Abide: A Christian Romance Novel (The Lewis Legacy Series, Book 7)

by JoAnn Durgin

  When Caty exited the elevator on the ground floor lobby, Caleb waited with Lauren. With his leather jacket casually tossed over one shoulder, smiling, he presented a more relaxed image from the tense man who’d run into her office not that long ago.

  Something was going on with him in terms of his daughter. Not that it was her business, but she cared about these two. They’d suffered a major loss in the past few years, and she couldn’t begin to imagine how difficult losing Helena had been.

  “I’m glad you could join us.” Caleb fell into place beside her. “I thought we’d try out one of the local restaurants. Familiarize ourselves with the area.” He motioned for her and Lauren to go ahead of him into the revolving door.

  “Did your meeting go well?” Caty said as he joined them on the sidewalk.

  “It did. We’re investigating potential new properties for mineral and oil rights, and the reports were encouraging. I hope you’re settling into the office now. Have you met the others in the offices around yours?”

  “Yes, have you?” Caty tossed him a smile. “Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” As they waited at the crosswalk, Caleb rested his hand on Lauren’s shoulder. She’d noted his vigilance in keeping his daughter within his close range of vision.

  “Caleb, do you realize what this means?” Caty said as they crossed the street to the next block together.

  “No, I guess not. Why don’t you tell me?”

  “You’re actually walking down the street with one of your employees. Going to lunch. Sharing small talk and casual conversation. That’s a significant breakthrough.”

  He chuckled. “You’re not only an accountant, now you’re also my psychologist. I don’t think I need psychoanalyzing, thanks very much.”

  “Maybe not, but I do think you might need a friend.”

  “Is that so?” He shot her a curious glance as he opened the glass door of a restaurant.

  Japanese?

  “Isn’t this great, Caty?” Lauren said. “Do you like Japanese? Dad let me pick where to go and he said this would be fine.”

  Caty swallowed. “Peachy.”

  Caleb watched her carefully. “It is okay, isn’t it? If you’d rather go somewhere else, say the word.” His lips, so close to her ear, sent shivers everywhere. Good shivers, but even with his daughter-in-tow, this man could be dangerous.

  “I’ll be fine. Let’s do this.” Caty followed Lauren into the restaurant. She could be a daredevil when it came to sports, but when it came to food? How could they know she was more a meat-and-potatoes kind of girl? Even on family and church mission trips, she’d always stuck with the tried-and-true or gone without. Sam and Carson used to always tease her about her “refined” food tastes while they’d scarfed down anything put in front of them. Ugh, but they’d lived to tell the tales.

  A young hostess, wearing a bright pink silk kimono, greeted them with a sweet smile. “Nan mei sama desu ka?”

  Lauren tugged on Caleb’s sleeve. “Let me, okay?”

  “By all means. Have at it. You’re much better at Japanese than I am.”

  “San nin desu.” Then Lauren said something else Caty could only assume was about a reservation since she gave the woman their last name.

  They followed the hostess down a long, narrow hallway. Stopping halfway, she slid open a screen partition that led into a small, private dining room.

  “The floor is made from tatami mats,” Caleb told Caty in a low voice. “Which means they’re straw and hard to clean, so we’re expected to remove our shoes. Put your hand on my arm to keep steady.”

  Doing as he asked, grateful for his assistance, Caty quickly slipped off her pumps and placed them beside Lauren’s flats. Please, Lord, don’t let this be a disaster. The potential for that very thing was all around her, and that’s what scared her.

  Caleb tugged off his cowboy boots with practiced ease and set them on the floor. Placing one hand on the small of Caty’s back, he escorted her into the room. She appreciated the gentlemanly things he seemed to do so naturally.

  The hostess pointed to the seating area and the low-to-the-ground table. “Kochira e douzo.”

  “Arigatou gozaimasu,” Lauren said as Caleb removed his jacket and Stetson. Taking them from him, the hostess hung them on a rack in the corner.

  “Ladies are supposed to sit with their legs on the side,” Lauren whispered. “We should sit together, side-by-side. Caty, you sit between me and Dad.”

