A/N Please note I am not Jewish at all, I have tried to describe the burial according to what I have found on their traditions. If I am incorrect I apologize. Please message me privately to correct me if I have got it incorrect.

Mina's view

We buried Amari not long after holding the shmira, or guarding of the dead body. The 4 of us, Solomon, Abishag, Namaah and I held it. Namaah wanted to take Amari back to her parents but  Solomon would not allow it. Instead, Solomon buried her with his mother, the highest honor he could give his wife in death. This honor was unusual for him. Most of his  wives would be buried in a separate place away from where his mother and father were buried.

We washed Amari's body on her death in warm water from her head to her toe, and dressed her in the burial shrouds. Solomon recited the psalms while we (Abishag and I) did so. Although Namaah was there, she was quite useless, although she did uphold the wailing  and the tearing of her clothes people would do when loved ones died. As for us 3 we waited until we had escorted her to her final resting place and we had covered her coffin with a few handfuls of dirt.

Meremoth tore our clothes for us and recited a blessing "Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu melech haolam, dayan ha'emet," which means Blessed are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, the true Judge. Solomon had fell on his knees after and tears fell down his face as he bid Amari goodbye. His brother, then, repeated Psalm 91 and the El Maleh Rachamim. We pulled ourselves together enough to stand and receive the condolences of family and non-family alike as they recited the traditional condolence "Hamakom y'nachem etchem b'toch sh'ar availai tziyon ee yerushalayim." May God comfort you among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. As they all left the cemetery they washed their hands as a symbolic cleansing.

After the burial, we 4 sat in Shiva (in mourning) for 7 days. Our meals were taken care of by those not really affected by her death, but who knew of her. Solomon seemed to fall into a depression for this time, not eating and only drinking small sips of water, grieving the loss of Amari. Once the week was up, he got up, got dressed and went about his business as if nothing had happened, but I could tell he was still grieving for Amari - he just did not have the luxury of continuing to do so. Abishag and I both were too, although we also had done the same thing. We were only family by marriage, but she had brought us together and gave us friendship and joy both.

We continued her work in the vineyard and a year later I wrapped the precious wine up with the letter Amari had written and given me on her death bed to give to Solomon. I had read the letter and had it memorized,

Dear Solomon,

I am writing this as I die in your arms.

I want to thank you for the love, care and affection you have shown me over the past year. I never imagined that being married to you would result in such an amazing experience of love and joy. 

I pray that you remember to bring up Rehoboam in your God's way and do not let my sister teach him of Molech. 

I have charged Mina to give you this letter with the Sunshine brand wine. When I was alive we became keepers and makers of the brand. I hope as you drink it it warms your heart with the memory of our love. It was made out of love for you.

As you drink it, know that I love you and want you to be happy. Keep on living and trust in your God to bring you joy.

All my love

Amari.

I arranged to have a private dinner with Solomon on the anniversary of Amari's death and gave him the present just before we ate. I had made all his favorite things, including the cheese Amari use to make him. She had shown me once and I had made it on occasion there after. Amari, when she was alive, was the one who made it most often as only Namaah, Amari, Abishag and I knew of his love of that cheese.

The letter brought tears to his eyes, "I miss her Mina." he cried then silently.

"I miss her too," I said wrapping my arms around him in comfort, "I visited her grave today, I saw 2 pebbles, did you visit?"

He nodded, "Yes with Abishag, early in the morning before anyone else was up. We talked to her like she use to David and Bathsheba when she was alive and said the traditional prayer."

"Did it help?"

He nodded, his face changing in memory, "It was like a peace came over me you know?"

I nodded, I knew exactly what he meant as the same thing happened to me when I talked to her grave. I had visited her mid morning on the way to the vineyard to pick up the wine Solomon was now drinking.

That night Solomon spent time with me comforting me over her loss and I too fell pregnant and had a child to him - a little girl who we called Amari in remembrance of the sweet girl who was both his wife and my friend.

As for Namaah, she became Solomon's favorite afterwards. I think it was because she was so similar in looks to Amari and Rehoboam was considered her child by law. Solomon fell for her charms and allowed and participated in the worship of her God. I think he forgot the warning of our God in those moments, but that was between God and him. My duty was to be the best wife and mother I could be, following the rules of our God and this I did until the day I died, myself.

🍀A/N Please vote if you enjoyed this chapter. If you see any errors please let me know as this is unedited. One more chapter left. Thank you to those that followed this story to the end! 🍀