Spoils of Eden (39 page)

Rebecca’s? She still retained Rebecca’s black pearl necklace among her jewelry at Kea Lani. That held her attention, especially when she coupled it with the conversation she’d heard between her father and Rafe in the tent. She gave him a sideways glance. He was staring thoughtfully at the lagoon.

Should she hint of Matt and Rebecca’s friendship and see what Rafe said?

“The black pearls came from here? Are you saying Dr. Jerome bought them from Matt Easton for Rebecca?”

His gaze came back to hers. “No, I’ve discovered recently that my father gave them to Rebecca ‘once upon a time,’ as they say. But ‘a time for love,’ as mentioned in Ecclesiastes, never worked out for them. She married your father—and I’m glad she did,” he added, “or you and I would be related.”

“Yes, how pleasant that God controls when we’re born, to whom, and even why.”

Eden remained determined to climb down to the waterfall and visit the lagoon. Rafe looked up at the lowering sky, where clouds steadily accumulated.

“I’m not sure the rain will hold.”

“Let’s risk it, Rafe. It’s so enchanting.”

“The path is slippery in places. Better take hold of my hand.”

His hand clasping hers said that they belonged together. At the moment, she had no wish to argue.

They began the narrow trail. Eden breathed deeply of the inevitable and evocative smells of the tropics: damp, rich earth, ferns, and flowers, all intensified by the tropical warmth. Birdsong and the relaxing sound of the waterfall filled the early afternoon air. Tiny jewel-like hummingbirds darted here and there among deep-throated crimson trumpet flowers. Lazy frogs, unseen, croaked.

Rafe led her along the narrow way, avoiding rocks, skirting tall ferns, and ducking trailing vines. The hour was filled with contentment. For a timeless space neither of them spoke, and the enchantment weaved its spell around her heart.

He motioned ahead. The silvery blue waterfall plummeted down the lava rocks to lose itself below in green lacy ferns. Eden followed Rafe under a canopy of vines and came out where the water tumbled and splashed its way over twisted formations of black- and ocher-colored lava rock.

The path grew more slippery from the perpetual mist, and Rafe held on to her arm. She saw orchids and scarlet fuchsia. A few more minutes passed, and he gestured below to the quiet lagoon.

“The man-made pearl bed?”

He nodded. “I used to swim there with my father when I was quite young.”

Eden felt reckless. “Let’s do it now!”

Rafe considered, glancing up at the sky again. “That storm is gaining on us fast. I’m not even sure the path is still accessible. I haven’t spent time here since I came back. It’s probably overgrown with ferns by now.”

She faced him, arms folded. “What an excuse from someone who thrives on risk and adventure. It seems much too wonderful not to enjoy it.”

He turned to look at her. “With you? Yes … I’ll agree to that.” He looked at her a long time. “All right. Just remember, this was your idea.”

He led her to what appeared to be a path descending right beside the waterfall through a carpet of flowering vines. “Hold tight,” he shouted above the roar. “It’s slippery.”

They started down toward the lagoon through pink wood-rose flowers and star jasmine with small white flowers sending off a light sweet fragrance. Ferns, green and thick, were everywhere. So were plumeria and yellow alamanda. But it was the light blue orchids growing in a profusion of queenly glory that lent the most heavenly aura to the beauty that surrounded them.

Even before they reached the bottom, where the sandy beach waited in solitude, they were wet with spray. Eden saw shells of various colors, sizes, and shapes, including some of what Rafe had earlier called “black-lipped oyster shells.” Eden stood taking it all in, turning and looking up at the cliff sides surrounding them. For a brief interlude it seemed, indeed, to be a little paradise. She shut out everything unpleasant from her mind and allowed only her heart to respond.

“Enchanting, isn’t it?” she heard him say as he stood close beside her.

She didn’t need to answer. They understood, and their hearts met, if not forever, at least for that moment in tropical paradise. Her eyes sought his.

“Almost too enchanting,” he said softly, still holding her hand, his fingers closing about her wrist. Then, suddenly, he released her, breaking the spell deliberately. “The serpent likes to spin his enchantment too. This is a good place to keep a clear mind. Everything is too intoxicating.” He looked up at the gathering clouds. “Come, we’d best go.”

“What? Without dipping my feet in the pool?” she cried indignantly.

On both sides of the waterfall there were ivory beaches, untroubled by man, and Rafe pointed toward the opening to the Pacific,
guarded by treacherous reefs. “See that? Every diver, including Keno and me, knows to avoid that area. The reefs can slice through you as sharply as a blade. I never saw any sharks as a boy, but one would be wise to be careful anyway.”

She nodded and looked toward the warm, crystal waters of the lagoon. Rafe removed his shirt, dropping it on the warm white sand. Eden was not blind. He was in superb physical condition, but it didn’t dawn on her until this moment just how tempting the rendezvous could be. She looked away quickly.
Don’t be such a stuffy moralist
, she told herself.
You’re a nurse, aren’t you?
But Rafe wasn’t just
any
man. It struck her suddenly that perhaps this little isolated paradise weaving its enchanting spell around her emotions wasn’t such a wise and safe place after all. Rafe was right. And as he’d warned, this had been her idea.

“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.”