“Speak for yourself.” Shimon turned serious. “I’m worried about Mama. She still looks a little shaky.”
“She must have caught my bug,” Decker said straight-faced.
“You felt shaky last night?” Shimon said.
“Very,” Decker answered.
“You look okay now,” Shimon said.
“I feel a little better,” Decker said.
“How are you enjoying New York?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m not used to such close quarters,” Decker said.
“It can be oppressive,” Jonathan said. “Especially if you’re used to a lot of space. Rina says you have a ranch with horses.”
“A small ranch,” Decker said. “A few acres.”
“Do you police your area on horseback?” Shimon asked.
Decker stared at him. Shimon had asked the question sincerely. He cleared his throat and said, “We don’t live on the wild frontier. We have regular houses, regular streets—”
“But no sidewalks,” Jonathan said. “Rina said there are no sidewalks.”
“The major streets have sidewalks,” Decker said. “How well do you know Rina, Jonathan?”
“You have streets without sidewalks?” Shimon said.
“Some of the streets don’t have sidewalks,” Decker said. To Jonathan, he said, “You and Rina do a lot of talking?”
Shimon said, “Where do you walk if you don’t have sidewalks? On people’s lawns?”
“There are these dirt curbs—”
“How quaint,” Jonathan said.
“Quaint is cobblestone streets,” Decker said. “Our area isn’t at all quaint.”
Jonathan said, “Rina says you have a lot of Hell’s Angels living near you.”
“Not right near us—”
“Hell’s Angels, gang shootings, highway shootings, and all those crazies on drugs…” Shimon shook his head, adjusted his hat. “And they say New York is bad? I bet I’m safer here than where you live. Because here I have neighbors that know me.”
Jonathan said, “Rina says in Los Angeles no one knows their neighbors.”
“That’s not really true,” Decker said. He realized he was sounding defensive. “Well, it’s sort of true. What else has Rina told you, Jonathan?”
Jonathan didn’t answer right away. Then he said, “Did Rina tell you I was her late husband’s best friend? Yitz and I grew up together.”
“Yitz and Yonasan used to learn together,” Shimon explained. “Every single night until Yitz and Rina moved to Israel. The two of them were amazing. Whenever they learned in the Bais Midrash, people gathered around them just to hear their fertile minds click—”
“A real dog and pony show,” Jonathan said.
“You loved to learn back then, Yonie,” Shimon said. “I remember the fire in your eye whenever you proved a point.”
“That was a glazed look from lack of sleep.”
“You loved it.” Shimmy became grave. “Yitz was a good influence on you. Now he’s gone and you’ve become an apikoros. We lost both of you in one year.”
Jonathan looked pained. “Not quite the same thing.”
Shimon put his arm around his brother and said, “You’re right. It’s not the same thing at all. I’m just saying you lost your love for learning when Yitz—”
“I pay an analyst for this, Shim,” Jonathan said.
“Ach,” Shimon said. “Analyst, shmanalyst. I have faith. I haven’t given up on you.”
Jonathan started to say something but changed his mind. They walked the next few steps without talking. Turning to Decker, Jonathan said, “I used to razz Yitz the same way I’m razzing you.” He rolled his tongue inside his cheeks. “He was a good guy.”
There was another moment of silence. Jonathan managed to put on a cheerful smile, then punched Decker lightly on the shoulder. “As far as Rina goes, I tried. God knows I tried…and tried…and tried and tried.”
Decker let out a small laugh.
Jonathan shrugged and said, “The better man won out—both times.”
Decker didn’t know if that was true. But he certainly wasn’t going to argue the point.
The house that Rabbi Levine built was nearly identical to the Lazarus abode. Crystal, Decker decided, must be symbolic of something. Frieda Levine, like Rina’s ex-mother-in-law, Sora Lazarus, seemed to be inordinately fond of the glistening glass. The dining area was lit with a mammoth-sized chandelier—a four-tiered job with scores of icy stalactites dangling from the frame. It completely overpowered the room.
