Return to Exile (39 page)

Cyprian shouted, “Come now, Lisbeth!” He raced toward the back gate. Lisbeth had no choice but to follow.

The three of them arrived at the well, breathless and frightened as cornered prey.

“But I promised Mama I wouldn’t leave Laurentius or Junia. And what about Barek? We can’t leave Ruth’s son.”

“I’m going back for them,” Cyprian said between labored breaths.

“But Aspasius . . . his soldiers are coming for you.”

Cyprian held Maggie’s limp body close to his chest. “We have come to the end of things.”

Lisbeth placed her palm on Maggie’s forehead. Typhoid’s heat seared her hand. Far down the alley, hobnailed boots marched for Cyprian.

If she saved her daughter she would lose her husband. Maggie would receive lifesaving drugs, and Cyprian would kneel before the executioner’s sword. The past would forever carry the stain of his selfless blood so that somewhere in the future, a young woman would learn the truth of her father’s sacrifice and weep in appreciation.

“I shouldn’t have given Aspasius the medicine.”

“You lived what I have only had the courage to preach.”

“I didn’t do it out of love. Pytros had a knife to Mama’s throat.”

“Fear may have been a factor, Lisbeth, but in the end you chose to love someone who did not deserve your sacrifice.” He stroked her cheek. “Promise me you’ll teach our daughter this beautifully illogical love.”

“You’re not coming with us, are you?”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. His love for a group of people who did not deserve his sacrifice would allow him to do nothing less.

She withdrew nose plugs from her backpack, and clamped Maggie’s nose. Their daughter was the perfect sum of the best parts of him and the best parts of her. Two completely different sets of DNA woven into an intricate little being time and distance could never separate. No matter how long the time or how far the distance, Maggie’s father was forever captured in Maggie’s regal features, unruly curls, eyes blue as the Mediterranean, and selfless heart.

“We must be quick.” Cyprian deposited Maggie into Lisbeth’s arms. He removed his sash and lashed Lisbeth’s wrist to Maggie’s. “So you do not become separated.”

This was it. The moment she’d fought since her arrival. And she was not afraid.

All this time, she’d believed the reason for her travels into this harsh world a simple one: she was meant to rewrite history. But
now she knew she’d been dropped into the middle of these struggles so the past could rewrite her.

She gazed into Cyprian’s eyes and caught a glimpse of his future, a portion that had been hidden from her until now. Her breath snagged on the clarity. He, too, was not afraid.

No matter what happened in the next few minutes, Cyprian would follow his destiny. She must follow hers.

Lisbeth shifted Maggie over her shoulder and took her first deep breath in six years. “I love you.”

Cyprian took Lisbeth’s face in his hands. “Promise me you will never come back.”

She could only nod.

He gently brought his lips to hers. When at last he withdrew, the bittersweet tang of their mingled tears lingered. He kissed the top of Maggie’s head, never taking his eyes off Lisbeth. “I know you will love our daughter enough for the both of us.”

She did her best to smile, then opened his hand. She pressed his palm against the tiny swimmer painted on the side of the well. “Send us home, my love.”

Epilogue

C
YPRIAN FELT HIS HEART
sink along with his wife and child in the dark cistern waters. The fast-approaching double time of armed men denied him even a moment to mourn. He wheeled from the time portal and ran in the opposite direction. He cut through the tenement alleys, putting multiple turns and as much distance as possible between him and the sounds of soldiers’ boots. Huffing, he scrambled through the deserted market, veered onto one of the major avenues, and raced toward his villa.

“Barek!” he called as he burst through the door. Overturned mats, smashed pottery, broken vaporizer tents, and the still bodies of Lisbeth’s patients littered the atrium. “Barek!” His calls went unheeded. His anxiety growing, Cyprian picked his way through the mess and sprinted to the gardener’s cottage.

The door stood ajar.

Heart pounding, he slowly pushed the weathered wood. “Barek!” Ruth’s son stood with his back to the corner, dagger drawn, his eyes wide and his face ghostly pale. Cyprian held up his palms. “Barek, it’s me. Where are Junia and Laurentius?”

Barek shook his head as if he didn’t understand Cyprian’s question.

“Where are they, boy?”

Barek stepped aside. Laurentius had his face buried in Junia’s
shoulder, and she had her arms wrapped tightly around him.

“Is everyone all right?” Cyprian rushed to the little huddle. “What about Naomi and the Ciceros?”

Barek pointed, and Cyprian turned to see them hiding behind the door.

Junia was the first to snap from their terrified trance. “Aspasius is dead.”

Cyprian dropped to his knees. “What? How? When?”

“Aspasius is dead,” Barek repeated. “And Magdalena has been arrested for his murder.”

Acknowledgments

A
S WITH ANY WORK
of fiction, it takes a lot of real people to transfer the story from an author’s head into the hands of faithful readers like you.

A special thanks to the young doctor who diligently pores over my attempts to practice twenty-first-century medicine with only a stethoscope and a bag of herbs. My blatant malpractice for the sake of story drives her crazy.

Writing about the early church would be difficult without the help of the young theologian who constantly sends interesting pieces of sound research my way.

Keeping the time travel rules straight would be impossible without my time travel consultants. You know who you are. Even though you do seem a bit confused about what century you actually belong in, I’m grateful you’re willing to make this journey with me.

I’m grateful to Graham Ellis, a high school student wise beyond his years, for his invaluable help with the typhoid research.

My incredible Street Team continues to tell everyone they know about this series. Their enthusiastic support and continual prayers are constant sources of encouragement. Thanks, girls.

I am blessed to be part of a group of writers who meet every Tuesday. These dear friends motivate me to be a better storyteller.
Then there’s my writing partner, Kellie Coates Gilbert. On the days when I wearied of slogging through, she would put her foot in my back and not let up until I had finally pushed through. A friend who won’t let you settle for less than you can be is a true friend.