  Legs on the side? That sounded odd enough. How could that possibly be comfortable for an hour? Now Caty really wished she’d worn pants today. And why on earth would she want her feet next to Caleb? Sure, she’d showered that morning, but had she known she’d be in a Japanese restaurant, she’d have made time for a pedicure.

  Oh, the predicament.

  Caleb nudged her arm. “You can kneel if it’s more comfortable.”

  “I can do that. I just haven’t done it for an entire meal.” Still, it would save her from the side-sitting dilemma.

  Marta was right. She was a nut. One thing was a given—life with Caleb Reid was anything but boring.

  “Only men are allowed to sit cross-legged. It’s totally not fair.” Dropping onto the cushion to Caty’s left, Lauren sat back on her haunches. “Sitting like this is called seiza.”

  Following Lauren’s lead, Caty lowered onto the cushion next, and then Caleb took his place to her right. Cross-legged, of course, the privilege reserved only for men.

  The hostess handed each of them a menu. “Menyuu ni narimasu.” Then she departed, sliding the partition closed behind her.

  “I think I actually understood the first word of that,” Caty whispered. For the second time today, she found herself sitting on the floor in her pencil skirt. The fact that her handsome boss sat only inches away, so close she felt the warmth from his body, certainly wasn’t helping her equilibrium. Something about it seemed almost intimate compared to dining in a restaurant. On a chair. At a table.

  “I’ve never been to a Japanese restaurant before,” she confessed. “I have no clue what to do. I’ll be honest—the thought of using chopsticks kind of terrifies me.”

  “It’s not that hard. We’ll teach you.” Lauren seemed so animated compared to earlier. No wonder Caleb wanted to indulge his daughter by bringing her here.

  “There are a few rules for using chopsticks,” Caleb said. “The major faux pas is sticking them upright in your rice. It’s similar to a ceremony performed at funerals. Lauren knows some of the other rules.”

  Lauren nodded. “Don’t put your chopsticks in the air when you’re thinking about what you want. That’s considered greedy. Don’t eat directly from the shared dishes. Take food from the top of the dish only. Oh, and don’t lick the ends of chopsticks. That’s considered rude.” She giggled. “Remember, Caty. Chopsticks are not a toy.”

  “I’ll try to restrain myself.” Caty grinned at Lauren. “Thanks for the helpful tips.”

  Caleb slapped his hand on his forehead in dramatic fashion, no doubt for Lauren’s benefit. “How could I forget this one? Never share food with your chopsticks. That’s probably the biggest taboo. It’s a reminder of another custom at Japanese funerals where cremated bones are transferred to the urn.”

  “Lovely.” Caty shook her head. “Let me guess. You got the funeral tidbits from Cordelia?”

  “No, I learned it on a business trip to Japan about seven years ago. Why?”

  “I got a lesson in the most expensive coffee beans in the world—weasel-digested, as a matter of fact—when I first visited your office. Cordelia has all sorts of fun facts to know and tell.”

  Caleb burst out laughing. What a great laugh. “Cordelia was an Army brat, and then she and her husband both served overseas in the armed services.”

  Lauren frowned. “She told me about eating eyeballs once. In some African country or something. Gross stuff. But she’s cool otherwise.”

  “Yes, well. If you see me breaking any rules during lunch, I trust you’ll let me know
. Transferring food from the plate or bowl into my mouth is my biggest concern at the moment,” Caty admitted. “Or else I might be hitting that peach pie myself when we get back.”

  Caleb turned to her. “Are you okay if Lauren and I make the menu decisions for all of us?”

  “Please do. As long as there’s no liver on my plate, I’ll be fine. I’m not a big fan of sushi, either. Or eyeballs.” Caty winked at Lauren. While they discussed what to order, Caty sat with her hands demurely on her lap, hoping it wasn’t against the rules and that she wasn’t being offensive.

  A different young woman entered the room and offered Caty a small, palm-sized, hot towel. “O-shibori?”

  “You’re supposed to use this on your hands,” Lauren said. “Not on your face. It’s not polite.”

