Into the Light (The Light, #1)(87)

My head moved from side to side. “I never would, Brother. I willingly accept his decree, and I’m anxious to return to the community.”

He smiled from me to Jacob. “Sister, that’s good to hear.” Looking to Jacob, he said, “Call once you land. I’ll come back and get Ruth.”

“I will, Brother. The plane is ready. I should be able to leave soon.”

Brother Daniel clapped Jacob’s shoulder and turned to Sister Ruth. I had no doubt they had the same type of relationship that I shared with Jacob, yet I wondered how long they’d been married, because the adoration in both of their gazes was tangible. “Ruth, remember, if necessary, you have my permission to use the phone.”

“Thank you, Daniel.” She squeezed my hand. “We’ll be so busy, nothing will bother us.”

I liked her confidence, and wondered what she had planned.

“Brother Jacob,” she said, “we had to park outside. In the back of Daniel’s SUV are some bags. If you’d be so kind as to bring those in for us, I believe your lovely wife will have a dinner fit for a king when you return.”

The way his eyes grew at that possibility made me smile.

“I’d be happy to get whatever you need to make that happen.”

It was true that so far we’d eaten only already prepared meals. With my lack of sight, my great cooking skills had been limited to warming things and to preparing cereal, toast, coffee, and sandwiches. This morning I’d ventured to eggs and bacon.

After a few minutes the men were gone, and I was putting the contents of Sister Ruth’s bags on the kitchen table. Salmon wrapped in white paper, sweet potatoes, onions, peppers, apples, the ingredients kept coming, and not one of them was from a box or packet.

“Sister,” I sighed as I looked at everything, “Jacob told me that you taught me how to do this once. I admit I don’t remember. I’m excited to receive a refresher course.”

She patted my hand. “We made notes the first time. I believe they’re in the kitchen of your apartment. Hopefully, that can help you, but you know that you can always ask me. With Daniel’s permission, I’d love to spend more time with you.”

I lowered my chin. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed the Assembly and Commission wives.”

She lifted my chin. “Sara, I’d never be ashamed of you. I accept the Commission’s decision and Father Gabriel’s decree, but the strong, intelligent young woman I know would never willfully leave The Light nor her husband. I remember the first time I saw you and Brother Jacob. The love that you two shared hasn’t disappeared. I know that. Brother Daniel and I’ve been married for over thirty years. The way you look at Brother Jacob and the way he looks at you, your love is still there. Isn’t it?”

“It is,” I admitted. “I don’t know if it’s as obvious as what I noticed between you and Brother Daniel, but it’s there. I love my husband.”

Her inviting smile filled me with the sense of a mother or grandmother. “Now,” she said, “let’s get started. You have a lot of cooking to do.”

I bit my lip. “I really don’t . . .”

“Stop. When I first came to your room after your accident, you didn’t remember Father Gabriel. Do you know who he is now?”

I nodded. “I do.”

“If I asked you to recite our declaration of faith, could you?”

I took a breath and stood tall. “I could. ‘We the followers . . .’”

She winked. “I know it; you don’t need to recite it. I’m proud of you. In another week you’ll be making your husband’s meals just like you used to.”

The day flew by as we chopped, sliced, peeled, and created. The entire time we talked like old friends. When I put the apple pie in the oven, I blew out a breath. “If you hadn’t told me otherwise, I’d swear I’d never done that before.”

Sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, Sister Ruth said, “I’m sure you remember that not all meals will be this elaborate. When I was your age and still worked, I used my Crock-Pot much more often.”

I hadn’t thought about my job. Brushing the flour off the counter, I turned, and asked, “What do I do?”

“Oh, Sara, you really don’t remember?”

I moved my head back and forth. “Sister, everything really is gone.”

“You work in the chemistry lab with Brother Benjamin and Brother Raphael.”

I widened my eyes. “I do?” Scrunching my nose, I asked, “You don’t know what I do there, do you?”

“No, my dear, Assembly wives have more distinguished jobs than the average follower. Obviously most of them, men and women, work in the processing plant. It takes a lot of manpower to produce Father Gabriel’s product.”

I nodded. “Does his product have something to do with chemistry?”

“Yes, Brothers Raphael and Benjamin perfect the formulas. To be honest, I don’t know how it all works. You probably know more than I do, since you work with them.”

I moved to the table and sat. “And the followers produce the . . . ?”

She patted my hand. “Medications—pharmaceuticals. Father Gabriel delivers medication to those in need all over the world. It’s a wonderful ministry that spreads The Light to those who can’t afford it or areas where health care is limited.”