Hell Shall Not Prevail

Prologue

Joanna and Levi’s farm – September 95 AD

Three days before the Day of Atonement

Esther! You cannot ignore your mother. She is still alive! Exasperated, Joanna spoke sharply.

You do not understand! Esther snapped back.

Joanna stood shocked for a few seconds, her knife suspended above the vegetables she had been chopping. No one ever spoke to her in that tone, especially not this formerly gentle and loving niece. Closing her eyes, she put the knife down, drew a deep breath and released it slowly. She did not want to respond in anger.

Controlling her voice and her tone, she opened her eyes, and looking at her niece, replied, No, I do not understand, Esther. Everything about this has been confusing. You are not a child, you must see for yourself how wrong this has been. Your father came here and said Roman soldiers had murdered your mother and sister during that ‘festival’ of theirs… Saturnalia. He insisted on taking you with him, although we wanted to keep you here and comfort you in your loss. Your father said he was taking you back to Ephesus to care for your grandfather. After you left, while we were mourning your mother and sister, a message came from my sister, your Aunt Sara.

Pausing, Joanna corrected herself. No, it was from my brother-in-law, your Uncle Micah. Sara had suffered the shock of seeing our ‘dead’ sister walk into her home. The message I received was that your mother was alive and your sister was badly injured.

Esther stood, white-faced and trembling. She wanted to tell her aunt to be quiet and believe her, not those lies she had heard! Instead, she retorted, It is all your sister’s fault!

Sara? What do you mean?

Your other sister!

Esther, if you mean your mother, say ‘my mother.’ I cannot understand the change in you.

You would change, too, if your mother had done what mine did! She and that other daughter caused my father’s death. My poor Abba.

Esther, you forget yourself. I have no idea what your father did to change you, but you are not the same lovely niece who left here. I will not tolerate your rudeness.

Sorry, Aunt Joanna. I do not mean to be rude. I am upset because no one understands. No one believes how much my father’s death shocked and hurt me. I am now an orphan. My Saba married again, and a cousin from Egypt is his heir. I do not like him. I have no place anymore. I have no one!

Esther, you are not an orphan! Your mother lives. Why did you refuse to speak to her and ask her what happened? Joanna watched her niece fighting to contain her anger. How could she reach the young woman she used to be? Are you learning nothing from these Days of Awe? You know their meaning. Yet it seems you will start the year under judgment. You refused the opportunity to hear your mother and, remember, after the Fast, the books are sealed… you are in danger. Do not end these days with an unforgiving heart. Esther, think about what this means!

Her cousin Judah’s words came back to her, You should consider the time of year we are approaching. She had not wanted to hear him. That was why she had asked to come here for Rosh Hashanah, as well as keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Aunt, you are saying I will not be in G-d’s book of life. Well, that is something else you can lay at the feet of that woman!

Esther! Enough! I will not tolerate this disrespect of your mother! Like it or not, she is your mother, and the commandment is clear. Honor your father and your mother. I understand you are sad and mourning your father, but you still have a mother.

With her Aunt Joanna’s words echoing in her ears, Esther ran from the kitchen. She did not want to hear any more. Although she wanted to push away the fact she had a mother, she could not. No one would let her forget, and no one was upset about her father. Oh, they told her they had kept the ritual mourning, but that appeared to be all. There was no sign of regret.

Blinded by tears, and wishing she had not come here to the farm, Esther ran to the covered passageway and kept running. I have no one any longer, she sobbed as she ran. Her aunt’s challenge hurt deeply. Since her father had taken her from here, it seemed she had lived through a succession of nightmares. This was another. She had fully expected her Aunt Joanna to understand and support her.

Joanna stared after the retreating figure of her niece. Far from sympathizing with Esther over the death of her father, Joanna struggled to control her attitude toward the man who had obviously damaged Esther’s state of mind. But she could not harbor unforgiveness either, or she would not be in G-d’s Book of Life when the Fast was over.

Levi, making his way to the kitchen to tell his wife he and Chanan were going to the top field to check on the last of the harvesting, had to dodge his niece’s angry escape.

