Island Eden's Secrets

It had been five months since the plane crash, and still no rescuers had shown up. Things had settled into almost a normal routine for Lance and Aurora. They fished a lot, since the sea must needs be the source of most of their food; they gathered and stored wood and dry palm fronds for fire, hunted and trapped meat, and hiked the island. The bamboo shacks were now watertight with the application of clay mud applied to the chinks, while the stream and waterfall provided them with fresh water, a toilet, and a shower. Aurora had even created a salt scrub by distilling seawater and mixing in plant liquids. They had arranged a distress sign with rocks, and every night, Lance lit the signal fire. There was always the chance that a boat or a plane might pass close enough to see it.

As to their personal care, each displayed the differences of men and women with a hint of humor and intrigue. Aurora learned to sharpen her razor blades so she could keep her legs and underarms in presentable condition. Even if she was stuck on a deserted island in the middle of who-knew-where, she was stuck with a man, and she wanted to look at least decent. She didn’t see much point in wearing makeup unless she was preparing an especially nice supper for Lance, but she started applying coconut milk to her eyelashes and noted with delight that it seemed to encourage some growth. Plus, she had to turn to the island for cleaning resources. Raw honey from wild beehives and aloe did wonders for her face. Her hair had grown quite a bit, maybe due to the new pure diet of seafood, fresh water, and fruit. And she’d turned a startlingly deep tan. Combining all this with her steady dedication to daily exercise, if only stretching in the evening, blest her with a very attractive, healthy, feminine appearance.

Lance wasn’t a caveman by any means, but he figured that the situation didn’t call for continual grooming. Thus his face was scruffed up by a beard and his hair had grown out some. He didn’t seem to think about his clothes much either, acquiring many a rip in his shirts and pants after a day of fishing, clam-gathering, or trapping. Sometimes he’d just forego a shirt, his chest soon matching his arms, legs, and face in their browned hue. Some ladies would think this inappropriate, but the weather was very hot and muggy, and unnecessary clothes just weren’t ideal. Besides, Aurora had mentioned that, with a dad and three brothers, she was used to seeing men half-dressed. Lance took that as a hint that it was all right in this setting.

It follows that a man and woman, dumped together in an isolated, naturalistic spot, both unmarried and both good-looking in separate ways, must be attracted to each other. The long, busy days of building, exploring, and inventing and nights of fireside conversation and singing, had bonded them. Lance couldn’t help letting his eyes rest on Aurora’s slim figure when she walked along the beach. It wasn’t lust. He had vowed before God many a time since he first came to Christ that he would save even his thoughts for the woman he’d marry. But it was admiration, and it was longing. Aurora was beautiful, more so because of the sweetness of her character and her voice and her continual smile than her body and face. And yet the physical draw was undeniable. What man can spend hours in the company of a woman who matches so well with him and not want something more, something permanent with her?

The discreet glances from this handsome sun-burnished pilot had not escaped Aurora. She had caught his eye several times over the last month or so and knew he was watching her. Of course he was always a gentleman, never allowing the look to become anything more. He had promised at the beginning of this peculiar adventure that she would have no reason to be afraid of him. That had been the opening for each to explain their faith to the other, which quickly cemented mutual trust and respect. Aurora firmly believed he was a good man. He’d taken good care of her out here. Lance, meantime, was drawn more and more to this pure, courageous woman as days went by and she remained a true lady.

One day, after a lot of praying and communing with the Holy Spirit, Lance decided to take a step forward. At least he must tell Aurora his feelings.

