“No, I’ll get it.” She opened the door to the waiter. As he rolled in a cart, she fumbled in her purse for a tip.
Acie waited until the door had shut behind him. “We’re not eating with Jason?”
She took off the dish covers and poured them each a tepid cup of coffee. “Oh, sure, in forty-five minutes. This is just a last treat.”
Acie raised her cup. “To us.”
“To us.”
“Now where were we?”
Rina stirred in sugar. “I’ll never forget the girl who had nightmares and couldn’t stop talking. Do you realize how quiet you’ve grown?”
“You changed that subject very cleverly.”
“I did, didn’t I?” She grinned. “But I know what you’re saying. I was thinking the same thing in my non-sleeping hours. I don’t see how I could go back to being with Jason.”
Acie tore off a bit of pastry. “So what’s the issue? Why are you leaving?”
“I may be taking the coward’s way out, but I decided to fly as far as London and see how I feel about going home. I’ve written to my uncle again and will ask Meir to make sure the note gets delivered to his office today. And I plan to tell Jason I’m going with him on a trial basis, as a friend. We’ll see what develops.”
“And you think he’ll listen?”
“Why not?”
“Because he seems deaf to anyone but himself.”
“And his mother.” She covered her grin by stuffing in a bite of croissant. “Did I actually say that?”
“You did, and you’ve made my point. He didn’t listen when you broke off the engagement. He wouldn’t be here if he had.”
“He would if he loved me.”
“Well, that silenced me. Go ahead, love, and I’ll stand by you. If it works out, great. If not, you’ve got a home in Perugia, and the view is great.”
“I figure I can always fly back here, too. Now that I know how.”
“One good thing. With you gone, your stalker will have to find someone else to intimidate.”
“See? A perfect reason to leave.”
Acie dropped her robe and squirmed into a pair of jeans, sucking in her breath as she zipped them. “I have to go on a diet.” Then she looked up. “I guess you didn’t catch that reference to a great view.”
“Do you mean what I think?”
“That’s it. Nicco said we’re to live at the vineyard farmhouse after we’re married, as a help to his grandparents. The house is plenty big, and they’re such dears, we’ll have a grand time.”
“Oh, Acie, I’m so glad.”
“And there’s room for you—and children, too.”
She reached over and pulled Acie into a quick hug. “You’re a darling. I promise to visit.”
“You have to be my maid of honor.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jason arrived as Acie was closing her suitcase. “Good. I see you’ve eaten. I just heard that there were more riots last night. And more rockets.” He picked up one bag, waved at the others. “Get your stuff and come on.”
“Any problems at the airport?” Acie asked.
“Not yet.”
41
TONY
Adam poured coffee and passed a plate of hot breakfast muffins. “Sirens went off all over Tel Aviv and points south last night.”
“How long before the military says enough is enough? Their restraint has been remarkable.” Tony bit into a plump raisin.
“Except in the world’s eyes. I’d like to see America’s reaction if Mexico or Canada lobbed rockets into bordering states on an almost daily basis.” Adam stirred his coffee. “I’m going to the office for an hour or two. You need anything?”
“No, thanks.” He hated feeling so out of control, which was probably why he sloshed coffee on the table when he lifted his cup. “Sorry. It’s that telegram. I need to hear.”
“You will. Just relax, get your shower, whatever you need to do, and think how to spend the rest of the day.” Adam drained his cup and stood away from the table.
He was headed to the shower when Adam’s phone rang and was standing under the warm stream, trying to keep his shoulder dry and wash with his left hand, when he heard a knock on the bathroom door and Adam calling. “Tony, get yourself out here.”
He turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and opened the door.
Adam held his cell phone in his hand. “My secretary called, said she’d left me a note. When she got there this morning and found out I’d been in, she assumed I’d found the note. Until she bent to pick up a piece of paper that had fallen under her desk.”
“And?” Tony was dripping all over the floor.
“Rina is in Jerusalem.”
Tony started drying. Who cared about modesty when he had to get dressed and go find her? His fingers fumbled as he pulled on his clothes.
“I’ll call her hotel. You finish here,” Adam said.
By the time Tony had managed to button his shirt and slip on his socks and shoes, Adam was waving the phone again.