Joanna, what can that man have done to make our quiet, loving niece so…?

Hard? Unforgiving? I cannot understand either.

She used to respect you, admire you. Last year she was so helpful with Aminta when…

I know, and she was a good worker in the kitchen. Everyone loved Esther and rejoiced that she was finally free of those ‘breathing attacks’ she used to have when she was a child.

Whatever he said, clearly she is convinced her father was correct, and he was the injured party in the web of lies he skillfully spun around her. I wonder how he convinced her.

I wonder why she still trusted him when she found out he had not been truthful.

Esther’s wild retreat came to an end near the well where she had sat with her mother… She stopped the thought and substituted, ‘Where they had all sat so many times.’ She felt confused. She had hoped to find peace here with her Aunt Joanna and her family, but she had only brought her suffering with her. Discouraged, she choked back her hurt that no one saw her point of view. Believing her father’s tale, she had closed off all feelings for her mother and sister. She did not even call them that anymore. They were her ‘father’s wife’ and her ‘father’s other daughter.’ She did not want to free them from her anger, her father’s anger. He had suffered so much.

As she took a few deep shuddering breaths, she remembered the old man who had once been in their home in Ephesus; since then she could run and take deep breaths. She pushed the memory aside. It was part of another life, and she did not want to think about it. Turning and looking back along the walkway, she realized that she had almost run into her Uncle Levi. She should apologize to him. She needed to face her Aunt Joanna, as well. Slowly, she made her way back to the kitchen.

Unnoticed, she stood inside the doorway. Her Aunt Joanna was checking on the contents of the large stew pot. Her Uncle Levi was explaining that he and Chanan might be a little late for the meal.

I will feed the household, as usual, and heat some later for you, Chanan and your helpers. I know it is important to bring in the last of the harvest.

About to speak and make her presence known, Esther froze at her uncle’s next words.

See if you can find out what that man did to damage our niece so badly.

I have spoken to her, Levi, but she will not believe that her father was a wicked man. She cannot, or will not, see it.

Esther wanted her feet to move, to take her away from here, but nothing would make them move.

Joanna, you know my opinion of Elizabeth’s husband. I agree with what you said after you heard Esther’s tale. Meshua was a wicked, self-seeking man. He could not speak the truth in anything. ‘Delayed on his buying trip instead of coming here for the Feast last year!’ Lies!

You said nothing before.

In response to his wife’s questioning look, he explained. I made some inquiries after last year’s Feast of Tabernacles. I did not see any purpose in telling you.

What do you mean, Levi? What did you find out? Joanna’s shoulders sagged. She almost expected Levi to say something that, had he spoken of it, could have prevented all that had unfolded during the Roman festival.

Joanna… it was nothing that would have changed what he did. All we found was evidence of his lies, and there was no point in telling you.

We? Who do you mean?

Our brother-in-law Micah; he and I have a great many business contacts in this province, as well as our network through the synagogues. I saw how disappointed his daughters were that he did not arrive as he had said he would. Remember? He was supposed to meet his family here and spend the Feast of Tabernacles with us. He shook his head in disgust, Huh. Sending a message to his family that he would have to keep the Feast in Patara! The rabbi in Patara said he had not kept the Feast there. Micah and I found out he was running a business in Pergamum; I doubt he even kept the Feast at all!

Levi! What are you saying? He was Jewish. He would have kept the commanded festivals.

He would have kept the Fast. He would have been afraid not to, Levi said, quoting. ‘The Lord said to Moses, The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God. Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day.’

Giving the pot a final stir before pushing it to the cooler section of the cooking fire, Joanna agreed, Yes, he was ever one to save his own skin, or try to. Did I ever tell you that Elizabeth was to be betrothed to his older brother, ‘Young Simon’? Meshua wanted her for his bride though. He made life so difficult for his father that ‘Old Simon’ renegotiated with our father and Elizabeth was betrothed to Meshua instead.

It doesn’t surprise me. Meshua was not liked in the Jewish community in Ephesus. And that tale he spun about his wife and daughter being murdered the last night of Saturnalia!

