. “My father is not a young man. I know that does not excuse wrongdoing on his part, but he’s been this way for a long time, and I wish to honor him, even from afar. It was foolish of him to ask me to promise, and just as foolish for me to agree, but even at that, I wanted to do everything I could to keep my word.”

“I think your father must be so proud of you, Lily. I don’t know how he could be otherwise.”

“I think he is, at least most of the time. And it’s very kind of you to say so, Gabe.”

“It might be kind, Lily, but it’s also true. I’m not trying to make you feel better, I’m giving you a genuine compliment. I too have worked hard to honor my mother, but I haven’t come as close as you have.”

Silence fell between them. Lily felt slightly uncomfortable and found her eyes lowering with embarrassment.

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