Beloved Protector (Heartsong Presents) (14 page)

Chapter 14

T
he day had been long and tiring despite the enjoyment of being able to worship the Lord with other believers. Worshipping here in Pella was much like doing so in Jerusalem, except without the fear of reprisal.

Taking the Lord’s Supper had been the highlight of the service for Tapat. It had been so long since she had been able to commune with Elohim that way. It was always during this time that she became reverently introspective, searching her mind and heart to make certain that she did not partake in an unworthy manner as the Apostle Paul had warned about.

Several people had confessed their sins to one another and had been lovingly embraced by those in attendance.

The singing had been wonderful. So many voices joined together in joyous worship had brought tears to her eyes.

When it came time to pray, Tapat had silently thanked Elohim for bringing her here safely. She listened attentively as the elders prayed for others of the congregation who were ill or in need. When she heard her own name mentioned, she jerked her head up in surprise. Even Crassus had been mentioned, warming her heart at their acceptance of him. She reached over and squeezed his hand, smiling when he returned the pressure.

The fellowship had gone on for hours. It was only as the sun was beginning its descent that Jason had come to her and offered her a room to use until she could decide what she wanted to do. She had accepted gratefully, not certain now what she was going to do with her life. She still had the money that Andronicus had given her, so she would be able to support herself and Hazaq, but it would take time to find a place for them to live. She had long ago decided that he was her responsibility. Elohim had placed him in her path for a reason, and she would not turn her back on such a gift.

Tapat marveled at the beauty of the peristyle a servant led her through. The garden was full of blooming flowers and lush green trees. A flame tree in the corner was losing its last scarlet flowers to the early summer.

The sound of running water was soothing as a fountain in the center spewed water from a beautifully carved statue of a young man carrying a pitcher over his shoulder.

Everything in this villa spoke of extreme wealth, and she suddenly wondered what kind of occupation Jason held or if he was independently wealthy, like her former mistress.

A balcony ran the entire length of the upper-floor rectangle of the peristyle, where doors to many rooms opened onto the garden. Below the balcony the lower floor held just as many doors. The servant stopped just outside one of these doors and pushed open the wooden portal.

“This will be your room, my lady.”

Tapat followed her inside. The room boasted a large sleeping couch, a luxury after the many nights of sleeping on the hard ground. It was lavishly supplied with silken sheets and pillows.

A dressing table sported a polished silver mirror, the likes of which she hadn’t seen since leaving Leah’s service. On the table were several amphorae of scented oils, a comb and a brush.

Several oil braziers were scattered around the room, ready to be lit when darkness settled over the land. Potted plants perched on intricately carved pedestals.

“Is it to your liking?”

Tapat turned to the young servant. What wasn’t to like? It was a room lushly appointed, obviously used for guests. “Very much so. Thank you...?”

“Euphemia,” she supplied.

“Thank you, Euphemia.”

Euphemia nodded. “If you are ready, I will show you and the baby to the baths.”

Another luxury she looked forward to. She followed the servant down a long corridor that ended in a large bathroom. Several other women were already in the pool visiting in friendly camaraderie. Embarrassed, Tapat hesitated. She had never gotten used to community baths, although they had been a part of her master’s life when she had been a slave in Caesarea. She did not understand how men and women could prance naked before each other when not married or even related. It was just one more thing that set the Jews apart from the Romans—their modesty.

At least no men were here. Jason might be living as a Greek, but he was still a Christian, and the Lord and the Apostles had warned about modesty and lusting.

Euphemia started to help her remove her tunic but Tapat shook her head. “If you would hold Hazaq for me?”

Smiling, Euphemia reached for Hazaq, cuddling him close and cooing at him even though the odor that emanated from him couldn’t have been pleasant.

“If you would like, I will bathe him for you,” she suggested.

Again Tapat hesitated. It would be difficult to wash her hair and body and hang on to a squirming child at the same time. She finally nodded her head in assent and Euphemia started unwrapping Hazaq’s swaddling cloths.