And as had been the case at Sora Lazarus’s, the adjoining living room–dining room had taken on the appearance of a mess hall. One long rectangular table and four folding card tables crammed every available inch of floor space. There were enough chairs to fill an auditorium.
Rina took Decker’s hand and explained that Frieda had invited a few families—ones that hadn’t lived in the community for so long.
“Nice that the woman is hospitable,” Decker said.
“Peter…”
“Okay, okay.”
“How was your walk over here?” Rina asked.
“You know, you might have walked with me,” Decker said. “Especially after all that happened.”
“You’re not going to like this, Peter, but I felt Frieda Levine needed me more than you did.”
Decker stared at her. “Feel the need to mother her, do you?”
“I think that’s a rhetorical question,” Rina said. “I’m not going to answer it.”
Decker jammed his hands in his pockets. “Did you happen to notice who I was walking with?”
“Yes, I did,” Rina said. “So did Mrs. Levine.”
“Did she say anything to you?”
“No, but she did have this real…wistful look in her eyes.”
“Wistful?”
“Maybe that’s not the right word.”
Decker bounced on his feet, unable to pace because they were in public and there was no room to pace even if he wanted to. He said, “Is there assigned seating at this shindig?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do I have to sit separate from you?”
“I don’t know that, either.”
“Can I put my elbows on the table?”
“Peter—”
“Forget it.” Decker dug into his hip pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “Anywhere I can get a light?”
“You need to smoke?”
“Very badly.”
Rina sighed. “Give it to me. There’s probably a fire under one of the kitchen burners.”
Decker handed her a cigarette. A moment later, she came back with his lighted smoke and suggested they take it outside. Decker said that was a wonderful idea. On the front lawn, they met Jonathan puffing away.
He said, “Great minds think alike.”
Rina took Decker’s arm and said, “Would you two like a formal introduction?”
“Not necessary,” Jonathan said.
“Jonathan grew up with Yitzchak,” Rina said.
“He’s had his history lesson for the day,” Jonathan said.
“Excuse me,” Rina said.
Jonathan laughed. “Sorry. I’m in a bad mood. I hate these things. Every year I swear I’m going to beg off coming, and every year my mother pleads and I give in. Mama can be very persistent. It’s religion to her. The family’s got to be together on holidays!”
Rina felt Decker’s arm tense.
Jonathan said, “I’ve got to marry a woman who doesn’t get along with my family and use her as an excuse.” He said to Decker, “How ’bout yourself, pal? You look really excited.”
“I’m thrilled.”
“Can read it all over your face.”
Decker laughed.
Rina said, “I think her hospitality is nice.”
“You’re nice.” Jonathan said to Decker, “Rina says I’m too sarcastic. Do you think I’m sarcastic?”
“Don’t get me involved in your squabbles,”
Decker said.
“You’re way too sarcastic, Yonie,” Rina said. “That’s why you’re having trouble finding a nice woman.”
“His sarcasm doesn’t put you off,” Jonathan said, pointing to Decker.
“Akiva is not sarcastic,” Rina said.
“I’m not?” Decker said.
“No,” Rina said. “You’re cynical. There’s a big difference.”
The men laughed. Decker crushed out his cigarette, feeling a bit more relaxed. Jonathan followed suit a moment later.
“What the heck,” he said. “It’s a bad vice.”
A woman stormed out of the house. She was short and thin and had she been in a better mood might have been considered attractive, but her expression was chiseled out of anger, her blue eyes flashing sparks like a hot wire in water. She was wearing a navy knit suit, the skirt falling three inches below her knee, and a pair of matching leather boots. Covering her hair was a blue headdress pinned with a rhinestone brooch. She marched down the walkway, tented her eyes with her hands, then scanned the sidewalk.
“Lose something, Breina?” Jonathan said.
The woman turned to him and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Have you seen Noam?”
“Which one is he?” Jonathan said. “I get them all mixed up.”
