The Good Thief

The Good Thief by Barry Connolly

(Excerpt)

The sun was low on the horizon and the evening meal preparation well underway when Dismas arrived, neither too early nor too late. Amos welcomed him at the entrance to their home.

“Peace be with you, Dismas. Welcome.” Amos greeted Dismas with a brotherly embrace.

“May the peace of the Lord also be with you and all in your house,” Dismas replied in return.

With a broad smile, Amos led him to the dining area, his outstretched hand pointing the way. “Rebekah will join us soon. You know how lengthy women’s preparations can be. We will have some wine while we wait.”

The dining room was spotless. A clean linen cloth ran the length of a narrow table, knee-high from the floor. Three cushions were placed around it. Fresh flowers had been placed in a tall earthenware vase in the center of the table. Cups and bowls—some of Rebekah’s finest work—graced the table. Each piece was embellished with a repeating pattern of flowers and grapes and glazed a luminous deep green. Amos filled their wine cups and inquired courteously about the health of Dismas’ family.

Dismas was still speaking when Rebekah entered the room but he stopped in mid-sentence at her arrival. She looked even more beautiful than he had remembered. The soft gown was modest but breathtaking and she had carefully combed and piled her hair, tying it with thin ribbons of blue silk. For a moment he remained speechless, his mouth open. Pleased with the impact her entrance had on Dismas, Rebekah casually extended her hand.

“How nice to see you Dismas, what a wonderful surprise your visit is.” Her smile took his breath away.

“You look lovely, Rebekah,” Dismas said, his heart pounding. It only increased his doubts that this vision before him would accept his poor proposal when the time came. “It was so nice of Amos to invite me,” he said, painfully aware how stiff and ridiculous he sounded. Rebekah looked at him curiously.

“Well yes, I’m always glad to see you and delighted you accepted his invitation,” she replied. “But I also understand you had a special reason you wanted to visit with us,” she said, probing for an answer. Dismas glanced over at Amos.

“Perhaps that’s best left until after supper,” Amos interrupted, cutting the conversation short and drawing a frown from Rebekah in the process.

With nothing left to do for the moment but get on with dinner, Rebekah proceeded to the kitchen and brought the serving dishes to the table. Amos offered the blessing, and as the dishes were passed and wine flowed freely so did the conversation between the three friends. By the end of the meal, all were more relaxed and the mood had turned decidedly cheerful. The story Rebekah related about a wealthy client in Jerusalem, the wife of a tax collector, and her unusual collection of hairpieces—one of which resembled nothing so much as a donkey’s tail—elicited much laughter from around the table.

When the dishes were cleared, Amos excused himself saying he needed to see to the animals for a moment. He made a point of looking at Dismas while at the same time poking him under the table as a signal that the time was now right. Heading toward the stable in the front of the house, he left the two alone.

“It was so nice to see you tonight, Dismas,” Rebekah said warmly, her feelings reinforced by the wine they had enjoyed. “I missed you while I was in Jerusalem.”

Emboldened by her remarks and the wine, Dismas summoned the courage to speak. He reached across the dining table and boldly took her hands in his own. He looked deeply into her eyes as if he were seeing her for the first time.

“What is it Dismas?” Rebekah asked, her relaxed mood quickly turning to one of anxious concern. “You look so serious.”

“I asked your brother, Amos, if I might speak with you tonight and he gave me his permission.” Dismas held her hands tightly in his. “Dismas, you can always speak to me, you know that,” she replied. “You don’t need Amos’ permission.” A puzzled look spread across her face.

“But about this…” His voice trailed off . Then redoubling his courage he let the words come, straight from his heart, spilling them out without further thought.

“Rebekah, I love you with all my heart. I think I have loved you from the first time we met. Please forgive me for taking so long to ask, but if you would only be my wife then my life would be complete…”

Rebekah was stunned. When Dismas at last took a breath she spoke.

“You are asking me to marry you? This is what tonight was all about?”

“I know I can act foolish at times and am undeserving of you in so many ways,” Dismas said, “but I would always be faithful to you and work hard for us and for our family.” He continued his argument, barely pausing for breath.

“Oh, Dismas!” Rebekah was relieved and excited at the same time. “Of course I will marry you!” Her face lit up in a smile, then quickly wrinkled in a frown. “You thought I might not? How could you even think that? You know how I feel about you, how much I love you.” Then, unable to resist teasing him, she added, “Unless our engagement period is as long as our courtship has been.”

She leaned in toward him. “I want to be married within a year’s time, Dismas, before you change your mind or some other family responsibility delays us.”

They both rose from the table and stood facing each other. She reached out and hugged him. Dismas was not only relieved but also happier than he could ever imagine being. His heart soared. He could only keep saying, “I love you, Rebekah” to his betrothed. # # #