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Arlana's eyes were blurry with tears, unable to focus on the man before her, although his tender embrace and soothing voice penetrated the haze in her mind.
"Oh, Josiah...." she sighed, hands clinging to the front of his crisp white shirt.
"I'm sorry you went through that," he brushed her tears away with his fingers, tilting her chin up to meet his sapphire blue eyes. His heart thundered as he looked down at the woman he loved clinging to him, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
"My cousins!" Aziel wailed from his perch, "I want to see my cousins! I don't want to leave."
The moment shattered, Arlana glanced away from Josiah, her face scalding hot.
Leading them out into the cool night air he swung Aziel up onto his shoulders before using his free hand to draw Arlana against his heart, where she belonged.
"We need to go home Aziel," she reached up to hold her son's hand as Lachlan jogged over to where they were standing beside Josiah's car.
"I didn't know that was going to happen," Lachlan blurted. How could he have known? The drums were still playing a frenzied beat, Lachlan's absence not yet noticed. "They're going to be finished soon I'm guessing, then I have to man the back table...Are you alright Love?" Lachlan inquired with a frown.
Josiah pulled her firmly against him, radiating Alpha male strength as he publicly demonstrated his claim, his eyes blazing a challenge behind her head.
"I'm heading home," Josiah leaned against his car, his hand lingering on Arlana's waist, the warmth from his hand, comforting. "I'll just transfer the car seat to my vehicle," he walked to Lachlan's car, still holding Aziel on his shoulders, returning a moment with the child's car seat in one hand.
Passing Aziel to his mother, Josiah bent over, fastening the car seat into his backseat. Lachlan, knowing Arlana was still overwhelmed, took Aziel from her arms, holding the wailing child on his shoulders. They broke eye contact when the church doors opened and Adelaide emerged, the children accompanying their mother.
"Why did you leave so soon?" She walked over to Arlana.
"We have a long drive ahead of us," Arlana shrugged, hoping her eyes were no longer red from crying.
"I'm sorry, I don't remember your name," Adelaide turned to Lachlan who now held Aziel in his arms. "That was a good message. Really good. I haven't run it by my husband yet, but I'd love for you to come back to the house after the service." She surmised that Lachlan and Arlana were more than acquaintances by the way Aziel snuggled up to the guest speaker.
Lachlan exchanged a look with Arlana, "I was going to...thank you for the offer...Josiah?"
Josiah stood up, towering over Adelaide, "Thank you for the offer but we are going home. Lachlan, I'll text you," not wanting to stay a moment longer.
"God is in this place tonight Arlana. If you choose to walk away you'll be going to hell. You can't leave and expect your soul to be saved. There is no such thing as eternal security. That doctrine is a lie from the devil."
Adelaide's voice was impassioned, but Arlana stood her ground, "I can't and won't go back inside there. I love you but I don't agree with your pastor - not by a long shot."
Clenching her jaw, Adelaide all but spat, "I'll pray for you."
Josiah placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently, yet even with his nearness, Arlana felt entirely alone.
Arlana strapped Aziel into his car seat before sliding into the seat beside Josiah.
"You don't need to leave on my account," she murmured, staring out the window.
"I wasn't going to stay, don't worry,"Josiah glanced in his rear-view mirror.
"When did you arrive?" Arlana looked over, watching his muscles flex underneath his shirt as he shifted gears.
Josiah glanced over, meeting her eyes. "I was at the back during the last part of the service."
"Why didn't you join us?" She half-turned in her seat.
"I didn't want to be a distraction," Arlana bit her lower lip, averting her eyes, but her cheeks abruptly felt very warm.
Aziel hadn't ceased crying since they'd left, pleading to be with his cousins. "I think we need to pull over at a rest stop," Arlana glanced back over her shoulder. "It's okay Azzie, don't you want to see Savtah? I'm sure she is missing you."
Aziel wouldn't be consoled.
"I should have sat in the back with him," Arlana spoke more to herself, reaching back to rub the boy's leg. "It'll be okay Honey..."
"We won't be reaching a rest stop any time soon," Josiah glanced at the dashboard, then back on the highway stretching ahead.
The ride home was very long, Aziel sobbing his heart out. Arlana felt nauseous. Had she made an enormous mistake? Regardless, it was too late to turn around and go back. Arlana's face was drawn, her anxiety heightened.
Rain began to spatter the windshield, the rhythmic swishing of the windshield wipers producing a soothing lullaby. The weeping softened to a whimper, then the car was silent.
"I should have stayed. It's been years since he has seen his cousins..." Self-doubt plagued Arlana.
Josiah didn't say a word, just reached out and held her hand. Fingers intertwined, silence prevailed save for the sound of the thunderstorm.