“That’s not funny, Yonasan,” Breina said.
“No, I haven’t seen him,” Jonathan said.
Breina took one more look down the block. Muttering to herself, she stomped back into the house.
“Ezra’s wife,” Jonathan explained. “She adores me.”
“I can tell,” Decker said.
Jonathan said, “Noam’s the second of five. A weird kid. Always smiling but he never looks happy.”
Rina said, “Jonathan…”
“It’s true,” Jonathan said. “She blames it on me. Anything remotely bad is blamed on my secular influence. God, I wish I had the power they attribute to me.”
He paused a moment.
“I feel bad for Noam. He’s a lost soul.”
“You’re projecting,” Rina said.
Jonathan said, “I’m a lost soul. I admit it freely.”
“Aren’t we all?” Decker said.
“Yeah, but it takes on greater significance in this community,” Jonathan said. “The object in Boro Park is to conform.”
“That’s not true,” Rina said.
“It is true,” Jonathan said. “Noam’s an obnoxious kid, but I feel for him. You know, about six months ago, he came to me to mooch twenty bucks. I was a little put out, but I gave him the money anyway. Before he left, he started asking me some pretty soul-searching questions.”
“What kind of questions?” Rina asked.
“Why did I leave Boro Park? Why did I become a Conservative rabbi? Did that mean that I really didn’t believe in God?” Jonathan sighed. “According to the Orthodox, I really don’t believe in the same God as they do because I think oral law is not as holy as the written law.”
Rina squirmed. Jonathan picked up on it. He said, “See, she thinks I’m an apikoros, too.”
“Cut it out, Jonathan,” Rina said.
“For your information,” Jonathan said, “I was very careful not to explain my decision to Noam because I didn’t want to subvert my brother.” To Decker, he said, “Ezra and I have a very sticky relationship and I didn’t want to add any more hostile fuel to the fire.”
“So what did you tell Noam?” Decker asked.
“I told him he should ask his father.”
“Smart man,” Rina said.
Jonathan shook his head in disgust. “It was a cop-out, Rina. Noam still has those doubts. Who’s he going to discuss them with? And don’t say the rabbaim. They’ll just do to him what they did to you—”
“Jonathan, you have no sense!” Rina snapped.
“No, wait a minute.” Decker held out his palms. “Wait a minute.” He turned to Rina. “What did they do to you?”
Jonathan said, “I thought you told him.”
“You are really, really…” Rina clenched her fist and faced Peter. “They didn’t do anything.”
“I’m supposed to believe that?” Decker said.
“They tried to talk her out of marrying you,” Jonathan said. “Subtly, of course. They’d visit in pairs—one of them the guy who’s trying to be your pal. Almost like a good cop, bad cop kind of thing.” He looked at Decker. “You guys really do that, don’t you?”
Decker said they did.
Jonathan said, “I guess good psychology is good psychology. You really have to be aware of what’s going on, or else you’ll fall for it.”
“I think you’ve said enough, Jonathan,” Rina said.
“Let him finish,” Decker insisted.
Jonathan went on, “They came over late at night when she was zonked, turned the lights real low, talked in very soft voices…. ‘Rinalah. You’re a young woman. You shouldn’t be closing yourself off to one man. You’re a woman of valor, you should have a Torah scholar like Yitzchak alav hashalom. I know such a boy. And he wants to meet you—’”
“Stop it!” Rina whispered. She looked at Peter. His face was flushed with anger.
Jonathan turned to Decker. “She’d call me afterward. See, they pulled the same shtick on me when I decided to quit the yeshiva. We commiserated. You don’t have to be angry at them, Akiva. In their own minds, they were just doing what they thought was right. Besides, Rina seemed angry enough for both of you. Her mind was made up a long time ago. She only had eyes for you.”
No one spoke for a moment. Finally, Decker let go with a laugh, put his arm around Rina.
He said, “At least I know you’re loyal.”
