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Wasn't the answer obvious?
Josiah cast his brother a sideways glance, his face flushing beneath his newly acquired tan. It hadn't taken much of the blazing Mediterranean sun to darken his fair complexion.
"I'll take Atarah to our new home and..."
He flushed, the conversation suddenly a little more than awkward.
Josiah had been meticulous in designing and building a home for his new bride, his wedding gift to her. He would not reveal the surprise until their wedding night.
Shaul interrupted, sparing his brother from further embarrassment, now aware the Josiah had completely misunderstood his question.
"What are your plans for after the naming ceremony? Will you be returning home? To Israel?"
"I still haven't decided. Yes, my heart wants to be here, but I have a ministry in Canada. We have our farms. There are things I need to take care of first."
"At least consider moving the family here. You have a home waiting here and the children should be raised here as well. Josiah, you must begin training soon...why won't you join me, my brother?"
Josiah gripped the wheel, "I have not made a final decision. It may be years before the temple is built and right now I am needed back in Canada."
Shaul nodded, respecting his brother's decision, even if mistaken.
****
ATARAH'S HEART SKIPPED a beat as Josiah's car pulled up to the side of the house. She was sitting watching the sunset after another sleepless night.
Shaul stepped out of the car, walking towards Atarah.
Azrael spotted him, instantly running across the yard.
"Uncle Shaul!" he cried out.
Lachlan had been playing a game of ball with the children and now he stopped, tossing the ball to Joshua to continue the game without him before walking toward the house.
Adelaide disappeared into the house as Atarah stood, greeting her brother-in-law.
"I'm glad you are here," Atarah smiled, "You're early...the wedding is not until Thursday."
"I'm here to meet with your parents," Shaul began as Lachlan reached them, "We need to finalize the wedding plans."
"I'll let Dad know you're here. Joshua, watch the kids for a bit okay?"
"Josiah wants to meet with you," he addressed Mark a few moments later, "He cannot see Atarah until the wedding day, so if you will come with me..."
Sheila raised an eyebrow.
"We'll meet him," she decided for the couple, following Shaul out to the car.
"This had better be good," Mark grumbled under his breath.
Their interest was in Josiah, not his brother.
***
ATARAH WATCHED AZRAEL playing quietly with his cousins outside in the yard. Shaul had come over to the house to check in on her and Mark had used that golden opportunity to attempt to convert the rabbi. Shaul was patiently enduring Mark's attempts, a gentleman. He could probably use the interruption. Adelaide was waiting for an answer to her offer to bring Azrael back with them.
"I just need to speak with Shaul."
"Shaul?" Adelaide raised her eyebrow
"I can't ask Josiah...we are not permitted to see each other until the wedding, so Shaul is the next best thing."
"I didn't know that...I mean, I had no idea you can't see each other."
"Yeah..." Atarah sighed, "For an entire week. It's a killer but that's the point. It increases our anticipation for each other..."
Adelaide blushed but didn't know why. She totally understood though how it would make everything more romantic, remembering her own wedding night. It had been less than she had imagined, but then again, so had her marriage.
"Mom would like us to visit the island. She mentioned having a reception for us there," Atarah sighed, "Honestly, I think she probably feels guilty for not acknowledging Azrael for so many years, so wants to be in this one's life from the start. I could be wrong, but that's my gut feeling."
Atarah looked down, watching her stomach move with her baby's restless motion.
"I am honestly not sure what Josiah's plan is, but I'm going to ask."
Shaul looked up when Atarah approached, asking if Josiah had decided if Azrael should stay or was it okay that he travels back with Gavin and Adelaide.
"Josiah said he will pick up Azrael on the way to the synagogue and conveys his thanks for your offer," he addressed Adelaide who had followed her sister.
"It's no problem at all," Addy smiled.
Atarah struggled with the thought of her child being thousands of miles away from her but knew he needed to spend this time with his cousins. It was selfish of her to want to keep him by her side.
****
THE MEN SET UP CHAIRS in the yard where they could still watch the children play. Atarah helped serve drinks while Jaira pulled up a chair beside her Aunt Debbie. The resemblance was uncanny.
