Spoils of Eden

by Linda Lee Chaikin

  “Don’t worry. I’ve no wish to take advantage of the situation,” Rafe said unexpectedly, as though reading her thoughts. “I think we can go for a swim with our clothes on and without compromising. If it troubles you, however, we can head back now.”

  “No,” she found herself saying for reasons even she couldn’t understand. “No, go ahead and swim, Rafe. I intended just to get my feet and hands wet.” And to prove it, she ran to the edge of the lagoon, knelt, and splashed the unusually warm water on her face. It was delightful, and she looked at the deeper water longingly.

  Avoid tempting situations, Ambrose’s distant voice echoed in her memory, from a recent service at the church.

  Abstain from all appearance of evil. What would Candace say if she saw them here alone—Rafe with his shirt off?

  Flee from youthful lust. Flee? Eden had walked straight into it. And now that she was here, it was so tempting she didn’t even want to fight it, but to enjoy it! Eden’s self-discovery brought the heat of shame to her cheeks, and she splashed her face again.

  “All right … I’m going in.” Rafe announced. He emptied his pockets and walked over to the waterfall. “If I don’t return,” he called back with a taunt, “a shark got me.”

  Eden smiled to herself and didn’t respond. Only an average swimmer herself, she was thrilled to watch him dive off a rock below the waterfall. His tanned, muscled torso cut through the water as cleanly as a knife.

  She glanced up toward the cliff from where they’d come down, almost guiltily, as if her father, Dr. Jerome, or maybe Great-aunt Nora or Ainsworth stood watching, scowling. She could picture Claudia shaking a finger at them with a giggle. But in her heart she understood that it wasn’t the eyes of a gossipy girl or her family or even friends that truly mattered, but the holy and loving eyes of the Lord watching His two children. That solid scriptural truth, instead of frightening her, brought unexpected peace. Yes, He was here. The Creator of it all. Their Redeemer. In times of temptation they could depend on His Holy Presence.

  As she sat on the sand near the lagoon’s edge, she slowly became aware of how quiet it was. Her eyes scanned the water. Rafe was nowhere in view. He had walked to the waterfall—

  She jumped to her feet. Could he have slipped and struck his head on a rock? He’d just been teasing her about a shark, but what if it actually happened? Unreasonable fear gripped her heart. For a moment she let slip through her fingers everything about dependence upon God that she’d been thinking of.

  “Rafe!”

  Eden ran toward the silvery, splashing waterfall and climbed cautiously out onto a rock, becoming drenched in a matter of moments. The roar was deafening. She stared into the dancing white bubbles. Panic began to set in.

  Don’t be foolish, she told herself. He can take care of himself. Remember how he dove for the black pearl at the lagoon near Kea Lani?

  “Rafe!” she shouted again. Frightened now, she clambered out onto still deeper rocks, the water’s thunder filling her ears. The spray splashed up, and she dashed a hand across her eyes. She knelt on the rock and looked into the water, when—

  She gasped as someone caught her hand. Too late! Rafe reached up, caught her waist, and hauled her down into the warm water.

  She gasped with laughter as the warm water swirled around them.

  Holding on to her arm, he swam with her into the calm lagoon and brought her over to the beach. She stared at him, her eyes growing languid, and then they were in each other’s arms, his searing kiss awakening dangerous passions. Surprisingly, he deliberately drew away, and with their hands still entwined, he walked her toward the path to the horses.

  “We should never have come here like this,” she whispered guiltily, but Rafe didn’t appear troubled.

  “You’re afraid of your own feelings, Eden. You’ve been hiding behind your father’s dreams. I knew what I was doing when I agreed to bring you here. I said you were safe being alone with me like this, and I meant it. If I’d thought differently, I’d never have brought you here, no matter how much you wanted to come.”

  He drew her into his arms. Her eyes came to his. His arms were around her, and she could hear his heart beating with her own. Her head went back, and his lips evoked a kiss that would be remembered long after their afternoon interlude at the lagoon had ended.

