Love Conquers All
Page 26
Chapter 23
In the morning, she called Orit and asked her to recommend an internist.
“You have been looking a little pale, lately,” commented Orit. She immediately rose to the challenge. Consulting her address book, she came up with a name. “Call Dr. Markovitch,” she said, “he’s an excellent physician. He’s Jewish, too. He’ll treat you very well; you can count on him. And just to calm her fears, she added, “Perhaps its only anemia. Don’t worry, this often happens after giving birth in quick succession.”
Jonathan came back the next day, laden with presents, rather agitated. He showered her with kisses, peered at her face to check that she hadn’t changed in his absence. When he was satisfied, he went upstairs to the children’s rooms. Michali slept peacefully and Udi was awake, playing with his new toy train. “Udi-Mudi-Budi-Dudi,” Jonathan sang, lifting Udi into the air.
“Stop, Jonathan, leave the boy alone,” Talia laughed, and at that very moment Udi threw up his entire supper, all over his father’s white, silk shirt.
He came out of the bathroom, washed and combed. Now it was her turn to be cagey and conceal things. “No, Jonathan, there’s nothing wrong with me,” she replied again and again to his questions. “The doctor told me to take a few tests. Orit took the same tests after she gave birth to Ziv. The very same. It’s true. I’ve always been as strong as an ox, but I’ve had three pregnancies, and the last two were rather close together, if you recall.”
“I’m still worried. You look so pale, yellow almost.
“What, do you want to talk to the doctor, yourself? Jonathan, don’t act like a mother hen.”
“Okay, if everything’s fine, then let’s go out tomorrow and celebrate. We’ll have ourselves a day of fun. First, we’ll buy the dryer we’ve been meaning to buy. How can you survive in this wet city without one? Then we’ll go out to eat and just enjoy ourselves; we’ll have nothing but a good time!” Talia had not seen him so high-spirited in ages. She wondered what had been accomplished in Zurich. Perhaps all the problems were finally, finally solved?