In the kitchen, Bab removed the bandage from James head while Lydia, Brother Matthew and Antone watched. She said. "It is healing. No infection. How are you feeling?"

James smiled and said, "Much better."

"Good." She handed him a small jar and a bag of herbs. To Lydia she said, "Make sure he uses these every evening for the next week."

"I will."

To all of them, Bab said, "My grandson would like for you to observe Shabbat with us."

Lydia asked, “What is that?”

For the first time since seeing his mother’s art work Antone spoke, “It is the Jewish custom to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy.”

“But it is not Sunday," said Brother Matthew.

Bab replied, “From sun down Friday until sundown tomorrow is out Sabbath.”

James said, “We would be honored to join you.”

"We will be honored to have you."

That evening a table was set in the front room with wine goblets, plates and spoons. Two wax tapers stood unlit in the center of the table. They took their seats. With a flame from the lamp, Madame Rashbam lit the two candles. Tiny flames sputtered to life, and reflected in the eyes of those around the table. Rabbi Rashbam began to speak in Hebrew. It was a musical language, and Lydia could tell by the tilt of Antone’s head that it appealed to him. After Rabbi recited Solomon’s words in praise of an excellent woman in Hebrew he translated them for the pilgrims. One line struck Lydia to her core. Rabbi Rashbam said, “She perceives that her merchandise is good; her candle does not go out by night.”* Her candle, my candle, thought Lydia. Was this the word of the Lord? She had never heard this scripture before.

Later that night after every one had gone to bed, Antone sat at the kitchen table scratching something in ink into his little book. James and Brother Matthew were both asleep by the hearth. Quietly, Lydia took out the little book Sister Timothy had given her. She wanted to write down the words that Rabbi Rashbam had said about an excellent woman, but she could not remember all he said and her writing skills were not up to the task. She was pretty certain Antone’s were. For several moments she wrestled with whether or not she should ask him to write them down for her. Finally her desire to possess the words won out.

With a quick glance at James, she untangled herself from her bedroll and slipped beside Antone. He did not turn to her, but he did stop writing. She whispered, “Could you print out the scriptures about the excellent woman?”

Without a word, he took the book from her and wrote out the scripture in Latin. His handwriting was lovely. His reed pen moved so fast. When he finished, he gave the book to her. On the page, her eyes searched for the word lucerne, which meant candle. She found it. “Thank you Antone.”

“You are welcome. I have another scripture for you, one I think you might like. May I?”

She gave the book back to him. He wrote: Et quaedam mulier nomine Lydia, purpuraria civitatis Thyatirenorum, colens Deum, audivit: cujus Dominus aperuit cor intendere his quae dicebantur a Paulo.**

Though she did not know all the words, she could recognize her name. She said, “My name is in the Bible? Moder never told me.”

Antone said, “She might not have known. Lydia was the first convert in her realm and she was a seller of purple cloth and a fine craftswoman. The candles in your bag, do you hope to make more and sell them?”

Unable to verbalize the depth of this desire, Lydia nodded.

With a catch in his voice he said, “I hope you get to. I see my moder in you, but you are not like her. She follows her whims, like I do, you follow your sense and your heart.” His voice dropped very low, “You are an excellent woman.” Lydia had no idea how to respond to his compliment. With his book in hand Antone rose from the table. “We best get some sleep. Good night Lydia.”

She looked up at him. Briefly their eyes met. Something had changed in his. She whispered, “Good night, Antone.”

*

Sabbath morning the cock crowed. The day before Bab and Madame Rashbam had prepared all the food that would be eaten this day. No work could be done on the Sabbath, not even by guests. Brother Matthew entered into the quiet naturally. For James it was a bit of a struggle. He was feeling better and he wanted to be busy. Antone read from some of the Holy Books the Rabbi had. Lydia spent her time deciphering the words Antone had written in her book.

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When dusk descended, they gathered for the Havdahah, the ritual that ushered in the new week. When three stars appeared in the sky it was time for the ceremony. Lydia was transfixed by the intricately braided candle that adorned the table that night. She had never seen anything like it. The wax tapers wove in and out of each other, and each possessed its own wick. It was the most beautiful candle she had ever seen. First Rabbi Rashbam blessed the wine, and then the fragrant spices. After those blessings Madame Rashbam lit the tiny wicks of the candle.

In Hebrew Rabbi Rashbam recited from the Ten Commandments in Exodus. When he finished he translated, “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shalt not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor the stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.”*** All at once Lydia felt the presence of God. How could this be? Did God still visit his children the Jews though they had rejected His Son?

Rabbi Rashbam said, “We are thankful for your presence in our home. You were strangers to my wife and I and now you are friends. We thank you for the kindness of your friendship.”

*

When the Sabbath ended, James told Rabbi Rashbam that they would be leaving in the morning. Lydia did not want to go. What she wanted was to stay here with Bab. Bab knew her history and her identity. She could be done with this difficult life. What held her back was her desire to make candles. Without the gold she would earn at the end of this journey, she would not be able to open a shop.

Monday morning, Lydia awoke to the sound of Bab humming. It was a tune Aunt Rachel used to hum. James was already up and out of the house. Brother Matthew was still snoring away. When she turned to look at Antone he was looking at her. Sudden shyness came over her. It was going to be very different traveling with Antone, now that she knew, he knew who she really was.

After breakfast, James said, "It is time to say our Goodbyes. Thank you so much for your hospitality."

"You are most welcome," said Rabbi Rashbam." He shook hands with Rabbi."

Bab said, “It was so good to see you my friend.” She stretched out her arms. James held her gently and a tear slippled down his cheek. He released her and she went to Antone. On tip-toe she whispered something in his ear, and he nodded. When she hugged Lydia, she said, "Take courage and comfort. Love watches over you." Her wrinkled lips kissed Lydia's cheek. She nodded to Brother Matthew and he nodded in response. They stepped out into the cold mornig air.

From the door, the Rabbi, his wife and Bab watched them climbed into the cart. All were in their usual places except for Antone. He was now seated directly behind his uncle. Without being told Moses Aaron took off. When they reached the main road it was crowded. The worried look returned to James' face. In a voice tinged with bitterness, he said, "Blast this Year of Jubilee. Pope Boniface, the church and the merchants along the Pilgrim's Way will make a fortune. From now on food and shelter will be more expensive and harder to come by. If only we were in Rome already. The city will be in a state of madness by the time we get there."

In the days ahead, as James had predicted shelter was hard to find and ridiculously expensive, as was food. Moses Aaron became more surly each day. He did not like the traffic or the multitudes of sinners they met at each juncture. Lydia did not like them either. With so many people around it was hard to conceal her femininity. If she were found out, it would be very bad for all of them all, but worse for her.

One day as they passed another church, Brother Matthew in a fit of frustration shouted at James, “If we do not go to a church soon God will curse this journey!”

James had replied, “I think it was cursed from the beginning.”

As for Antone, he seldom spoke, and had not played a single instrument since the morning he saw his mother’s paintings. Not even the faces of pretty girls turned his head when they passed them. Lydia was worried about him, as was James.

In Dijon cathedrals finished and unfinished pushed up into the mist of the morning sky. Inside the city Moses Aaron turned down a cobbled street. A gust of wind blew up and sent a wooden sign swinging. On the sign was a candle. From the open shop door drifted the aroma of melting tallow. Lydia’s throat constricted. She glanced at James. He gave her a gentle and sympathetic smile. It took everything she had not to burst into tears.

_______________________________________________________________________

*Proverbs 31:18

*Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

***Exodus 20:8