White Chocolate Moments (38 page)

"If you're like I was:' Sam continued, "you're in on everything, but you don't have to be. Trust the people you hire to get the job done, and then leave them to it. I know there will be times when you're on call or running a bit late, but that can't be the norm. You might even increase production, but if you don't, it's still worth it."

Gage nodded, his mind running with the changes he would have to make. He finally saw the dichotomy within himself as he realized he'd been too hands-off with Patrice and too hands-on with his department heads. It was true--he loved being a part of every aspect of the business, but his people were more than competent.

Sam didn't stay much longer, but he'd given the younger man much to think about. Gage spent the rest of the evening asking God for help and also arguing with Him that it could not be done. He went to bed with very few answers.

"Are you all right?" Arcineh asked on Monday morning. "Yes, why?"

"You just seem a little quiet'

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Gage looked at her. He'd wrestled with Sam's words last night and again this morning, almost forgetting the woman he was
fighting
for. And something else was suddenly clear: Sam had not told her he was coming to see him about their relationship. Gage's heart ached at the thought of not having Sam's blessing, but the man was right. Why would Sam want Arcineh to have a husband who did little but work? It would be horrible for both of them.

"Tell me something," Gage said, not mentioning his conversation with Sam but already forming a plan. "Have you ever played tennis?"

"Just a little in high school with friends," Arcineh answered, her voice confused.

"Perfect."

"Why is that?"

"That's all I've ever played, so if we do that together, we'll be in the same place:'

"You're not going to ask me to bike with you again?"

"I am, and I'll dance with you, but tennis will be ours:'

Arcineh looked into his eyes and said, "I like you, Gage Sefton:' Gage couldn't help himself. With one hand he gently cupped the

side of her face. "I like you too:'

The soft kiss he gave her made Arcineh sigh. The sigh made Gage smile, just before he put his arms around her to hold her close. It was a wonderful start to the work week, and to knowing what had to be done.

"Thanks for coming," Gage said to Sam at the end of the workday on Friday.

"You're welcome. What can I do for you?"

"You can take up residence in this building until you figure out where we're wasting time and energy. I want to know what you

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would do to keep Rugby Shades a viable company without letting it own me:'

Sam could have shouted with relief. He had known for a long time that this man was special, but this--this was beyond what he dreamed. Sam knew only God could have done this.

Gage waited, hoping Sam would at least dialog with him about the process. He made him the happiest of men when he asked, "When do you want me to start?"

Arcineh had not forgotten about her conversation with Jalaina, but neither did she expect to see her. They had talked almost four weeks past and not seen each other since, but on a Sunday morning, looking nervous even though Will was at her side, she stood in the foyer of the church building, her face showing relief when Arcineh spotted her. "Hi," she whispered as they hugged. "Are you all right?"

"I think so. Someone just directed us to the nursery. Will Emilie be all right?"

"She'll be fine, but if you want her in with you, that's all right too:'

Jalaina looked to Will.

"We're not going to hear what the man is saying if we have Emilie. We might not be all right:' he teased his wife a little, "but Em will be fine:'

Arcineh loved the smile the two of them shared, and she began to pray. She was a little confused about what God would want in this situation but then remembered what she'd been learning about men leading in the home and church family. As they trooped in to sit with Sam and Gage, Arcineh asked God to save Will Schafer and that Jalaina would follow his lead.

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"She's asleep:' Arcineh told the men when she got back to the family room. Will had had questions, just as Gage had many weeks before. Sam had invited them over for lunch. Jalaina had listened as long as she could, but the baby needed to be fed, and both had fallen asleep in the rocker in the four-season room.

"I don't know what you said to Jalaina, Arcie," Will said with his wife missing, "but she would not let this go. She's been nagging me to attend your church:'

"Did you not want to?" Arcineh asked.

Will shrugged. "I think a church might be a church, but Jalaina wanted it, so we came:'

"And now what do you think?" Sam asked.

Will had to smile. "Okay, I heard some things today that were new to me, but I don't know about this sin issue. Why would God create man as a sinner and then cast him off for being that way?"

"If you go back to Genesis, Will:' Sam said, fielding the question, "God created a perfect man and woman. They chose to sin:"

"That's my point:' Will said. "Even Adam and Eve sinned, and they were perfect. How do the rest of us stand a chance, and why would God do that to us?"

"God wants us to make Him our God. He gives us a choice, Will. We can face that we sin and need a Savior and God, or we can live life for ourselves with a god of our own and spend eternity apart from Him:'

Will was on the verge of arguing, but in fact he'd been raised to

respect the church and God. He sat back and looked at Sam. "The hard part about God is that it's all His way:' Will said. "That's very astute of you, Will, but allow me to add that it's also

the clearest pare

"How so?"

Sam tapped his Bible. "He spells it out for us. He says it's a small gate and a narrow path to finding God and knowing you're saved

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for all of eternity. It's completely clear in His Word. He's an exacting God, but a clear one."

Will slowly shook his head in wonder. "I can't say I've ever thought of it that way before'

"That's what we call light or truth:' Sam continued. "I've just given you some light, and you must decide what you will do with it:'

Will didn't hesitate this time. "I think I'll come back next Sunday"

Sam smiled at the younger man before saying, "I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that:'

The employees of Rugby Shades read an email on Monday morning, one from Gage Sefton himself. The email said that a man named Sam Bryant was there to help him, and that changes would be made. He encouraged them to welcome the older man, who might be moving in their midst, and even told some about the meeting they were to attend in the conference room on Tuesday.