  After thanking the woman, Caty took the towel and wiped her hands. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t ball this up and toss it in a basket somewhere?”

  Caleb grinned. “You can either fold it or roll it up and leave it on the table. You mentioned sushi. Most people have a misconception about it. Have you ever actually tried it?”

  “No.” Caty frowned. “You weren’t supposed to ask that question.”

  “Take a wild guess what sushi is.” Lauren lifted her brows up and down.

  “I’m guessing raw fish isn’t the right answer?”

  Lauren shook her head. “Nope. Sushi is rice with vinegar in it. Sashimi is sliced raw fish.”

  “Sushi is usually served with toppings like cooked or raw seafood, and that’s where the misconception comes from,” Caleb added. “It didn’t originate in Japan, by the way.”

  “I’m learning all sorts of things today. Obviously you two have done this before. Multiple times,” she murmured under her breath.

  “I have a kimono. Dad took me to Japan a couple of years ago,” Lauren told her.

  “That must have been a fabulous opportunity for you to experience another culture. Do you like traveling?”

  Lauren nodded. “It’s fun. I’ve been to Germany, England, and France.”

  “Lauren’s gone along on a few of my trips in the past. I’m hoping to take a few more extended trips for fun in the future.”

  “I think I’d like to be an interpreter someday,” Lauren said. “Sit in on big important meetings with world leaders, and get the early scoop on what’s happening. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

  “I think it’d be great.” Caty smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm. “From what I’ve seen, you’re well on your way.”

  “She learns easily and retains it well.” Caleb leaned forward to address Lauren. “Keeping things confidential is also a valuable quality in someone who wants a position like that.”

  “Yes, Father. No more talk about kissing. I get it.”

  Caleb chuckled. “That’s right. Best to leave the talking, and the kissing, to others.”

  “Don’t worry. I hate boys. I’ll never kiss them.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Caleb nudged Caty with his elbow.

  Hot green tea was delivered to their table. As they waited for their food, Caty wondered if Caleb normally prayed before meals. “Do you mind if we say a prayer?”

  “I’ll do it.” Caleb reached for her hand and Lauren did the same.

  “Dad, you haven’t—”

  “Lauren, bow your head. Time to pray now. Dear Lord,” he began before she could say more. “Thank you for this special meal. We’re glad Caty could join us today. We ask that you’d bless this food to our bodies and our conversation that it might glorify you. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.”

  “Amen.” Caty squeezed Lauren’s hand and then gently withdrew her other hand from Caleb’s. He probably didn’t realize that he’d run his thumb over the side of her hand several times during the prayer, making it difficult to concentrate. Not that she was complaining. In fact, she’d liked it too much.

  The door opened again, and a trio of servers brought in their food and proceeded to set what Caleb explained was a traditional Japanese table—a bowl of rice to her left, a bowl of miso soup on the right. Behind those, each main course—an okazu according to Lauren—was served on individual plates. Pickled vegetables were on another plate on the side as well as a dipping dish with soy sauce.

  “The presentation of the food is just as important as the taste,” Caleb said. “Traditionally, there are three main dishes served—one raw dish, one grilled, and one simmered, steamed, or deep fried.”

  Caty leaned forward to take a closer look. “And what do we have here, Mr. Reid?” At first glance, they looked safe enough.

  He introduced her to the various dishes on the table. “We have tempura consisting of battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables. Yakitori, grilled chicken, and finally, nikujaga, which are potatoes and beef stewed in sweet soy.”

  “Yummy. Really,” she insisted after Caleb gave her a look of skepticism. Now, for the dreaded chopsticks. They were only wooden sticks, after all.

  After Lauren showed her how to hold them, Caty’s cheeks flushed as she fumbled with her chopsticks. She might as well accept that would be a common occurrence around her boss. Experiencing new things and a different culture was a good thing. Beads of perspiration broke out on her forehead. If she kept this up, her hands would be so clammy the pesky wooden sticks would slip out of her hands and clatter on the floor. And that would inevitably be a horrible offense or remind them of funerals.

