“No, no, no, no, no,” moaned Rebekah. “Isn’t it bad enough that I already lose my supper most nights? Do I have to have Keturah hovering over me being endlessly wise and helpful about pregnancy, this being my first time and her being so experienced . . . honestly, Isaac, I think it will be better for our child if his mother doesn’t commit murder while he’s in the womb.”

“So let’s not tell Father until the time is right.”

“And when will that be?”

“When the boy is thirteen?” Isaac suggested.

“That would be cruel.”

“That’s why it was a joke.”

“A joke, yes. Cruel, yes. But also a very attractive idea.”

“If we wait to tell Father until you’re farther along, we can refuse to leave Lahai-roi because it’s not safe to move you.”

“It’s already not safe,” said Rebekah. “I certainly can’t ride there, and I don’t think the woman with Abraham’s and your heir in her womb should be walking all that way.”

Isaac nodded and twiddled his beard. “I suppose that means we can break the news to Father any time, since you already can’t go there.”

“I also don’t want to move to Kirjath-arba after the child is born.”

“If it’s a girl, you won’t have to.”

“I especially don’t want to move there if it’s a boy.”

“I’ve been thinking about this ever since Father first brought it up,” said Isaac. “My father may not have long to live. Hasn’t he earned the right to have as much time as possible with my son before he dies?”

“Please don’t think I’m being disrespectful, Isaac, but your father’s imminent death was Eliezer’s excuse for hurrying me here to marry you without allowing my family a chance to give me a proper send-off. That was many years ago. I’m beginning to think, with the evidence I’ve had so far, that your father is going to live forever. Or at least longer than me, which amounts to the same thing as far as I’m concerned.”

“And this makes you sorry?” asked Isaac, only half teasing.

“No, I’m delighted, I hope he does live forever. But it does make me less inclined to try to raise my son under his constant supervision, just because he might die.”

“He will die sometime, you know.”

“And then he’ll be caught up into heaven and he’ll be with God, who’ll probably let him see the whole future of all our children and their children till the end of the world.”

Isaac studied her face. “You’re not joking.”

“No, I’m not. Well, about your father being immortal, yes, of course that’s a joke. But I don’t want to try to raise our children under your father’s watchful gaze. Everything I do is going to be wrong.”