It was evening. The sun was low, about to drop into the ocean. Aurora sat on a rock enjoying the breeze and the caws of sea birds. Lance came up behind her. “Pretty nice,” he observed. She turned around. “You mean the sunset? Sure is. Everything about this place is lovely. It’s funny that I’m almost completely content here.” “Almost?” He asked. “I miss my family,” she confessed, “and I just can’t give up hope that a plane’ll fly over or a ship will pass. I mean, ours can’t have been the only flight into this section of the world.” Lance nodded slowly, as if only in partial agreement. “I’d like to get back to the States too. But you know, it’s a fair chance that… we could be here for weeks more, even months… or years.” Aurora felt something in his voice and shot what she intended to be a discreet look at him. Only he was looking right at her. She decided to take a humorous path. “It’ll be interesting, telling our friends about how we were stuck on an island. They’ll think it’s wild and romantic. Crazy, huh?” “I don’t know. Is it?” Lance asked. She felt a little thrill of nervous anticipation run through her body. Speaking earnestly, intensely, Lance continued. “We’ve been here for five months, so far with no sign that we’ll be picked up. Every minute has been… a delight for me, working or just enjoying this place, with you. But I’d be dishonest if I didn’t bring up the reality that… I’m a man, and when a man and a woman are constantly together, in harmony on everything that’s important, well… there’s… it can’t be left at just… friendship.” Aurora knew her face was a warm rose color, and her eyes had lowered to the wet sand at her feet. Now she swallowed and dared to meet his eye. “What should it be?” he asked softly. “If there’s a good chance we could spend another twenty years here, just you and me, there should be more,” she hesitated. “I don’t see how we can be legally married,” she hesitated. “I thought of that. Have you ever heard of the Friends’ Ceremony?” Lance asked. “Uh, yes. It’s what the Quakers do, isn’t it? Two people come and make vows to each other without a pastor.” “Right. Aurora, if God is our ultimate authority and the one who binds two people in marriage, then our vows in His sight would be as binding as if we said them in a church or a courthouse.” “I do agree,” she replied. “The privilege of performing marriages is only given to the state because of legal implications that could come up.” “But here there is no legal issue,” Lance finished. “It’s the moral and emotional issue in question.” He gently reached out and touched her chin with his fingers, his keen eyes fixed on her face. “If it doesn’t seem right to you, or you think it’s not quite proper, I will understand if your answer is ‘no’.” “I don’t know if it’s ‘no’,” she quickly rejoined. “It’s just that I must be sure. If it was ninety-eight percent sure and two percent unsure, I’d end up hurting you and me. Will you give me tonight to pray about it?” “Of course.” Lance’s voice spoke some relief, some anxiety, and some hope. He watched as she hastened back up towards camp. The next morning, as Lance emerged from a morning swim, Aurora stepped out of her shack. Peace radiated her face into something more beautiful than usual. She met him under the stand of palms. “Good morning!” Her voice was calm, revealing nothing. He wiped back his hair from his eyes. “Good morning.” “You don’t look like you slept much,” she said, noting the darkish skin under his eyes. “I was too busy wrestling with the Lord,” he admitted a little wryly. She smiled slightly. “It’s funny that I’m almost completely content here.” “Almost?” He asked. “I miss my family,” she confessed, “and I just can’t give up hope that a plane’ll fly over or a ship will pass. I mean, ours can’t have been the only flight into this section of the world.” Lance nodded slowly, as if only in partial agreement. “I’d like to get back to the States too. But you know, it’s a fair chance that… we could be here for weeks more, even months… or years.” Aurora felt something in his voice and shot what she intended to be a discreet look at him. Only he was looking right at her. She decided to take a humorous path. “It’ll be interesting, telling our friends about how we were stuck on an island. They’ll think it’s wild and romantic. Crazy, huh?” “I don’t know. Is it?” Lance asked. She felt a little thrill of nervous anticipation run through her body. Speaking earnestly, intensely, Lance continued. “We’ve been here for five months, so far with no sign that we’ll be picked up. Every minute has been… a delight for me, working or just enjoying this place, with you. But I’d be dishonest if I didn’t bring up the reality that… I’m a man, and when a man and a woman are constantly together, in harmony on everything that’s important, well… there’s… it can’t be left at just… friendship.” Aurora knew her face was a warm rose color, and her eyes had lowered to the wet sand at her feet. Now she swallowed and dared to meet his eye. “What should it be?” he asked softly. “If there’s a good chance we could spend another twenty years here, just you and me, there should be more,” she hesitated. “I don’t see how we can be legally married,” she hesitated. “I thought of that. Have you ever heard of the Friends’ Ceremony?” Lance asked. “Uh, yes. It’s what the Quakers do, isn’t it? Two people come and make vows to each other without a pastor.” “Right. Aurora, if God is our ultimate authority and the one who binds two people in marriage, then our vows in His sight would be as binding as if we said them in a church or a courthouse.” “I do agree,” she replied. “The privilege of performing marriages is only given to the state because of legal implications that could come up.” “But here there is no legal issue,” Lance finished. “It’s the moral and emotional issue in question.” He gently reached out and touched her chin with his fingers, his keen eyes fixed on her face. “If it doesn’t seem right to you, or you think it’s not quite proper, I will understand if your answer is ‘no’.” “I don’t know if it’s ‘no’,” she quickly rejoined. “It’s just that I must be sure. If it was ninety-eight percent sure and two percent unsure, I’d end up hurting you and me. Will you give me tonight to pray about it?” “Of course.” Lance’s voice spoke some relief, some anxiety, and some hope. He watched as she hastened back up towards camp. The next evening, as Lance emerged from a morning swim, Aurora stepped out of her shack. Peace radiated her face