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Rivkah looked up with a smile just as Josiah reached the last step. Her eyes glanced between Josiah and Arlana, taking in their flushed faces and Arlana's swollen lips.
Arlana winced as she bit her lower lip, evading Rivkah's eyes, but she needn't have worried.
"Aziel let's show your Mamma the new herbs," she grinned at the boy at her side, "You have a surprise," her only hint.
"Look, Mom, Savtah let me have my own little garden! I planted Basil right here. It's good for soup and spaghetti sauce and it will help me be a chef!"
Arlana held out her hand for the plant her son offered for her inspection, "That is so nice! Thank you, Rivkah."
She would have thanked Rivkah for watching Aziel all afternoon but knowing how she'd spent her free time, Arlana kept quiet, her blush deepening at the recent memory. Regardless of Josiah's explanation, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling of guilt.
Josiah had other intentions. Holding her hips with both his hands, he pinned her against his length as he waited patiently for the right moment to make his announcement, Arlana trembling beneath his hands.
Rivkah tenderly brushed a streak of dirt off Aziel's cheek. "You look like you are bursting at the seams to say something," she glanced back over her shoulder.
Arlana looked up at Josiah who winked.
They observed Aziel run back out the door and onto the lawn, pursuing a monarch butterfly.
"What are you doing out here all by yourself?" Lachlan's deep tenor voice rumbled as he tousled Aziel's curls before motioning toward the door, "Are you coming inside with me?"
"No, I want to get that butterfly," Aziel's expression was most serious.
Lachlan chuckled, then tapped on the door, stepping in before there was an answer. He looked up to see Josiah holding Arlana with an unmistakable intimacy, speaking with Rivkah.
"She is mine," Josiah spoke in their native language, his voice hushed and almost musical.
"What?" Rivkah's eyes widened, hand fluttering to her throat.
"She is mine," Josiah's eyes spoke volumes as he gazed down at Arlana, "I've made her my wife."
Rivkah gasped, "She is your wife? You can't Josiah. She is still a gentile." Face blanched, she resumed as though Arlana wasn't standing right there, "This was a Biblical custom! It is not sanctioned by most rabbis. There are some ancient practices that should not and cannot be restored," Rivkah sighed, "We will talk more of this..." Rivkah glanced at Arlana. Oh, she had known that her son loved Arlana, but this was the last thing she had foreseen. If she had known his plans, she would have warned him against it. It couldn't, no, it must not happen, yet it was too late. She bowed her head, fully shouldering the burden of Josiah's life-altering decision, wishing Shaul would come home. She needed her eldest son more than ever.
Arlana felt sick, needing to be alone as she saw dismay wash over Rivkah's kindly features. Pulling away from Josiah's arms, she half-ran across the kitchen, shoving the screen door open.
Josiah started to follow her, but Rivkah placed a hand on his forearm, expression sombre, "We need to talk first, Son."
"Arlana," Lachlan breathed, following her out the door feeling Josiah's eyes on his back.
Looking away, Arlana wouldn't give Lachlan a glimpse into her soul, embarrassed he had witnessed the exchange and her new mother-in-law's clear disappointment.
****
LACHLAN WAS VERY AWARE Josiah cherished Arlana but had no idea what they were talking about or what the issue was.
"Arlana, talk to me. You know I am here for you," he held out his hand for the ashen-faced woman who was intent on trying to get her son's attention.
Aziel, however, was out of earshot.
"Nothing can be that bad," he comforted, escorting her to a hand-carved chair on the veranda. He stroked her fingers with his thumb. "I'm here for you, don't worry your head. Whatever is the matter, we will fix it."
"It's not that simple," Arlana swallowed hard at the lump in her throat, pulling back her hand as though his fingers had scalded her flesh.
Rivah's voice carried through the screen door, "What is done is done. I hope for your sake your wife converts."
"She has three months to join our people," Josiah's eyes were fixed on something in the distance, "But it will likely be sooner."
Was he speaking in faith? He wasn't quite sure. It could just be a gut feeling. The attraction was mutual, and the bond between his mother and wife was obvious. They needed each other and this would not destroy the love between them. Give it a few days to sink in and their bond would likely be stronger. After all, Rivkah knew it was her responsibility to instruct Arlana, therefore they would need to spend more time together, something both lonely women ached for, even if they might not admit it.
"I hope for your sake she does," Rivkah blinked back tears as she turned to join Arlana and Lachlan outside, "Oh my son...." she shook her head.
Josiah stepped out into the sunlight with a clear conscience. Rejecting the old customs had not done his people any good. The more modern they became, the more they assimilated into the nations surrounding them, into society. It was apparent they needed to turn back and find the path where they had lost their way. It was their only hope for survival.
