Page 117 of Beautifully Wild

“You know I already knew it,” Eden says, her hand resting on her chest, the other hand wrapped over her stomach. “Deep down, there was something about Kaikare that drew me to her. I just can’t get my head around why Gran didn’t bring her home.”

“It concerns me as well. The shaman told me Kaikare became sick at some point, and Ivy disappeared for some time with her to get treatment at a hospital. It could be when she received vaccinations.”

“Oh my God,” she rasps. “It’s really sinking in that she’s my aunt.”

“He knew.” Samuel stares at Eden. “When you first arrived, he knew who you were. It’s why you could stay.”

Eden’s eyes round. “And he didn’t say anything.” He senses anger whirling within her. “I have to go speak with her.”

“No.” Samuel takes hold of her hand, his eyes pleading for understanding. “Enough for one day. We’ll both speak to Kaikare tomorrow.”

Again, Eden has managed to shake up his world. Only this time, the secrets have him questioning whether the shaman sawhimcoming long before Eden?

57

Eden

Atsunrise,myenergylevels are ridiculously high, so while Samuel sleeps, I roll out of my hammock and pad to my bag. I’m staring at the photo of my grandmother and the shaman and several photographs of my father and grandmother over a twenty-year span. At first, I hesitated in packing Gran’s belongings, and now I’m glad I did. Will the shaman want to see the pictures of my grandmother, learn about the life she lived after Ulara? Or will it hurt too much? I glance up to the window and peer out to the rainforest, my view blocked by a silhouette.

Before panic builds, I realize it’s Kaikare. She waves for me to come, so I keep hold of the photographs and creep past Samuel toward her. I follow her along the path until thick one-hundred-feet-high kapok trunks obscure us from view.

Kaikare’s eyes study mine, questions whirling behind her honey-brown hues.

“Do you know?”

She says nothing. With only her eyes to guide my decision, I hold out the photographs.

I allow her to study each in silence, and like her father, her expression is unreadable. What I’d give to know what she’s thinking. I hold out my hand for the pictures. Her fingers wrap around mine, and I’m pulled along the path before asking where we’re headed. She leads me to her father’s hut, and I know I shouldn’t be here, but fate has led me to this moment, and I have to follow my gut instinct in doing what’s right for Kaikare. The shaman nods to me and gestures for me to sit.

Cross-legged, the three of us sit facing the other. Kaikare hands him the images, and he speaks to her in a gentle tone, pointing to the man beside my grandmother in the jungle photo. Not once do I detect anger or any emotion. She responds with a nod of the head. How can she be calm? How can he? I want to tell them both how important this discovery is and ask why they aren’t upset or excited. I’m about to say something, hoping the shaman will understand part of my words, only I notice Kaikare wipe her eyes.

“Eden, what are you doing?” I spin to Samuel standing outside.

The shaman points to the door, and I take my leave without the photographs.

Samuel isn’t as practiced at hiding his concern.

“I asked you not to do this without me,” he whispers. He takes my hand and leads me away toward the northern end of the village. “I wanted us to do it together, so I could communicate for you. Causing disruption to peace in the village can mean you being sent away and not allowed to return.”

“I only wanted them to learn the truth.”

“I know. And I want what is best for you. For us. Please understand our views differ when it comes to harmony and breaking their rules. Kaikare needs to focus on her training. If something happens to the shaman, it’s like a library burning down, decades of knowledge gone.”

“What do you mean? I’m not hurting him,” I rasp.

He leads me to the garden, picks fruit from a vine, and hands it to me. “Please eat. You’re my concern like the shaman is Kaikare’s. He is old. He could have a heart attack or stroke like any elderly person, and she still has some to learn. They hold emotion inside, and although he is healthy, stress of surprise can lead to a stroke.”

My gut tightens, and I want to go back to apologize. In a moment of my thoughts being read, the shaman and Kaikare appear.

“Oh, hi,” I say like a dork.

Samuel ignores me and bows his head. He speaks to them in words I don’t understand.

“You’re now considered family,” he says, the dent between his eyebrows deepening. “It seems both are happy about your photographs.”

Yet Samuel doesn’t seem as happy. In fact, the deep lines on his forehead tell me everything but happy.

“It’s all I wanted,” I say to Samuel when we’re alone. “For them to be happy about the truth. For them both to see pictures of my grandmother and know she arrived home safely. And for Kaikare to see her mother and my father, since he’s her half-brother.”

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