  “Admit you love me,” he whispered.

  “Rafe—please—”

  “Say the words. I want to hear them again.”

  “Yes, you know I do.”

  “I want to hear you say it.”

  “I love you! I need you!”

  She kissed him back, her arms holding on to him tightly.

  They stood entwined in an embrace and became part of the warm, fragrant wind that moved across the lagoon, stirring the orchids among the ferns.

  They were still holding on to each other when the first drops of rain landed gently against them.

  Rafe lifted her hand so that the diamond sparkled, watching her alertly.

  “I do—want to marry you,” she choked, haltingly. “Yet I promised my father I’d stand with him to get the clinic operating on Molokai. Oh, Rafe, please understand. It’s so—important to him. To both of us. To Rebecca. It won’t be forever. Just a while longer—” she stopped, and fell into confusion because she could see the warmth in his eyes flicker out like dying coals.

  “And you want me to wait. To agree to another long waiting period, is that it?” He dropped his hand from her arm.

  “It does seem more convenient,” she began uncertainly.

  “Convenient,” he repeated. “For which of us?”

  “I’ll be so involved, so busy.” Her voice became dull. Her gaze faltered.

  “I understand perfectly.” He walked over, snatched up his shirt, and put it on impatiently. “Let’s go,” he said quietly. “It’s getting late.”

  She stared at him, swallowing the misery in her throat. “Rafe, please! Don’t be angry with me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint you—”

  “You just don’t want to disappoint Jerome’s idea of a clinic on Molokai even more. I understand perfectly. Don’t worry about me, dear. I wouldn’t want that.”

  Eden didn’t know how to answer. Her tired mind wandered to her father and the clinic on Molokai … while her eyes drifted back to Rafe. He stood, one hand on his hip, the wind billowing his open shirt. “You think I don’t know what’s on your mind?” he asked. “I know your heart very well, Eden, my love. But commitment can’t be parceled out to make more than one man happy at a time.”

  “How can you be jealous of my father?”

  “No, not of Jerome, but of your blind adherence to his dreams. You’ve had them since we were in our teens. You know just as I do that those dreams can never be.”

  “I don’t know that.” She turned a shoulder to him, shivering now, cold and depressed.

  “By the time you do know, Eden, it will be too late for us.”

  “Rafe, please don’t say things like that. I do love you. I always have. I do want you.” She threw her palms to her temples and began to cry.

  He came to her, holding her, stroking her wet hair. “I’m sorry, Eden. Don’t cry. It’s all right. I love you, and I always will.”

  And I always will.

  “Oh Rafe, please understand my duty toward him. Don’t make me choose. I love you, but I love him too, and he needs me.”

  “So do I, Eden.”

  “But you’re strong. You’re stronger than he is—you just proved it—and more independent than he is—my father isn’t well. This clinic means so much to him. He’s traveled the world over to find a cure for Rebecca. I know he can’t cure my mother. It’s been too long. I know that. But he doesn’t. He’s given his life to this search. I could lose him anytime. At the camp, he had an angina attack that proved to me how weak he is. Please give me more time, just a little while. Give us more time.”

  The wind was now whipping about them,
the rain falling in heavier, more frequent drops. She held him tightly, hoping to convince him that her love for him was real and undying.

  “Just a little while,” she said again, her eyes pleading.

  He was silent; then, his voice was calm. “All right. A little while longer,” he said, but she could see he was troubled.

  Relieved, loving him even more for his apparent understanding, she drew his head down to hers and kissed him. “My heart is yours,” she said. “You must not forget that.”

  “Is it?” he asked quietly, but he did not expect an answer, and slowly her arms came to her sides. Rafe walked over and picked up her shoes. “Better put these on.”

  She said nothing more. Emotionally drained, she sank to the sand and put them on. He walked to the edge of the lagoon and looked out. His face was quiet now, the moment of decision between them seemed to have come, settled, and passed by like the billowing clouds.