Excuse me, Esther, Chanan said as he passed her inside the kitchen entrance. Calling to his father, he said, Abba, if we do not leave now there will not be enough light to finish the work.

Levi and Joanna turned in response to their son’s call and saw Esther standing there, pale and shaking.

With a look of reproach, Esther finally found the ability to move and escaped from the kitchen.

She must have heard us, Joanna said.

I hope she did, Levi replied, then with a smile and a gentle touch on her shoulder, he followed Chanan out, and they hurried to the passage leading out of the farm buildings.

I had hoped she would listen to me, Joanna muttered to herself. She asked to come here for the Holy Day season, and I agreed. Clearing away the kitchen tools she had been using, she looked up as someone approached.

Old Zipporah shuffled into the kitchen. The old master and the young master have gone to the last field to be reaped?

Yes, Zipporah, and you should rest, Joanna replied.

I can still set out the bowls ready for meals, the old servant said.

Then why not sit on that chair in the corner until it is nearer time for the meal? Joanna replied.

I need to earn my wages, the old servant protested.

Zipporah, you have more than earned your wages over the years! Then, recognizing the old servant’s need for company, she added, Sit there while I work, and you can talk to me. Without giving her a chance to protest further, Joanna asked, Did you see young Esther on your way here?

Not so young anymore, chuckled Zipporah as she sat on a tall stool. I remember looking after her and the other young girls in the guesthouse when their families came for the wedding of your son and his bride. Esther was just a young girl then.

Yet, it is not so long ago.

But she has a woman’s body now. Time for someone to be making marriage plans for her.

Zipporah, Joanna said gently. Esther is mourning a parent. There will be no arrangements for some time yet.

Death of a parent? Mmm, that is why she is so… different.

It is a difficult time, and she has come here for some peace.

Will her mother be joining her? Zipporah asked.

Not this year, Zipporah. Now, did you see young Esther or not?

Oh, yes. Did I not say? Sorry. She is sitting by the well, staring at the roof of the guesthouse where your Kyla’s booth has begun to be built.

Distracted, Joanna smiled, It will be strange to have my daughter here as a married woman, and both she and her husband in their booth on the guesthouse. Last year, it was my sister and my nieces there.

Well, one of your nieces is sitting there with a stony face, staring at the roof.

Thank you, Zipporah, Joanna said, her tone making it clear she did not want to talk about her niece any further. Applying herself to making rounds of bread to dip with the stew, Joanna recalled how helpful Esther had been last year. Even so, I will not apologize for what the girl might have overheard.

Zipporah looked puzzled and then noticed her mistress was speaking to herself.

Sighing and continuing her preparations, Joanna decided to ask Aminta to try to encourage Esther to talk to her about what had happened. The anger and willfulness her niece displayed might be a sign of hurt and bewilderment. At least, she hoped it was so and that it would pass. A worse thought was that Meshua’s nature was coming out in the girl. She had lived with him for a long time, hearing only his lies.

Chapter One

Eleven days later, two days before the Feast of Tabernacles

What is he like, Esther, your cousin from Egypt? Aminta asked.

Shifting uncomfortably at the question, Esther bristled as she looked at her cousin.

I am only asking, Esther, Aminta soothed and tried to settle herself more comfortably on the steps to the roof of the guesthouse. How old is he? Is he handsome? Is he kind? You have not said much about him, other than…

Interrupting her, Esther said angrily, He said I was unfair to my Abba’s wife. The comment she had overheard Judah make to their Saba rankled… no, more than that. It scared her. As an unmarried girl with no father to arrange a marriage, and with a grandfather who had remarried and was dying, where did that leave her? Scared. Everyone criticized her attitude to her mother but her father had laid all her mother's faults out, and he had been correct. Worst of all, that woman was living with heretics. She had gone with that sister, Rachel, clearly rejecting all other family members. As for her Egyptian cousin, yes, he was attractive; yes, he was handsome. She liked him and thought he liked her too, but because of that woman, Rachel’s mother, he had told her Saba he would not marry her. Her face flamed, and she snapped, He is rude. So, no, he is not kind!

