Grandmother's Teeth

Chapter 12 Chosen path

Once outside the door Ivan took his silver axe from off of his back and offered to put Rose there instead. Elena lit a lamp that he would bring back in the morning yet tonight it was her sacred vigil. This brought forth another memory of her mother, lighting the way to the winter solstice. Would winter ever come again? She was not really wishing for it. It was just this climate for so many years near the mountains that was strange.

Rose had fallen asleep the instant her head hit her Father’s shoulder. All was quiet except for a distant howl which disturbed Ivan only a little when he turned to see which direction it was coming from. Since he continued on Elena took more courage from his silence than from anyone who might want to fill the night with useless chatter. So she was very surprised when he did speak.

“Elena I am very angry with you for not taking the path I told you today.” His footsteps were making less noise than hers.

“Why husband? We were not hurt. I only came by the edge near the fields.” Elena found it stranger still his attitude.

“This recklessness must end. Rose wanders into the woods already with Sadko near his river and so you encourage picking flowers?”

“Well with Sadko she is as safe as with you and really we were not far from the fields the whole time.” Elena wanted nothing more than to please him, however, there was that part of her that could never let the old ways go.

“Is she safe with Sadko? I see the way he looks at you sometimes.” Ivan gritted.

“Sadko shows more respect than any of your hunting men after the drink. He loves Rose like the daughter he never had. Perhaps you are jealous that we are both spending time with her that you are not.” Elena felt better, after his last outburst, flattered really.

“This is not a matter of time it is a matter of place. The place for her is here safe in the garden where she will grow and flourish. Not in the wild where she will surely perish. Do not go off the path not even to pick flowers.” They stood on the hill where they had first met overlooking the village.

“Husband I know you speak from love so I will make sure that Rose continues to only play in the garden.” Ivan leaned down so she could kiss him. He still held Rose who stirred on his back making it brief. Elena wondered if Rose was only pretending and really had heard the conversation. Rose was clever, more than she pretended to be. Today she had taught her mother a new trick to lie by telling the truth. After all, prayer and meditation followed by language lessons was not play. If her husband Ivan ever did find out the valley would thunder with his voice. Yet strangely deep down it was Grandmother she feared more. During this moment all was peaceful in this perfect village of spring.