****
"ARE YOU HEADING BACK?" Josiah called Lachlan using his Bluetooth speaker.
"Aye, I'm not far behind you. I decided not to stay and I'm honestly not sure if they are going to cancel the rest of this weekend's meetings."
"I'm going straight home. Meet us at the house."
"Sure thing."
Within the hour, Josiah pulled up the long gravel driveway that surrounded the old white farmhouse. Rivkah had left a light on, a beacon in the rain-laced darkness.
Josiah scooped Aziel out of the backseat, draping his suit jacket over the sleeping child's head before running towards the front door, holding Arlana with his free hand. She released his hand as the door opened, Rivkah already cooing over them, exuding warmth.
"That's my boy, hush now," Rivkah murmured to Aziel who struggled under the weight of sleep. "Bring him up to the spare room. I'll go grab an extra blanket. There's a deep chill in the air tonight."
Arlana smiled her thanks, following Josiah and his mother up the stairs. Josiah whispered a blessing over the sleeping child before turning away.
"Y'varechecha Adonai V'yish'm'recha
Ya'er Adonai penev eilecha Vichuneka.
Yisa Adona penev eilecha V'yasem I'cha Shalom.
May G-d bless you and guard you,
May the light of G-d shine upon you, and may G-d be gracious to you.
May the presence of G-d be with you and give you peace."
An almost holy hush ensued - how different from months earlier when Arlana had simply said, "Ready! Set! Go! Mwa!" blowing her son a kiss. She slipped her hand inside Josiah's as he stepped away from the bed.
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to be there earlier..." Exhaustion shadowed his deep blue eyes.
Josiah had no need to apologize. He stepped aside as Rivkah passed Arlana an extra blanket.
Arlana tucked her son into bed before joining her hosts in the shadowy hallway.
"You must stay tonight. It is late and we have room."
"Thank you," Arlana paused on her way down the waxed stairs, "Are you sure?"
"Of course," Rivkah murmured, reaching out her hand to Arlana, "You're as pale as paper. Here, let me get you something to warm you up. Hot cocoa?"
****
ARLANA WAS SHIVERING in her cream lace dress. She should have brought a jacket.
"That would be really nice. Here, let me help you."
Arlana helped Rivkah in the kitchen, the women working in silent camaraderie. A brisk knock on the door shattered the silence.
"That must be Lachlan," Josiah walked to the door, "Come in. Coffee?"
"Perfect. Thank you." Lachlan wiped his shoes on the mat, "Hello Rivkah." Lachlan met Arlana's eyes, then glanced away before joining Josiah in the living room.
Rivkah and Arlana followed, bearing steaming mugs. Josiah smiled, reaching for the scalding mug of coffee Arlana held out to him before she relinquished the second mug to Lachlan.
Silently, Josiah drew Arlana down to sit beside him. Looks were exchanged but no one said a word.
"You returned earlier than I had expected," Rivkah brought up the topic, sipping on her lemon tea.
Arlana's eyes rested on a floating miniature marshmallow, light against the rich chocolate darkness. She was sitting so close to Josiah she could feel his heartbeat, the tensing of his muscles against her skin. She fought the warm sensation engulfing her senses.
"Your speech was excellent," Josiah commended his associate, "and well-received from where I stood."
"That is good then," Rivkah sat back with a smile, "Did the service end early?" glancing at the grandfather clock.
Lachlan filled the older woman in, not sparing any unpleasant aspect, concluding that he had stayed at the back table until they were about ready to lock the doors. Very few had subscribed to The Remnant magazine, most lingering 'at the altar' until the very last second.
He turned to Arlana, "Your family subscribed. Your sister was angry, but she took the material we brought and signed up for the magazine. It's a start."
Arlana bit her lower lip feeling horrible about the whole situation. She never should have gone.
Lachlan held her eyes, "There is hope. Emotions were high tonight. People were exposed to the truth and then with the show that Pastor Cookes put on... Don't take it personally."
Lachlan obviously didn't know her family.
Setting his empty mug down, Josiah slipped his arm around Arlana's waist, pulling her even closer, if that were conceivable, their fingers entwined.
Lachlan averted his eyes, staring at his mug. Josiah had made it very apparent weeks ago that he intended on claiming Arlana. She was his even if she may not know it yet. So why did he sense a twinge of envy in his heart for his best friend?
A grin danced on Rivkah's lips. She was unmistakably glowing as she glanced between her son and Arlana.
Josiah winked at his mother before brushing a kiss on top of Arlana's head.
Heart hammering against his arm, Arlana leaned her golden head on Josiah's shoulder.
At that moment, her heart was home.