Your apology is too heavy for this old woman…. Keep it.

On the way back, Mira told Jackson that she wanted to stop by the village supply shop and buy something for his aunt and family. She had borrowed some money from her father but didn’t tell him.

“Let’s do it another day.” Jackson couldn’t wait to get home and be alone with his wife. The other reason was, he didn’t have enough money in his pocket. Everything he had saved up for the month was used up for her at the healer’s place.

“That’s okay…. Just a quick look…. Please…. please….” Mira blinked pitifully.

“Alright.” Jackson couldn’t bear to refuse. He planned to ask the shop keeper to open a borrower’s account for him. This was common in this era. Most people would have this sort of borrower’s account against their household with the supply shop, the butcher, the milkman and so on… There were only few individuals who could pay as soon as they bought something, others would pay it off slowly or when they got their wages or sold their harvest.

Mira also wanted to look at the items in the shop to see if there was a way, she could supplement their income. She wanted to live a good life with Jackson.

Mira bought some daily supplies, a hen, 2 dozen eggs and a set of plates with matching bowls. Jackson’s facial muscles tightened as he saw her picking stuff one after the other, but he didn’t have the heart to stop her. He quietly left her to choose what she wanted while he went to find the shop keeper, Joe Teddy to request if he could open one of those borrower’s accounts.

Joe was pleasantly surprised when he heard Jackson wanted to open a borrower’s account with him. Jackson was one of the few people who didn’t have a borrower’s account. If he didn’t have the money, he wouldn’t buy.

“No problem.” Joe waved his hand “Life is tough. Everyone does it. Don’t feel embarrassed. Even I have a borrower’s account with the big shop in the city where I get this stuff.” Joe couldn’t help saying a few more words as he saw the look on Jackson’s face. He sympathized with the lad. Everyone in the village knew about his ridiculous marriage and wife.

“I’m done.” Mira smiled sweetly as she walked up to Jackson who was standing near the counter.

“Um” Jackson nodded as he took the basket from her.

“On the account?” Joe asked as he bagged the items.

“No, I will pay.”

“Yes”

Both Mira and Jackson responded at the same time.

“I want to pay.” Mira whispered as she looked at Jackson and opened her hand for him to see the coins she was clutching.

“Alright.” Jackson agreed although he was frowning.

“Why are we getting a hen?” He couldn’t help asking.

“To keep.” Mira answered as a matter of fact before adding “Then we won’t have to buy eggs.”

“But we don’t have space to put them.” Jackson frowned “Why don’t we build a cage first and then come and buy it?”

“Okay.” Mira pouted as she turned to Joe “Do you always have hen for sale?”

“No.” Joe could only answer truthfully “I only have them when someone sells them to me.”

Mira pouted as her eyes rolled “Then can I buy this? I will pay but leave her here till we are ready to pick up?”

“This…” Joe didn’t know what to say…

“That’s fine young lady.” Maria, Joe’s wife walked out from the inner room wiping her hands on the apron “I will also help you collect the eggs.”

“No need… no need.” Mira waved her hands in embarrassment as she looked at Jackson for his approval.

Jackson nodded. He was curious why she bought 2 dozen eggs although he didn’t ask.

“Let’s go to your aunt’s place.” Mira suggested once they reached home, and she had organized everything.

“You want to go to aunt’s place??” Jackson asked in disbelief.

“Um…” Mira nodded “This is the first day since my rebirth. I am going to treat it as our first day.” Her voice became muffled as she said this. A warm pink crept up her neck and to her cheeks.

Jackson shrugged; He didn’t have anything planned for the day anyway. He had taken a day off work having to rush with her to the healers.

Jackson looked at the basket in her hand and raised his eyebrows. She shrugged.  He took the basket from her hand and started towards his aunt’s place. This time he boldly held her hand.

“Aunt, I am home.” Jackson announced as he knocked at the door; there was no one at home except his aunt at this time.

“Jack my boy….” Beth called out happily “The door isn’t locked. Come in…. your aunt’s hands are dirty.”

“Why are you here at this time?” Beth asked without raising her head as she heard footsteps nearing. She was busy cleaning the tiny fish that Oden had bought back.

“Mira wanted to come.” Jackson leaned lazily against the kitchen wall. Mira stood anxiously next to him. She didn’t know where to put her hands and feet. She knew she was not welcome here.

“What??” Beth raised her head in shock. She was even more shocked as she saw Mira standing obediently next to Jackson.

“Which wind blew you here?” Beth twisted her lips and asked impolitely once she got over her shock.

“I am here to apologize.” Mira lowered her head. She knew this would be the effect of coming here… but what else could she do? Who asked her to be a vicious person before? She could only grin and bear.

“Ohh…. Your apology is too heavy for this old woman…. Keep it.” Beth didn’t give her any face. Who knew what new scam she was going to weave? She looked sympathetically at her hopeless nephew.

Mira didn’t retort unkindly like she did in the past. She just lowered her head and stood; waiting for her aunt to finish cutting the fish.

Beth’s actions quickened although her words were unkind. She finished cleaning the rest of the fish and hurried inside.

“Aunt, in the past it was my mistake. I am really sorry.” Mira opened her mouth once Beth finished her cooking and came out to sit in the lounge.

Beth narrowed her eyes as she looked at Mira with a measuring gaze.

“Aunt this is for you.” Mira extended the basket.

“What is it?” Beth frowned; she didn’t extend her hand to receive it.

“Just some eggs.” Mira lowered her head. This was all she could afford. Actually, she couldn’t even afford this …. She had borrowed the money from her father.

“In the past, I was insensible and broke aunt’s favorite plate set. I bought a replacement although it is not as pretty."

Beth just stared, ‘She wasn’t buying any of this.’