“It’s called love,” Rina said. She looked at Jonathan. He was very troubled. She said, “It’s okay. I’m not mad.”
“I’m glad, but that’s not what’s bothering me,” Jonathan said. “I’m thinking of Noam. Who does he talk to, Rina? Maybe I should try to approach him. Take the plunge and incur my brother’s wrath.”
Ezra Levine came out of the house, repeating the exact dance his wife had performed minutes ago. He noticed Jonathan and said, “You’ve seen Noam, Yonasan?”
“No, I haven’t, Ez.”
“You didn’t see him or talk to him today?”
Jonathan noticed a hint of concern in his brother’s voice. “No, I didn’t.”
Ezra looked down the sidewalks again. Lots of people walking home from synagogue. But nowhere was his son.
“Want me to look for him, Ez?” Jonathan said. To Decker he said, “Noam wanders off all the time. Maybe now’s a good time to reestablish some contact.”
Ezra took off his hat, adjusted the black yarmulke underneath, then returned the hat to his head. He rocked on his feet for a moment, then said, “Do you mind, Yonie?”
“No problem,” Jonathan said.
“I’ll come with you,” Decker blurted.
Rina gave Decker a look of surprise. “Anything to get out of lunch.”
Decker tossed her a smile laced with emotion. Immediately, Rina felt his sadness. What that smile had told her.
Jonathan.
His brother.
Talk about establishing contact.
Decker caught himself. “I’m not trying to get out of anything. I just thought Jonathan might want to avail himself of my trained eye.”
Everyone burst into laughter that held more relief than mirth.
8
It was taking too long, everyone making desperate excuses for the delay.
“They got lost,” Breina said. “Go look for them, Ezra.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Ezra countered. “Yonie grew up here.”
“Yonie’s been away,” Breina fired back.
Shimon said, “Yonie didn’t get lost, Breina. Calm down. They’ll be back soon. Yonie probably started talking to someone and forgot there are forty people waiting for him to come back. You know how he is.”
“He’s the absentminded professor, Brein
a,” Miriam said. “Don’t worry.”
“He’s impossible when it comes to time,” Faygie added.
“Always late,” Rina’s sister-in-law, Esther, chimed in.
Rina didn’t buy it. Even if Jonathan was irresponsible, Peter certainly wasn’t. But she didn’t say anything.
Everyone was quiet for a minute. Ezra broke the silence.
“I thought you were watching him,” he scolded his wife.
“I had the girls,” Breina said. “The boys are your responsibility.”
“Noam’s a year past bar mitzvah,” Ezra said. “I should watch him like an infant?”
“I’m not saying you should watch him like an infant,” Breina said. “But you can keep your eyes open. You know how Noam is. Lost in his own world. Just like Yonasan—”
“So if you know how he is,” Ezra interrupted, “you can’t keep your eyes open?”
Breina repeated, “He’s just like Yonasan—”
Frieda Levine broke in. “Stop bickering, both of you. You’re making all of us nervous.” But Frieda’s sense of dread had started long before this happened.
This was not something that would right itself. This was Yad Elokeem—the hand of God—punishing her, condemning her for not being strong enough. It had taken Him forty-one years, but she’d known that the time would come eventually. And now He had chosen the weakest of her sons, her most vulnerable grandchild, knowing how much it would hurt.
Her lost child—had he come as part of God’s vengeance? Or had he been sent for some other reason? Perhaps the Almighty in His infinite wisdom was also testing her. Perhaps she could earn redemption if she showed herself worthy—worthy of His mercy, worthy of Akiva’s mercy.
Whatever was expected of her, whatever she must do, she would do. She would be strong. To her husband, Frieda said, “Make kiddush. Akiva and Yonasan will make their own kiddush when they come back.”
Alter Levine was sitting at one of the folding tables, a volume of Talmud in front of him. He looked up when he heard his wife speak, but returned his attention to the Talmud when no one else moved.
Ezra gathered his other children and asked, “Who was the last one to see Noam?”
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