Wife of Chuza: Court of the Tetrarch - Book Two by Katrina D. Hamel

Author:Katrina D. Hamel [Hamel, Katrina D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Long Walk Publishing
Published: 2022-10-27T16:00:00+00:00

The next morning, Joanna rose early, itching for answers. Tamar ignored her guest’s fidgeting. She served a hearty breakfast and took her son to the synagogue for his lesson. When Tamar came back, she invited Joanna to walk to the well, leaving Hannah grinding grain. They passed a group of women hauling their laundry to the lake shore, chatting and laughing like a flock of contented hens. Joanna’s focus drifted after them.

“Why are you alone, Joanna?” Tamar asked. “Where are your friends? Your escort?”

Joanna faltered, heat creeping up her neck. “I couldn’t bring anyone,” she said. “Not without getting them in trouble, too.”

Tamar peeked sideways. “Too?”

Joanna shifted her water jar to the other hip. Tamar was going to think she was a fool, but there was little point in hiding her shame. “I told the wrong person that I support Jesus,” she said flatly. “Now Herodias wants to charge me with sedition and force me to implicate my husband.”

Tamar slowed her pace. “So you can’t go back to Antipas’ court? To your husband?”

Joanna winced. “Not unless Chuza finds a way to appease Herodias.”

Tamar stopped, her eyes probing. “Appease her how?”

“I don’t know,” Joanna admitted.

“What if Herodias wanted you to report on Jesus in exchange for letting you rejoin your husband?”

Joanna stared. “What? No!” Her insides withered as she realized Tamar thought was capable of betraying Jesus. “Chuza and I want to support Jesus. We believe he is a prophet of the Lord, maybe even the Messiah.” She drew a breath, trying to slow her racing pulse. “Chuza will find some other way to make things right. I know he will.”

Tamar pressed her lips together, and Joanna berated herself. She bumbled the entire conversation, and Tamar had no reason to trust her. Guilt rose in her throat, demanding release.

“I messed up in Jerusalem,” Joanna blurted, rubbing her eyes roughly. “I thought I was doing something good, telling Salome about Jesus, but my pride ruined everything.” Her voice broke as she struggled to hold back tears. “I just wanted her to see that I’m not like Antipas and Herodias. That Chuza and I are good people. Giving money is proof of that, right?”

She drew a shaky breath. “What if I was blinded by my need to be used by God? My desire to have a purpose, to feel like I’m important in God’s eyes? I’m starting to realize that is its own kind of vanity.”

Tamar glanced at her, but did not reply. They uncovered the well and filled their jars. Joanna’s stomach was in knots as she hoisted the heavy jar onto her hip. Self-loathing prickled in her eyes. Maybe Tamar was right not to trust her.

When they were halfway back, Tamar paused and glanced around. “They’ve gone to the region of Tyre and Sidon,” she said.

Joanna fumbled her jar, splattering droplets of water. She stared at the other woman, confused.

“Yes, you messed up,” Tamar said. “You should have told Salome about Jesus and kept your good deeds out of it. You don’t need to prove your goodness, you need to show God’s.

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