Mira quietly kept the basket on the table and spoke in a muffled voice “We will go back then.”

“No need.” Beth sat back “Have tea and go.”

“Okay.” Mira agreed straightforwardly and looked at Jackson for his approval. Jackson nodded.

Beth continued with her preparations for supper, She made a quick snack with the flour remaining at home as Mira and Jackson had agreed to stay for tea. Mira stood by her side quietly helping whenever she could.

Jackson was quietly observing Mira. He could see her change. He now really believed what she told him in the hospital. How can someone change so much in a few hours?? Unless they have travelled back and forth…. He was open minded and well read. He would bury her secret deep within his soul. He didn’t think too much about the knowledge that she had taken advantage of him and even divorced him and married another…. He knew what his choice would be either way…. Even if that situation arose in this lifetime, he would support her and silently protect her. Loving someone is not just obtaining them, it is being there for them no matter what…. At least this is what love meant in Jackson’s world.

After tea, Mira offered to wash the dishes and took them to the back of the house where there was a huge wooden basin filled with water.

Beth could not believe the change in Mira. She opened the basket that Mira had bought and saw that there were 12 eggs…. This was too much… each egg was worth a silver coin…When Mira said that there were some eggs, she just thought that it was 3 or 4 eggs as a courtesy… but this…. She shook her head and whispered to Jackson “Son, this is too much… take them back.”

“Leave them.” Jackson refused. He didn’t want to belittle Mira’s good intentions.

Beth looked at the plate set, this was also much better than the one she had and shook her head again sighing “This child…... Do you want to take these back and exchange for something that you need at home?”

“Aunt, this is what we owe. Let it be. The plates are chipped and not good. Let’s throw the old ones out.”

Beth shook her head but didn’t say anything more. This was the children’s good intention; she wouldn’t reject it. She looked towards the door and asked in a whisper “Son, what is all this about?”

“Aunt, she has changed.”

“I can see…. But why? Didn’t she want you to show her the door?” Beth was an experienced old woman. She was not buying any of this ‘I am reformed’ demeanor. In fact, she was wearier of this person than the person who wore her heart on her sleeve.

Mira had just reached the door as she heard the hushed exchange between aunt and nephew. She paused as she wanted to hear Jackson’s response. He didn’t disappoint her.

“Aunt, she has changed. She told me that we will live a good life together.” Jackson pursed his lips. He knew it was hard to convince anyone with just a promise.

“Son, be careful. You never know what schemes lie behind such a beautiful promise.” Beth shook her head; Her nephew was such a naïve fool in love. Even though he didn’t say anything, she knew he had fallen deep in love when she saw his indulgence and tolerance towards her even in their poor state. She was not sad because of his indulgence towards his wife, she was sad for her nephew’s unrequited love. But she knew that there was nothing she could do about it. Single-minded love was a family trait. Her sister was also the same…. But her sister was lucky to have found a man who could defy everyone and everything for her…. A man who would unflinchingly leave the world behind for her sake…But her nephew…. She sighed again…

“Aunt, stop sighing…. She is not that bad. I believe her.” Jackson comforted his aunt.

“I will believe you this once. But if she hurts you again, even if I have to fight you to the death, I will not forgive her.” Beth gave in; the light in his eyes were undeniably bewitching. She hoped she was right to believe this once.

Mira swore that she would cherish and love this man who was willing to stand by her even after she had made his life a living hell for the last 3 months. She waited till the noise in the room quietened and entered as though she was unaware of the discussion between aunt and nephew.

On the way back, both Mira and Jackson walked quietly holding hands. Jackson’s mind was filled with his aunt’s warning. He asked himself what he would do if this was again an elaborate set-up, and she would leave after giving him some days of warmth and care?  Surprisingly his mind was happy even if it was for a few short days. He would enjoy and cherish these stolen moments; his mind became clear and incomparably calm as he thought things through.

Mira was also walking lost in her thoughts, but she had no idea what was going on in Jackson’s mind. She was thinking about how to make money and get rich… how she could take care of her parents and Jackson’s uncle and aunt who had looked after him all these years. If her memory was correct, next year the king would proclaim a reform, announcing an opening for commoners to enter and compete in trade contracts with the elites.

 “Can we buy some vegetable seeds tomorrow?” Mira asked as she thought of how they could live better in the future.

“Some other time?” Jackson looked enquiringly; when he saw her pleading look, he couldn’t help but blurt out “I don’t have any money on me.”

“That’s ok. I still have some left over from the money I borrowed.” Mira blinked innocently.

“How much did you borrow?” Jackson was shocked. He had done some mental calculation. Everything she bought at the shop had added up to at least 50 pieces of silver.

“One gold coin.” Mira lowered her head guiltily. She knew a gold coin was a lot. This was most people got paid for one month.

“So much??” Jackson shook his head in reproach “We have to return whatever you have remaining.” In this era, hundred pieces of silver was equal to one gold piece; hundred pieces of gold was equal to a thin sheet of gold and 100 sheets of gold was equal to a nugget of gold.

 “I was going to return when I have enough to pay back.” Mira mumbled softly. She had borrowed not taken.

“But still…” Jackson didn’t want to take advantage of anyone. He decided to educate his wife “We can’t keep taking money. That is a lot of money to borrow. What will your parents eat in the meantime if we are delayed paying them back?” Mira's folks weren't farmers. They didn't produce their food. It had to be brought. Jack had no idea how much her father earned.

“Mom said they had enough.” Mira pouted “I know we don’t have even a single penny left. I will definitely pay them back. Can we please just keep this till we have enough?” Mira pleaded.

“Mom will feel bad if I was to go and return now since they already know that we don’t have anything.” Mira continued to coax him.

“Alright.” Jackson agreed half-heartedly.