The Bethany family stood before a tall, gothic gravestone four days later: “Dominic Bethany, devoted father and friend to many. Revived once.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye,” Jared said to Jane.
“I bid my farewell a long time ago, Jared. It’s our mother I’m afraid I won’t be able to say it to.” Though the winter sun warmed the graveyard, she wore a long coat. Martha, who had retreated again into silence since the family’s dinner, stood beside her.
Jane said, “If you ever do this again, though—going behind my back on something as big as resurrecting someone in our family—I’ll never speak to you again.”
“Where are his many friends now?” asked David.
“I’m sorry, David,” said Jared, turning to his brother.
“Jared, if it weren’t for you choking dad, he’d still be alive. You broke up our family after you lied to me to bring it back together. I won’t forget that,” said David. “But dad cracked us all open before you ever did. He was cruel.”
“I agree,” said Jane.
“What a man,” said Martha. She pulled petals from a bouquet of white blossoms and let them waft over the grave. Her white napkin with its lily trimming wrapped their stems. Her children turned to stare at her. “What an unbelievable man. I’m sure I’ll miss him, but I’m glad he’s gone.”
“Mom!” exclaimed Jane. She hugged Martha. “You’re back!” Jared joined in the embrace, and Martha laughed as her children piled on her.
David slid the napkin from his mother’s tender hands and draped it over the gravestone.
Blake I loved it. Well done. Can’t wait for your next publication.
Great ending. If we knew the family name Bethany before now, I missed it, but it weaves together resurrection (the place Jesus resurrected Lazarus) and redemption (Jesus begins the journey to Jerusalem in Bethany) . Dominic (literally "Lordly") is resurrected by his son (a failed Savior), only to reintroduce chaos and heartache into the (family's) world. The son's act of bringing the father back for selfish motives, which he perceives as righteous, results in more sin. Another son inadvertently kills the father (who cannot forgive) by kicking the part of the body deficient in all men since Adam--the ribs. Redemption only comes through death, which resurrects the mother and gives the siblings a newly-enlightened, honest, and sobering way to engage with each other on their own terms (undefined by The Lord), while embracing motherhood. So, the question is: Was it worth it to this family for the father to come back to life? Would they have reconciled or been redeemed without the father's 2nd life and 2nd death? A good story does not answer the questions life poses, but rather sharpens the terms of the debate. This is a very good story.