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Marie Roberts had been puttering around the house doing her daily chores when the woman who ran the postal service came by. Now she was staring at the letter in her hands, carefully tracing the elegant handwriting that belonged to her youngest grandson.
She made her way to the phone that Helga had installed for her and picked up the receiver. After dialing one of the numbers on the wall, she waited a few moments until she heard the calm, sweet voice of a man on the other end.
"Kristoph, my darling, I need you for a moment," she said.
The chatter in the background told her that her son was at the pub again with his friends. "It will take a little more than a moment, Mother."
"Ja. I can hear," she muttered. "I got a letter from Lukas, and you know my eyes are not what they used to be."
Kristoph stopped, "From Lukas? That's a first. I'll be right home, Mother."
"Thank you, my son." Hanging the receiver back on the holder, she sighed. She wasn't sure what to expect, but it was nice to have gotten mail all the way from Canada. If this was truly from Lukas, then he must be in some kind of trouble, right?
A motor car stopped at the gate, and she could hear Kristoph drunkenly telling the driver to stuff his opinion somewhere uncomfortable. She bit down on her lip to keep from laughing as he walked into the house, singing random verses at the top of his lungs.
"Kristoph, sit down a moment," she motioned to the chair across from her. He continued to laugh, singing his way into the backroom before running out the front door to throw up. "Not my Poinsettias, Kris!"
He burped as he walked in, a grin plastered on his face. "Took a bet against Walter. He lost and is passed out on the floor of the pub while I'm still standing! I got three hundred Euros out of him. Are you proud, Mama?"
Taking him by the hand, she led him to the chair and put a cup of water in front of him. "Kristoph, why would I not be proud? You can read, whereas Walter is more or less the village idiot."
"Where is that letter? Let's see what my adorable nephew has written to you about," he said as he drank from the cup.
Opening the letter, Kristoph looked it over before his smile faded. Swallowing, he read it out loud:
"Dear Oma Marie,
I do hope and pray that you and Uncle Kristoph are doing well at the time you receive this letter. I wish I was writing to say I finally found my special someone, but it’s not the case. As it stands, I've gone on several failed dates. Actually, that's a lie. I didn't get to even meet up with them before a vindictive hündin slithers in and takes away any possibility of me finding love. I get that it's a long shot for someone raised and employed by the mafia, but I want what my friends have found.
Dad doesn't know, and I hope that he never finds out that I'm asking you for the ultimate favor."
Kristoph stopped to take another drink. His mother was watching him, waiting for him to finish the letter. Taking a breath, he continued:
"I have one small request to make of you, Oma. I want you to arrange a girl for me to marry. She must be a virgin, and she must be eighteen or over. Those are the only two things I require in a woman worthy of marrying into the family. I know that I am asking for a lot, but it would mean the world to me if you could help out your desperate grandson. As for meeting her, I will gladly hop the next plane to Germany to spend a few weeks there with you. Please let me know if you can help me with this.
With all my love and gratitude, your grandson, Lukas K. Roberts."
Staring at the signature, Kris felt his throat constrict. He knew that the 'K' stood for Kristoph, and the fact that his baby brother had honored him in such a way made him tear up a little. Then he recalled how Mark had been gifted the middle names of Samuel and Nathaniel, in memory of the brothers Trace and the rest of the siblings had lost in childhood.
After getting the only child who stayed with her to bed, Marie sat down at the table to think over her grandson's request. She knew that the poor boy had taken the Vow and that he was of an age where it was highly taxing on a man's body to hold off for too long. Lukas always was a good boy, so how could she not help him out? His father would understand in the end, but the young man's patience was ending, and his ability to remain pure until now was more than admirable. Humming quietly, she wandered into her room and went to sleep.
The next morning, she made her way to one of the only households in her area that had female children.
Johan Meyer's family farmed vegetables and grain for flour, so bringing them some seasoned meat would be good. Knocking, she was pleasantly surprised to see the youngest daughter answer.
"Guten Morgen, Johanna, is your father in?"
Swallowing, the girl bit her lip and nodded. "He is in his study. I'm not to disturb him."
"That's fine, dear. Give this meat to your mother while I go talk to your father," Marie said as she handed the bag over. Moving deeper into the house, she knocked on Johan's study door. Listening to the man's nerve-wracking cussing, she shook her head. "Johan Meyer, get your backside out here this instant!"
Flinging open the door, the man stepped aside to let the elderly woman enter the room. "Elder Roberts! I was not aware you were coming."
"Johanna says she was not to disturb you, so I bothered you instead. I've half a mind to take you to the church and wash your mouth out with Holy Water for what I just heard."
Nervous, Johan gestured for her to sit. "What has brought you to my humble door?"
"My grandson, Lukas, is looking for a bride. Your girls are the most eligible females I know, and, therefore, they are on top of my list. It is an arranged marriage, and the daughter you choose will be treated fairly. How long before Johanna turns eighteen?" she asked.
Johan nodded. "Yes, I was thinking the same for my girls. Uh, if I may, my elder daughter would be the perfect candidate for this. Johanna doesn't turn eighteen until the end of next month. Does your grandson live here?"
"No,” Marie said curtly. “He resides in Canada. He works with the Icelandic mafia there along with his brother and father."
Stuttering over his words, Johan stared at the woman across from him.
"I can assure you that Lukas is a good boy with a good heart and will take care of your child. What is the name of your eldest daughter?"
"Uh, Emilia, Elder Roberts," Johan replied stiffly. "She is nineteen and has never been with a man."
Nodding, Marie rose to her feet. "Send Johanna with some flour and vegetables, will you? I've brought some beef for the family."
"Right away, Elder Roberts."
Two hours after she returned home, Marie greeted the young girl at the door. Ushering her inside, Marie carefully gleaned information from her. Happy enough to spend time away from home, Johanna answered all the questions honestly. Swallowing the last of her tea to wash down the tart she'd been eating, the teen fell silent.
"My dear, what's the matter?" Marie reached for the girl, but Johanna shied away.
"My father has told me that I'm not to visit you while your grandson is here. He is concerned that Lukas may choose me instead," Johanna replied, her voice shaking.
Frowning, the elderly woman shook her head. "Child, you have nothing to fear from my grandson. He has morals, and he abides by them. Why would your father have that concern if you're not yet eighteen?"
"I'm not supposed to say," Johanna sighed. She didn't see the flash of regret in Marie's eyes as she looked down into her empty cup. Marie wasn't a woman you lied to, but was it a lie if she was doing what she was told?
"Johanna, there's a way around that. I'm going to ask you some questions. Just say yes or no, understand?" Watching as the teen nodded, Marie said, "Do you know for sure if your sister is untouched?"
"Yes."
"Has she been out and about with boys?"
Again, the girl nodded. "Please, if my father-"
"I won't say a word to your father, child. Go on home now, and take the rest of the tarts to your family." Marie said, keeping the tremor of darkness out of her aging voice.
Johanna nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."
Marie stood, bidding the girl farewell before watching her walk away. The poor child was terrified, and that made Marie fear for Johanna the most. It was rumored that Johan hurt his children and wife, but there was never any proof. Perhaps Lukas's arrival would solve the issue. "Did you notice it, Kris? How she trembled when she spoke of her father? No child should be that scared of their parent."
Kris stepped from the shadows. "I saw it. I'll keep an eye on the girl and give Johan a good talking to. If Lukas is the way you and Trace say he is, the outcome won't be pretty if he finds out."
"The boy is like his father,” Marie replied dryly. “A cunningly ruthless gentleman with a moral compass and the strength to back up his threats. Lukas will not disappoint."
- Writer