  He flipped a shell in the air, catching it absently.

  She stood, the wind blowing against her. Now that he’d agreed to wait, she looked at the engagement ring.

  “Then may I leave the engagement ring on, Rafe?”

  “Yes, leave it on,” he said simply. “It saves us both from explaining to the family. Besides,” he confessed dryly, “I really don’t see it matters much now. You have your commitment to Jerome, and I have work to do in the Legislature, as well as at Hanalei and Hawaiiana. I think we’ll both have enough to keep us busy for a while.” He turned and looked at her, his head tilted, one hand on hip. “We’ve agreed to meet again in around—what? A year? Two? Longer? We’ll see how we feel then.”

  “You make it sound so—so pragmatic.”

  “I’m only giving you what you want.”

  “But you seem, well—businesslike.”

  He laughed unexpectedly. “For the life of me, I struggle to understand you sometimes. I told you I’d settle down if you married me. But we’ve mutually agreed to wait again. So why are you making something of my restraint? I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  She seemed caught by her own words.

  He walked up to her. “I’ve been in love with you since I was sixteen. I’ve waited for you all this time. So I guess another year or two won’t rob us of too much. Unless,” he said maliciously, “next time you want to wait until we need rocking chairs.”

  “Very amusing.” She folded her arms, cold in the wind.

  “Time isn’t likely to end things between us. What does it say in Scripture? Love never fails. Love lasts an eternity, Eden, though this life doesn’t. It’s brief. The days, the weeks, the months pass quickly.”

  “Yes,” she said, “of course our love will never die.” Her throat was dry. She tried to smile. “Our love will last forever.”

  His eyes flickered with amusement. “Then, again … maybe not. I might forget you on Kalawao. Some pretty girl might show up and tell me how wonderful I am. In my loneliness she’ll comfort me. And then, who knows? She may make me forget your frustrating ways.”

  Eden, her emotions sore and frayed, allowed her tears to spring to her eyes. “Don’t say that. Don’t even joke about it.”

  “Eden—” He wrapped her tightly in his arms and kissed her temple. “Don’t you know yet that I will never stop loving you? You are the love of my life. You always have been. No one could ever take your place.”

  That was just what she wanted to hear. But could promises, well intentioned, go astray?

  Time had slipped by, and the wind was increasing noticeably.

  He smiled. “Even as children, didn’t I love you and save you from Zach?”

  She traced the tiny scar on his chin and knew it was there because he had, even as a child, fought to save her from harm. She didn’t know whether she wanted to cry or laugh.

  “Yes, you’ve always been there,” she said. “You may have to come back and save me again. But not from Zach. Don’t go far, Rafe,” she said soberly, her hand tightening on his.

  He scanned her face. “Who is the big, bad wolf this time, or don’t you know?”

  She shook her head. “No big, bad wolf. Zachary has turned into a lamb. One I try to protect.” She attempted to speak with a mood of lightness, but her eyes, she knew, revealed a sense of gravity.

  “What is it about?” he asked soberly.

  “We better go back. The storm will worsen.”

  “Yes, but I want to know what’s behind this sudden sobriety of yours. We’ll talk at Keno’s house. It’s not far from here. We need some dry clothes anyway. Then we’ll go back to the plantation house before dinner. Keno can make us some coffee.”

  She nodded as they started back toward the pathway.

  “It concerns Tamarind House,” she said, unable to hold back some of the details. “And Hawaiiana. And Silas.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve been seeing ghosts in the Round Room again on stormy nights.” But he spoke gently, without mockery, and it gave her reason to take heart.

  “No. I haven’t been up there since Great-aunt Nora had the house refurbished. But Zachary claims to have seen flesh-and-blood beings. He brought me here in his friend’s boat. He wants to discuss it all with you, but first so do I.”

  A brow lifted. He watched her alertly now. She knew once again, as she always had, even in moments of uncertainty, that Rafe was the one man she could turn to for help. Just as he said, he’d always been there for her.

