The waitress came, and even though Gabe had been there before, he let her give her spiel since it was Maya’s first time, then they were up and on their way to the buffet area. They took their time with Gabe telling her what he usually chose, but he noticed that she tended to avoid the seafood, while loading up on vegetables, chicken, and beef. She did put some noodles in her bowl, her eyes going wide at how high the pile of food was.
“You need to add some sauces to all of that, or they’ll add them for you,” Gabe said as they approached the last section before the huge round area where staff waited to cook the food. “If your food doesn’t include a lot of sauce or oil, it will burn.”
“Teriyaki. Soy sauce. Garlic oil.” Maya’s brows drew together as she read the labels. “What do you usually add?”
“Well, I like my stir-fry a little on the spicy side, but for your first time, if you’re not sure, the less spicy sauces and oils might be a good idea.” Gabe pointed out the ones he thought might work, and she chose mostly the less spicy ones with the exception of one. He hoped that she liked the flavors she’d picked. It had taken a few visits for him to find the combination he really liked. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to come to Mongos too frequently.
They stood together at the cooking area, watching as four guys moved around the large round flat grill, working the food back and forth with large cooking utensils. He glanced over when he heard Maya laugh after a couple of the guys tossed bowls to each other. Her smile lit up her face and made her eyes sparkle. He loved seeing her excitement and once again was struck by her innocent, wide-eyed fascination with the world. It was a rare—but welcome—find in someone her age.
When their turn came, they handed over their bowls and watched as the contents were dumped on the large grill. It didn’t take too long before the cooks were handing back the cooked stir-fry on a plate with a bowl of rice on the side. They returned to their table where the waitress had brought their drinks while they were getting their food.
Maya paused, her hands folded, looking at him expectantly, so Gabe bowed his head and said thanks for their meal.
“That was so cool,” Maya said as she poked at the pile of food on her plate.
“It is very entertaining,” Gabe agreed. “I really enjoy coming here.”
“I’ve never been to a place like this before.” She took a bite and hummed in apparent appreciation, if the smile curving her lips was any indication.
“So did the oils and sauces you chose work?” Gabe asked.
Maya nodded with a smile. “This is amazing. Seeing them cook the food I chose was really fun. And yes, the sauces you recommended are perfect. Thank you.”
Though he didn’t understand why she seemed so inexperienced with the world, he liked introducing her to things that she came to enjoy. The things they were doing weren’t at the level of adventure that he was going to set out on in a couple of days, but they still filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve had to do some experimenting during my visits, but I’ve finally found my favorite combination of oils and sauces.” He took a bite of his stir-fry and once again appreciated the flavors that he’d chosen for his own food.
“This might just be my new favorite restaurant,” Maya said.
Gabe smiled. “What was your previous favorite?”
“Um…” Maya tilted her head and frowned. “I guess it was probably Montanas or Olive Garden. I don’t eat out a lot actually, but in the past, when I have, I’ve chosen one of those two. Now I’ll have three places to choose from.”
“So you don’t do much cooking?” Gabe asked, wanting to delve into her life a little bit more.
“No. Since I live with my parents, I don’t really have to cook for myself.” She paused, her gaze on the plate in front of her. “I probably should learn since I won’t live with them forever.”
“Are you planning to move out?”
Maya shrugged, her dark eyes serious. “I’m not sure. Some days I want to get away. My mom can be a little overprotective since I’m her only child.”
“My mom can be overprotective too, and she has ten kids. Somehow, I think that something like that is possibly just engrained in certain people, regardless of the number of children they have.” They ate in silence for a couple of minutes before Gabe asked, “So what are you and your folks doing for New Year’s Eve?”
Maya’s gaze met his for a moment before focusing on her food again. She jabbed her fork into the stir-fry and lifted a forkful up but didn’t put it in her mouth. “We’re going out of town to meet with some of my dad’s business acquaintances. We’ll be back on New Year’s Day. What does your family usually do?”
“We don’t do anything too formal. There’s lots of food, and the evening is open to whoever doesn’t have any other place to be. At some point, we usually gather and share thoughts on the past year and hopes for the new year, and then spend some time in prayer. And then if it’s not too cold, we sometimes shoot off some fireworks to ring in the new year.”
“It sounds fun. If I wasn’t already committed to going with my parents, I would have come.”
