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Rivkah and Atarah enjoyed the first few moments they'd had alone since landing in Israel two days ago.
"I'm so sorry about my family."
Atarah looked over at Rivkah as they peeled and diced fresh vegetables together, ashamed her family's hatred of Jews was so blatant.
"Don't worry," Rivkah sighed to her toes, "I am used to it. This is how our people have been treated for centuries, but it is you I worry about...." she gently rubbed Atarah's stomach, "They may think differently when they meet these little ones. It would be very hard to hate a newborn, don't you think? Let's hold onto hope. These babies will be here very soon and it is my prayer that they will bring your family together," Rivkah smiled warmly, "Miracles do happen... Do you remember last September when we were celebrating Rosh Hashanah?"
Atarah nodded. Yes, of course, she remembered. That was when her grandfather died. Her face paled at the memory and its aftermath.
Rivkah put down the cucumber she had been peeling and reached for Atarah's hand.
"Do you remember how I told you that God restores the years the locusts have eaten? He gives a double portion?"
Yes, she remembered, although at the time she had barely listened. She remembered clearly Rivkah's joy as they prepared to embark on a New Year. Atarah nodded, smiling at the memory.
"Well, I was right, although I didn't realize then how much Adonai was blessing our family and continuing to bless." She removed her hand from Atarah's placing it on her womb instead, "God has restored and blessed you with a double portion..."
Atarah blinked back tears as Rivkah's words sank in.
"Sometimes, we just need to trust Adonai. Even though we may be walking through the Refiner's Fire, He is faithful and will bless His people."
Rivkah's smile was contagious as she turned back to the abandoned cucumber.
"Adonai always keeps His promises. He has removed our tears and given us instead, the garment of praise," her voice soft as a prayer.
****
ADELAIDE JOINED HER sister and Rivkah in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves.
"So we decided to go home after the wedding. With your due date so close, I thought maybe you'd like to have a little honeymoon, childfree, and this way when the baby is born, you can focus on the newborn for the first little bit. I know when I had mine, I had help, so I thought I'd offer. It'd give Azrael extra time with his cousins."
The offer was very thoughtful, but Arlana blanched at the idea of her child being thousands of miles away. They were rarely separated, and when they were, he was only next door at Rivkah's. This was...
"You know I will take care of him as if he were my own son..."
"Oh I know, I trust you completely and truly appreciate the offer. Could you not just stay here a few extra days? The thought of him being so far away..."
"No, we have to head back," Adelaide stirred the diced vegetables, mixing them with lentils in a pot, "I know it would do the children a lot of good."
Lachlan frowned, setting his empty mug on the counter.
"Atarah, I was just going to let you know I will be gone for several hours. I am working on that assignment but will be dropping by to see Josiah and Shaul at some point today. Is there anything you need while I'm out?"
"No, but thank you."
She couldn't ask Lachlan to tell her husband she missed him.
Lachlan wasn't keen on Adelaide's plan but it wasn't his place to make decisions for Josiah's family. Atarah hadn't given her sister an answer, but Josiah should know what was being planned in his absence. He could then convey to Atarah Josiah's decision. A go-between? Messenger? It didn't matter. Whether or not she and the children would ever be his, he had vowed to always protect them. He didn't trust her family as far as he could throw them.
"Are you going to be okay?" Lachlan lowered his voice so only Atarah would hear, "I need to leave for a while and want you to stay with Rivkah. Don't leave her side so I don't need to worry about you while I'm gone."
Atarah nodded, fully understanding. Rivkah was optimistic, seeing goodness in everything, but with her nearby, Atarah's family would be cautious, clearly not wanting to expose their true colours or lose their daughter.