  Calm the sarcasm, woman.

  “Here. Let me help you.” Caleb leaned around her and wrapped his right hand over hers. “Hold the chopstick in your right hand with your pointer, middle finger, and thumb. Try moving it up and down like so.” He demonstrated. “Now, you try it.”

  He expected her to think with his hand over hers? He released her, and Caty tried her best to hold it like he’d shown her.

  “That’s great except you need to try and keep your thumb still,” he said. “Only the pointer, middle finger, and chopstick should be moving. Now, for the second chopstick, hold it like this between your thumb and your palm. This chopstick shouldn’t move at all while you’re using it.”

  “Okay.” Maintaining her focus was the most difficult task. “Watch this.” Caty managed to pick up some rice and a piece of grilled chicken. By the grace of God, the food made it from the chopstick into her mouth. Well, she did lean forward quite a bit, but somehow she managed to feed herself so she wouldn’t starve.

  “I have to say, the Japanese make you work for every bite,” she said, sitting back on the cushion. “I might need the rest of the day off after this meal. If I’m not sitting here all afternoon trying to eat it, that is. I have to say, this meal is a little exhausting. But fun,” she added quickly.

  Caleb chuckled and started to feed her from his chopsticks.

  “No, no.” She laughed. “That is forbidden.”

  “Oh, right. You’re doing fine. Keep at it, and it’ll get easier. Promise.”

  Lauren was a pro at using her chopsticks, and Caty watched her in awe for a few moments. “You are my hero.”

  “Thanks.” Lauren grinned around a bite of tempura.

  As they continued to eat, Caleb asked her if she was settling into her new townhome.

  “Oh, I can’t believe I haven’t thanked you yet for the potted plant and the BoSox fly swatter! They’re fabulous. I’ve decided to decorate the Corn Plant for Christmas this year, and Scrappy will be armed and ready for fly season.”

  Caleb chuckled. “I’m glad you find them both practical.”

  Lauren laughed. “Dad, you are so strange. Have you ever heard of flowers? Who’s Scrappy? And what’s a BoSox?”

  “Scrappy is a very important fly swatter,” Caty told her. “BoSox is a nickname for the Boston Red Sox professional baseball team.”

  Lauren still looked befuddled. “So, wait. You’re supposed to swat baseball players with Scrappy?”

  Caleb and Caty both laughed.

  “That would be interesting to watch,” Caleb commented as
he effortlessly moved chicken to his mouth with his chopsticks. Show off.

  “I get it,” Lauren said, smiling. “It’s one of those adult things, right?”

  “Kind of.” Caleb shrugged and shot Caty a helpless grin.

  “I ended up going to Mom and Dad’s on Saturday after the big moving extravaganza,” Caty said as they continued eating.

  “They sound wonderful,” he said with what sounded like an edge of sadness in his voice.

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

  “I’m an only child.”

  “I can loan you some.” Caty hoped to make him smile.

  “What’s it like to be part of a big family?” Lauren piped in.

  “Most of the time it’s great. I used to feel like I had no privacy, but if I needed a friend, I always had one nearby—whether under the same roof when we were little or by phone or email later on.”

  “Even your brothers?”

  Caty smiled. “Yes, especially my brothers. I’m very close to my oldest brother, Sam. He’s a great listener, and no matter where we are in the world, we’ve always kept in close communication. Except for when he was on an overseas mission for a year, but that’s another story. He’s married to a great woman named Lexa, and they have three kids. Sam gives great advice, and he’s come to my rescue a few times.”

  “Rescued you from what?” Lauren took another bite of her food and chewed slowly, watching her with wide eyes.

  “Well, he once picked me up from a disastrous date. He took me home and danced with me in our living room because I’d never even made it to the dance. Sam couldn’t dance very well, but he knew my heart was a little bruised. He wanted to reassure me that my date wasn’t rejecting me.”

  As soon as the words escaped, Caty wished she could take them back. Perhaps that wasn’t the best example for a girl Lauren’s age.

  “Why did you think he was rejecting you?”