“Jerome feels well enough to want to teach the men’s Bible class this evening,” Ambrose told her.
“Splendid, Father, there’ll be a nice crowd I’m sure.”
She sat on the bench where her father and Ambrose had been confiding, and admitted that she’d come for a specific reason.
Again, she told of how she’d met with Rafe Easton at the Gazette and of the loan he’d arranged with Great-aunt Nora.
“She had to do something to save her paper, and I’m pleased Rafe came to the rescue,” Jerome said.
Ambrose added, “There’s no other man I’d rather have Nora working with than Rafe. True, he’s been up a tether recently, but I believe that is winding down. Now what’s this troubling you, Eden? Not Rafe buying the paper?”
She came straight to her quandary and told them about Bernice Judson’s letter found on the Minoa, and how Keno now believed it had fallen out of her father’s medical bag.
“Do you know anything about such an envelope being in your satchel, Father?”
Jerome rubbed the bridge of his nose, then his dark eyebrows shot up with enlightenment.
“Ah, yes! There were several letters that came into the medical ward for Rafe Easton. I’d forgotten all about them. I believe there were two letters from San Francisco—one from his mother, Celestine, and while I can’t be sure, another one from Miss Judson. I had intended to take them to his room that day at the medical ward and to read them to him. But I was in a desperate hurry and forgot about them. I do deeply regret it. Rafe departed soon afterward on the steamer, while I must have carried the mail aboard the Minoa.”
Jerome fastened his apologetic gaze upon her. “I’m sorry my dear. Does that help the matter any?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Heart to Heart
I will need to go back to work at Kalihi, Eden thought as she sat at the desk in her bedroom at Kea Lani. Several days had passed since she’d spoken with Keno at Hawaiiana.
She sorted through the papers her father had signed for the loan from Rafe Easton to enable the work on Kalawao. She couldn’t possibly burden her father with these bills now! When he more fully recovered, then he, too, was likely to return to work at the Kalihi hospital. Just this morning her father had visited Kalihi where he’d seen old friends in the medical world. She wanted to keep him free of worry for at least a few months longer.
Returning to her previous position as research assistant would not be the same as it was under Dr. Bolton and Aunt Lana. She decided she would apply as a regular medical nurse. The new doctor who had taken Bolton’s position was a Frenchman named Dr. Traevonne.
Adding up the overall debt, she was embarrassed when comparing it with her finances. She wondered how she would pay it off. She’d decided she could quite easily do without some new clothes. Even without the debt to pay she had intended to return to work at Kalihi, but not until work on the journal was finished.
Rafe had implied the story should be printed, but the matter remained as unsettled as their relationship. She persisted in her caution over what would happen, and when. Only two days had passed since their confrontation at the Gazette, and things had remained quiet. He hadn’t contacted her about the journal and the information about Kip, but she had no doubt that he would. She was prepared to tell him the truth!
It was through Great-aunt Nora, who had extended her stay at the Royal Hotel, that Eden learned Rafe had been away from Honolulu. “He told Zachary he needed to visit the Parker Judson house for a day or two.”
Nora had the first installment of Rebecca’s Story, and was excited about publishing it, “just as soon as Rafe returns from Maui so we can sit down together and discuss it.”
Eden smiled. She knew the real reason Rafe went to Maui. Then she sobered and pondered the bills strewn across her desk. Rafe had been generous, but paying it all back in monthly installments would not be easy. After the trouble she’d gone through trying to procure the money to bail out the Gazette, she wasn’t a bit eager to seek more financial help from anyone, including Grandfather Ainsworth.
Besides, her grandfather had been clear about his disinterest in Jerome’s leprosy work all these years, and he wouldn’t have much interest in paying the debt when he’d denied Jerome money for the project from the beginning.
Now that Jerome’s health forbade his return to the clinic, her grandfather would consider payment for equipment and supplies a business risk. It would not matter that Dr. Bolton and Lana were doing research, or that Eden had met her mother and received a journal that she hoped to see printed.
