Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate: A Novel (37 page)

After a simple meal of broiled fish, salad, and warm bread, Elijah asked them to tell their stories as an encouragement to the others. No one kept secrets here and a nod from Quintas told her it was safe to share.

Claudia told them who she was and why they had to flee Rome. When she mentioned her husband, there were some raised eyebrows, but she told them how Lucius had tried to save him and reminded them of the Lord’s resurrection. Lucius had only been an unwitting part of what they ultimately realized was God’s plan. When Doros shared about his foot, they praised God for his mercy.

Quintas in turn told about hearing Jesus speak, becoming a believer along with his wife, and then losing his family and becoming a fugitive himself.

Elijah observed Claudia. “Was it not difficult to travel together for such a long period of time?”

Quintas knew what he was asking. “The lady Claudia is a virtuous woman to be treated with respect. My mission was to see her and her son to safety.”

Elijah nodded and Claudia felt the group accepted Quintas’s words.

After the meal, the group gathered to pray. Rebecca, whose husband had been killed and their property seized, produced a lyre and sang some of the psalms. Her words were full of longing and her soft voice brought tears to Claudia’s eyes. When Claudia finally looked across the circle at Quintas, he was looking at her, and in his face she saw that same longing. She lowered her eyes, her heart beating a little faster.

As the meeting went on, her son’s eyes began to droop and soon he was asleep with his head on Claudia’s lap.

Elijah took one of the olive oil lamps and motioned for them to follow him. He showed Claudia to a room she would share with Doros. Quintas, who had carried the sleeping Doros, laid him down and turned to Claudia. “He will sleep. Come, walk with me for a few moments.”

She hesitated, but Doros was sleeping soundly, so she nodded and they left the room. Elijah showed Quintas his room down the hall and lit a lamp on a pedestal in the hall before saying good night.

She walked with Quintas in the small garden in the center of the villa and stood looking up at a sky full of stars. He was quiet, as though something was on his heart. She broke the silence.

“You have cared for us on this long journey. You have been patient with my son. For that I am grateful. I can tell that he admires you.”

“He is a fine young man. You can be proud of him.”

“I am most grateful he shares my faith.”

He turned and gazed down at her. “What will you do now?”

She sighed. “If they will allow Doros and me to stay here, I will help in any way I can. I have nowhere else to go.”

“Have you thought of marrying again?”

The question startled her. What was he saying? “Only if God wills it and the man of his choice comes into my life.” Then she blurted, “What will you do in Ephesus?”

He didn’t hesitate. “I must find work and a place to live. I am considering marrying again.”

It struck a blow to her heart, but she kept her composure. “I wish you well in your endeavors then.”

His eyes were dark pools in the dim light, but she sensed he was smiling. “Come, it is late and you and your son need your rest after a long journey.”

He took her to her door and left her there as she puzzled over his words.

The next morning at breakfast, Quintas was missing. Elijah told her he’d left early. Would she ever see him again? She tried to be strong for Doros, who was also disappointed not to see Quintas. She must consider his future, yet her heart felt suddenly bereft.

It was three days before, to her surprise, Quintas returned to the villa. She was so overjoyed to see him, she couldn’t help the happiness that spilled from her eyes.

When they were alone in the garden again, she asked, “Where did you go? I thought you had left us.”

“I was looking for work. I found a job in one of the government buildings that pays an adequate wage. My experience stood me well. I start in two days.”

“I’m glad for you, Quintas. Doros will be sorry he missed you. He has started school.”

“And did you miss me, Claudia?”

She hung her head, her voice almost a whisper. “Yes, Quintas.”

“The Lord has brought us together,” he said softly, “under circumstances we may not have chosen. Yet, as we have traveled together, I have seen what a woman of courage and strength you are. I thought that after my wife was killed, I would never look at another woman, but there is something between us. I know you feel it too.”

She looked up earnestly into his face. “I have grieved for my husband a long time. I do not know how it happened, but my heart quickens when you are near.”

“Your son needs a father, and I desire a wife.”

She glanced up quickly. “Just a wife? Someone to cook and clean for you?”

He tipped her chin with his finger. “No, my beautiful Claudia, not just any wife will do. I have someone very special in mind. Someone who has stolen my heart.”

As she grasped his meaning, joy filled her heart. She leaned toward him and he kissed her forehead gently. “Let that be a promise.” He studied he face. “I have little to offer you, worthy of your status.”

“Neither of us have any status, Quintas. Not any longer. I am just a widow who has fallen on hard times, but I would not trade where I am now for all the prestige I had before.”

