Abraham finally broke the silence. “You see the dangers of interpreting for your husband.”

“She’s loyal,” said Isaac. “To her family. And to God.”

“Eliezer told me the story of her refusal of Ezbaal,” said Abraham. And he began to laugh. It sounded like reeds brushing against each other in a breeze.

Isaac also laughed, a deep, throaty sound that was rich with life.

There they were, laughing together, and Rebekah was baffled. Until this moment it had felt like a war between them—the last thing she had ever expected—and yet now they were laughing like old friends. What was going on between them?

“Poor Ezbaal,” said Isaac.

“The Lord chooses strong women for us, my son,” said Abraham.

“She’s already standing up to you,” Isaac pointed out.

Rebekah wanted to protest, but of course he was right, so what was the point of arguing?

“I’ve never had a shortage of people who stand up to me,” said Abraham. “In my old age, I wasn’t wishing for yet another.”

“The Lord sends us what we need, not what we want,” said Isaac with a smile.

“I hate it when you quote me to myself.” Abraham turned to Rebekah. “Let me tell you right now, so you know: I like you. I like everything I’ve heard about you and I like what I’ve seen. But if the Lord wants somebody else to make the decisions here, all he needs to do is take me home. I’m ready whenever he wants me back. Until then, I’ll listen to what you have to say, but I hope you’ll do me the same courtesy. At least try doing it my way before you decide I’m wrong.”

“Grandfather,” said Rebekah, “in all matters pertaining to your household, you’ll have my perfect obedience. But I, not you, am the one the Lord chose to be the mother of my children. And if he wants someone else to do that job, all he needs to do is have me die in childbirth. It happens all the time. But if I’m still here after our first son is born, then I will be his mother.”

Abraham studied her for a moment, smiled broadly, then turned to Isaac. “Mark my words, she’ll spoil the boy.”

Did that mean he was giving in? Rebekah thought not. He was merely choosing not to press the issue further right now.

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t,” said Isaac. “But for the moment, I’ll be content if the Lord gives us a boy in the first place. And just so you know, Father, Mother never spoiled me. She was harder on me than you ever were. Perhaps you’ve forgotten how rigorous she was.”