Tapat pulled her tunic over her head, holding it against her front modestly. She eased her way into the tepidarium, the warm water pool instantly soothing her aching muscles. Leaving her tunic on the surrounding tiled floor, she ducked beneath the water to completely wet her hair. When she rose again, a woman was standing where her tunic had been. The garment was gone. She glanced up at the woman in surprise.

Before she could speak, the woman told her, “My name is Nivia. Jason is my husband. I hope you don’t mind, but I have had your tunic removed to be cleaned.” She laid a yellow tunic on the tiles. “I hope you will accept this tunic in its place.”

Embarrassed, Tapat gave her a hesitant smile. “I can pay you.”

Nivia shook her head, returning her smile. “That is not necessary. We keep such garments for just such a purpose.”

Tapat wasn’t certain she understood, but she nodded her head in acceptance. “Thank you.”

She quickly searched for Hazaq and saw Euphemia bringing him over, cleaned and wrapped once again in clean swaddling cloths. He was beginning to fuss and Tapat knew that he was hungry. She was going to have to find out what they had done with the goat and her bag with the stylus.

“As soon as you are finished, my husband and the other elders would like a word with you in the bibliotheca. Euphemia will show you the way.” Nivia patted the girl’s shoulder and Euphemia smiled up at her. “I will leave you now.”

Tapat watched her walk away and felt a sudden sense of loss that was ridiculous under the circumstances. Perhaps it was the fact that Nivia reminded her so much of her own mother; even her coloring was the same.

Shaking herself from her fanciful thoughts, she hurried to finish her bath. She didn’t want to keep the elders waiting. Ignoring the looks from the other women, she climbed the steps out of the bath and quickly dried herself off.

* * *

Andronicus stood in Jason’s bibliotheca and looked around at the numerous scrolls in their cubbyholes. His library was extensive, one of the largest Andronicus had ever seen.

Jason and two other men came into the room, followed by servants bringing in more stools. Andronicus felt much like when he was called to come before the emperor.

Jason motioned to a chair. “Please, have a seat.”

Andronicus did so, looking around for Tapat. He lifted an eyebrow at the three men. Understanding the unasked question, Jason told him, “Tapat will be here momentarily.”

The words were no more out of his mouth than Tapat walked into the room.

Andronicus’s jaw dropped. Somehow in the past week Tapat had gone from being a dewy-eyed innocent to a woman of strong purpose. Her features had taken on a look of maturity that made one think she was a woman to be reckoned with. What had brought about such a change? He was sorry to see the one disappear, but this new woman’s eyes glowed with an intent that made him sit up and take notice.

A soft yellow tunic clung to her feminine curves as she gracefully crossed the floor in her bare feet to stand, cuddling Hazaq, before the three men. Her still damp hair cascaded down her back in a soft black curtain, clean and shining once again.

Andronicus swallowed hard and turned away, catching Jason’s eye. The other man was watching him intently, searching for something that Andronicus hoped hadn’t been visible on his face. Desire had flashed through him unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He donned the mask that had served him so well over the years, his features turning to stone.

Jason indicated that Tapat should sit. Moving to the vacant seat next to Andronicus, she perched lightly on the edge of the stool.

Andronicus reached over and stroked Hazaq’s hand, and the child grasped his finger, grinning toothlessly up at him. He grinned in return, but at a slight cough from across the room, he gave his attention back to the three men.

Steepling his fingers in front of him, Jason bid them to tell their story. Andronicus opened his mouth to do so but was preempted when Tapat began speaking. As he listened to her telling the story, he couldn’t help but think that it would make a good play for a Greek tragedy. He also realized just how unbelievable it sounded.

When she came to the part about Martha and Hazaq, the three men glanced at each other, their faces a study in astonishment. The look they exchanged left Andronicus slightly unsettled. They were concealing something, their eyes glittering with excitement.

When Tapat finished her story, she sat waiting expectantly for them to say something. When they did, it was not what either of them had expected.

The older man sitting next to Jason, who had introduced himself as Claudius, smiled at Tapat. “Surely you are an answer to our prayers, and we to yours.”

Andronicus’s eyes narrowed skeptically. Tapat stared at them curiously.