Indirectly, however, Grandfather would help pay off the loan. Eden would use the money he allocated to her as a monthly bequest to help make the payments. She had written a draft on her account intending to have it delivered to Rafe’s mailbox at the front desk of the hotel when she went to see Great-aunt Nora that afternoon.
She paced her bedroom floor, then made up her mind. She went to her jewelry box and carefully removed the engagement ring, and slipped it into her bag, while keeping Rebecca’s journal locked away.
It was then the message from Rafe arrived from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. She opened the seal and read: It’s important we meet in private before your visit with Nora. I’ll wait for you in the hotel garden salon at 3 p.m. R.E.
Now how did he know about her visit with Great-aunt Nora? Nora must have told him.
Eden wore an ivory brocaded silk with a velvet trim of ribbon, the trim also adorning the rim of her summer hat. She looked fetching and knew it.
She drove her buggy along narrow King Street toward the hotel, wondering if he would explain what happened in his head-on confrontation with Bernice. Somehow she did not think he would share the details. Eden could only imagine, from knowing Rafe, what must have been said between them. Even though their own relationship was wounded, he would not look well on a woman who had played him for a fool. Reading a letter of lies to a man who was unable to see was at the very bottom of the character scale.
Unless she was wrong, Bernice would be an angry woman about now, and spoiled enough to pack her trunks—or rather, have a servant pack her trunks of beautiful, expensive gowns—and head back to Nob Hill society. She would leave a trail of seething smoke and ill will!
Changing the direction of her thoughts, Eden marveled that Nora refused to stay at Kea Lani because she was “miffed,” as she put it, with her brother Ainsworth. She wouldn’t stay at Hawaiiana, either, because Keno and Candace would soon marry and set up their living there.
“Aunt Nora, we’d love to have you when you’re in Honolulu,” Candace had protested. Even Rafe’s mother, Celestine, wrote to Nora. Still, Nora remained at the hotel. “I relish my independence. Tamarind House is getting too difficult to get around in with my weak ankle. Here, I can ring for help easily, and Rafe, dear boy, is just minutes away.”
Eden wondered over that statement. Why was there nothing except affection for Rafe after he had bought out most of the Gazette? Surprisingly, they were on affectionate terms, and Nora went out of her way to defend Rafe’s decisions. Maybe what Rafe had told her about why he’d bought most of the Gazette was genuine? If so, her heart warmed toward him. Once again he had reached out to defend Zachary and to show he really did have a nephew-like affection for Nora.
Eden turned her buggy over to the hotel worker with: “Be sure my mare is put in the shade.”
Eden entered the carpeted Royal Hawaiian Hotel lobby. Ahead of her, farther down the lobby, the open area leading out to the tropical garden gave a wide, scenic view of palms, flowering vines, and other shrubs, while the blue-gray sea graced the horizon. There were large and small dining tables, some were screened and others had attractive canopies. Customers and guests were taking refreshments in the warm, breezy shade. Waiters in pristine uniforms, carrying their trays with smiles, circled in and out and around the tables as if waltzing.
Eden’s gaze collided with Rafe Easton, waiting near the garden entry, very good-looking in the we
ll-tailored clothing he wore when working in the Legislature. He looked at her for a moment and then walked forward.
She was almost breathless at the change in him. The anger had vanished, as had the challenge in his manner. Arrogance had been set aside, but she still recognized his inaccessibility. The armor was back, however politely polished.
The impenetrable eyes that refused to let her into his thoughts were still stimulating as they held her. She could almost feel they embraced her. Then she realized what she took for distance was merely restraint while he tried to analyze her reaction to him.
“Hello Eden. I suppose I can still call you that in private? Or is it back to Miss Derrington?”
“Eden will do nicely. And do you wish me to call you Mr. Easton?”
Unexpectedly, an amused smile broke through. “I would prefer Rafe. I’ve a table,” he said. “Tea or coffee? Or do you want luncheon? You won’t meet Nora for an hour.”
