Love Conquers All
Page 46
*
Seffi was just returning from the night shift when Talia called him. “Talia, is that you?” he bellowed, and all the rage that had been building up in him over the last few days evaporated.
Yes, it’s me. Seffi, listen. I’m in a phone booth, and I’m in a hurry. Can you help me? I need your help.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“I’m on my way back to the hotel; I’ll call you from my room. Don’t wonder at what you hear. But if you can, please go along with me. Don’t ask any questions; I’ll explain everything when I get back home. Maybe I don’t deserve your help, but I don’t have anybody else I can turn to. after all, there’s something between us, isn’t there?”
“Seffi, I miss you so much, I can’t wait to get back home. I’m counting the minutes, really. It was so stupid of me to run away from you just because of a little tiff. I don’t know what came over me. I’m roaming the streets here aimlessly, I can find no peace, even the stores don’t attract me...
“Tali, stop! Never mind, as long as you’re coming back. I miss you, too. I can’t wait to see you.”
“What can I get you? CD’s? A shirt from Lord and Taylor? Corduroy pants? Do you have leather gloves? A coat?”
“Don’t buy me anything. Just bring yourself. What do you do there all the time? Is it cold?”
“Terribly cold. I’m glad I took the fake fur with. I feel like I’m in an igloo. But without you, I’m cold at night, Seffi... I think about you all the time, about your hands, you...”
“Talia, you’re exciting me. I was so depressed when you left without even letting me know...”
“That was really wrong of me. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Oh, listen, there’s something I’ve got to tell you. Guess who I met in the street today: an army buddy of Shai, my brother. A terrific fellow. I could tell right away that this guy was an Israeli, you know, Palladium shoes, crew cut, the military gait, army jacket, jeans, as if Israelis don’t feel the cold when the temperature is below zero. Only when he smiled at me and said, ‘You’re Shai’s sister’ did I recognize him. He invited me for a bite at Bloomingdale’s deli. We had coffee and carrot cake. It didn’t look like he’d made it big here. So I assumed he was in the cloak and dagger business, you know, just starting out. The next day we went to buy some books at Barnes and Noble. Then we sat in the cafeteria there. We had chocolate muffins and American coffee, which is too tart for my taste. And sure enough, it turned out that he is working as an agent. His job is to tail Israelis in New York. He told me everything about it, but I can’t tell you this over the phone. I’m seeing him again tomorrow.”
“Good, I’m glad you’re in good hands. But remember that I’m waiting for you, Talinka, so don’t do anything foolish.”
“Well, it was rather foolish of me to take this trip here. Anyway, in four days, on Sunday, I’ll be in your wonderful arms. I can’t wait! Wait for me.”
The next day, Talia looked in all directions, threw quick glances around her shoulder, but the Palladium shoes and the crew cut were nowhere to be seen.
Samuel Goldberg never bothered her again. (Years later she met Marvin Goldberg at a party. He smiled at her and held her hand. “I knew you’d do it, Talia. I knew you had it in you. And I’m glad you finally wore down that good-for-nothing son of mine. You have more smarts in your pinky than he has in his fat head...”)