Spoils of Eden by Linda Lee Chaikin

Author:Linda Lee Chaikin [Chaikin, Linda Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-57567-553-4
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2010-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

News from a Far Country

Eden stood with her father on the living-room lanai, this one of generous size, screened to the outside, and presenting a view of the white beach below. The brief tropic dusk muted the bright colors of Waikiki, while the sound of waves breaking on the shore was a constant reminder of the blue-green Pacific.

Eden waited in the evening stillness for her father to speak. Her anticipation heightened. What was on his mind? What would he tell her?

Dr. Jerome, she knew, was fatigued by more than his voyage from San Francisco. She believed he had tropical fever. He was struggling against a prolonged sickness that he, apparently, did not wish to discuss, perhaps because it might impede the realization of his ambitions. Nonetheless, his emotions bordered on jubilation.

“This is a celebratory day, Eden, my dear. My plans to open a research clinic on Molokai have been fortified this afternoon with the arrival of Herald Hartley. I can tell you this, Dr. Chen’s journal adds a great body of research to my own.”

Surprised, Eden turned. “Oh, then you have Dr. Chen’s research journal?”

“Indeed, we do. What a bounty he has left to my charge. The greatest treasure I could have been awarded, and by Dr. Chen himself.”

Eden listened intently while her father explained how Hartley’s sole purpose in rushing here to Honolulu was to bring the journal to Dr. Jerome. Hartley had kept the journal a secret until alone with her father.

“Herald understood that Dr. Chen’s journal of the past thirty years was priceless to me. A letter, though a separate issue entirely, was also in his care.” Her father placed his lean hands on her shoulders and smiled wearily, but with twinkling eyes. “At any rate, my dear, we now own Dr. Chen’s work, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

So that’s why Herald Hartley had guarded the satchel like it was a golden treasure! She almost laughed. She knew little about Dr. Chen or his research, except for what was disclosed earlier that day on the lanai, mostly through Rafe’s questions.

“We’ve been richly blessed,” he was saying. “I wanted to make my announcement to you first of all. In my long absence, you too, have endured privation. Therefore you share in the victory. Our mission is coming to fruition at last, and I want you to be a part of our plans, our success, Eden. I expect a mandate from the Board of Health to open a new research clinic on Kalaupapa.”

Eden caught a breath and for a moment couldn’t respond. Our plans, our mission. At long last she was linked with her father’s invaluable calling, though for much of her life that work had been shrouded with mystery. The implication of his words warmed her heart. He recognized the emotional deprivation she’d experienced and was drawing her into the final success. She was the first person in the family that he was announcing his successful plans to. A clinic on the island of Molokai, at

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