Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I’m sure Nonny meant for you to share,” Rubin said. “She wouldn’t have sent so much if she didn’t.”
Mordichai pulled the various containers out of the canvas bags to set them on the counter. There were so many there was barely room. He peered into the pot of stew Rubin had on the stove. “Did you make this, Rubin? It smells good.” He reached for the freshly baked bread.
Rubin glared at him. “You don’t get anything if you don’t share.”
“You wouldn’t want me faintin’ from hunger. I think my blood sugar drops fast if I don’t eat all the time. You know that, Rubin.”
Ezekiel heaved a sigh. “All you think about is food.” He sounded resigned.
Leila’s soft laughter moved through Diego’s mind. You all are definitely family. Rubin has forgotten all about being mad at you, and Ezekiel is totally distracted by his brother’s appearance.
Diego was caught by Mordichai’s playful statement. It wasn’t the first time he’d cracked jokes about low blood sugar. Was it possible Mordichai was diabetic? Diego glanced at Ezekiel. He would know. And diabetics couldn’t serve in the military if they were diagnosed before joining.
Diego reached back into his memories of the boys growing up on the streets. There was never enough food to eat. Never. They were always hungry. He recalled Mordichai curled up on a mat in the tunnels beneath the city, beads of sweat covering his body. Shaking. Eyes unfocused. It had happened on more than one occasion. Often, he would limp, fall behind the others, even though he was tough as nails. It would happen unexpectedly, without any warning. Ezekiel would leave for a time, commanding the others to look after Mordichai. When he returned, he would give his younger brother medication.
Rubin, is it possible that Mordichai is diabetic?
It seemed impossible that they wouldn’t have known. They were all doctors. It had taken longer for some to complete their studies. Mordichai had taken his sweet time, but in the end, he became a doctor just as the others in their unit had. Diego couldn’t fault him; he hadn’t been eager to complete his studies either. He wasn’t a man to stay indoors the way he needed to when studying and completing his residency.
Rubin’s assessing gaze slid over Mordichai. The man looked fitter than any of them. He ran daily. He boxed, did martial arts, several different practices. He wielded weapons like a master. One would never look at him and think he had a physical ailment of any kind.
Not diabetes.
Diego trusted Rubin’s assessment. Rubin might say, and even believe, that Diego had the same gifts, but Diego had been watching Rubin save lives for years. He knew how powerful Rubin’s gift of healing was. It had started when they were children, that need Rubin had to help anyone sick. Diego hadn’t had the same need.
There was a time when they had come across one of their neighbors. He lived miles away and was as mean as a snake, not only to outsiders but to his wife and children. Old man Kingsley had been out hunting, and he’d fallen down a rocky ravine. The two boys were barely twelve, but when they spotted the tracks of a man weaving and tripping, they followed.
It was clear Kingsley had been drinking, which wasn’t unusual. Each time they’d come across him, he was drunk and belligerent, even at church. Diego wanted to leave him to his fate. He had no compulsion to climb down the steep ravine, which was a very dangerous climb, and see to the man’s injuries. As far as he was concerned, Kingsley had gotten what he deserved. So many times, his wife and children had visible injuries on them.
Rubin had been adamant that they get down to the man and help him. Even then, Diego had realized his brother didn’t have much of a choice. The compulsion to heal was so strong he couldn’t walk away. Having many of those experiences with his brother gave him the insight that Rubin truly was different from him—and so was that well of healing energy inside him.
He knew his mother had influenced him to believe that anything he was able to do came from something dark and ugly, and everything Rubin did came from a pure place. He’d always thought of the two of them as light and dark, opposites.
Dang it, Diego. Rubin’s ire filled his mind. You persist in thinking you have something evil in you.
Just memories coming up, Rubin. Trying to get past them. I know something is off about Mordichai. I’ve always known it, but I can’t figure it out. That’s unlike me. He wasn’t above distracting his brother. And he really was concerned. He always had been. Mordichai had been a good kid and was an even better man.
Rubin moved up next to Mordichai, deliberately bumping him with his hip. “Don’t you touch that stew if you’re not sharing Nonny’s food.”