Blood Moon Redemption

by Judy DuCharme

  “How was your day?” Omar smiled at Tassie.

  She slumped into the chair and pretended she was going to slide out.

  “That bad, huh?” Omar chuckled. “Well, you look lovely, and you don’t have any pressure on you now.”

  “I do appreciate that.” Tassie took his hand and straightened in the chair. “How was your day?”

  He picked up the glass of wine that Tassie had waiting for him and swirled it gently. “Always fantastic.” He smiled. “Actually, financial law is a great field. Opened two new accounts today. You?”

  “Well, we actually lost one. It’s good in the long run. But the firm wanted to make sure I wasn’t the cause.”

  Omar glanced up from the menu and scanned her eyes. “Ouch. Tell me about it.”

  Tassie shook her head. “You know, attorney-client privilege.”

  “Don’t give me the details or names, just the general gist of the thing.” He placed his hand on his heart. “I promise to never breathe a word of it.”

  Tassie smiled. “It was a custody battle, an international one.”

  “Hmmm, sounds big.”

  The waiter arrived, and they ordered. Omar chose the lobster Alfredo while Tassie had the beef bourguignon.

  “So, an international custody case. Sounds juicy.” Omar put his fingers to his lips then opened his hand and made a puckering sound.

  Tassie laughed. “Yes, but it seems they chose to stay together. She wanted to return to Israel where her family has possibly hit it big in oil.”

  Omar’s eyebrows went up. “Oil? Israel? Isn’t that an oxymoron?”

  “Most would agree, but the husband was quite convinced.” Tassie looked down, then turned her head as she looked back at Omar. “Remember, this conversation never took place. You can’t use it in your financing.” She felt Hector needling the back of her mind about Omar and the oil business.

  Omar guffawed and then took another sip of wine. “Oh, never fear. I would never recommend that even if I thought it was a great idea. So, that’s it, case closed?”

  “Well, his business was archaeology and relics, like my mother, and these people had also discovered some relic.”

  “Really, I always thought it kind of odd that people get so into that. I mean, history is interesting, but you have to live in the here and now. But go on. Was it like those urns with the Dead Sea scrolls in them? That was a big find.”

  “No, it was a bottle . . . one they thought came from Spain to America with Christopher Columbus.”

  The food arrived. The aromas so tantalized Tassie’s nose that she just sat and enjoyed the savory scents for a minute.

  “Are you praying?” Omar winked.

  “Oh, it’s just a family thing. We had to appreciate everything so whenever the meal is served we have to pause and inhale. I guess it’s a part of me now.”

  “Okay, now I’m intrigued. A bottle from Spain to America found in Israel. Sounds far-fetched.”

  “My mother has studied this a bit.” Tassie looked up. “It’s her field.” She took another bite. “This is so good.”

  Omar smiled. His eyes were warm. “So tough on the outside, so sweet on the inside. I may just keep you.”

  Tassie almost choked as she laughed heartily.

  “But if you self-destruct, I’m sending you back.” Omar reached across the table and squeezed Tassie’s hand. “So, your mom has studied this bottle?”

  “Yes, we are actually descendants of Christopher Columbus.”

  Omar paused and let go of her hand. As Tassie looked up, she detected a flicker of . . . what? Disdain? But, almost as instantaneously as it appeared it was gone. He stabbed a piece of lobster with his fork.

  “So, you’re Jewish?” He put the lobster in his mouth and waited.

  “Well yes . . . but how did . . . I mean why would . . . I mean what difference does it . . . ” She put her fork down. “Is that a problem, and how did you deduce that?”

  “It’s not a problem. I knew Columbus was part Jewish, so if you’re a descendant that seems a likely conclusion. It is not a problem. I’m totally contemporary.”

  Tassie detected a bit of humor in his voice, but something felt unsettling. “You knew Columbus was a Jew? Not that many know that.”

  “It was in a class I took or . . . ” Omar looked upward, his eye going back and forth for a moment. “Perhaps it was on the news.” He shrugged. “Don’t quite remember, just thought it interesting. How did you know? Wait, is it common knowledge in the Jewish community?”