The disappointment Gabe had experienced when he’d first heard she couldn’t join them resurfaced. For some reason, he’d just assumed she’d be there. He’d been counting on starting off the new year with Maya, so to hear that that wasn’t going to happen was disappointing. Maybe next year.
“You think you’re up for another bowl?” Gabe asked as he pushed his empty plate to the other side of the table.
Maya leaned back in her seat. Her dark eyes were shining as she smiled at him. “I’m not even sure I can finish this one, but don’t let that stop you from going back for more.”
Though Gabe would have liked to have her with him, he left the table alone and moved quickly through the buffet. Thankfully, there wasn’t much of a lineup, so it didn’t take too long to get back to the table and Maya.
The waitress came and refilled their drinks and took away his empty bowl, then left them to continue to talk. Gabe didn’t want the evening to end, knowing that this was their last time together before he left for a month. Though he still sensed that she had some reservations, she seemed to be relaxed during their time together.
They continued to talk as they ate, but Gabe found he still wasn’t finding out that much more about Maya. For every question he posed to her, she gave a brief answer and turned the conversation back on him. It was equal parts frustrating and intriguing. It felt like she was hiding something, but at the same time, she seemed so innocent that he didn’t think she’d be lying to him about anything.
As the evening had progressed, more people had streamed in the front door and the tables around them had filled, so they didn’t linger too long once the meal was over. They headed out into the cold to Gabe’s truck. He’d started it from inside the restaurant, so it wasn’t freezing cold when they climbed inside. Back at the gym parking lot, he had Maya start her car while they sat together in his vehicle.
“I guess I won’t see you again before I leave,” Gabe said, gazing out the front windshield.
“I might be at church tomorrow,” Maya said. “So I’ll see you if you’re there.”
Gabe smiled, relieved to know he didn’t have to say goodbye to her yet. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
They walked to her car, and when Gabe gave her a hug, Maya held tightly to him. Gabe had planned to make it quick, but he wasn’t going to complain if she wanted to hug him longer. She felt good in his arms, the silkiness of her hair pressed beneath his cheek.
She pulled back a bit but didn’t let him go. In the light from the tall lamppost in the parking lot, Gabe could see the seriousness of her expression.
“Please don’t go,” she said softly, the words barely audible.
Her request caught Gabe off-guard. For some reason, he hadn’t thought that she would try to keep him from going. They’d only known each other for less than four weeks, and yet it felt so much longer. The truth was,
he wasn’t sure that he wanted to go either, but he had no choice.
Gabe moved his arms and cupped her face in his hands. As he looked down into her face, he felt his heart skip a beat. “I wish I could stay, but I have obligations.”
Her lips tightened briefly, and he felt her swallow hard. “I know. I just wish…”
He wasn’t sure which one of them moved—maybe it was both of them—but as Gabe’s lips touched Maya’s, a sense of rightness swept through him. He placed soft kisses on her lips, relishing the moment as they shared their first kiss. Maya had dropped into his life at a time when he hadn’t been expecting it, but she’d become important to him in a way that no one else ever had. If there was a person who could get him to abandon his adventures, it was Maya.
She was asking him to do just that, but he couldn’t do it yet. And he was scared that, even without obligations, it might not be something he could give up forever. He didn’t want to become bored and resentful of Maya if he gave it up now and then realized later that he just couldn’t live a life without some kind of excitement. Could they somehow compromise? Maybe that was something they’d have to discuss when he got back. The reality was that he had commitments that he just couldn’t abandon right then. People and companies were counting on him. He had contracts that he couldn’t breach by backing out of what had been set up for him to do.
But he was so tempted.
Maya’s hands tightened on his back as Gabe continued to share soft kisses with her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt the warmth…the affection…the desire the way he did as he kissed Maya. The longer he held her in his arms, the longer his lips lingered on hers, the more convinced he became that he had never experienced anything like them before.
As the realization sank in that he was beginning to chase the physical connection more than the emotional one, Gabe lifted his head and stared down at Maya. The vulnerability and emotion on Maya’s face tugged at his heart. This month away was going to be a challenge. Sure, he missed his family whenever he left, but in the short time they’d known each other, Maya had carved out her own place in his heart and being away from her would definitely leave a void inside of him.
“I’m going to miss you.” He rested his forehead against hers, swallowing hard against the tide of emotion rising within him. “We’ll talk when I get back.”
“Okay. I’m going to miss you too,” Maya whispered. “Stay safe.”
Gabe wished he could promise her that nothing would happen. It was just like with his mom when she said the same thing when he was leaving, but it wasn’t a promise he could make. “I’ll do my best.”