  “Zachary knows I’ve come here to see you about his suspicions and a whole lot more. He intends to talk to you himself later.”

  “It all sounds mysterious and intriguing, but we can’t stay here. We should have left before now.”

  Clouds had rolled in from the tops of the surrounding mountain and settled above the lagoon. The rain began to fall in torrents.

  With her hand in his, they climbed up the path near the waterfall.

  “Hold on,” he shouted above the wind.

  They struggled upward, grasping shrubs and branches, keeping to the lava rocks and trying not to slide.

  The rain struck her face, blurring her vision, while mud trickled down the path. He gripped her forearm, pulling her up after him. She missed her footing and slipped, the mud smearing her. Her wet hair plastered against her face and neck. Her skirt ripped on a shrub, and her knee scraped against a jutting stone.

  Eden thought her arm might get sprained as he kept hauling her forward, trying to keep her from sliding backward.

  “I can’t—” she gasped, every muscle straining with effort.

  His arm clasped her waist. “Yes, you can, darling! We can, together. Keep going!”

  He climbed, making steady progress, and Eden followed in his steps, gasping. At last they reached the top of the path, where the full force of the storm lashed the rain against them, so that Eden could hardly walk. He drew her to his side, his arm around her. Then, with heads lowered into the wind, they started toward the horses.

  “Keno’s place is about a mile from here.”

  The storm turned the afternoon into an eerie twilight as her horse plodded forward behind Rafe’s. Eden huddled toward its strong neck. She wondered how Rafe could find his way back, but he seemed to know where to go.

  “Were almost there,” he called over the wind, yet Eden thought they’d never arrive, were totally lost, and would soon be swept away in an avalanche of volcanic mud. Then, she heard him say, “There’s the house ahead. Keno’s lit the lanterns.”

  The golden light shone as a beacon of hope and refuge. Rafe came around and helped her down and, with an arm about her waist, walked her to the house.

  Rafe banged on the door. It opened immediately, and there stood Keno. He looked startled, then ignoring all propriety, he threw back his head and laughed.

  “Out from the raging storm come ghostly visitors awash in tropical dew. Come in, and aloha!”

  Eden stumbled inside. Keno rushed about, gathering towels and a small rug for them to stand on.

  “Take care of her, will
you?” Rafe told him. “I’ll be back in a moment. I want to get my horses in your stable.”

  Rafe hurried back out, the door banging behind him in the wind.

  Even in her misery Eden thought, How Candace would love even this little house to settle in with the man she loves.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  All Things Considered

  Keno lit several more lanterns and the living room brightened to a warm, golden glow that revealed entrances to several other rooms, a kitchen, and bath. There were koa and teakwood tables, intricately carved with Keno’s artistic talents, and lauhala mats on the wood floors. He had brought Eden and Rafe some big towels, and Rafe would borrow a shirt and trousers from Keno, for both men were much the same build. Drying her face and hair in privacy, Eden gave thanks to the Lord for getting them safely to a place of refuge and for bringing their mutual love to a hope of future happiness.

  There was a heavy teakwood trunk in one corner, and Rafe lifted the lid and rummaged around briefly. He pulled out a blue garment and handed it to her.

  “How do you know Keno approves of your rummaging through his personal things?” Eden said.

  Keno laughed and looked at Rafe. “If I didn’t approve,” Keno said in mock gravity, “he would take it anyway. He always takes my things. Right, Rafe?”

  “Everything but this.” Rafe lifted the carefully folded garment. He shook it out and held it up by its shoulders. It was an oversized muumuu, much too long for Eden and far too wide, with a splashy blue hyacinth and bright yellow hibiscus flowers on the print. Rafe looked at Keno.

  Eden, weary beyond stopping herself, burst into silly giggles.

  “Noelani’s,” Keno said gravely. “A birthday present. And if it weren’t for lovely Miss Eden being soaked due to your waywardness, I would wrap it delicately and put it away.”