To my wonderful family I pray my work will make you as proud of me as I am of each one of you.

My publishing team at Howard is top-notch. Beautiful cover and layout designers. Stellar sales, marketing, and publicity gurus. Brilliant editors such as Jessica Wong. This woman knows how to polish a story without dulling the spirit of the creative types she shepherds.

And finally, all praise, honor, and glory to a God whose perfect love compelled him to come to this sick and dying world and dwell among us.

Introduction

L
ISBETH HASTINGS, A TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY
doctor, travels back in time to third-century Roman Carthage once again to rescue her husband from martyrdom, but the arrival of a second epidemic forces her to make the impossible choice: save her husband or save her daughter?

Topics and Questions for Discussion

1. As the book opens, Aspasius is
rotting from the inside out
, and in an effort to cover his decay, he douses himself in expensive nard. We often go to great lengths to mask what is eating at us. What are some ways you hide your secrets? What are the dangers of letting those struggles fester?

2. While Cyprian wastes away in exile, he continually replays
his last conversation with Lisbeth
. When unexpected tragedy strikes, those final conversations can plague us, especially conversations we regret. Does hindsight clarify or cloud the ability to move forward? Why?

3. Cyprian’s refusal to reconcile his current life situation with the life situation he’d hoped for
almost leads to his arrest
. His anger rises again when he realizes he is “
a man uncertain of where to place his feet
." How do you think his disappointment plays into his crisis of faith? What do you do when your expectations and reality do not match?

4. Cyprian was raised in the social-class traditions of Rome. When he converted to Christianity, embracing equality was difficult. What are some struggles new Christians face today? How can the church aid these difficult transitions?

5. Based on her past experience, Lisbeth intends to return to the third century armed with the knowledge and supplies she will need. However, despite Lisbeth’s best preparations, she discovers
that
she has underestimated everything
. What is the value of being prepared? How do you handle it when life throws you a change of plans?

6. As Lisbeth works to reconcile her decision to meddle in the past with God’s purpose for today,
she digs into the Bible for any clues about time
. If you could time-travel, would you change something you regret? What would that be? If you could successfully alter the past, would you be a different person today?

7. Like many who desire to do it all and get it all right, Lisbeth struggles with control. In the end, she realizes control is an illusion. Name some things over which you have no control. Name some things you can control.

8. Barek questions the church not raising arms against people doing wrong.
“‘
Turn the other cheek,” his father’s voice rang in his head. In truth, he knew full well he was turning a blind eye to their suffering, and he hated how the teachings of the church had turned him into a coward
.”
What’s the difference between turning the other cheek and ignoring a situation? In your opinion, is turning the other cheek bravery or cowardice?

9. Cyprian struggles with the idea that someone in the church could betray him, especially after he’s done so much for them. How does Felicissimus’s relationship with Cyprian parallel our relationship with God? Do you think God wearies of our ingratitude? Discuss how we sometimes betray that relationship.

10. Lisbeth is struck by the fact that we take nothing with us when we die. Everything we hold dear in this life will be left behind in the next. What we can leave behind is our legacy. How will people in the future remember you?

Enhance Your Book Club

1. Maggie fears tight spaces, and Lisbeth fears losing control. Cyprian fears failing those who are depending on him. How did fear cripple these characters? Share as a group about what fears you would overcome if you could each choose one, and schedule a time to take a step of faith together.

2. In Ruth’s discussion with her teenage son, she tells him, “
In the end, service changes not those who are served but those doing the serving
.” What do you think she meant? Share a time when doing something for someone else changed your life. Discuss ideas of how your group can serve the community together, and put it on the calendar for your next group outing.

3. People walk away from faith for many reasons. Compile a list of some of those reasons and think of people in your life who have left or are struggling with their faith. Discuss together what you can do to show the love of Christ. Then choose at least one person to encourage.

A Conversation with Lynne Gentry

Healer of Carthage
ended with such a cliff-hanger. Did you know even as you were writing the first book what would happen in the second?

Return to Exile
is the middle of what was originally one story. So yes, I knew some of the things that had to happen. However, I love experiencing the story along with the characters, which means I’m often surprised. For example, I had originally planned for Lisbeth and Maggie to get separated because Maggie refused to enter the time portal. I was writing along, and all of a sudden that little sprite ran and jumped in after her mother. I literally screamed, “Noooooo!” And then I thought,
Now what?
Having Maggie in the third century changed the whole story in ways I never planned but absolutely love.

How did you work on developing already familiar characters even more in this second installment? How do you see the difference between their growth in the first book and this one?

Life never goes exactly as planned. Unexpected twists and turns can create hard times that test the mettle of a person. According to Cyprian’s own words, he struggled with his faith. Leaving his pagan beliefs behind was difficult, especially when it seemed that this new God he’d chosen had forgotten him. This was shocking to me. Here was this man who changed the world, and he wrestled with his faith. Just like me. So Cyprian was easy. I just put myself in his shoes and asked God, “Why me?” Lisbeth was a little bit harder. In the first book she is this headstrong heroine who thinks only of herself until the very end. Now that she’s a mother, and wants to be a good one, she no longer has that luxury. But her character arc started coming together when I realized good intentions don’t always bury selfish desires.

We meet and get to know the church more in this book as we’re introduced to various characters such as Quinta, Metras, and Natalis. Did you have a favorite of all these new characters?

All of these people represent different stages of faith. Natalis’s faith is young and unscarred by trials. Quinta’s faith is in the midst of storm. Metras’s faith has weathered hard times and made him a better person. My faith has undergone all of these stages. I would have to say Metras’s faith journey gives me hope. In the end, I want my struggles to shape me into the image of Christ.