Ungainly because of her advanced pregnancy, Aminta struggled to stand. Esther, please do not be cross with me… with any of us. You said you wanted to come here yet you have been like the thorn bushes since you arrived. Staring sadly at her young cousin, she said gently, You have been so prickly when you spoke of anything that happened in these last months… since your father came for you. We are all concerned. We care for you.

I am sorry, Aminta, Esther said, tears coming to her eyes. It seems another life since I was here last year. Everything was fine, life was good.

Not quite, Aminta sighed and sat down again. Jacob nearly died, I… I went mad.

You were frightened.

It was worse than that, Esther, but it all worked out well, Jacob survived, and a new child is coming. But, at the time, you helped me. I would like to help you, little cousin.

A long pause later, Esther drew in a shuddering sigh. It is as if I went to sleep and woke up in a different life.

We know it was a shock to be told your mother and sister had been murdered. My mother-in-law, wanted you to stay here with us, but Uncle Meshua wanted you to go with him. Later we heard that Aunt Elizabeth was not dead at all, neither was Rachel. We were so relieved, but also puzzled.

Staring at her hands, Esther fought her thoughts. Should she tell Aminta all that had happened, or keep her pain locked up inside? She continued staring at her hands and thinking. Aminta’s marriage had been arranged by their parents years before. She had never known what it was like to be an unmarried daughter with no one to arrange a husband for her. No, Aminta, cherished by her parents, would not understand how much it had hurt to find out Elizabeth had rejected her Saba and herself, and gone to the heretics with Rachel. Her father had been correct. It would have been better if she and Rachel had been murdered.

Aminta looked across the courtyard. Her first child, a daughter, played with her one-year-old brother under the eagle eye of their nurse. Looking back at Esther she feared she had failed. A few days ago, her mother-in-law had suggested she talk with her cousin; try to find out what had changed the girl… but she was having no success. It seemed that whatever was troubling her young cousin was something she did not want to share.

Breaking her silence, Esther said, It is true that my father’s wife and his other daughter were not murdered.

Frowning, Aminta looked at Esther. Did your father marry again?

No.

Still puzzled, Aminta said, I do not understand.

When we left here, Abba took me to Pergamum to live. He had a booth there, in the market. He said we could not return to Ephesus until the soldiers who killed his wife and other daughter were posted to another city.

Aminta removed her head veil and smoothed her hair before replacing it. Should she tell Esther she had no idea what she was talking about? Would it make her stop talking? She waited.

It was before Abba was ill, when he was planning to return to Ephesus, that he told me that Aima… his wife and other daughter were not dead. She rushed on, As he said before we went back to Ephesus, it would have been better if they had been murdered. His older daughter went with a heretic man, his wife too.

Are you talking about your mother and your sister Rachel? Aminta asked trying to make sense of her cousin’s words.

Yes.

I do not understand, Aminta admitted.

The pressure to confide in her cousin overwhelmed her, but she was afraid of Aminta’s reaction. She pushed the urge away and stared across the courtyard. After a while, the suggestion of a smile turned up the corners of the mouth that had been set in a scowl most of the time she had been here.

Aminta sat quietly, watching Esther stare at the tree in the courtyard near the kitchen. What are you thinking of, little cousin? she asked gently.

I am remembering your wedding week. Rachel danced with the other girls, but I had to stop and sit under that tree.

I was only a year older than your sister when Chanan and I married, Aminta reflected.

Pensively, Esther added, Rachel was one of your attendants.

You were too young, Aminta said, remembering that her mother had also considered Rachel too young.

Not only too young, Esther said, I would not have been able to walk here with the wedding procession. It is a long way to walk from Aunt Sara’s here to Aunt Joanna’s home. It would have been too far for me to walk.

You often used to be sick.

I know. Lost in thoughts, Esther looked back further, to her childhood. Aima regularly had to call for the healing woman, and my father called the rabbi – over the years, several rabbis – to come and pray for me to be healed. Her voice changed as she asked, Do you know how shameful it is to be prayed for and yet none of those prayers worked? How could you? You have always been healthy.

