Miryam set dishes down on the dining mat. Four months had passed since she had gone to Zechariah and Elisheva's house. Her throat stung as she set the plate in front of Yosef. She felt her unborn child kicking her. Her abdomen hurt.
"Yosef, can I talk to you?"
"Of course," he said.
He swayed back and forth.
"What is it?"
"An angel from Adonai came to visit me four months ago. Yosef, I'm pregnant."
"Whose baby is it?" Yosef demanded.
He rose to his feet. His hands trembled.
"Miryam, how could you do this? I've been working so hard for us."
"Ruach HaKodesh overshadowed me. The power of El Elyon came upon me. I don't know how it all works. I'm just a human. His name will be Yeshua."
"I can't believe this!" Yosef said. "You're known as a pure, good Jewish girl."
Tears glistened in his eyes. Sobs rose from the table. Jochobed stood up and ran away.
"Eema!" Miryam cried out.
"Children, go to bed," Silas instructed.
They scampered off, and he followed them. Yosef and Miryam were alone. She stared at the floor.
"Are you going to have Zechariah stone me?" She asked, "Or are you going to divorce me?"
Yosef spoke in a soft, hushed tone.
"I'll divorce you quietly," he said.
"What about the baby?" Miryam whispered.
"I hope they believe your story about Ruach HaKodesh."
He stormed off, opened the door, and entered the night. The door slammed shut behind him.