  “Jewish community?” Tassie raised her eyebrows. Stereotypes. Ugh. “Actually, I don’t think most people, Jews included, realize it. But, as you know, this is my mother’s area, history and archaeology.”

  “Well, all that is very interesting.” Omar reached across the table and gently took Tassie’s hand in his again. “But on another note, how would you like to go up north to Door County for a weekend.” Omar searched her eyes. “Together, of course. Some friends I work with said it’s a place well worth seeing.”

  Tassie swallowed. “I love Door County. My family has gone there many times. You say a weekend? The two of us?”

  “Is it too soon?” Omar smiled and took Tassie’s other hand in his. His green eyes sparkled. “I think we could both use a break from work. I’d like to get to know you better.”

  Tassie shook her head, then nodded. Laughing, she said, “I like the sound of that. I think I’m free weekend after next.”

  Omar let go of her hand and took a sip of wine, all the while holding her eyes with his. “Then it’s settled.”

  Tassie let go of her concerns as they talked about Door County until a voice interrupted.

  “Why, Tassie, hello. We didn’t see you here.” Her dad stood next to their table. “Marge just went to the ladies’ room and we’re about to leave. What a wonderful dinner we had.”

  “Daddy.” Tassie stood and gave her dad a hug. Over his shoulder she saw her mother walking their way. “Daddy, this is Omar. I’ve mentioned him to you. Omar, this is my father, Judge Stevens and this is my mother, Marge. Hi, Mother.” Tassie reached out and took her mother’s hand. “We are just finishing dinner.”

  Omar rose to his feet and shook her dad’s hand, and then took her mother’s hand and lightly kissed it. “So very nice to meet you. Won’t you join us, perhaps for dessert.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Mother smiled and tilted her head toward Tassie raising her eyebrows.

  Her dad shrugged. “Certainly, but you may want the evening to yourselves.”

  “Nonsense.” Omar held out the chair for Tassie’s mom.

  “Such chivalry. Thank you, Omar.”

  Tassie’s dad sat down as the waiter arrived, as if on cue, with a dessert tray. “Well, that was well timed.” He chuckled and selected a carrot cake.

  “Mother, shall we share a carrot cake?”

  “Love to, that’s plenty.”

  Omar laughed. “Looks like it’s carrot cake all around. It’s always been my favorite.” He gestured to the waiter. “And do put it all on my tab.”

  Her dad started to protest, but Omar waved him off. “I’m delighted to treat the parents of this amazing lawyer. You have obviously raised her well.”

  Tassie laughed. “Oh, my goodness, Omar. I’m starting to blush.”

  “Well, we do agree that she is amazing.” Her dad patted her hand.

  “Mrs. Stevens, I understand you are quite the expert on archaeology and relics.”

  Marge nodded as the waiter returned with the cake. “It’s always been my love and my field of choice.”

  “And you are a descendant of Cristobal Colombo.”

  Each one of the Stevens family coughed, covering their mouths. Tassie froze and then closed her eyes. No, Omar, don’t get her going.

  “I’m impressed you know the Spanish name of Christopher Columbus and that Tassie has discussed our connection with him. Are you a student of the bl—”

  “Mother, we haven’t discu
ssed your studies, just a little family background.”

  “Did you enjoy history growing up?” Marge winked at Tassie.

  “Well, I enjoyed studying every subject. My family really promoted getting a good education to get a good job. But, back to Columbus, not many realize Columbus was Jewish.” Omar smiled. “One of those little-known facts.”

  There was a moment of silence. Tassie glanced from mother to father. “Daddy, Omar is a financial lawyer with Crowder and Langdon. You probably tried some of their cases in the past, didn’t you?”

  “Oh yes, a fine company. Lamar Janbry was with them for many years. Is he still practicing law?”

  The conversation continued a few minutes between Omar and her dad. Tassie warned her mother with her eyes to go no further.

  Her mother nodded and when the conversation lulled, she took her husband’s hand. “We really should go. Let’s let these two have the rest of their evening without us.”

  Her dad stood up and shook Omar’s hand. “So nice to meet you. Stop over anytime with Tassie and thank you for the treat of dessert.” He bent over and gave Tassie a kiss on her head. “See you later, Sweetie.”