Aminta sat quietly; she could see Esther did not expect a reply and she had her own thoughts. No one understood how difficult it had been for her to adjust to marriage. The medicine Rhea sent for her, when she sent the mixture for Jacob, had helped her. She sighed and shook her head as if chasing the thoughts from her mind. All was well now, and she would soon have another child.

Unaware of her cousin’s preoccupation, Esther continued speaking. My older sister, Rachel, was healthy, pretty, and very skilled. I remember my father and grandfather arguing about Rachel still working in Saba’s shop. Abba said she was too old to be working there; it was time for her to be betrothed. My aunts thought that as well. I remember hearing them talk when I helped in the kitchen during the last Feast of Tabernacles we kept here at Aunt Joanna’s farm.

Tentatively, Aminta asked, Were you envious of Rachel’s health and ability?

No. I loved Rachel… Her words shocked Esther back to the present, and she tensed. What had she said? What was she admitting?

I used to wish I had a sister too. You and Rachel were so close. She was so protective of you.

This is why I cannot forgive her for what she has done. How could she hurt us all so much?!

Reaching for Esther’s hands, Aminta said, You never told us what happened. When your father came here for you, he told us your mother and Rachel had been murdered. He took you away, back to your home with your grandfather, we thought. Remembering some of Esther’s earlier comments, she realized that had not been what happened. When we heard they had not been murdered, no one said why we had been told they were.

Glancing back down at her hands, held gently in Aminta’s, then back up to her cousin’s deep brown eyes, Esther saw only love in them. She asked herself, ‘Have I been angry all this time and not seen love in those who cared for me? Have I looked for criticism from those who tried to care for me?’

Esther? Aminta prompted gently.

It is a long tale, and you have to attend to your children, Esther responded.

My children are with their nurse. I want to be here with you. Please tell me what is wrong. We are all worried about you.

My sister went off with a heretic! Esther blurted out.

Not understanding what Esther meant, Aminta said, My father-in-law does business with some of them. The oil-seller who installed the lights for this courtyard is one of them. They were first done for the wedding. My father-in-law says those people are good to do business with… honest, they do not overcharge, and they pay their accounts when they are due.

There was another silence while Esther thought, and Aminta wondered if what she had said had caused Esther to retreat into her thoughts again.

Jacob squealed as his older sister pretended to hide from him. His mother and her cousin watched for a few moments.

Blushing, Esther timidly broke the silence between herself and her cousin. I do not know what happens between a man and a woman, but I do know that it is wrong for a girl to go and live with a man when they are not married.

Drawing her brows together, Aminta said, You cannot be saying Rachel did that. Not Rachel. How could this be?

Pulling her hands free, Esther retorted, Abba caught them together in my Saba’s shop. The man attacked Abba when he started to take Rachel… that daughter… into the house. When Abba was unconscious, the heretic took them.

Them?

His other daughter and his wife.

Aminta began to realize that when Esther remembered back, she called them her ‘mother’ and ‘sister,’ but when she was thinking in the present, she would not name them as such. She prompted, You mean your sister… my cousin Rachel… and Aunt Elizabeth, your mother?

That’s who they were, but they abandoned Abba, left Saba ill and in pain…

Esther, I do not understand at all. Tell me all that happened since your Abba took you from here.

Joanna came out of the kitchen door and looked anxiously at the pair sitting on the steps to the roof. Since it looked as if they were talking, she breathed a sigh of relief and watched for a few moments. She had always preferred the timid Esther to her more vivacious older sister, but the change in the girl was worrying. Even the story about her father’s death – that he was killed by mistake by a Roman soldier sounded more like one of Meshua’s tales. Now, with what Levi had told her recently about her brother-in-law’s lies, Joanna was deeply concerned about her younger niece. Since her arrival, Esther had been withdrawn and gloomy, and peevish when some questions were asked. Joanna shook her head, hoping that Esther would tell Aminta what had been troubling her.