“Let me explain,” Jason interrupted, giving the other man a warning look. He turned back to Tapat and hesitated several seconds before he said anything else. He glanced at the other two men. “Perhaps it would be better to show her.”

They nodded their heads vigorously in approval. Jason motioned a servant over. “Find Timothy and Bernice and bring them here.”

When the servant had gone, Jason looked again at Tapat. “Two weeks ago, our sister, Bernice, and her husband, Timothy, lost their baby. We are uncertain what happened. They just awoke and found one morning that he had gone to be with the Lord.”

Tapat’s face was a picture of horror. She glanced down at Hazaq, cuddling him even closer. It didn’t take much to be able to read her mind. Although Hazaq wasn’t her birth child, Tapat would be devastated if something happened to him. What she would do if Hazaq did not survive had concerned Andronicus the entire trip.

Before Jason could speak further, the servant reentered the room followed by a young couple. The man gently led the woman into the room, his solicitous attitude speaking of great love. The woman, however, was entirely different. Andronicus had seen more life in a corpse.

“You sent for us?” the man, Andronicus assumed him to be Timothy, asked, never taking his eyes off the woman.

Hazaq cried and the woman, Bernice, quickly looked up. Her eyes lit on Hazaq’s squirming form and tears pooled in them. She looked longingly at Tapat, her lifeless eyes now sparking with interest. “Is he yours?”

Andronicus noticed Tapat’s hesitation and realized that to answer affirmatively would be for her to lie, something he couldn’t imagine her doing. She looked to him for help.

His scrutiny encompassed the occupants of the room, ending with Hazaq. He knew with sudden conviction what these men were suggesting. Truly it would be an answer to the problem. With Bernice having lost her child such a short time ago and Hazaq struggling to feed through a reed straw, the solution was obvious.

He looked at Tapat and saw when she realized exactly what was happening. Her eyes opened wide and she slowly began to shake her head from side to side. “No,” she breathed softly.

Jason half rose, intending to speak. Andronicus silenced him with a quick motion of the hand, and he settled back into his seat. Their gazes collided.

Andronicus stood, glancing down at Tapat. “If you would all leave the room, I would like to speak with Tapat alone.”

He knew that he had some gall making such demands in a house that wasn’t his own, but right now he didn’t care. His only concern was for Tapat and Hazaq.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Jason agreed, rising from his seat. The others followed suit; Timothy led Bernice out the door last, as she continued to look yearningly at Hazaq.

Andronicus stared at Tapat hovering protectively over Hazaq. He knew what he had to do for both her sake and the child’s.

“Tapat?”

She angrily shook her head. “Don’t even suggest it!” she practically snarled, pulling Hazaq closer.

He seated himself beside her again and took her hand. She tried to pull it away, but he wouldn’t allow it. He could feel her shaking and, without thinking about the consequences, pulled her and Hazaq across his lap, holding them as one would when comforting a child.

She sobbed softly into his shoulder and Hazaq began to fuss, sensing her distress. “I can’t. Please don’t ask it of me.”

“
Carrisima,
we have to think of Hazaq. He can’t continue the way he is or he will die. You know that. He’s not getting enough to eat.”

She sobbed harder, and he thought his heart would break for her.

“Can’t you see that this is all a part of your God’s plan? Aren’t you the one who has always told me that all things work together for the good of those who love your Lord?”

She stared up at him in astonishment, the sobbing lessening but the tears still running in an unending stream.

“Yes,
bella,
” he told her softly, “I have been listening to you.”

She searched his eyes for several seconds before her face crumpled once more. She buried her face in his chest again.

“I can’t, Andronicus! I just can’t!”

He held her tighter, placing his cheek against the top of her head. His own throat clogged with suppressed tears. He had grown to love the little boy, as well. How was it that he hadn’t considered what parting with the child and Tapat was truly going to mean? It was suddenly tearing him apart to even think about it. But he had to consider what was best for everyone, and so did she. A boy needed a father, and a single mother would have a hard time supporting herself and a child. And Bernice could give the child what he needed most now: nourishment to grow and thrive.