| |
Rose spent a lot more time at the farm, working with Rivkah as they prepared the country home to be lived in once more.
"Shaul mentioned he will help David move Arlana out just before he has to head back to Israel. I think that works well with your timing. David should be returning from New York on the 28th..am I correct? Shaul would like to meet Arlana before he must leave. With his schedule, he is concerned if he misses this opportunity, the next time would be at her conversion ceremony when she goes to Israel."
"Yes. I will just get in the way, so I will not be joining the men when they rescue my cousin. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am that it is only a few weeks away..." Rose ran her fingers through her hair, "Arlana in Israel?"
Rivkah smiled, her excitement nearly as great as her best friend's. "Yes, and then we can plan their wedding. It is imperative we do not breathe a word of this to Arlana. I know how difficult it will be - for both of us. However, her conversion will not be accepted by the council if they believe she has been forced into this decision or has ulterior reasons. She has to want to do this on her own. I really don't know how Josiah plans to pull his part off in this. I can hear his fondness for Arlana and her son when he mentions her now." Rivkah's eyes held a faraway look for a moment. "Oh, have you given Arlana a date yet?"
"No, I wanted to be certain first. I will message her this afternoon and let her know. This is it, Rivkah..."
****
"CAN YOU BE READY BY tomorrow afternoon? David and Shaul can be there by 3 pm. I'm guessing it won't take more than an hour to load up."
"Sounds good." Arlana's reply was brief, feeling as though she were in some dream that was much too good to be true.
Freedom was just around the corner, yet the clenching in her heart couldn't be ignored.
Fear.
"What if I'm making a big mistake?" The thought gnawed at her, refusing to release her spirit. Nearly every decision she had made over the past ten years had turned out to be disastrous. This might just be another.
Looking in at Aziel as she closed his bedroom door, she knew that even if she was afraid, this was a golden opportunity for her child. Nervous or not, it was now or never.
Walking down the hall, she opened her bedroom closet to reveal a stack of boxes she had squirrelled away for this exact moment. It was time.
Discretion. She had learned the hard way over the years. Keep calm. Don't show your cards too soon.
****
ARLANA'S PHONE LIT up as she closed the top of the last box, pausing to read Josiah's text, a little surprised that he already knew about Rose's offer. He made no mention of why it had been more than a week since he'd messaged. Arlana shook the feeling, having to admit she'd missed him.
"You are not alone, and just think, by this time next week the fear will have vanished and you'll see it was all worth it. Trust me..."
Arlana sat on the stairs, taking a moment to reply, "You're right, but what if..."
Josiah didn't respond. A moment passed before he messaged her again, "I won't be able to help you move. Lachlan and I are both away. However, Rose's husband will be coming as well as my brother."
"Okay, thanks. That sounds good."
"Pray for our safety," Josiah sent one last message, instantly thinking he might have said too much.
Arlana was too stressed out to notice.
****
ARLANA BEGAN WITH THE washroom. Scrubbing. Purging. "Organizing." Only the absolute essentials found their way into a small box. She would leave some items behind, so it wouldn't be glaringly obvious she had no intention of ever returning.
Aziel appeared at her side, "How much longer?"
"I'll let you know. In the meantime, you can help by cleaning your room."
The young child frowned.
Bags of donations quickly piled up against the wall. Spring cleaning, anyone would assume, yet Arlana was narrowing down the essentials.
"I'll drop it off after work tomorrow. I hate seeing it stacked up, you should know that by now." Jorken muttered as he walked past the stack of plastic grocery bags filled with donations on the stair landing.
Of course she did. The list of everything that angered him was endless.
Organized boxes lined her bedroom wall. Like the Israelites hundreds of years before, Arlana and Aziel were ready for their Exodus.
****
ARLANA HAD WAITED FOR this moment for so long and now that it was finally here, she felt nauseated. It was now or never.
"Are you having second thoughts?" David frowned, eyes searching her face. He was as sweet as his wife, Rose, who had stayed home, reminding her husband to be sure to invite Arlana and her son to the feast she was preparing.
"I don't know. I guess it is just...oh I don't know. Okay, let's do this." Arlana was apprehensive, her heart hammering.
What if the pastor was right? What if she had to stay with Jorken so he would be saved? He might act like the devil but he was still a soul who would spend eternity tormented in hell's fire. The thought made her face pale.
There was no time to think, "I believe most of your things should fit but if not, we have time to make at least two trips," pausing to stroke the bridge of his nose. "Arlana, you'll come with me, Shaul, following with the truck. Ah, here he is now," David propped the glass door open for the younger man.
David promptly introduced his companion, "Shaul, Josiah's older brother."
He really didn't have to add the last part, the men were very similar in appearance. Shaul nodded but didn't extend his hand, following David as he led the way into Arlana's home.
"Is everything ready?" Shaul called over his shoulder.
"Yes, I've stacked all the boxes in the living room to make it easier," Alana stood awkwardly in the doorway.
David bent to pick up two of the lighter boxes, "This won't take long."
****
SHAUL SHOULDERED A box on each arm, turning toward the front door.
"Thanks for all your help" Arlana voiced her gratitude, glancing around the house she'd called home for the past three years. She left one picture of Jorken & Aziel on the wall - to remind him of what'd he'd thrown away, then she too disappeared out the front door, a soundless figure leaving it all behind.
David had been correct, everything loaded in one truck. Clutching her belongings and what survived of her faith, Arlana secured the metal door with quivering hands. The door had never been able to suppress the life they led from neighbours who knew all too well what happened behind closed doors yet never endeavoured to help - or even offer as much as friendship for that matter. Until now. She slid her house keys underneath the door, not bothering to look back.
"What are we going to do now?" Aziel didn't sprint down the hallway, as usual, his big coffee-coloured eyes studying his mother's face.
They had never been on their own. Dreamed of it - prayed for it. But it had never been a reality until now.
"It will be an adventure," Arlana squeezed his hand.