She started to rise, but sunk back down at the appearance of his frown.
Refusing to be cowed by his gentle but overwhelming presence, she tossed her head and glared at him.
“Why don’t you say it, Master Wan? Why don’t you say that you think I am a coward, that I’m running away from my problems? Say it! Say what you are thinking!”
He smiled at her.
“I could not say that, Jai Li, because I know that you are not a coward. You are one of the bravest people I know. As for running away from your problems, those are your words, your thoughts, not mine.”
Lexie fought against angry tears.
She whispered, “You don’t understand.”
“Ah, Alexis, my beloved daughter, but I do.”
Lexie looked up in surprise at his use of her given name and endearment. The tears stinging the backs of her eyelids threatened to fall.
“Jai Li, I do understand and I have great faith in you, that when you are ready, you will see the difference between the demons that are real and those that you create in your imagination.”
When she started to protest, he held up his hand. Leaning over, he kissed her on her cheek, then rose gracefully, the movements of a man of twenty not one nearing seventy.
At the doorway, he turned and bowed to her.
“Don’t practice too long tonight, Jai Li. You will have a big day tomorrow.”
~~~
The next afternoon, the studio was buzzing with excitement. Lexie worked with each group of presenters. From the little girls to the older women, their excitement was palpable. So much so that at times she couldn’t hide her exasperation.
“Graciella, for goodness sakes, I know this is a big day, but you have to concentrate, pay attention. You almost knocked Clarice down. Think how that would look on television!”
She shook her head in mock dismay when the little girls just giggled harder. She took a deep breath and decided that she needed a break, someplace quiet, private, where she could prepare for the festivities. Turning the students over to Master Wan, she went to her quarters.
~~~
Grateful for the heat of the steaming shower, she struggled to deal with her rioting emotions. Perhaps the celebration had been a mistake. Perhaps it was too soon. She had hoped that concentrating on preparations for the event would take her mind off the awful events in Yuma. Off of Anthony. Off of Jake. But it hadn’t. Of course, Jake’s daily messages and gifts made it impossible to forget him. He refused to be gone, she thought with a grimace.
Not like Anthony, who was gone.
Lexie stopped cold. Leaning against the shower wall to keep from falling, she allowed herself to think about what she had just said. For a moment, she refused, but then with a sigh, she recognized the truth. Anthony was gone, dead. Jake was not. She pushed down a flutter of annoyance at Master Wan. Damn him, she thought with a wry groan, why did he always have to be so wise.
Stepping out of the shower, she faced herself in the mirror. She was glad that for once she felt like putting on makeup, curling her hair. Tying her hair up in a high ponytail she took several of the orchids Jake had sent that she’d retrieved for her room and wove them into her hair, making it more festive, more fitting for the occasion. Tugging on her stark white fitted halter and matching high cut shorts, she surveyed herself in the mirror. She’d wanted to look special, calm, focused, so everyone would stop fretting about her. She and Master Wan planned to close the celebration with a demonstration of how expert warriors sparred. They’d been practicing together and wanted to give their students a sense of what they could achieve.
Pulling her gi trousers over her costume, she walked into the entry way, surprised that all of the students were already inside. Shrieks of laughter rang from the dojo. Lexie shook her head. So much for settling down. Oh, well, she thought with a smile this was their big day, they had a right to be excited.
As she neared the doorway she heard Clarice yell out, “Now me. It’s my turn, throw me now!”
A deep familiar voice answered, “Why, so it is. And you have been a very patient little girl. What do you think, Clarice? Do you think you can go as high as Graciella did?”
Lexie barely heard Clarice’s answering shriek. “Yes, yes I can. Higher!”
Her legs turning to rubber, Lexie stumbled back against the wall. She struggled to keep from falling. When she’d regained some strength in her legs, she took a tentative step toward the dojo. Grasping the doorway for support, she peeked inside.
Jake looked over his shoulder and called out, “Hello, Lexie. Excuse me for a minute, darlin’, Clarice has been waiting forever for her turn, right, Clarice?”
Lexie watched stunned as Jake tossed the little girl high in the air then caught her in his arms and swooped down low and set her on the mat. The group shouted its approval, clapping loudly and cheering.
The noise in the room was a distant din. Lexie clung to the doorway, feeling faint. She watched him come toward her as if in slow motion. He was taller than she remembered and he definitely was leaner. But he still had the broad shoulders and strong torso that took her breath away. A slight smile tweaked the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were dark, midnight blue, and serious. She struggled to catch her breath, but couldn’t. She gasped when he reached out and took her hands in both of his and pulled her up close to him.
“You’re…you’re here,” she stammered.
“Yeah, Lexie, I am.”
His serious tone sent shivers up her spine. She took a deep breath and clung to his hands for support.
“Are you… okay?”
He pulled her closer, then tipped up her chin and looked deep in her eyes.
“Yeah, darlin’. Now I am.”
At that moment, Niansu rushed in, his eyes wide with excitement.
“They’re here! The TV people are here!”
~~~
Over the next hour, Master Wan and Lexie stood at the side of the dojo bowing to each group before they performed and after. Everything went off as planned, except that Graciella bowed so low that she fell over bringing a shout of welcome laughter from the audience.
When all the groups had performed, Master Wan stepped forward and took the microphone.
“Jai Li and I had planned to demonstrate to our students and all of you what you can achieve if you practice hard and believe in yourself. Unfortunately, I think that I pulled a tendon in my calf this morning.”
Lexie was startled. Master Wan hadn’t said anything to her. Then she saw him wink at Jake.
“However, we have another Kung Fu master with us today. Colonel Jake Gardner, our beloved Anthony’s commander and best friend, has joined us. Jake, may I impose on you to take my place.”
Jake bowed. “It would be an honor, Master Wan.”
Lexie started, then flushed. She hadn’t thought to wonder why Jake was wearing a gi, but now she knew. She marched over to Master Wan and hissed in his ear.
“You set me up! You knew, didn’t you? How?”
“Ah, Jai Li, Colonel Gardner has been very kind to Madam Juen and me. He called us every day that you were in Yuma to report on your progress and on you. There was no reason to discontinue our daily calls just because you returned. Of course, I knew he would be here. Why wouldn’t he? If Anthony could have come, he would have. Jake could and did.”
Lexie felt her face flame. Tears sprung to her eyes. Before she could answer, Jake tugged on her hand and pulled her to the center of the mat. He leaned down and whispered, “You lead. I’ll follow.”
She managed a watery reply. “That’s a nice change.”
He chuckled and brushed her ear with his lips. “Don’t get too used to it, darlin’.”