Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

***THEO***

W hen they were alone, Theo pulled Eden into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, looking down at her. "Or as okay as you can be?"

She nodded her head. "I think so," she said. "I just wish we knew what was going on."

"Me too, but maybe Peter can explain," he said. "He speaks English, which means we can't be the first ones to show up here. Maybe he'll know how to get us back."

"Do you really think so?" Eden asked, a spark of hope in her eyes. "It would be so nice if someone could make sense of all this. I'd feel a little less crazy."

"Yeah, me too," he said, then looked down at the food. "Suddenly, I'm starving. What about you?"

Eden looked down at the food. "It does look good," she said. "Do you think it's safe to eat?"

"There's only one way to tell," he said, walking over and picking up a piece of fruit. "I'll go first."

He took a big bite, then wiped the juice off his chin as he chewed. "It seems fine to me," he said, then held it out to her. "Come on, try some. "

She took a much smaller bite; the sugar from the fruit exploded on her tongue, and she let out a little groan. "Oh, that's good," she said. "I guess I am a little hungry."

When they'd satisfied their hunger, they curled up on the pallet tucked into the back corner of the hut. "I'm sleepy again," Eden said, yawning. "But I'm scared to fall asleep."

"Maybe we'll wake up right back on the beach," he said, his eyelids already getting heavy. "And we'll find out this was all a dream."

But when he woke up a few hours later, he was still in the hut, Eden cradled in his arms, and he closed his eyes again, wondering for the hundredth time how they got there. "We're still here," Eden said a second later, her voice full of disappointment. "I was sure we'd wake up back on the beach."

"It looks like we're stuck here, at least for the near future," he said. "We should make the best of it."

Eden looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "Make the best of it?" she asked. "And how exactly are we supposed to do that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "This is kind of what we asked for," he said. "You and me stranded on an island with just a group of natives to help us survive."

She stared at him for a second, then her eyes got wide. "Theo, you don't honestly think…I mean, that couldn't have…" she stammered. "You don't really think we did this, do you?"

He hadn't been thinking that, had just been trying to make things look better, but the more he thought about it, the better it sounded. "Maybe, I don't know," he said, then shrugged his shoulders. "That makes as much sense as anything thing else we've come up with. We need to talk to Peter."

She nodded, "Let's hope he has the answers," she said. "If we did this, then surely we can undo it. "

A second later, the covering over the door began to rustle, and Peter poked his head in. "Good, you're awake," he said. "You can come with me now."

They emerged into the darkness of night, but a big fire was burning in the middle of the village with torches stuck in the ground on long poles lighting the way through the huts. Theo took her hand firmly in his, and gave her a quick smile as they followed Peter past dark huts toward the crowd gathered around the fire and the smell of food.

It was a bit surreal to be led past men and women dressed in what he could only assume was the native costume, short dresses made out of some type of plant fiber for the women and a sort of long loincloth for the men. He saw only smiling faces in the crowd and caught several gestures of welcome as well, easing the tension he'd been carrying since they'd woken on the beach.

Peter led them to an open space by the fire. "You sit," he said, pointing to the ground. "Next to me, place of honor."

They sank to the ground, and then Peter sat down next to Theo. The rest of the villagers joined them except for a group of young women who began to serve heaping platters of food. Conversation and laughter filled the air as the villagers began to eat, and he couldn't miss the feeling of celebration; he took that as another good sign. He wasn't quite ready to let down his guard, he still wanted to hear what Peter had to say, but he was feeling far more comfortable than he had been when they arrived at the village.

When the food had disappeared, Peter turned to him. "You must have many questions," he said. "I will try to answer, but first you must know that you are not the first to come here. There have been more."

"That explains you being able to speak our language," he said. "Do you know how we got here? "

Peter shook his head. "Only the island knows," he said. "It chooses who comes; it chooses if you go back."

"If?" he asked. "You mean we might be here forever?"

"It has happened," Peter said. "But only a few times, and those people were happy to stay."

He looked over at Eden, whose face had gone a little pale. "So, you don't know how we can get back to… where we came from?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, no," Peter said. "But you are welcome with us. It might not be the life you're used to, but we're happy."

"You said the island did this," Eden finally said. "Do you know how?"

Peter shook his head. "This island is special," he said. "It has life…it gives life…but only to those that deserve it."

Eden glanced over at him, then shrugged her shoulders. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think we're stuck here until the island decides to let us go," she said, then shook her head. "I can't believe this is real; I really am losing my mind."

"Then I'm going crazy with you," he said. "We might as well enjoy it."

"Not crazy," Peter said, a smile on his face. "You're special."

