Jewel of the Pacific (38 page)

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 well-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—”

“You talked to my father?” She couldn’t help being pleased.

“Yes. We’re thinking that after things have settled down, we’ll get together at the mission church and see about coming up with some way to help people who’ve had to overcome serious hurdles in their lives—those who’ve lost their sight or have become crippled. It’s a deep and dark valley to go through. I think it’s especially difficult for someone like me who had previously been so independent.”

Eden warmed to the idea. “A way to reach out to the blind … a place for them to go for instance.”

“That’s the plan.”

“I think the idea is exceptional, Rafe.”

“As I mentioned, I’ve spoken to Ambrose about you. He made your innocence plain enough.” His eyes softened as they studied her face. “He told me you’d wanted to marry me before I left for San Francisco so you could look after me. Would you really have done that?”

“Yes. What if I’d been the one who lost my sight?”

“I think you already know the answer.”

“Yet you doubted me.”

“I should have known you’d never betray me. Any woman with grace and mercy enough to care for a deformed leper would not shrink away from the man she loved … your lips told me so that night at Hanalei.”

“I meant it.”

“Ambrose was right. I’m still stinging from his rebukes. It worked, though. I’m back in fellowship with the Lord, and hope to be with you.”

“He rebuked you?” She smiled, deliberately. “
Dear
Ambrose,” she teased.

His mouth turned. “So you like the ‘visit to the woodshed’ aspect of it, do you?”

“Yes, a nice firm hickory stick.”

“I’ve been odious, I’ll admit. The worse thing was to malign your character. So, how do you like your contrite man to make his amends? On bended knee or in poetic language published in the
Gazette
for all to see?”

Eden wanted to sob, but she didn’t wish to overwhelm him with her emotion. He was calm, watching her with a steady interest.

“What would it take for you to want to forgive and ‘comfort’ me? Or maybe you need to cuff me about first, like Bernice did.”

She smiled, and a wave of joy swept through her. She laid her hand over his. “You’ve had trials enough, I think. I’m now in the mood to comfort.”

“Are you then satisfied the photograph and card in my desk—thanks to old pal, Keno—was also part of her exaggerations?”

“Well—almost. Dr. Jerome told me how it was brought aboard the
Minoa.”

“Almost! But not quite? So, then, what still remains of this ugly doubt?”

She watched him uneasily because there was something personal she wanted to know, something that was not altogether her right to know. When he lifted an eyebrow of invitation, urging her to ask, she took in a breath and charged ahead.

“Even if we weren’t engaged at the time, did you ever tell Bernice you loved her the way the card implied?”

“In the years we’ve known each other, Eden my fairest, when did you see me collecting women and convincing them of my captured devotion?”

She smiled. “You always were about as impossible to catch as a slippery eel.”

“So you admit it. Then when would I have spent so much time with Bernice in San Francisco as to form this undying love affair she claims took place?”

“Then you never told her you loved her?” she persisted.

“No. Because I didn’t love her. You’re the one girl I’ve ever loved enough to marry. To say it politely—our little Bunny fibbed.”

“Have you—well—have you kissed her—recently? She is very beautiful.”

His warm gaze lowered to her lips. “No. I can’t say she didn’t try hard enough to make me give in though. Astounding fellow that I am, I managed to avoid the trap. There. You have it. The truth. Are you now satisfied?”