The meeting the next day started on time and Gage got right to the point. "The changes might be slow in coming--it might take weeks to adjust--but there will be changes. We will put in hard days, but they will be shorter days:' Gage told the fourth floor, his executives, and the design teams. Sam and Arcineh were present as well. "You will know you've worked, but at the end of the day you can go home and forget about Rugby, and that goes for the weekend:'

Gage searched the faces of his people. Sam had only been on the job for one day, but he told Gage he could do this. Gage believed in being upfront with his people and had called this meeting for first thing Tuesday morning.

"I would call for questions, but I don't have all the answers right now. I just know that changes will be made in how we do things. I'm not looking to fire anyone, but if you find this is no longer a place you

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want to work, I will not deny you the reference you deserve because you don't want to work for Rugby."

Gage saw faces relax and knew he'd covered at least one question. "I still love making sunglasses. I still love what we do here. I just Want us to do it more effectively. It might even open up opportunities for some of you. We'll have to wait and see.

"Most of you know Sam Bryant, grandfather to Arcie and a successful businessman. As I said in the email, he'll be around for an undetermined time. Answer any questions he might have. Tell him what you do so he can help us. Feel free to ask questions but be patient about the answers. When I know things, I'll communicate them with you." Gage wrapped up the meeting. "That's all I have for you. Thank you for your time."

Folks thanked him and moved on their way. Little by little people went back to their jobs, but naturally there was much speculation about the changes. However, Gage and Sam didn't waste any time. Sam continued his tour of the office. Gage was either with him or working on the business at hand.

Arcineh woke up with Patrice on her mind and prayed for her. Gage had told her the day before that Patrice's mother was not doing well, and because she was planning to be married in a month, the assistant would not be back to work at all.

Arcineh had agreed to staying on for the time being because Gage was reticent, in light of the changes, to come, to add someone new. Arcineh felt discontentment as she got out of bed. She didn't hate the job. It let her see Gage. But it wasn't something she wanted to do for a long time.

What do you want to do for a long time?
Arcineh asked herself, but there was no immediate answer. She still wasn't interested
in

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college, and she didn't want to tile. Wondering how she could be so confused when just a short time ago life seemed to be falling into place, Arcineh slipped into the shower and began to pray.

You know what my heart wants. You can see inside of me,
she said to the Lord.
I don't know exactly how Gage feels, but I just want to be in his life. And Sam's. I never want to be away from Sam again.

Arcineh heard herself and stopped. God was not a genie in the lamp that you gave your wishes to. Arcineh scrubbed her hair, wanting to trust God but feeling anxious.

Why do I think that You can't handle things? I keep putting You on my helpless level, and I know that's selling You short. Help me, Lord Jesus. Help me to trust You with all of me.
I am a worrier. I never thought I was, but I'm anxious about so many things. Gage calls it distraction, but it's worry. I worry about Will and Jalaina and my future and Sam dying and Gage asking me to marry him.

Arcineh made herself stop. She confessed the anxiety inside of her and finished in the shower. Forcing her mind to remember verses that promised her God was exactly who He said He was, Arcineh slowed down and made herself do the hard work of choosing to trust.

"Did you use sunblock?" Violet asked when she found Arcineh on a raft in the pool on Saturday afternoon. Sam and Gage were working on reconstructing Rugby. Arcineh had been feeling sorry for herself and then remembered there was a pool to enjoy.

"No:"

"You're going to burn," Violet warned.

"I never burn:' the younger woman countered. "Don't you remember me as a teen? I was black as a berry all summer'

"I remember:' Violet said. She'd put her towel down and gone in the shallow end. Arcineh flipped off the mattress. She swam to the shallow end to find Violet getting comfortable on the steps.

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"Let me guess," Arcineh teased. "You don't want to get your hair wet."

Violet flicked water at her and laughed, but it wasn't long before she remembered something.

"And what are you doing working on the laundry?" she suddenly demanded.

"I always do my laundry"

"But you did Sam's too. Are you trying to put me out of a job?" "As if I could:' Arcineh argued and then explained, "I didn't have a full load."

"I thought you were going to give your things to me when you didn't have a full load:'

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that:'

Violet flicked water at her again.

"I'm going off the board," Arcineh announced, starting to climb from the pool.

"You're just trying to get my hair wet," Violet accused her. Arcineh laughed but didn't actually deny it. Violet's hair did get

splashed, but by the time Arcineh reached her side all was forgiven. "How long will you work for Sam?" Arcineh asked.

"Until one of us dies," Violet said, not sounding the least bit bothered by the idea.

"What will you do if Sam dies first?" Arcineh asked the obvious question as Sam was at least 20 years older.

"He's provided for me," Violet explained.

"I didn't know that."

"I didn't know it until a few months ago."

"What has he done?"

"He set up a special account and also included me in his will." Arcineh stared at her.

"He has changed, Arcie the older woman said, stuffing her hair under a cap. "You're certainly right about that."

Violet pushed off the edge of the steps just then and began laps.

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Clearly she was done talking about Sam, but unless Arcineh completely missed her guess, Violet was not done thinking about it.