  As they walked off, Omar took Tassie’s hand. “Nice parents. Glad I met them.”

  “Mother, I love you and of course, I would like you to approve. But it is my life and my choice.”

  “Tassie, dear, there is something that just troubles me. He seems to adore you on the one hand, but on the other, there’s something in his eyes . . . disdain? I don’t know. Oh, do be careful, darling.”

  “Mother!” Tassie rolled her eyes. “Daddy, you like him, don’t you?”

  “He’s very savvy, and, yes, he seems like a good man.”

  “Seems? Daddy, what are you saying?”

  He looked at Tassie and allowed his shoulders to slump. “Oh, it’s the elephant in the room, Tassie. We’re Jewish and he’s . . . ”

  “Not. He’s not Jewish. So what? We are beyond that. Daddy, I can’t believe you . . . ”

  “Tassie, he’s Muslim. Many Muslims despise Jews.” Her dad closed his eyes and looked down.

  “And many Jews despise Muslims.” Heat rose in Tassie’s face and her voice became louder. “I am not one of them, and I cannot believe my parents, who raised me to respect every person, no matter their place in life, their color, their religion, are talking to me like this.” Tassie placed her hands on her hips and shook her head.

  “Whoa, whoa.” Her dad reached out and grabbed her hand. He pulled her to his lap, but she sat stiffly and refused to look in his eyes. “Tassie, we have no problem with Muslims.”

  “Although, my research . . . ”

  “Not now, Marge.” He and Tassie both turned toward her. Her mother said no more.

  “We have no problem, even if you marry a Muslim.” He cast a warning glance toward Marge. “However,” he waited and took a deep breath, “we just wonder if perhaps he has something against us because we are Jews.”

  “Just be careful, Tassie. We don’t want you to be hurt.”

  Tassie put her face in her hands. “Oh, Mother.”

  Her dad patted her back. “Do be careful, Tassie. He’s handsome and smooth. That doesn’t mean he’s up to no good. You’re a good discerner, Sweetheart. Don’t drop your guard too much.”

  CHAPTER 6

  NEAR ISRAEL, 1948

  “I am so thrilled.” Sophie’s hair blew away from her face.

  Samuel gazed at her in the predawn light. “I will be thrilled if your father consents to our marriage.”

  Sophie gave him her sweetest smile. “Me too, and now, Samuel, we get to return the tassel! Eretz-Israel, the land of Israel, will have the blessing, the protection. Oh, I can hardly contain myself.”

  “Look, is that it?” Samuel squinted his eyes and pointed to land barely coming into view off the starboard bow. “Are we really almost there? Praise God, I believe the British will allow us in. It’s taken so long, but now we’re here. It’ll be full daylight in an hour. This will be a day to remember.”

  Sophie stood as close to Samuel as she dared. Her father was so protective and she, of course, thanked God he was. But more than anything she wanted to wed Samuel Orbin and she wanted their marriage to be in Eretz-Israel, the land of promise, according to all the Jewish traditions.

  Coming here posed many dangers. The war had ended, but the British still made it difficult for Jewish people to return to their homeland. So many from concentration camps and those ousted by their countries had nowhere else to go.

  Sophie looked around. Few stood at the bow of the ship. Most huddled out of the wind and wrapped threadbare coats and blankets around themselves. Sophie still detected little hope in their sunken eyes and frail bodies. Even when she smiled, most looked away not sure if they could trust anyone to be kind. The children flocked around her, though. Hardly anyone had energy to enjoy or play with the children. Sophie and Samuel spent much of each day holding hands and playing games with the little ones.

  Sophie told them the story of Christopher Columbus, the man who provided safe passage for so many Jews across a much bigger sea than the Mediterranean. The Jews had been made to suffer and leave a land called Spain and one of those had been her grandfather many generations before. He was a rabbi and preserved a tassel from his prayer shawl.

  “Actually . . . ” Sophie would pause and touch the little girls on the nose, before continuing. “It was a little girl named Lydia who kept the tassel when everything else they had was stolen. And God took care of them, and wherever that tassel was, they were safe.”