“I needed to find work to be able to support a family, and that I have done. Will you become my wife, Claudia?”

“I have waited this long for you to come into my life, Quintas. I will be your wife.”

He drew her into his arms and kissed her again, sealing their promise to each other.

C
laudia hummed as she placed the twigs one by one into the bottom of the small clay stove. Her kitchen was small, but Quintas had built her some shelves to store their meager supplies. When she went to the marketplace, she shopped carefully, looking for the best bargains. Thanks to Medina’s help years before, she was creative with her herbs and spices, but it was no small task to keep her husband and son well fed.

She mused on how much Quintas had become a father to Doros. Because Lucius had been distant, Doros reveled in the camaraderie with his stepfather. She looked over at the shadow on the wall marking the time of day and knew Doros would be home from school soon. No longer a small boy, he seemed to be growing taller as each month went by. He would never celebrate his majority in the forum as did the sons of other wealthy Romans, but that didn’t matter anymore. He was only the son of a government worker and was known as Doros, son of Quintas, at his school. With all they had been through, he understood well the need to keep his true identity secret. The wife of Emperor Claudius, Valeria Messalina, was still a distant threat. Rumors and word of multiple murders and suicides in Rome were rampant. No
one appeared safe from the tentacles of her desire to rid Rome of all contenders to the throne, save her own son.

Claudia was grateful to God that she and Doros had been spirited out of Rome when they were. Had she remained with Paulinus, she and her son would have been captured and killed.

She had word through the believer’s grapevine that Paulinus still resided in his villa, though she was sure the soldiers had indeed come. He must have convinced them that she had run away and was probably hiding out somewhere in the city. To Claudia’s relief, the soldiers had not arrested him.

Medina sent word a year later that Hotep had returned to Egypt, traveling with other former Egyptian slaves who had come to know the Christ. They would take the word and the news of the kingdom to Egypt.

Her thoughts turned to Vitus. A man who had been so loyal to her husband and had made it possible for her to reach Rome safely. She prayed that all was well with him.

Just then there was the sound of the door opening and Doros burst into the small house. Full of exuberance and a quick mind, he would choose a worthy occupation in time, perhaps in the government buildings where Quintas worked.

“Mater, the teacher praised my work today. I was able to recite all of our assigned lines from the great poet, Homer.”

“I am proud of you, my son, and I will let you tell Quintas yourself.”

He beamed and looked in her kitchen for the apple she usually saved for him.

“We will eat our meal as soon as Quintas gets home, so only the apple, Doros.”

“Yes, Mater.”

Claudia was sad that Doros would only be able to attend school a very short time longer, for it took much of their income to pay the teacher. Perhaps Quintas would have some suggestions tonight. They must talk about it.

A short time later, Quintas returned. He looked tired but always had a smile and a kiss for her. Tonight he kissed her, but seemed distracted. He put a hand on Doro’s shoulder and listened as Doros shared his praise from the teacher.

Finally, with a glance at Claudia, he sighed. “Doros, you will not be able to return to school.”

The boy looked up at him with wide eyes, “Why? Am I not doing well?”

“You are doing very well. We are very proud of you, but there are rumors through my sources that the soldiers of Valeria are coming even this far, seeking you and your mother. We must be very cautious. No one here knows who you are, other than my son, but we must not take any chances.”

Doros face fell, but he gave Quintas a brave smile. “I will not go then.”

Claudia put a hand on her husband’s arm. “Do you think she can still find us?”

“I don’t think so, dear one, but we must not take a chance. Perhaps we should have changed his name when he started at that school.”

“But Quintas, he is known there as your son. I’m sure there are many boys named Doros in the Roman Empire, and it is a Greek name.”

He put his arms around her and held her close. “I would not lose someone so dear to me again. When you go to the marketplace, cover your face as some of the women do. Do not do anything that would call attention to you.”

“We will pray, Quintas, and the God we serve will protect us. I know he will. Has he not seen us to safety thus far?”

“That is true, and we must be grateful. We can only trust—there is nothing more we can do.”

The three of them sat down to their dinner. Claudia had obtained a good piece of fish and some cheese. She had ground the meal that morning for the coarse bread that was a staple of their meals now. With diluted wine, they felt they had a fine meal.

When Doros had gone to his bed in a small alcove and they knew
he was asleep, Claudia took her husband’s hand and drew him down on their small couch. He sat with his elbows on his knees, listening.

“It is perhaps a good thing that Doros cannot continue school, though it grieves me. He loves to learn.” Claudia looked down at their entwined hands. “There may be another need for those funds.”