****
LACHLAN WISELY CHANGED the topic once everyone had found a seat on the terrace, "I just came over to let you know that the service tonight hasn't been cancelled as I had suspected. I really didn't think they'd have me back after what happened last night but apparently, the meetings are still a go. Josiah, you are scheduled to speak tonight, are you still coming?"
Josiah's eyes lingered on Arlana. Last night had been difficult for her and then today, he'd turned her world upside down. He searched his wife's eyes, "Will you come tonight?"
Arlana met Josiah's eyes, seeing a glimpse of his heart. She really should go to support Josiah, especially now. Besides, Aziel needed his cousins and she had some apologizing to do if her family showed up again, which wasn't likely.
"I'd understand if you don't wish to go," Josiah's eyes lingered on her lips before returning to her eyes, waiting for an answer.
Rivkah knew how difficult the night before had been on Arlana and this struggle over her emotions and loyalty to her husband spoke volumes.
"I'll go," Arlana murmured.
"I am coming too," Rivkah spoke up.
Rivkah had never been to church. She had never intended to enter a Christian place of worship, but knowing how Arlana felt after last night and seeing her already demonstrate loyalty to her husband, Rivkah made up her mind to accompany the others.
"You'll stay for supper first?" Rivkah extended an invitation to Lachlan and Arlana.
"Thank you," Arlana stood, "I'll help you."
Lachlan nodded his acceptance, "That would be great, thank you," before turning to talk with Josiah in low tones after the women had re-entered the house.
Rivkah waited until they'd washed and dried their hands before bringing up the topic that hung heavily between the two women who had become close friends in such a short amount of time. Things were different between them. Arlana bit her tender lower lip in the uncomfortable silence, a reminder of their feverish love-making less than an hour earlier.
"Arlana, we have customs that you will learn in time. However, Josiah has claimed you. You are now his wife and must act as such," Rivkah let her words sink in as she kneaded the challah bread dough much too hard.
"I will guide you, however, now that you are Josiah's wife - his wife - you have three months to forsake all and be joined to our people. I cannot stress to you how solemn this is. You are no longer a single woman. You cannot and will not be intimate again until the three months have passed. Josiah claimed you, a sign that you belong to him now and there is no going back to who you were this morning, do you understand?"
Flour puffed off the counter in little clouds, a feeble protest beneath the onslaught of her fists pulverizing the dough; a shadow had settled over Rivkah's clear eyes.
Arlana looked away, ashamed.
Rivkah deftly twisted the dough into a long, snake-like cord then began to braid the dough without actually watching her actions. She had done this a thousand times before and could make the bread in her sleep.
"Josiah..." Rivkah's eyes focused on Aziel playing outside the kitchen window, "He knows we have lost our way as a people. For years he has tried to fight liberalism not only among the Jews here but also secularism in society. He has a good heart. A pure heart. Zealous for truth and righteousness..." She rubbed her brow with the back of her flour-dusted hand, "So I understand his reasoning, but these things don't happen anymore. Why they changed over the years, I don't exactly know, but no rabbi is going to look upon your marriage as having taken place in righteousness. What is done is done. It is not looked upon as righteous, but it is a valid marriage. You now belong to my son and will begin training immediately." Rivkah sighed, then a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "You and Aziel are family now."
Family.
All Arlana had ever coveted, yet this is not the way she had envisioned her dream come true.
Rivkah spread a frothy egg wash over loaves of bread, then slipped them into the oven, turning to wash her hands.
The silence was heavy.
Arlana's conscience already screamed at her and seeing Rivkah's anguish was her undoing.
"I'm so sorry," Arlana spoke the truth. Nothing would be the same as it had been.
"No my dear," Rivkah dried her hands on the small tea towel, "It is too late to reverse what is done. We can only go forward now." Replacing the towel on the oven door, she embraced the younger woman. "It will be alright, and I love you both so much."
Arlana hadn't noticed Josiah standing in the doorway until he spoke. How long had he been standing there? How much had he overheard?
"You both will be cherished," he affirmed as though that solved the current problem, then continued, "We cannot again..." Josiah looked away for a moment, "...until our wedding day."
The topic was more than a little awkward.
"Over the next few months you will learn more, but you must be faithful to me now for you are my wife. Do you understand? I have claimed you as my bride and will love only you. Aziel is my son and I will be a good father to him." He reached for her hand, raising her fingers to his lips, a tender promise.
Arlana pulled her hand out of his, her conscience still scalding her. "You mentioned I have three months..."
He looked away. "Sooner than three months...."
Josiah ran his fingers through his silky locks. "I'll drive you home after supper so you can prepare for the service. We must leave before 5 pm."