into something more beautiful than usual. She met him under the stand of palms. “Good morning!” Her voice was calm, revealing nothing. He wiped back his hair from his eyes. “Good morning.” “You don’t look like you slept much,” she said, noting the darkish skin under his eyes. “I was too busy wrestling with the Lord,” he admitted a little wryly. She smiled slightly. “It’s funny that I’m almost completely content here. It’s a fair chance that… we could be here for weeks more, even months… or years.” Aurora felt something in his voice and shot what she intended to be a discreet look at him. Only he was looking right at her. She decided to take a humorous path. “It’ll be interesting, telling our friends about how we were stuck on an island. They’ll think it’s wild and romantic. Crazy, huh?” “I don’t know. Is it?” Lance asked. She felt a little thrill of nervous anticipation run through her body. Speaking earnestly, intensely, Lance continued. “We’ve been here for five months, so far with no sign that we’ll be picked up. Every minute has been… a delight for me, working or just enjoying this place, with you. But I’d be dishonest if I didn’t bring up the reality that… I’m a man, and when a man and a woman are constantly together, in harmony on everything that’s important, well… there’s… it can’t be left at just… friendship.” Aurora knew her face was a warm rose color, and her eyes had lowered to the wet sand at her feet. Now she swallowed and dared to meet his eye. “What should it be?” he asked softly. “If there’s a good chance we could spend another twenty years here, just you and me, there should be more,” she hesitated. “I don’t see how we can be legally married,” she hesitated. “I thought of that. Have you ever heard of the Friends’ Ceremony?” Lance asked. “Uh, yes. It’s what the Quakers do, isn’t it? Two people come and make vows to each other without a pastor.” “Right. Aurora, if God is our ultimate authority and the one who binds two people in marriage, then our vows in His sight would be as binding as if we said them in a church or a courthouse.” “I do agree,” she replied. “The privilege of performing marriages is only given to the state because of legal implications that could come up.” “But here there is no legal issue,” Lance finished. “It’s the moral and emotional issue in question.” He gently reached out and touched her chin with his fingers, his keen eyes fixed on her face. “If it doesn’t seem right to you, or you think it’s not quite proper, I will understand if your answer is ‘no’.” “I don’t know if it’s ‘no’,” she quickly rejoined. “It’s just that I must be sure. If it was ninety-eight percent sure and two percent unsure, I’d end up hurting you and me. Will you give me tonight to pray about it?” “Of course.” Lance’s voice spoke some relief, some anxiety, and some hope. He watched as she hastened back up towards camp. The next morning, as Lance emerged from a morning swim, Aurora stepped out of her shack. Peace radiated her face into something more beautiful than usual. She met him under the stand of palms. “Good morning!” Her voice was calm, revealing nothing. He wiped back his hair from his eyes. “Good morning.” “You don’t look like you slept much,” she said, noting the darkish skin under his eyes. “I was too busy wrestling with the Lord,” he admitted a little wryly. She smiled slightly. “It’s funny that I’m almost completely content here.” “Almost?” He asked. “I miss my family,” she confessed, “and I just can’t give up hope that a plane’ll fly over or a ship will pass. I mean, ours can’t have been the only flight into this section of the world.” Lance nodded slowly, as if only in partial agreement. “I’d like to get back to the States too. But you know, it’s a fair chance that… we could be here for weeks more, even months… or years.” Aurora felt something in his voice and shot what she intended to be a discreet look at him. Only he was looking right at her. She decided to take a humorous path. “It’ll be interesting, telling our friends about how we were stuck on an island. They’ll think it’s wild and romantic. Crazy, huh?” “I don’t know. Is it?” Lance asked. She felt a little thrill of nervous anticipation run through her body. Speaking earnestly, intensely, Lance continued. “We’ve been here for five months, so far with no sign that we’ll be picked up. Every minute has been… a delight for me, working or just enjoying this place, with you. But I’d be dishonest if I didn’t bring up the reality that… I’m a man, and when a man and a woman are constantly together, in harmony on everything that’s important, well… there’s… it can’t be left at just… friendship.” Aurora knew her face was a warm rose color, and her eyes had lowered to the wet sand at her feet. Now she swallowed and dared to meet his eye. “What should it be?” he asked softly. “If there’s a good chance we could spend another twenty years here, just you and me, there should be more,” she hesitated. “I don’t see how we can be legally married,” she hesitated. “I thought of that. Have you ever heard of the Friends’ Ceremony?” Lance asked. “Uh, yes. It’s what the Quakers do, isn’t it? Two people come and make vows to each other without a pastor.” “Right. Aurora, if God is our ultimate authority and the one who binds two people in marriage, then our vows in His sight would be as binding as if we said them in a church or a courthouse.” “I do agree,” she replied. “The privilege of performing marriages is only given to the state because of legal implications that could come up.” “But here there is no legal issue,” Lance finished. “It’s the moral and emotional issue in question.” He gently reached out and touched her chin with his fingers, his keen eyes fixed on her face. “If it doesn’t seem right to you, or you think it’s not quite proper, I will understand if your answer is ‘no’.” “I don’t know if it’s ‘no’,” she quickly rejoined. “It’s just that I must be sure. If it was ninety-eight percent sure and two percent unsure, I’d end up hurting you and me. Will you give me tonight to pray about it?” “Of course.” Lance’s voice spoke some relief, some anxiety, and some hope. He watched as she hastened back up towards camp. The next evening, as Lance emerged from a morning swim, Aurora stepped out of her shack. Peace radiated her face into something more beautiful than usual. She met him under the stand of palms. “Good morning!” Her voice was calm, revealing nothing. He wiped back his hair from his eyes. “

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