Jewel of the Pacific (9 page)

F
ifty-eight miles east of Honolulu, Rafe Easton’s ship, the
Minoa
, anchored off the island of Molokai, the isle of exiles. It was less than a mile from the jagged black cliffs rising from the sea.

Eden was trying to sleep in a corner of the hold behind a curtain she had hung for privacy. She hardly slept a solid hour without waking from the creaks and groans as the ship rolled and pitched on the voyage from Honolulu.

The noise of the crew on deck announced that the morning’s activities were under way. Eden emerged and dressed, wanting to join her father and Ambrose on deck.

Steadying herself against the hull, she arranged her dark hair into a braided coil at the back of her neck. The reflection of her sober face in her hand mirror revealed the stressful imprint of the past month. In the shadows of the cabin her eyes looked darker than her unusual green and revealed her inner turmoil to those who knew her best.

Eden wore an older nursing outfit for the rough landing, and also to identify herself as a representative of the Board of Health.

Lepers always came to the beach to meet the boats rowing in, and in the dark they had probably mistaken the
Minoa
for the monthly steamer that brought them food, mail, and a few new lepers who were being forced to join the settlement.

She gathered her possessions and marched toward the ladder. Grasping the handrail, she mounted the steep, narrow steps to the deck. As she reached the top and pushed against the low door, the wind struck her. She placed her palm to her stomach, feeling nauseated. Never one for the sea, she held on to the casing in the doorway to steady her.

The sun was rising, reflecting on gray-green billows. The wind smelled of brine water. She glanced at crew members on deck getting whaleboats ready for the excursion to the shore. Their sure-footedness and strength impressed her, as did their grins and nods. She suspected they knew she was the girl their Captain Easton had held a strong interest in. They probably knew nothing of the breakup.

Meanwhile the
Minoa
pitched in the rollers coming in from the north. The rugged coastline amazed her, so stark against the morning light. Below the cliffs the sea-beaten rocks and boulders stood their ground refusing to surrender to the attack of the rollers.

Oh Lord, You are my rock, my fortress. Strengthen me
.

Dr. Jerome’s loud voice burst forth. “There’s no time to waste!”

She released her grip on the door and moved toward her father. He was upset over something, and was protesting.

“There is no reason for this delay,” he said to Keno. “It’s not as though we had an eternity here on earth. I won’t stand for it, young man.”

Keno calmly shook his head and said something that roused her father more. His voice rose, “I tell you I want
all
of the supplies unloaded from the ship this morning and taken to Kalawao. There’s no reason why this must wait until tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, Doctor, but it’s too risky,” Keno said. “The
kanakas
know what they’re doing. They have plenty of experience bringing heavy supplies ashore. They ask that we wait until the wind lowers and the swells ease. And I’ve agreed.”

“There must be a way to avert this delay, Keno! I must get that clinic started.”

“Be sensible, Jerome,” Ambrose interjected, walking up. “You’re no novice about the sea. Look at those waves. Keno’s captain for good reason. Think of how you’d feel if supplies were lost before reaching shore.”

The wind whipped Eden’s long skirt, and blew sea spray against her, prickling her face.

Suddenly, Eden noticed her father’s countenance change, and the flesh over his high cheekbones turned a ruddy color. She had been worried about her father’s health the last few weeks. He had been overburdened by attending to Rafe day and night, and then by the task of preparing the medical supplies for this trip. Now that he was finally getting his clinic, he had become irritated with minor hindrances.

Keno grabbed Jerome’s shoulders as the doctor started to slump. “Sir?”

Eden hurried past them to the captain’s cabin, opening the door. “It’s his heart. Keno, bring him in here.”

“I’m all right,” Dr. Jerome gasped. “I’m all right.”

Eden knew he was not.

Keno brought him to the bunk bed in the corner of the cabin, stretched him out, then moved back toward the door as Ambrose entered.

Eden rushed to her father’s side and knelt beside him, unbuttoning his shirt collar. He was perspiring and pain was written across his lined face, his eyes staring at the cabin roof.

“His heart?” Ambrose asked, bending over him.

“Yes.”

“Father, where did you put the glyceryl trinitrate?” she asked.

“Medical satchel. Desk.”

Eden looked toward the desk, where Keno stooped to pick something up from the floor. Ambrose was now kneeling by Jerome as Keno stared at a letter.

“Keno, the satchel—do you see it?” she called.

He slid an envelope into the desk drawer and brought her the medical bag.

Eden swiftly located the familiar bottle. She took a tablet and placed it under his tongue.

She noticed that Ambrose was praying silently.

Twenty minutes passed before she was satisfied with his improving signs. He may have been suffering angina before the attack this morning. If so, why had he not carried his medicine with him? He was becoming lax, even careless in the excitement of coming to Molokai to work on the clinic and see Rebecca.

“He’s looking a little better,” Ambrose said.

“Yes, I’m feeling better.”

Eden took his hand with both of her own. “The last time you had an attack you told me it taught you not to go anywhere without your medicine in your pocket,” she scolded. “Oh, Father, you’ve been much too worried these past weeks.”

“Yes, you’re right. This was a sober warning to me—both to manage my impatience, and to be reminded from the Lord how short my time here is.”

“You’ll need to rest all day,” she insisted. She expected him to argue, but surprisingly he agreed. He looked at Keno, standing by the foot of the bed. “As the captain says, the weather is against us right now anyway.”

Keno smiled at Jerome’s humility. “You’re right, sir. Those waves are mighty rough. I don’t think they’ll settle until sunset.”

“Yes, we’ll be wiser if we wait until morning,” Ambrose suggested, and looked toward Keno.