“Is it Easton coffee?” she asked. To find herself back in his presence with the cynicism gone cheered her.
He smiled. “No such success yet, but matters are looking in that direction. Management is on the verge of signing just to get me out of their office, where I incessantly talk about the famous brand.”
He drew out the chair for her and quickly gave their order to the waiter.
Again their eyes held. Again she felt the old stirring of excitement.
“We need to face the truth—the foundation to build upon. Nothing else will do. I confess I should have done it before now. Instead I allowed room for the deception to grow and fester. I’ve no one to blame but myself. Pride got in my way. Perhaps it’s more honest to say pride was the mountain I had to climb before getting back on the right God-given path. I believe I’m there again, thanks to the prayers of Ambrose and Keno.”
Her heart was energized by his words, but she wasn’t certain where his present intentions were taking them. Perhaps, as he was saying, he was laying the foundation first. She thought his reference to truth meant the revelation about Kip’s birth in Rebecca’s journal.
“Yes, you’re right. And I’m going to do what I should have done earlier. I apologize about the journal. I was stubborn. It’s at Kea Lani, whenever you decide to come for it.” But she was again taken off guard.
“The journal, for now, is not what I want to talk to you about.”
Not the journal? What then did he have in mind?
“Oh. Yes, but I’ve not forgotten.” She removed the first bank draft from her bag and slid it across the table toward him.
“What is this?” Rafe picked it up and looked at it.
“I can make a payment on the fifth of each month. And I’ll probably be going back to work at Kalihi in September.”
She looked with surprise as he folded it and pushed it back across the table.
“What are you doing?”
“Returning it.”
She pushed it back. “At the Gazette you warned me that—”
“I didn’t believe you’d take me seriously. I want you to forget this debt. And from what Ambrose tells me, the clinic and bungalows are being put to good use by Doc Bolton and your aunt.”
She smiled. She reached over to retrieve it and he grabbed her hand. Her heart raced at the warm, strong touch.
“Did you really think I wanted your money?”
“You made it clear.”
“It begins to look as if we didn’t know each other as well as we thought. I was tricked into thinking you wrote me that terrible rejection, and you believed I wanted your monthly allowance. The truth is, I was viciously locked into deception. After that, I wanted to rile you.”
“Well you did.”
“Looks like we riled each other. It’s time to end all that.”
She looked at the folded bank draft and tried not to show too much pleasure.
“Shall I allow myself to be relieved, or am I being presumptuous?”
He pushed the rejected draft closer toward her. “In this particular matter, you can be as presumptuous as you like. Keep your allowance for a new dress, or two, though the queen isn’t likely to give the Reform Party members another ball anytime soon. Not after what happened at the last one.”
“Did Zachary tell you I saw the tarot card reader keep a secret appointment with the queen?”
“Yes, he told me everything. But let’s not discuss that issue yet. There is one thing I’d like to know before we go on.” He studied her. “The Hunnewell ball is coming up on Saturday. Have you made an appointment with Oliver?”
A surge of excitement filled her. She might easily ask, “What about Bernice?” But that would be utter folly now that it looked as if he might be moving in the direction she longed for him to go. She tried to act sober and casual, though her heart was beating wildly.
“No, I’m not interested in Oliver. I think you know that as well. I’ve been learning from Zachary that Oliver’s involved with the gambling cartel. It’s going to devastate his father when he finds out. I’m just relieved Candace escaped the unwise marriage Ainsworth had arranged. Is that what you wished to talk with me about, the ball at Hunnewells?”
“I’m asking you to the ball. Though that is my spontaneous response to how lovely you look, not the reason for our meeting.” He scanned her. “Before you respond to that compliment, I’ll tell you: I need to talk to you about Bernice.”
Eden frowned.
“Not a pleasant subject, I agree,” he said.
Eden remained cautious. Rushing forward may be the wrong response.
