Love Beyond The Rite

Chapter 8

ELIJAH

I watched Ember get into her mother's automobile, wondering where she was headed. She looked nervous, and Jacob's words echoed in my mind: "She looks different." Indeed, she did. Frail and sad, her usual spark was gone. The Ember I knew was a ray of sunshine, spreading joy wherever she went. It was intoxicating.

She was my best friend, my confidante, the girl I loved. The girl I wasn't supposed to love. I never stopped thinking about her, wondering how she fared after being forbidden from seeing me. Now, seeing her like this, I felt an intense urge to protect her.

But she wasn't mine to protect.

I finished up the daily chores and was waiting for evening meal to be done.

My girls, Lydia and Anne were helping their grandmother get everything set for dinner.

Anne is 6 and Lydia is 4. Anne favors me with my dark hair and green eyes but Lydia favors her mother with blonde hair and blue eyes. I lost my wife Rachel when she gave birth to Lydia 4 years ago.

It hurt. It still hurts but I wasn’t in love with Rachel. Nothing close to how I felt with Ember. Rachel was basically an arranged marriage even though our community doesn’t like to call it that.

My parents were getting tired of me not wanting to court any of the girls. So they set up a date with the Yoder family to have us meet. Rachel was simple and had blonde golden locks. She didn’t really have any hobbies but was a very skilled baker. We knew our places and had a content life together. Our daughters are my world. I would do anything for them.

Mother thought I should move back home so the girls could have extra help with learning their skills and chores. I needed the help so I obliged.

It is going on nightfall and Ember isn’t back yet. I noticed the nurse who sees to Janice’s health has left for the night.

I wonder if Ember will have dinner to eat when she gets back. She looked like she is starving.

I go back inside when dinner is ready. I glance at all the delicious food in front of us and I take a moment to appreciate the blessings. After our prayers, I decide to ask if anyone would mind if we made Emmy a plate of food.

Mother looked shocked I asked. Then she got up to grab an extra plate and started piling on food.

“Have you talked to her then? “ mother asked curiously.

I looked down and shook my head no. “No but Jacob was right, she looks frail.” I admitted.

Mother set the plate to the side.

“Eli, do you want to bring it to her or would you prefer Jacob did? “

I know I’m an adult now but the words my father shouted “you are forbidden from seeing that girl” echoed in my mind.

“Am I allowed to see her? “ I look at my father who has a conflicted look on his face.

“Elijah my son. You are 27 years old. You are the man of your house even though you are here temporarily. You can do whatever you see fit. You were forbidden to see her when you were a boy. You are now a man and you know the rules and rites of our community. “ he said looking at me.

I thought about it for a second. He is right I am a man of my house, I know the rules and rites of our community. Am I ready to see Ember? am I ready to be tempted again?

I don’t think I am.

“Jacob, could you bring that to her tonight? I don’t want to miss reading to the girls. “ I say finally.

He nodded towards me. We all finished our dinner and I watched Jacob grab the plate to take to Emmy. I decide to follow him out to watch from afar.

The car is back in the driveway now so I know she is home safe.

Jacob looks over to me, “are you sure you don’t want to do it? She was your bestfriend.”

I shake my head. “Unfortunately I don’t think I could see her in this moment. I don’t trust myself.”

Jacob nodded his head and seamed to understand.

I watched him walk over and knock on her door.

After a minute, Ember came to the door and looked at Jacob confused.

I couldn’t see too much from the distance but I did see her take the food. I just hope she eats it.

Jacob makes it back up to me and I notice he has a grim look about him.

“Jacob… what is wrong?” I ask demanding an answer.

He looks up at me with a sad look on his eyes. “She has more marks on her skin. This time it’s on her neck and it looks like she had something happen to her shoulder area. She also looked really sad. May god look after her and bless her. “

A wave of rage entered my body. Who is doing this to her? I questioned.