“She’s gone. Seems some man arrived last night. This morning, she and the friend who was with her checked out of the hotel. Once I identified myself to the desk clerk, he opened up. Can you believe it? Rina has been in town for weeks waiting for me to return. Now they’ve gone to the airport. There’s a note for me.”
“She left?” Tony felt like he’d been sucker-punched. “Who was with her, and who was the man?”
“I didn’t ask, but I called a cab to take you to the airport as you can’t drive my car yet. You get going, while I have her paged. I’ll tell her to wait.” Adam pulled some cash from his wallet. “Here, you may need extra.”
Tony took it, pocketed it and his wallet, and reached for the door. “You have my new cell phone number. Call me if anything changes.”
“How about I leave out the information that it’s you who’ll pick her up? Make it a surprise?”
Tony stopped long enough to grin and say, “Perfect.”
42
RINA
They’d checked in for their flights and now sat around a small table. She nursed a bottle of water, but the itchies and the twitchies made her want to get up and run away. She wasn’t sure how she’d talked herself into thinking this was a good idea.
Maybe flights would be delayed.
No, she needed to suck it up, get Acie home, and enjoy London for a couple of days while she prayed her uncle would send for her. That could happen.
Couldn’t it?
Acie and Jason had opted for coffee. Coffee would have sent her over the top. When her stomach grumbled, Acie lifted a brow. “Hungry?”
“No. Just nervous.”
“You can still change your mind.”
She hated scenes. “I keep reminding myself of men in gray and exploding rockets.” She did her best to smile convincingly. “And I’ll have the pleasure of imagining you in Nicco’s arms.”
Acie grinned back. “There is that. My heart’s getting a little hyperactive thinking about that man.”
“What man?” Jason folded his paper.
“Nicco.”
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet him. I assume Rina and I will be invited to your wedding?”
Acie’s eyes widened, but she recovered quickly. “Rina will be my bridesmaid.”
“Ah, yes. Unless,” he said, his expression smug, “she beats you to the altar.”
Rina puffed out a loud sigh. The man was so pig-headed, so deaf to anyone but himself. He made her want to wipe that expression right off his face.
She felt a slow grin spread. That was exactly what she’d do. As soon as they landed in London, she would march over to the Air France desk and buy herself a ticket to Paris. No more wishy-washy emotions for her. Acquiescing to Jason’s plan would end in London, no matter how much he squawked.
Acie’s brows arched in question, but she’d have to wait. “Later,” Rina mouthed as she picked up the fashion magazine Acie’d bought.
Acie
leaned over and pointed to one skinny-legged girl in too-tight pants. “You’d better tell me soon,” she said quietly, before continuing in a normal voice. “I’m glad I only look at these occasionally. I could develop severe complexes.”
“I know. You don’t think yourself fat—”
“Or miserably clothed—”
“—until you start making comparisons.” She flipped to the image of a long, skinny girl in short leather shirt, torn half shirt, boots, and spiked hair. “I’m sorry, but this is the ideal?”
“I hope not.”
Jason interrupted. “Anyone for more coffee? Water?”
Acie handed him the cup to toss for her. “Bottled water this time, please.”
“I’m fine,” Rina said. When he’d gone, she told Acie her plan for London. “And I’ll be able to hang around Paris or anywhere else I want while I wait for my uncle.”
Acie hooted. “You go, girl.”
Jason was still at the bar when the droning voice of an announcer broke in. Her heart went into double time when the man repeated, “Would Miss Rina Roberts please report to the El Al information desk.”
She clapped her hand on Acie’s arm. “Do you think…?”
Jason returned, laden with water, as she slipped from her chair. “What’s that all about?” he asked. “You were chatty enough with the desk clerk at the hotel. He knows exactly where he can find us. If you’ve left something, tell him to send it on. Or we can replace anything once we get to London.”
“I’d better go find out.” Could it be a last-minute reprieve? Uncle Adam? Oh, please, please.
She begged directions to the information desk and almost skidded up to an attendant. “Someone paged me? Rina Roberts.”
The woman checked. “Yes, here is the number.”
“I don’t have a cell phone.”
“You know how to make the call from there?” She pointed to a telephone kiosk.
