Love Conquers All

by Galia Albin

  Chapter 40

  “I need time-out. You’re terrific, Seffi, but you must have noticed that, lately, I don’t eat and I don’t sleep. I need some time for myself; I’m so confused. I’ll be back from New York in a week.” Bali hung up the phone gently. The cab driver was honking impatiently at the gate, and she ran down the stairs rapidly, clutching a small light suitcase. A week to herself, that was what she needed now, and Ditty agreed to help Jenny with Udi and Micahli if they became too much for her. Institutions like this, Ditty was a tower of strength and totally dependable. For all their tiffs and disagreements in the past, Talia never doubted Ditty’s devotion to her.

  What will Seffi think when he comes back and finds her message on his answering machine? She gave him no indication of the turmoil that had been raging inside of her for the past few weeks. I’m being awful, the thought occurred to her, but she dismissed it quickly, deliberately replacing it with another idea; I mustn’t feel guilty, and I needn’t even think about him. I must think only of myself. This trip will benefit him, too; it’s for both of us,.. I need to put some distance between us, to leave home, to clear my head, or else there’s no chance for us at all...

  On their trips to New York, Jonathan used to take her to the Plaza or to the Waldof-Astoria, but she shunned those hotels after his death. She checked into the Sheraton on 54th Street. The quiet elegance of her room on the eighteenth floor was pleasing and soothing. Since she had not informed any of her friends in town of her arrival, she had plenty of time on her hands to walk around town and to think. The prestigious stores were splendidly decked with Christmas decorations; Christmas trees adorned with colorful lights, ribbons and flowers; piles of gift wrapped packages filled the perfume halls that were crammed with holiday shoppers. Fairy tale characters came to life in Saks Fifth Avenue windows, and a rapt crowd lined up in front of them, listening to the music and the recitation that emanated from somewhere inside the store. But Talia was aloof and didn’t succumb to the enchanting atmosphere and to the enticement of seasonal shopping.

  On her third day in town, her attention was drawn to young man with cropped hair and Palladium shoes who was walking behind her. He kept following her for a considerable distance along Lexington and Park Avenue, until she decided to enter Bloomingdale’s cafeteria for a cup of coffee, salad and carrot cake. The following day, she noticed the same fellow again. She thought for a moment that she had caught the fancy of a young New Yorker who just happened to run into her twice in a row in the huge metropolis, but, when she saw him the next day on the comer of 54th Street and Third avenue, climbing the stairs behind her at Barnes and Noble, she chided herself for her naiveté Obviously, the man was sent from Israel to tail her. It was the man, or someone very much like him, that used to hang around her house on a motorcycle wearing the same type of shoes.

  Who could be behind it, if not Samuel, she thought furiously. He follows me abroad, too, just when I’m in such great need of peace and quiet. She sat down at the coffee counter in the huge bookstore and threw a glance at the young man, who was leafing through a book near the cashier. He looked like a veteran of a secret elite unit in the army, and the chance of getting rich quickly in the land of opportunity had apparently gone to his head. How would he react if she addressed him in Hebrew? Her face, cold form exposure to the freezing air, was suddenly aflame; Goldberg Junior, she addressed him in her mind, whether you’re acting as your father’s stooge or are in business for yourself, you’ll pay for this! I’ll get you off my back, and in a manner you won’t forget!