Esther noticed her aunt watching and looked away. She felt trapped. Last year, she had been so welcome here and felt closer to her Aunt Joanna than her other aunt, Sara, which was why she had requested to come here. When she had confirmed that her mother was not dead, then added ‘she should have been,’ Joanna seemed cross with her. It was worse that she had not been able to explain, so her aunt did not know the awful tale of what her… what those two had done to her poor father. Then there were those things she had heard her aunt and uncle say that day. Why did everyone believe the worst of her father? Esther sighed and stared at the ground. If only they could have seen how upset he had been.

Zipporah called Joanna back to the kitchen. Time to check the meal.

Hoping Aminta would be able to help her troubled young cousin, Joanna turned and went inside.

Esther looked up in time to see her aunt go back to the kitchen. She supposed she should be helping. There was no choice but to stay for the festival. How different it was this year compared to last year. Then she had been a child, looking forward to meeting her father here as arranged. Now…

Esther? Aminta’s voice penetrated her gloomy thoughts.

The overpowering need to unburden herself overcame all the gates and defenses she had built. For the first time since her father had come here to claim her, Esther shared her story.

Oh, Aminta… after the Feast last year, everything changed. I think before that we were a normal family. Well, other than me having those attacks with my breathing. Although, if I look further back, much happened that my father did not like, or that was kept secret from him. Like the time I had one of those ‘turns,’ and I woke up coughing, and there were two strange men in the room, looking at me. She paused, wondering, Did I tell Abba about that when he asked me? It was just before he became sick in Pergamum. Now, I am running ahead. You will never understand if I do not tell you in order. Although, I have to admit that it was after that time with the two men that I stopped having ‘turns.’ There has not been one since, not even with all the upset.

Aminta wondered if they would need some of the mixture Rhea had sent for her last year. Esther sounded confused, and Aminta wondered about the state of her cousin’s mind.

Esther continued talking, "My Saba sent my father around the whole province seeking to buy more good quality parchment. Poor Abba was away a lot longer than expected, and I missed him. I do not like to boast, but I was his favorite child. Anyway, Saba was cross because he was away so long, my mother worried that he might have been set upon by bandits. And Rachel. Well, she kept on working in Saba’s shop although she knew Abba did not want her to be there. She was a young woman, and it was not seemly. But even she did not want to be in there alone the day before we left for the Feast. My brother Timon refused to come and take charge of the shop. He said Abba would be angry if his stall in the market was closed early. Still, he did come and cut some parchment the night before; but Saba and my mother argued. She did not want Rachel in there either. I never told Abba that I was forced to work in there too. Yes, it was out of sight in the storeroom, making up orders – but I was terrified. I did not want to be there. To make it worse, that day was so busy. I was grateful when it was over, and the shop closed."

Aminta realized her cousin was not rambling as though her mind was fevered. As muddled as it sounded, she was relating memories.

Esther continued as though recounting events to a stranger. We left early the next morning to travel to spend the Feast with Aunt Joanna and Uncle Levi. A smile creased her face as she remembered, For the first time, I could dance with the other girls at the Feast. She stopped abruptly and stared at Aminta.

Then my baby son became ill with a fever, Aminta said softly.

Esther whispered, They all thought I did not understand how sick he was, but I did. I just pushed it away.

I think that is why I acted as I did, but no one saw that, not at the time, Aminta added.

Esther picked up the memories, Rachel went with our mother to fetch some healing medicine.

It shames me to admit it, but while they were away I became… upset.

Aunt Joanna came for me to sit with you. Esther stared into the distance and remembered, Later I heard someone whisper that you had tried to kill the baby. I did not believe it. You were a kind girl; I spent much time with you after that. I was there when baby Jacob recovered, and I saw how overjoyed and relieved you were.

I was relieved; everyone was. Jacob is the only son of an only son.

Esther turned to look at Aminta, At the end of the Feast, you asked me to stay at the farm with you. Aunt Joanna wanted me to stay too. She said I was a calming influence. It was the first time I had been told I was important. As I said before, I was not clever like the older daughter.

You have that gift, Esther; the ability to bring peace, Aminta said, then thought, ‘you used to have that gift but not recently.’