“She was in Maui with Parker. I went there and spoke with her about the lies she formulated. She had denigrated your priceless character, and like a fool, I took the poison wine she offered. You might like to know that when I was through bragging about your virtues she slapped me not once, but twice.” He rubbed the side of his tanned face. “It’s still bruised.”
Priceless character. Eden’s heart took wings and soared. He believed in her again! She was vindicated in his sight, the sight of the only man whose belief in her mattered.
“Eden, I wanted to meet with you here alone to apologize to you.”
His gaze held her more tightly than any embrace.
She had always reasoned that in due season there would be, of Christian necessity, the need for both of them to apologize to each other, since she likewise, had not trusted him, and accused him falsely. That he realized an apology was needed brought courage, and hope.
However, once again, instead of rushing forward to claim the prize with gushing tears and open arms, she felt it would be wiser on her part to remain calm, regardless of the storm brewing in their hearts. This was a time for reason, not just emotion.
“I’ve unraveled the facts about the lost letters,” he commented. “She brazenly admitted to it all. The deceptive way she worked it out was clever. It’s as though she’s in the league with Townsend when it comes to being devious. Look, Eden, I want you to understand there was never anything serious between Bernice and me. Not even three years ago in San Francisco. The fact that I was so deceived by the letter shows a weakness in me, not a weakness for Bernice. I don’t know you as well as I thought I did. That’s why I’ve been such an impossible—‘cad’ I think was your word for me.”
“Cad, scoundrel, and let’s see … what was the other one? Oh yes, scallywag,” she said with blithe intention.
“I won’t argue that. I want you to understand, though, that I did go through Dante’s inferno over that ruddy letter!”
She winced. “I never sent you that letter, Rafe! Those cruel thoughts didn’t come from my heart.”
“I understand that now,” he said gently. “In San Francisco, for nearly two months, I believed you did. Even Celestine assured me the letter was from you. So I accepted it.”
“Celestine?” she murmured, disappointed.
“She didn’t have her reading glasses on,” Rafe said wryly. “Bernice planned well. I thought I was thrown aside because of a physical
infirmity. The idea was as bitter as gall.”
“Oh, Rafe—” She couldn’t restrain herself. She clasped his hand, her eyes reflecting her heart.
He brought her hand to his lips, ignoring the public.
He smiled ruefully. “I’ve a lot of learning to do. I attributed to you some of the feelings I felt for my predicament. The thought of losing control, of being dependent on other people, even you, was a threat. I’ve always lacked confidence in others, except for a precious few like Ambrose and Keno and, more recently, you. Finding myself in a helpless condition—well, I could go on, but it’s apparent. Maybe you’ll want to stay as far away from me as possible—not that I promise to leave you to your decision in peace.”
“We both have a lot of learning to do. I don’t want to stay as far afield from you as possible. If you’d care to know my response to the tragedy when it happened, Ambrose can tell you. He brought me word at Hanalei after you’d been taken to the medical clinic.”
“I spoke to Ambrose. I know what happened, now. He made it plain enough. It’s evident I’ll need to work on our relationship.”
Our relationship. The words were warm and wonderful.
Despite her relief, Eden found her cup of joy mingled with sadness that their love had been badgered by such a test. Though she said as much, Rafe disagreed.
“As Ambrose said, better to have our tests now,” he said with a smile. “We’ll have plenty to keep us busy through the years. Nothing can touch God’s own unless it passes through God’s permission. Ambrose pointed how the American Puritans had a saying we should appreciate: ‘When all we have is God, we learn that God is enough.’ I hope I’m beginning to learn what that means.”
“Something meaningful came to me through my experience,” he continued. “Not only did I learn again the danger of anger and pride, but I have a new appreciation for those bound by a physical affliction. My hours of darkness, fear, and loss were not in vain. Such trials have sent many spiraling headlong into discouragement, then defeat. I’ve talked to Ambrose and Dr. Jerome—”
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