Quintas straightened up. “What need is this?”

She looked up into his eyes and smiled. “It is for our child when he or she is born around seven months from now.”

He stared at her and then caught her in his arms. “You are sure?”

“Yes, my Quintas, I am sure.”

His smile seemed to go clear across his face. “Oh, beloved, you have made me a man even happier than I have been all these months.” He paused. “Have you told Doros yet?”

“No, foolish man, would I not tell his father first?”

“We will tell him in the morning.”

They prayed together, thanking the Lord for this blessing, and then he drew her again to himself. His kiss sent a warmth through her.

“I shall have a brother or sister?” Doros crowed. He hugged his mother and beamed at Quintas.

Claudia had wondered how Doros would accept the news and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Quintas left the house and promised to see if he could find an apprentice job at the government buildings for Doros.

Claudia studied Homer with Doros and marveled at his ability to memorize the lines so quickly. She prayed that Quintas could find something to keep Doros occupied. She needed to go into the marketplace and debated about taking Doros, then thought better of it.

“You must remain here, my son. The soldiers are looking for a noblewoman and her son, not a poor village woman. It is best we are not seen together. Stay here and lock the door.”

As she hurried into the marketplace, she kept her head down and
her palla wrapped around her head and shoulders, obscuring her face. To the observer, she was only a poor village wife, purchasing a few items for her family’s dinner.

She found some day-old vegetables the vendor was willing to part with cheaply and some fruit for Doros. Then she saw a small plucked quail that looked as if it had been there awhile. Knowing that she could make it into a soup, she bargained for it and triumphantly added it to her basket.

As she walked down the narrow street toward her home, Claudia had a strange sense of apprehension.
Lord, what is wrong?
She entered the house and was met by silence. Doros was gone. Her heart pounded as she rushed over to a neighbor’s house. Galla, a heavyset Greek woman, had befriended her, and as they got to know each other, Galla quietly revealed she was also a Christian.

“Galla, Doros is gone. Have you seen him?”

A subdued Doros appeared from the other room. Relief flooded her being as she embraced her son. “Doros, why are you here? I told you to stay at home.”

Tears filled his eyes as he looked up at her. “I was staying home, Mater, but then the Lord spoke to me and told me to go to Galla’s house.”

“The Lord spoke to you?”

“It was in my head, but it was so strong, I went.”

Galla, who had been standing by, shook her head in amazement. “The soldiers were on the street, going from door to door, asking questions. When they came here, I told them he was my son, Nikos, and his father was Greek.” She shrugged. “May the Lord forgive a small untruth.”

“What did the soldiers say?”

“They turned away and went on down the street. They did not even stop at your house, though the door was in plain sight.”

“Praise his name, Galla, Surely he has protected us once again.”

“Mater, can we go home now?”

Galla spoke up. “We have had a close call, but let us rejoice. I have some fresh baklava. Let me send some home with you for your dinner.”

Her son’s eyes lit up. It was his favorite dessert, but Claudia seldom had the money to buy the ingredients.

When Quintas returned that night, Claudia told him what had happened. “Do you think they will return?”

“I don’t know. If they remain in the city, we may have to go to the safe house again. I cannot take a chance on losing you or Doros. Galla was very brave and I am grateful to her for her quick thinking. We must pray and seek the Lord as to what we must do. We must not go ahead of his will for us.”

Claudia, Quintas, and Doros prayed fervently and Claudia felt strongly they should stay where they were. Quintas felt the same and promised to keep his eyes and ears open to any news of Valeria.

Two nights later, he came home and his eyes were shining. “Claudia, the soldiers are withdrawing from the city. The attachment sent by Valeria is gone. Valeria is dead,”

“She is dead? What happened?”

“She was caught up in her own web of intrigue and murder. She divorced the emperor and secretly married Gaius Silius, the consul elect. The emperor recognized it as an attempt to take the throne and had her killed, along with Silius.”

“So she met the same end she meted out to others.”

“Yes, my love, but the most important thing is that we are safe. There will be no more soldiers hunting you and Doros down.”

Safe. Claudia could hardly conceive of the magnitude of that word. She would not have to fear being recognized in the marketplace by a Roman soldier. They could live their lives in the open. The woman who had known wealth, prestige, danger, and ultimately sorrow as the wife of Lucius Pontius Pilate, was now the wife of Quintas, a contented woman with a husband who loved her. That other world seemed only like a dream that had passed away, leaving only its memory. She was safe at last.