Why my mother agreed to me staying, I do not know. At the time, I did not even think about why. It was only when my father asked me that I thought about it. I do not think he approved. Still, I was happy with Aunt Joanna. Many people find her difficult – probably because she likes everything done properly.

She also worried about heirs, Aminta said. There was only Jacob; now a new child is coming… Aminta stopped. This was not something to talk about with an unmarried woman.

Esther blushed, but like all Jewish girls, she knew the importance of providing male heirs.

Aminta took a deep breath, looked at her young cousin, pondering – should she ask the question which concerned all of them, or leave it unasked? She decided to ask. The Feast of Tabernacles started in two days, and her parents would arrive tomorrow so her mother could help with the preparations.

I should go and help Aunt Joanna, Esther said, starting to rise.

Wait, Aminta said, catching Esther’s arm. Please, sit back down. You have not finished telling me what happened. So far, you have only said what happened here last year. What happened after you left here?

Esther slumped back down beside Aminta. She needed to talk. To tell of her hurt.

Abba and I lived in Pergamum, with a man and his wife who owned a bakery. Abba had a booth in the market there – like the one he used to have in Ephesus.

You went back to Ephesus though…

Yes, although not when Abba planned. He caught some fever, perhaps when he was returning from Ephesus, perhaps from someone at his stall in Pergamum.

Esther, I do not understand. Your father went to Ephesus alone?

Yes. To see my Saba and arrange our return. It was then he saw my Aima… I mean, his wife.

Esther, why are you referring to your mother that way? Why do you keep correcting yourself and saying ‘his wife?’ She is your mother.

She is not! Esther exclaimed angrily. She left my father and me. A mother would not do that! She left my Saba with no one to care for him; she went with my sister, with his other daughter. They both went off with heretics. If she had loved me, if she thought of me as a daughter, she would not have done that.

Esther, I can see you are hurt… and angry, but she gave you life. She is your mother, and Rachel is your sister.

Aminta, Rachel left our faith and became a heretic. Lila told me. Therefore, Rachel is dead to all of us.

Did my Aunt Elizabeth, your mother, leave the faith? Aminta deliberately included the relationship.

I do not know. She came to see my Saba one time. He said she told him she had not left the faith, but perhaps she has now.

Did you see her that time?

No, I was too angry. It was her fault, her and her heretic daughter’s fault, that my poor Abba was killed by the Roman soldier.

While Aminta was still trying to work out how to respond, a donkey pulling a cart clattered into the courtyard.

Micah, who had been leading the donkey, brought it to a halt, rubbed its nose affectionately, and thanked it.

Abba! Aminta exclaimed, rising to greet her father. We did not expect you until tomorrow!

Sara stepped around from the rear of the cart, Aminta. Stop rushing toward us. You will damage yourself or the baby.

I am just so happy to see you!

As we are to see you, child.

Aminta made her way from one to the other, giving and receiving embraces. Esther and I have been talking, she said, turning to call her cousin over. Esther was no longer there. She sighed and said, She was here.

Joanna sent a message telling me about young Esther. I saw her sister when Rhea was caring for her. I will talk to her.

I hope she will listen, she is not the same person we saw here last year, Aminta said sorrowfully. Not the same person who left here…

Come on, you women. Micah laughed. You have two weeks to catch up with the news. We have had a long and dusty journey. I want to supervise the unloading of the cart, so go tell that mother-in-law of yours we have arrived. I suppose she thinks the cart is one of her husband’s carts, moving grain.

After the meal

Esther started to rise after the servants had cleared away.

Joanna and Sara exchanged a look.

Esther, I have not seen you since last year, Sara said. Tomorrow your uncle and I will be finishing off our booth for the Feast of Tabernacles, so this is the only time we can talk.

I should help Aunt Joanna in the kitchen, Esther protested, looking at her Aunt Joanna.

"Tomorrow we will do the preparations, Joanna stressed. People from further away will start to arrive. Take this time with your other aunt." With that, she left.

Chanan and I have chores, Levi said, and he and Chanan smiled and left.

I will come and help, Micah said.

"Since Aminta has already left and you have not gone to