I stopped and stood, wiped the sweat from my face, and noticed a man standing beyond the wall. The shadow between the houses obscured his features but I recognized the thobe and shmagh of a camel puller. I was confused why one from the caravan would return. My business with the caravan master was complete. Had I forgotten an order? Surely, they were well on their way to Egypt while I busied myself in the hot afternoon sun. I worked with the servants to stack items along the outer wall, as young David positioned the cart when the damp smell of Gennesaret came on the breeze.

Our move to Bethany had us all rushed and Mary was being a pain as usual. I took a step to greet the man when a noise from inside the house caused me to pause and turn back. My sisters argued loudly, I heard the crash of falling items. I could only imagine what new mischief the older sister was up to. I turned once more to the Arab and was startled to find him standing quite close. Shocked, I stumbled back, the man reached out, and took my arm. Then, he spoke my name.

“Lazarus,” he said, smiling.

I blinked and studied the man's face. I had only dealt with the caravan master. How did this man know me? I was confused and fearful. His face was ruddy. His dark hair spilled from beneath his shmagh. His beard was full but did not hide his youth. I blinked once more and caught my breath as he released my arm.

I said, “Forgive me, sir. Do I know you?”

The man reached up and pulled the cover from his head. The light of the sun was bright. My chest tightened. The eyes, I thought, yes! The nose. I recognized my childhood friend. His name was on the tip of my tongue but he did not wait for me to say it.

“It's me,” he said. “Jesus.”

“Jesus!” I exclaimed. “You've returned!”

I could not contain my joy. I threw myself on his neck and hugged him tightly. We laughed, we embraced and he slapped my back as he used to do. The servants stopped to watch. Passers-by stopped to watch. A thousand questions tied my thoughts into a knot and I could not speak for the joy I felt. We laughed again. Then he held me at arm's length and spoke.

“I know you have a thousand questions,” he said. “I will tell you everything. I have missed you so very much. How are the sisters? How is Mary?”

“Well,” I began but my answer fell silent as a lump formed in my throat.

Just then, Mary ran from the house with Martha in tow. She ran out past the wall and stood behind the cart as Martha, trying to keep up, called her name. Mary's eyes were on Jesus and her face was like a mask of stone. Jesus stepped around me and Mary's eyes burned with rage. By now, a small crowd had stopped to watch. Some of them recognized Jesus and spoke his name in surprise. Otherwise, the moment was painfully quiet. I was ashamed of the scene I was sure Mary would cause. She was wild and brazen, obstinate and headstrong. Her words came without salt and many people claimed she had seven demons. I feared what would happen next.

Jesus walked between the wall and the cart. I followed, wringing my hands. They stood face to face but did not speak. I swallowed hard as I knew that so many of us were aware Mary had been promised to him – and then, Jesus just left. Mary had only been thirteen at the time. Nobody was more painfully aware of the facts than the two who stood with eyes locked. I wasn't the only one waiting for the ax to fall. The gathered crowd made not a sound. Martha stood with open mouth and the servants had backed away. Then it came.

Mary shouted, “Oh! So now you return? Do you realize my shame? That's it, isn't it? You've come to rub my nose in it. How dare you!”

No one saw it coming. Mary struck Jesus across the side of his face. She struck him a second time and all of us – I mean all of us – were frozen in place. She pushed him hard and as Jesus fell against the wall, Mary lifted her face to the sky and released such a scream of rage as I cannot describe. We held our collective breath and what followed was equally amazing. Jesus reached out and placed his hand around Mary's neck. She became still. Her raised arms fell to her sides. Jesus pulled my sister into an embrace and whispered in her ear. Oh, what I would give to know his words! Mary slowly sank to her knees and sobbed. Jesus sank to his knees and hugged her tightly. Then, the murmuring began. Nothing discernible but I could well imagine the gossip that took wing that hot afternoon. Martha came to me and locked her arm in mine, and all any of us could do was stand there and gape at them foolishly.

Before any of us knew it, the wedding was back on. Jesus seemed to have everything arranged. That left us to suspend our move and take care of the details. First, he had to visit his cousin John. I had not seen John since he struck out on his own. I had heard marvelous things about his work in the wilderness. Jesus vowed to be back in time. He kissed Mary on the lips and walked away. The three of us stood in the early evening light. I held my sisters close to me as we watched Jesus walk down the road toward Enon. Far down that road, Jesus seemed small in the distance. We did not take our eyes off him. Without turning, Jesus raised his arm and waved.

On the morrow, I had David hitch a small ox to our cart. We gathered gifts and coin and made the trip to Cana. It was good to see Jesus' mother again. His brothers and sisters greeted us with warm embraces. Their servants were busy with preparations. Their spacious home was alight with expectation and excited chatter. The courtyard bustled with activity. Even so, Mary called us to the table that commanded the open court beneath four date palms. I drew my hand across the table as servants poured water. I remembered when Joseph first placed it and had the trees planted. My father and Joseph were business partners. We often visited. Now, I was there again and, in the days that followed, I and the mother of Jesus laid the foundation of his blessed union with my sister.

All went well, as I recall. The ceremony was beautiful and Mary's face was alight with joy. The court was crowded with guests. Jesus had brought new friends with him. Some of them were fishermen I knew. They had their fish salted in Magdala for the caravans. It was a wonderful wedding. Jesus' mother fussed over every detail and ensured no guest was in want. Jesus surprised the governor of the feast with a hidden cache of wine and the song and dance took us into the evening. I took my sisters home and in the morning, Jesus and his brothers came to help us make the move to Bethany.

In his new office, as a novice initiate, Jesus looked smart in his white and blue prayer shawl and his tefillin with black leather straps. Jesus remained with us in Bethany after his friends and brothers left. He stood among us as we watched Mary trim the tassels he disagreed with. He made it clear that he cared not for the turban or the head tefillin. He wore common clothing he felt comfortable in, folded the shawl around his neck, and kept his left arm strapped. During his probation period, he would be accompanied by his seniors everywhere he was to go. He joked about them standing by while he voided himself. He would have preferred to dig a hole for them. He kissed his new wife goodbye on the third morning as he had been made the Rabbi of Beth Midrash in Capernaum. We did not see Jesus for a month after that, though we longed for his return and followed every news of his travels.

The feast I had planned for our new home in Bethany, I postponed due to illness. My two sisters fussed over me tirelessly. Instead, I sent word that the feast would occur at the end of the month. I felt much better then and was sure my house was in order. Many of my friends from Jerusalem attended bringing gifts and kind words of support. Some of the top merchants in the city came, comporting themselves with grace and striking bargains for the favor of my business. Some of my friends among the Sanhedrin also came to the feast. I had many tables and a broad courtyard. I served lamb and wine and several types of bread. I pulled expensive items from my stock to make merry the hearts of all my guests. Caiaphas came late in the day almost arm in arm with the Prefect, Pilate. All of my guests made me happy. The more the merrier. I was happier still when I chanced to look up and see my dearest friend, Jesus, stand before me.