It had been raining hard all day, so when Sam was a little bit late to visit her, Rachel didn't think much of it. When he was 2 hours late though, she began to get worried. He had always been very reliable, and more often than not punctual, and it would have to take a lot more than rain to stop him from being somewhere that he said he would be. She stayed up as late as she could, but eventually her father insisted that she go to bed, "Nobody would be out at this hour anyway."
The next morning he woke her up; Sam had arrived. It worried her that he seemed so anxious, her father was a calm man who never let his worries show; how could Sam have possibly caused such a strain? She hoped he had a good reason for not arriving the night before.
She quickly got dressed and went downstairs. Sam was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee, her father was making his own cup and looking out the window; the dark clouds outside were reflected in the mood of the room.
"What happened last night? Why didn't you come?"
Sam turned around as she spoke and her breath caught in her throat.
"What happened to you, Sam? Why is your eye all swollen, are you alright? Who did this?"
Her father nervously cleared his throat and looked pointedly at his newspaper, letting them know that while he was giving them some privacy, he still wanted to hear what Sam would have to say, he didn't want to disrespect Sam's privacy by asking, but he felt he had some right to know, just in case it would involve his daughter. He trusted Sam greatly, he had known him for years and loved him dearly, but he loved his daughter more and would be willing to drop all of his good thoughts and feelings for Sam in a heartbeat if he thought his little girl would be in any way hurt by what was going on. There had been a few cases of police beating up citizens lately, all swept under the rug, but he knew of it, as far as he knew though Sam couldn't possibly have done anything to cause such punishment. His real concern was that Sam may have gotten involved in one of the new rebel gangs which were quickly and silently being squashed around the country, or worse, a loan shark; he knew had badly his family had been struggling in the past few months. Sam had had to take up full time work there once he finished school, his younger brother was working every spare moment he had when he wasn't in school, but the money just wasn't coming in. He had offered to help, of course, but Sam and his father outright refused, insisting that they could manage just fine. It was one of the reasons he approved so thoroughly of Sam, he came from a good family and was a wonderful young man. He hoped that things would right themselves soon, but he was still nervous.
"My father, he had some visitors last night. They wanted to know why my brother and I hadn't gone to any of the meetings down at the hall. My father said we were too busy running the shop, now that he's not able to do it himself. They weren't impressed, I think.. I think we'll be going this evening."
"Oh Sam, that's horrible. Did they do this to you?"
"No. No it was my mother actually. I didn't.." He looked down at his lap before continuing, his face flushed. "I told them I wouldn't go. I've heard them all talking about what's been going on at those meetings; what they say. We've all heard the rumours from around the country. She herself has been telling us the horror stories she's heard from the other women in town. I can't be a part of that Rachel, I won't. So I told her I wouldn't go."He let out a deep, shuddering sigh and took her hands in his."She's just worried. With my father's shop taking in as little as it has, and with us being seen together.. Look, you know that I don't care that you're Jewish, that doesn't matter to me. But right now, my family cannot afford to be on their radar. I'm sorry. I think it might be best if I just go to one or two meetings. If only until things settle down or business picks up. I am of course thinking of you and I am so sorry but I have to think of my family and I think that this is the best thing I can do for them right now. I hope and I pray that you can forgive me, you know that if I had the choice I would curse those disgusting meetings to hell."
He kissed each of her hands once as she sat down at the chair across from him; keeping their hands together, she looked to her father; he seemed to know what she was checking and nodded his approval.
"Sam, I understand, Papa and I know how things are for your family right now, and I know that you aren't going because you want to go or because you support them, you're just doing what you have to for your family. I would do the same if I were you."
"She's right Sam, if I were in your position I would do anything I could to protect my family. I know that times have been tough, you're a good man, and I trust you. I trust you with my daughter, and I trust you to do the right thing. Go to the meeting, Sam. We won't think less of you for it. If however it is as horrible as they say and you simply can't stand it I implore of you to rethink my offer. I know you don't want to take my money but if things are getting this bad I think that that may be the best for your family."
"Thank you Mr. Berry, but for now, I will do what I still can on my own, I just wouldn't feel right, and I swear that I will only go as often as I absolutely have to, it makes me sick to even go once. I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst."
"Well let's all just put it out of our minds for now and enjoy this nice morning, alright? There will be plenty of time for all of this later, and it will help none of us to dwell on what may be." Mr. Berry rose and brought Sam over a fresh cup of coffee.
After they had eaten breakfast Sam had to go to work at the shop, so he walked with Mr. Berry towards his office. Rachel had stayed home to clean the house before going out to get the groceries. Her mother had left when she was very young and had taken over all the responsibilities a mother would have had when she was 12. They had had a housekeeper for a while but Rachel preferred it to just be her and her Papa. She had met Sam on one of the occasions she had gone with her father to his office. Sam's father's shop was close to her Papa's office and they had played outside for hours. That had been almost ten years ago. For some time now they had been seeing each other in a different way. Having known each other for so long, their parents were quite comfortable with them pursuing each other, even if there were considerable differences with their families.
Sam's family had lived in the same village for generations, Rachel's parents had only moved their once she was born. Sam had a brother and a sister and a large extended family, Rachel had just her father. Sam's family struggled with money, Rachel had never wanted for anything. Sam's family were protestant, Rachel and her father were Jewish.
They made quite the unique pair but everyone in the town knew that they were in love and everyone presumed that their marriage was just a matter of time.
This was where Rachel's father had taken his conversation with Sam shortly after leaving the house.
"Samuel, if you do continue to have to attend these meetings, what will become of your intentions for my daughter? It's no secret how they feel about Jewish people."
"I understand sir, and I know that, but I want to be very clear. I love your daughter, very much, I will never be swayed on that. I will care for her, I will provide for her, I will put her first, always, and if you will give me your blessing, I will propose to her this month."
Rachel's father smiled, he had been expecting this for some time. He was honestly surprised that it hadn't come sooner. He never understood why Sam felt the need to be so formal with him, and appeared so nervous around him. He had known him for so long, since he was just a child.
"I thought you would never get around to asking me. Of course Sam. But I think you knew that. Why are you so anxious?"
"Well sir, if I am honest, it's not your approval that I worry about, it's Rachel's."
"Rachel's? What on earth are you talking about? Why would you need her approval?"
"It's not that. It's.. What if she says no? I don't think I could face that, sir."
He really had to hold back a laugh at that. "My daughter, say no to you? Oh Sam, I like to think I know my daughter quite well, and if there is one thing I'm certain of; it's that she would never say no to you."
"I sure hope you're right sir."
They had reached Mr. Berry's office and he stopped in pulling out his keys and smiled warmly at Sam.
"I think that it's about time you start to call me Hiram, after all, you're going to be apart of this family."
Sam couldn't stop his grin, "Alright Hiram, have a great day, I'll see you this evening when I stop by after the meeting, if that's alright with you."
"Of course Sam, I'll look forward to seeing you, have a good day son."
And so Sam made his way to his father's shop with a spring in his step, pushing all thoughts of his upcoming meeting aside.