The Rise of Light: A Novel by Olivia Hawker

Author:Olivia Hawker [Hawker, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2021-08-16T16:00:00+00:00

22

FINE THE WAY WE ARE

Aran kept his eyes on Arletta so he wouldn’t have to look at Gad, who was staring at him down the length of the family table with his usual hard intensity. Arletta carried in the last serving dish from the kitchen and set it on a trivet. Tamsin followed with a pitcher of ice water and filled everyone’s glasses. The pitcher was sweating heavily by the time she finished, scattering fat drops of water all over the tablecloth. Aran watched the damp spots spread through the fabric. Gad hadn’t forgiven him for shirking Pioneer Day almost a week ago. Aran had already caught two lectures on the importance of showing up for family functions, the importance of doing his part to maintain the Rigby reputation. If he had to listen to another speech about his failings as a son, he would blow right through the roof. He would say something his father could never forgive.

Finally, Gad stopped glaring and started dishing up supper, filling everyone’s plates for them, passing them back one by one. Arletta’s chicken casserole and boiled vegetables and mashed potatoes smelled as good as ever, but Aran found he had little appetite. He could feel something coming, a sharp crackle in the air, a tension needing to burst like a jag of thunder.

Gad asked Ondi to say the blessing. They all bowed their heads while Ondi delivered a pitch-perfect prayer, thanking the Lord for the many blessings (not specified) that He had bestowed, asking Him to bless the food, that it would nourish and strengthen their bodies. When the prayer was finished, Brig and Ondi tucked into their supper like they’d been starving for weeks. Moving pipe out on the farms had made them lean and sun browned and hungry.

“Well,” Gad said, in that tight, measured tone that always indicated he was struggling to control his temper, “how has everyone’s day been?”

“Great,” Tamsin said. “I helped Mom hem the new curtains this morning.”

“Good girl.”

“How’s Grandpa?” Aran asked.

Gad shrugged as if it were a question of no real consequence, though Aran knew his father was haunted by his old man’s sickness. The cancer had come on suddenly, sapping Grandpa Rigby of his big, effulgent presence, his jolly demeanor. Aran thought it must frighten Gad a little, to see how quickly and thoroughly a man could be reduced. It certainly grieved Aran.

“He had another test this morning,” Gad said casually. “Your uncle Delyle called and told me all about it. No change. The treatments haven’t been working like we all hoped.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Aran said. “I’m sure we’ll all be praying for Grandpa tonight.”

After a tense and brittle silence, Brig asked, “Have you heard anything from the bishop yet?”

“Not yet,” Gad said. “But it hasn’t been long since Bishop Kimball and I had our meeting. I let him know how important it is to you boys to receive your calls—how hard you’ve been working, how much you’ve been looking forward to serving your missions.

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