Her mouth dropped open. He shook his head when she started to speak.
“While I waited outside for them to do their thing, I ran into Stuart Rose, the lead partner here. He asked what I was doing. I told him. He didn’t say anything, but I knew, I just knew, if I’d taken the job he’d offered, I wouldn’t be seated outside in the hallway. I’d be defending my brief in the courtroom.”
“So, what did you do?”
“I quit. I called Stuart to see if the job was still available. Here I am.” He pulled papers off his desk and walked toward her. “Listen, I had a dream. It didn’t work out. It turned into a nightmare. I lost you to boot. I’ve changed my dream, not because of you, but because of me. I’m happy. I’d be happier with you as a part of it, though.” He handed her the papers.
“What is this?”
“This is a printout of what this firm sends to the families of the people whom they hire. It’s a kind of contract they make with the families. Don’t tell them I printed it, because we’re supposed to be green, but I wanted to give this to you. Read it.”
She skimmed the papers. Her eyes widened. “Are they serious?”
“Yes.”
“They really believe family comes first?”
“They do.”
She read the information more carefully—how they didn’t believe in working all night and all weekend, how personal days and vacations were mandatory, how families were encouraged to stop by to visit and to attend outings planned by the firm. When she was finished, she looked at him.
“It’s not perfect,” he said. “I don’t think anywhere is. But it’s a whole lot better than where I was. I’d like you to be a part of this. Part of me. Part of us. Because I’m choosing you, Aviva, if you’ll let me.”
“What about paying back your law school loans and taking care of your mom?”
He shrugged. “It’ll get done, just a little slower than I originally planned.”
“I don’t want you to resent me if this choice doesn’t make you happy. It has to be your decision, not mine.”
“It is. And I can’t resent you, Aviva. You let me choose my own course.”
“But the lifestyle…”
He took a step forward and grasped her upper arms. “No lifestyle is important to me if it doesn’t include you.”
She dropped the papers on the floor, stepped forward and melted into him. He’d made his choice. He’d chosen a new dream. This dream included her. For the first time in her life, someone was choosing her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aviva and Jacob held hands as they entered Karen’s synagogue on Shabbat. All around them, well-dressed people filed in and greeted friends and family. Many hadn’t seen each other all summer; the first Shabbat service after the summer months was a chance to catch up with people prior to the holidays.
Aviva looked around at the stately building. An impressive foyer with wine-colored carpeting, pale blue walls, and signs directing people to the various places within the building, it spoke of an active Jewish community, similar to the one in which Aviva grew up.
Jacob said hello to those people he knew, introduced Aviva, and led her into the sanctuary. Spotting his mother, who stood next to a row of seats she’d reserved for them, they approached her.
She gave a big smile. “Hello, bubbelah, hello, Aviva. I’m happy to see the two of you together. Aviva, your dress is beautiful. Doesn’t she look beautiful, Jacob?”
“Thank you, Karen.”
“Yes, Ma, she does.” He kissed his mother and rubbed Aviva’s back.
“Oh, look, there’s Amanda and Benjamin. Jacob and Amanda were in religious school together. Amanda and Benjamin just got engaged. Don’t they look adorable?” Karen waved. The two walked over.
They greeted each other; Karen asked to see Amanda’s ring and the five of them made small talk. As other people walked by, Karen introduced Aviva and Jacob to her friends. Amanda and Benjamin excused themselves to sit and Karen turned to her son.
“You should get to know Benjamin better, you know. He’s a lawyer, too.”
Jacob laughed. “Sure, Ma, whatever you say.”
“Don’t be fresh, now. It’s Shabbat.”
Aviva nodded. “Come on, Jacob, be nice.”
“I’m sorry, Ma.”
“That’s better. Come on. We better sit down. The Rabbi will start any minute.”
As they sat in the seats Karen had reserved, Aviva fingered her Chai necklace. Chai, the Jewish symbol for life. A long life with Jacob. It was exactly what she wanted.
A word about the author…
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep, or in the car on her way to or from her daughters’ numerous activities (anything that will drown out their music is a good thing). Eventually, she started writing things down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day, mornings are evil, and she does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters.
She can be reached at www.jenniferwilck.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Wilck /201342863240160. She tweets at @JWilck. Her blog (Fried Oreos) is www.jenniferwilck.blogspot.com and she contributes to Heroine with Hearts blog monthly http://www.heroineswithhearts.blogspot.com.
~*~
Other Jennifer Wilck titles
available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.:
Addicted to Love—Serendipity, Book 1
In the Moment
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