  One of the older girls looked at Sophie. “We know of people that got almost to Eretz-Israel and they wouldn’t let them in. Do you think we’ll get in, that we’ll be safe like Lydia?”

  Sophie would then pull out the bottle. “This is the tassel that belonged to Rabbi Liebermann 450 years ago. It’s preserved in this bottle and God has blessed it. They always arrived safely with this tassel. It has been in our family all this time, and now we are taking it to Eretz-Israel. We will get there, sweethearts, because it is with us, because God Almighty has blessed it and He is with us. I’m sure we’ll arrive safely.”

  Each child would come to Sophie and touch the bottle and gaze at the tassel. They went back to their parents or whoever was caring for them and told them the story of the bottle. Many had lost one or both parents in the concentration camps. Some were only with siblings, some with aunts and uncles. Most had seen or experienced unspeakable horrors and now feared they would be turned away at the shores of Eretz-Israel. It had happened to so many. Hope was a rare commodity, so when the children told them of Sophie’s tassel in a bottle that had God’s protective blessing on it, they were drawn to see this thing.

  Sophie delighted in telling the story over and over. It had not just been on Columbus’ voyage, but on other sea voyages. Ships were often lost on the great ocean, but not those that carried the tassel. As the family traveled north, often on the water, they always made it safely. When the pioneers ventured west in wagon trains many suffered attacks by marauders, thieves, wildcats, and even great storms. Those that carried the bottle, however, were always safe. In fact, it was the only reason that Sophie’s family now felt assured that they would be able to settle in Eretz-Israel when the British turned so many away. They carried the God-blessed bottle, His tassel of promise.

  The tale traveled to the Captain, and this morning he’d invited Sophie, Samuel, and Sophie’s father, Rabbi Jonathan Steele, to the steering room as dawn whispered its presence. After holding the bottle and praying with her father, he radioed the tugboat pilot who would escort them into port.

  “We’re coming in.”

  “There are a lot of British stopping passenger ships right now.”

  “I know, but they’ll let us in.”

  “I pray you’re right.”

  “God be praised, I am confident.”

  Many ships came in under cover of darkness unloading passengers into small boats ow
ned by people who honored the Jews, whether Jewish or not. Those who thought of themselves as freedom fighters used clandestine methods to find openings for as many Jews as they could that wanted to be in Eretz-Israel.

  The captain shook his head. “Against all sensibility, the Brits prevent displaced Jews from settling in their homeland. Britain thinks it has to limit the numbers, keep a lid on the population. So many people have been turned away with no place to go, so others have worked hard to secret them in.” He paused as he peered into the waters before them. “People died, some were arrested, but many Jews made it to Israel. Life has not been easy for them. Arabs still feel it should be their land. They with their Mahdi, as they call the Arab ruler, even now are plotting against the Jews. You may encounter bombs, sniper attacks, and beatings. Do be wise. Do be careful, my friends.”

  Sophie and Samuel returned to the bow. The morning dawned red and bright. The sky streaked rays of scarlet on clouds that hung out in the eastern sky. Sophie and Samuel held hands as they beheld the sun rise, a golden orb that glistened with ripples of fire on its outer edges.

  “Landing Day!” Sophie’s father walked up behind Sophie and Samuel, clapping a hand on each shoulder. Both froze. Her father boomed with laughter. “This is as good a time as any, children, to tell you we must most certainly have a great wedding as soon as we can in Eretz-Israel. We will land today, and we will invite all on this ship to share with us in our great joy.”

  “Oh, Daddy, this is the most exciting moment of my life.” Sophie threw her arms around her father’s neck.

  Samuel just grinned, and when Sophie released her dad, he grasped the older man’s hand, shaking it vigorously. “I will work so hard to take care of your daughter and to honor you, sir. Thank you.”

  The captain’s voice came across the loudspeaker. “We are cleared to dock. Please gather your belongings. You will have to go through processing. It will be perhaps long and arduous, but we have made it. Some ships have actually been blown up and sunk. God has brought us through safely, blessed be He. So, stay strong, work hard, and honor God. He will stand by you.”