***Eden***

The last thing Eden felt right then was special, but she would have never told Peter that. None of what happened to them was his fault, and they'd been given such a warm welcome. "Theo and I are so thankful for everything you've done for us," she said instead. "I'm still a bit confused, but we're grateful for your hospitality. "

Peter nodded at her, then looked over at Theo. "You are Theo?" he asked.

"Oh, I guess we never introduced ourselves," Theo said, glancing quickly over at her. "I'm Theo Mayhew, and this is Eden Bishop."

"Theo and Eden," Peter said, nodding his head and smiling. "You are a couple, you are married."

Theo looked over at her. "We are a couple," he said, smiling at her, then looked back over at Peter. "But we're not married."

Peter's smile faltered for a second, but then he brightened again. "Eden can share with Rose," he said, then leaned over and whispered something to the woman sitting next to him. "My wife, Serenity, will fix things. You can't share hut unless married."

She didn't like the idea of being separated from Theo and tensed up. "I don't like it either," he leaned over and whispered. "But I don't think we have any choice; we have to play by their rules."

"Thank you," she finally said, knowing there was no choice. "We appreciate everything you've done for us. I would be pleased to share a hut with Rose."

A few minutes later, a young woman about her age slowly approached them. "I'm Rose," she said. "We stay together; come with me."

She started to get up, but Theo held her back, then turned to Peter. "If it's okay, I'd like to see where Eden is sleeping," he said. "I'd just feel better if I knew where she was."

Peter nodded, "She'll be safe," he said. "But you may go."

"Thank you," he said, getting to his feet. "I won't be gone long. "

"Good, we talk more," Peter said, a big smile on his face. "My English rusty."

After helping Eden to her feet, they followed Rose through the village to a hut set back from the rest. "This is it, my hut," Rose said, then smiled at them sympathetically. "I give you time."

As soon as Rose disappeared into the hut, Theo pulled her into his arms. "You're handling this all very well, Eden," he said. "I think I might be more freaked out than you are."

"Oh, I'm freaking out, just on the inside," she said, smiling up at him. "But they seem like nice people, and they're trying to help us. I'm not afraid of them, that's not the problem."

"I know, all of this is a bit scary," he said. "But we'll get through it together. I can't help but think what this would have been like if we'd been alone."

"That's crossed my mind as well, that's why I didn't complain when Peter said we couldn't stay together," she said. "Rose seems nice, I guess. I'll be fine with her, and we'll see each other in the morning."

He studied her for a second, a little smile on his face. "You're amazing; did you know that?" he asked. "You're taking all this in stride like it happens every day."

"We don't really have much choice, do we?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders. "As strange as this all is, it's real. Having a breakdown isn't going to help, we just have to make the best of it. It is an adventure after all, just not the one I had planned. We may as well enjoy ourselves, and maybe we'll learn something in the process."

Theo looked down at her, a look on his face she couldn't read at first, then she realized with a start that it was desire, and let out a little gasp. "I could fall hard for you, Eden," he said, reaching up and framing her face with his hands. "And I don't know if I have the strength to fight it anymore, not now, not here."

His mouth came down on hers in a kiss so tender, her legs turned to jelly instantly, and she was forced to cling to him to keep from falling. Strong arms circled her, then drew her closer to his body and he slipped his tongue into her mouth, sending waves of pleasure washing over her. She let out a little moan, and the answering growl that rumbled out of Theo's chest made her shiver with anticipation as his hands began to explore her body.

A cough from the hut behind them broke through the passion that had sprung to life between them, and they broke apart, chests heaving, eyes locked on each other. "I think your new roommate wants you to come in," Theo said, his voice husky, his face full of regret. "That was just starting to get good."

She felt her cheeks turning pink. "Theo, that's a terrible thing to say," she said, slapping him on the chest. "Even if you're right."

"You'd better go," he said, giving her another quick kiss. "Rose is waiting for you, and Peter is waiting for me."

"I'll see you in the morning," she said, reluctantly slipping out of his arms. "I hope you sleep well."

"After that kiss, I doubt it," he said. "Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night, Theo," she said, then slipped into the hut.

When the flaps closed behind her, she let out a long sigh, then realized Rose was standing in the middle of the little space, smiling at her. "He's very handsome," she said. "You marry him?"

"I don't know, maybe," she said. "We just met a few days ago."

Rose's eyes turned big as saucers, then she grinned at Eden. "Oh, you're here for love," she said, clapping her hands together. "The island knows. You're very lucky, very lucky."

"I'm not sure about that yet," she said, then sighed again. "Thank you for sharing your hut with me, it was nice of you."

"It will be fun," Rose said. "We will be like sisters."

"I hope so," she said, smiling at her new friend. "I can use all the friends I can get right now."