With a final kiss, Gabe released her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her arms slid from his waist as she stepped back. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
Gabe opened the door for Maya and waited for her to slip in and put on her seatbelt before saying goodbye and closing the door. Since the air was cold, Gabe didn’t linger, watching Maya’s car drive away this time. As he headed home, Gabe had to acknowledge that for the first time in his life, he was torn between staying and going.
13
Maya headed to church the next morning even though it was freezing cold and staying home where it was nice and warm would have been preferable. She found Gabe waiting for her just inside the doors to the foyer. Memories of the kisses they’d shared the night before came flooding back, causing her cheeks to flush. As she’d curled up in her bed after leaving Gabe, she had replayed it all over and over again in her head.
Her first kiss.
While she was still confused about where things were going for the two of them, she was glad that she’d shared that with Gabe. What she felt for him was so strong, stronger than she’d ever imagined feeling for a man.
“Good morning,” Gabe said as he approached her with a smile.
Maya returned his smile and relished the feel of his embrace as he drew her in for a hug. Leaving one arm around her back, he walked with her to the cloakroom where he helped her take off her coat and hung it up for her. When his gaze swept over her, his eyes lighting with appreciation, Maya was glad she’d taken extra time with her hair and makeup. She’d also tossed aside several outfits options before choosing the long-sleeve peplum top in deep rose that she wore with a pair of tailored black pants.
“You look beautiful,” Gabe said, his hand moving to rest on her back as they left the cloakroom. He also wore a pair of black slacks, but his were paired with a long-sleeve, royal blue, button-down shirt that brought out the color of his eyes, and a paisley tie that happened to have a small swirl of a color that matched her top. It was almost as if they had coordinated their outfits.
“Thank you.” Maya looked up at him as he guided her through the foyer. “And you look handsome yourself. I love your tie.”
He ran a hand down its length as he smiled down at her. “I’m glad you like it. I hoped you would.”
Gabe’s words took Maya off-guard for a moment. He cared about what she thought? “Well, I do. Very much.”
When he grinned, it was one of satisfaction, as if he derived fulfillment from her appreciation the way she had from his. It hadn’t even crossed her mind that he would feel that way too. She found she liked the idea…
“Ready to go in?”
Maya nodded, and together they walked into the sanctuary and down to a pew near where they’d sat before. She enjoyed the services she’d been at so far, and Maya hoped to continue to attend the church, even after Gabe was gone.
The pastor that day was talking about glancing back over the old year and looking forward to the new. That was something she hadn’t really dwelt on much in previous years. There were times when she’d been only too happy to see the end of a year while hoping that the one ahead would be better. That it would be free of cancer. Of pain. Of isolation and loneliness.
“Don’t let the mistakes of this past year, the hurts you may have faced, weigh you down as you look forward to what God has in store for you in the new year. In Lamentations, we are reminded that through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness.”
The verse popped up on the screens on either side of the stage. Maya quickly jotted down the reference because the words really spoke to her, and she wanted to be able to look at them again in the future. There had been a time when all she’d wanted was to just live to see another day. Then another week. Another month. And now she was looking forward to the next year without the cloud of cancer hanging over her.
Though she did have a scan and bloodwork coming up the end of January, Maya was trying not to dwell on the possibility of what might be to come. She couldn’t live in the shadow of death any longer. It was time to accept that her life might not be cancer-free forever, but it was right then, and she was going to just live her life day by day. And as the pastor spoke, Maya realized that there was a part of her life that had been shoved aside because of the cancer and her mom’s reluctance to return to church after her first diagnosis. Though her mom had never said the words, it was as if she was angry at God for allowing her only child—the one she’d waited so long for—to get sick.
“I’d like to call Dalton Callaghan up here to read a poem that I want us to take to heart as we look forward to the new year and the plans we’re making. It was written by C.T. Studd who passed away in 1931, but the poem is still so applicable for us today.”
Dalton stood from his seat in the front row and walked up to join the pastor behind the pulpit. After resting a hand on Dalton’s shoulder and giving him a nod, the pastor went to a seat off to the side of the stage.
Dalton didn’t seem nervous at all as he set the paper he held down on the pulpit. He looked out over the congregation before he lowered his gaze to the paper and began to read.
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And
from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
The Love of Her Life: A Christian Romance (The Callaghans & McFaddens Book 3) Page 16