"Josiah will be here tomorrow," Shaul addressed Mark, "We will set up in the morning and the afternoon will be spent in other preparations. The wedding will take place after dark..."
Lachlan had left to pick up Atarah's uncle, Isaac, going for the drive, returning within a few hours with her Uncle Steven and Aunt Leslie. "Atarah," Lachlan attempted to get her attention.
"Who's Atarah?" Aunt Patricia frowned when she arrived without greeting her niece.
"It is my Hebrew name."
Atarah answered without hesitation, offering the newcomers a drink.
Thank you for coming," but her eyes were troubled.
Uncle Steven's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure what was going on but he wouldn't let the matter rest.
"Hebrew name?"
"Arlana has been called Atarah and my grandson is now Azrael. It is taking some getting used to, but I like those names. I'm guessing it is some kind of wedding custom..."
Steven scanned his cell phone, then looked up.
"It isn't a wedding custom. Arlana has converted. She is no longer a Christian."
Just a few words, yet he could have set off a bomb.
"You did what?" Mark bellowed
"When were you going to tell us this?"
Jaira snapped as though Terrell hadn't already told her, ever dramatic.
"Oh, I knew there was darkness here! I could feel it! You rejected Jesus!" Jaira all but spat.
"I haven't..."
Atarah rubbed her brow. They were going to find out, but she hadn't wanted it like this...all at once.
"Of course I still believe in Jesus - Yeshua - however, I reject Christianity. My son and I are now Jews and always will be, but we know that Yeshua is the Messiah that was promised."
"Please tell me you aren't a Jew..."
Sheila's face was ghostly white. Her reaction couldn't have been worse had she been punched in the stomach.
"We are Jews," Atarah confirmed, "It is our choice. Azrael wanted to be a Jew as well. It is a great honour to be even the most humble of Jews."
"I don't know what to say," Sheila croaked, "They killed Jesus! To deny Christianity...where did I go wrong?"
Tears welled in Rivkah's grey eyes. Was being a Jew such a great plague? She discreetly swiped at an unbidden tear, her heart swelling with pride at Atarah's stand for her new identity. She knew it wasn't going to be easy being a Jew. The first test was her family.
"You should have married Lachlan," Jaira sat back in her chair. "It's this other guy that changed you. I don't even know you..."
"Jaira!" Adelaide gasped. "Arlana...Atarah" she corrected herself, "Is an adult and will make her own decisions. Our parents raised us as best they could but when we are adults... I don't know what to think..."
Adelaide looked back at her sister.
"I will pray for you."
Atarah was quiet, gently stroking her unborn babies which were reacting sharply to the sudden onslaught of stress. Her mother might not be quite so excited over the birth now that she knew the truth.
Why should it matter? She had her own secrets that came out after dark.
Aunt Patricia's eyes fixed on Atarah stroking her stomach.
"You can't act so high and mighty when you clearly have some explaining to do," she indicated Atarah's extended womb.
Blow after blow. It was a lot for Atarah to endure. She wasn't trying to flaunt her sin. Biting her lip, she looked at Shaul, silently emploring her rabbi brother-in-law to help, face ashen.
Rivkah looked over at Sheila as she placed her hand on Atarah's stomach, "The fruit of their union is legitimate, rest assured."
"My brother claimed Atarah according to ancient Jewish tradition. She is married to Josiah in the eyes of God, although the wedding tomorrow is still necessary so they may live together," Shaul came to her defence, looking over at Atarah. "It is so binding that had she been intimate with any other man after...they would have no other recourse but to divorce."
Atarah hadn't realized the severity of what Josiah had done...not to that point. She was thankful she had resisted the temptation that had been Lachlan.
Jaira, however, was thinking the opposite. Lachlan was the key to destroying this marriage.
Shaul didn't know what Jaira was thinking so continued, "According to our customs, tomorrow they will have a wedding after which they can live as husband and wife. Until then, Atarah has had to be faithful to Josiah. Completely faithful."