Jeremiah proved to be a good natured baby. He was always content to be
swaddled in the sling against my chest. He never fussed when he was
passed around the women in Elias’s household. He had the same emerald
eyes as Elias and they managed to captivate all who took one look at
him. His hair was a blend between the fire of my own and the sand of my
husbands. It was thin and there were only a few small wisps but it was
quite clear the color. There was no denying that he was our child.
Devora was unable to stay long after Jeremiah’s birth but promised
she would return, bringing Mordecai with her. We had spent hours
together after Jeremiah’s birth dreaming of the way our sons would play
together and become best friends as she and I had been in our childhood
and still were in our adulthood. It was pleasant to think about the
future of my son with such a dear friend.
Elias’s brother, Jonah, loved to tell the child stories of all
kinds. Jonah had no wife and no heir so he lived through Elias’s love
for me and treated our son as his own. Akiva spoiled Jeremiah just as
any grandmother should. She toted him about the house and into the
village showing him off to all who would look and listen. I was pleased
to see the way she responded to him. Although, I should have expected no
less from her. Even my father sent a sack of grain as a gift to his
grandson.
It was safe to say that our little Jeremiah was one of the most
loved children in all Tabgha. No child had so many aunties and uncles or
had so many kisses peppered on their cheeks and heads. He was the
greatest gift Yahweh could have ever given me and I thanked Yahweh daily
for providing me with such a wonderful son.
I was constantly in utter amazement of my son. I loved just watching
his eyes exam the world. They were so bright and took in everything
around him. The first year of his life was a delight as I rediscovered
the nuances of the world right along with him. I do believe I learned as
much from him in that first year as he learned from me. Elias proved to
be a wonderful father. He would carry the babe to the fields with him
and allow him to reach out and feel the softness of the ewe’s wool. I
remember well the way he squealed with delight when a lamb licked his
cheek. It seemed to me he would come to love animals as his father did.
Our home had come to be filled with much joy and there was always
laughter ringing out from the chambers. It amazed me the way a child
could change people. I saw the harshest man become as sweet as a lamb in
Jeremiah’s presence. I saw a bitter old woman kiss his head and breathe
in his sweet smell. The change I saw in Akiva was the most dramatic and
it delighted me the most. It seemed as if Jeremiah’s birth had added
years to her life. She was moving about with much more ease than she did
before and seemed to be constantly smiling. I think it was safe to say
that the only person Jeremiah loved more than Akiva was myself. This was
perhaps the same for Akiva.
Jeremiah brought with him so much joy that my father sent word that
he would welcome us into his home and that he had much desire to see his
grandson. I was shocked. I accused his servant of lying at first. Elias
still did not understand my attitude toward my father. I had yet to
tell him the truth. When I had screamed at the servant for lying Elias
pulled me aside.
“This servant was once a trusted servant of mine. You do not know
the severity of your accusation. What is causing you to behave like
this? Why do you not believe him?” Elias spoke sternly to me and I could
see that I had wronged him.
“This does not sound like my father,” was all I could reply and when I did I could not look Elias in the eyes.
“Does not sound like your father? Whatever do you mean? Did you
father not send us grain at his birth and send on your dowry after we
were wed? Why do you say this does not sound like your father?”
“My lord, my father is not a kind man. He is not a good man. This is hardly something he would propose.”
I was startled when Elias laughed out load, “This is nonsense! Your
father showed me nothing but kindness when I did business with him and I
sought your hand. He has shown nothing by kindness to us since the
birth of our son. It seems to me that your father is a kind man.”
“You do not know my father. You were not his daughter or his
servant. If you were, you would understand that he is not a kind man. I
have not told you everything there is to tell about my father, Elias. I
have spared you the truth, as I thought no good could come from the
truth. I see now, I must tell you.”
I proceeded to recall for Elias every detail of my life before he
came along. I told him the dark truth about who my father was and the
way he treated Akiva and me and how he abused us. It brought many tears
and Elias did not know how to respond. He had been fooled by my father
and it angered him. When I had finished confessing all my father’s evils
Elias reached out to me and held me to his chest. He stroked my hair
but said nothing; he knew that there were no words he could offer. I
kept going over and over in my mind why on earth my father would want us
to come visit. I told Elias my fears. I feared my father would try to
harm Jeremiah or take him away to claim him as his son. Elias vowed this
would not happen, nothing could take his son away. In the end Elias
convinced me that my father meant no ill will and we began preparing to
go to Magdala to visit him. I sent word with the servant we would be
coming and also sent a message with him to Devora. I was dreading the
journey.
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