“No argument this time,” Jerome said meekly. “Though I do prefer to rest in my own quarters instead of the captain’s quarters if you and Ambrose wouldn’t mind bringing me to my bunk,” he said with a rueful smile.

“Now, Father, you need to rest while I watch your heartbeat. I think you should remain here for a few hours.”

Jerome smiled weakly. “You see how blessed I am to have a daughter who’s a nurse?” he said to Ambrose and Keno. “Very well, my dear. I’ll be an obedient patient.”

Eden smiled too, but her heart was sober. She mused about how long it took to locate his medicine.
And what did Keno pick up from the floor that seemed to bother him? He didn’t think anyone noticed as he put it in the desk drawer
.

Dr. Jerome slept comfortably in the captain’s cabin. The ship’s creaking filled Eden’s ears as she gazed at her father’s face. She finally stood from the chair and left the cabin to breathe some salty fresh air and quiet her anxiety.

She rested against the ship’s rail and looked toward Molokai, which was shrouded with clouds and rolling gray mist. She was troubled about that white envelope in the desk drawer.

Keno had quickly glanced at her after looking up from the letter. It must have something to do with her. After all, the cabin had previously been the place where Rafe, as captain, had lived on the ship.

It’s none of your business
, she told herself.
Why can’t you leave these matters to God whom you say you trust? If His eye is on the sparrow, can’t He arrange your circumstances? If an unexpected tidal wave submerges your dreams, there must be a reason. Don’t charge ahead, taking disappointments into your own hands
.

Whatever the envelope contained worried Keno, though. And whatever worried Keno when it came to Rafe Easton was usually important.

Eden returned to the captain’s cabin. She looked at the bunk bed. Her father remained asleep.

In the glow of the oil lantern heavy, dark beams and shadows confronted Eden. Yes, this had been
Rafe’s
cabin. She thought again of Rafe leaving the Islands without seeing her or even sending a letter. True, Dr. Jerome had explained that Rafe was going to San Francisco to see an expert in vision problems. Even so, in a time of personal crisis, where did Rafe choose to go?

Not to me. To San Francisco. And who was there? Bernice
.

As the woman in Rafe’s life, she felt put aside by him.

She stared at the desk drawer. It couldn’t be locked. She would have seen Keno use a key.

Even if I’m caught looking at the letter what will they do? Nothing
.

Yet she simply stood there.

Suddenly she reached forward and pulled the top desk drawer open.

Footsteps sounded outside on deck. She pushed the drawer shut and stepped away from the desk, her heart jumping. She held her breath and stared at the cabin door, expecting Keno to fling it open.

The footsteps passed.

She returned to the desk, looked toward Jerome still asleep, and reopened the drawer.

She sorted through maps and drawings. There was a handwritten drafted agreement between Parker Judson and Rafe creating a partnership for a pineapple plantation on Honolulu.

Besides these she saw business papers concerning the ship, folders stuffed with papers, a small stack of envelopes tied with string, and another folder holding photos and correspondence. A white corner of a newer envelope looked as if it had been quickly shoved in one of these folders. Setting her conscience aside, she leafed through the folder, glancing again toward the door.

There were some pictures of Rafe’s parents, including his uncle, Ambrose Easton, as a young man. She saw the resemblance between Matt and his elder brother Ambrose.

Next, she pulled out an envelope addressed to Rafe at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in San Francisco.

Eden bit her lip. The return address was written in a flowing, feminine hand. It was from Bernice.

Should I?

No
.

Don’t give in. Flee temptation
.

Her heart beat faster.

But I must—because I always suspected something between them.
When Bernice had visited Honolulu, she had shown an obvious interest in Rafe, though he did not seem to return her interest. Zachary was the one who had fallen over his feet to win her attention. He still wanted her, and had broken his engagement to Claudia Hunnewell.

Stoically, Eden opened the flap and removed a card. Eden opened the card, and a photograph fluttered onto the desk like a little bird released from its cage. A young woman with gold hair and stunning gray eyes stared at her. Eden turned the photograph over and read the flowery handwriting.

For you, Rafe, always yours, Bernice
.

The card was also signed.

Happy birthday, Rafe. When will you again admit that you do love me still?

Eden stood immobile. The creaking wood, the water slapping, the wind, the sounds held her captive. Slowly her heart seemed to die. The surge of raw, angry jealousy and humiliation burned itself out and settled at her feet. Then she saw an ornate box that had been tucked under the folder. Inside was a remarkable jade comb, beautifully crafted. No doubt, for his secret love.

And he never once hinted he’d ever cared for her. At least Bernice claimed in her card that he’d once loved her and perhaps still did.

This implied that Rafe had carried feelings for her all along, and for some unknown reason he’d never acted upon them.

Why? Because Bernice lacked a strong Christian faith? His commitment to Christ meant he would be unwise to marry an unbeliever. So after his travels he’d gone back to Eden Derrington the girl with the missionary heart?

If so, why did he say he loved me? Perhaps he did love me in his own way
.

But the fact that he’d kept the photograph and card goaded her to know why they were important to him. And why were they here aboard the
Minoa
and not in his hotel room or at Hawaiiana or Hanalei?

The picture of his parents was here—why not also keep one of a woman who suggested he’d cared for her?

She blinked hard to keep tears from forming.
Everything is ruined between us. Why should I care!

With numb fingers she replaced the photograph in the card, placed the card in its ivory envelope, and put it back in the drawer.

With his other treasures
, she thought bitterly.

She closed the drawer. No one would ever know that she’d discovered this secret. She was cold. She wrapped her arms tightly about herself and sat down.

The cabin door opened quietly and Aunt Lana stepped inside.

“My goodness, Eden, what’s happened?” She looked at Jerome asleep in the bunk. “Is Dr. Jerome all right?”