“I’m afraid not, I mean…”
Lovely woman. Lovely, friendly woman led her around to the phone, used some code or calling number or something, dialed the number on the paper, and handed the receiver to her.
“Thank you so much,” Rina said, amazed at such helpfulness in the middle of a crowded airport.
There was so much about this country to love.
Her hands shook as she waited. A deep voice answered, and she identified herself.
“Rina, love,” he said, and she almost fainted. It was Adam. After all this time, as she was about to leave, Uncle Adam.
Her voice broke. “You’re back? Oh, Unc, where are you? I waited so long. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“Just got to town. But why are you leaving?”
“I was so tired. I thought you were never coming. I can’t believe I’m finally talking to you. It’s been so long, and no one could find you. Oh, Uncle Adam.”
“I know, sweetkins.”
She sniffled. “No one has called me that since…”
“Ah, my dear, I’m back now and can’t wait to see you. You mustn’t fly off, you know, not now you’re here, so close to me. A friend of mine is on the way to pick you up and bring you to me. Can you wait where he’ll find you? I assume you’re in Terminal 3? He’ll come to the El Al information desk.”
“Oh, yes. Oh, yes.” She swiped at her tears, but they wouldn’t stop.
“I’ll see you very soon, and we can have a nice, long visit. You can give me all the details then.”
She nodded and laughed at herself. “Yes, yes, but will he know me? I’m so different now but still tall.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
Another sob and another sniffle. “I can’t wait to see you. I’ll go tell Jason. He won’t understand, but that doesn’t matter.”
“No, it doesn’t matter. Just get yourself here, sweetkins. I’ve a peppermint in my pocket with your name on it. ”
“I can’t wait. Oh, Unc, yes.” She couldn’t stop saying that. Oh, yes.
She pulled a tissue from her purse and blew hard before taking a deep breath. Dodging luggage-laden bodies, she almost skipped. She didn’t have to leave. Uncle Adam was here.
None of the rest mattered.
“So, what was it?” Jason asked, frowning. He didn’t like disruptions to his agenda.
Acie grinned. “Adam?”
She bobbed her head. Of course, Acie would know. “He’s back, and he sent someone to pick me up.”
“Woohoo!”
“But, Rina, that’s impossible.” Jason’s skin began to mottle in unattractive splotches, a sure sign he was angry. She backed away, but he reached out and grabbed her hand. “We’re leaving in a little over an hour,” he said. “We’re getting on the plane, flying to London, and then I’m taking you home to Aunt Luze. She’s expecting you.”
She withdrew her hand. “I came to see Uncle Adam. I’m not leaving until I do, especially not now.”
Jason’s fists tightened, but he kept his voice low, controlled. “Your aunt”—he sucked in a breath—“your aunt was very distressed when she learned you were here in Israel.”
“That’s done it,” Acie said.
“You told her I was here?” The man was four kinds of idiot. “You actually told her? Why would you do such a thing? You know how she worries. She must be frantic.”
“Which is all the more reason for you to leave with me. Besides, I only told her so she wouldn’t worry, so she’d know I was coming to get you.”
“So you could look good.”
“That, Rina, was unnecessary.”
“Maybe.” She sighed. “But you shouldn’t have done it. I’ll have to call her right away.”
“I regret that I told her,” he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Is that better? But she knows, and she’s waiting for you to get out of here and home to her. Not to mention my mother.”
“I wondered when we’d get around to her,” Acie said.
Jason’s nostrils flared. She shrugged off his hands, and her eyes met Acie’s. She stifled a grin.
“You,” Jason said to Acie, “keep out of this.”
“But it’s a valid point,” Rina said. “What’s your mother got to do with any of it?”
“Hush, you don’t need to shout.”
“I’m not shouting.” But her voice rose.
Acie took off her glasses to clean them, a gesture Rina found endearing because she looked so lost without them. “You know, don’t you, that there is an obvious solution here.”
Rina waited, and even Jason turned to listen, although he looked as if he might be cudgeling his brain for objections even before Acie spoke.
“I leave, and Jason leaves, and you stay. It’s such a nice day for a flight. We mustn’t muck it up with all this arguing.” She smiled from one to the other. “I just wish your uncle had turned up before I was set to leave.”
“Oh, I do, too. I did so want you to meet him.”
“Rina. Rina, please.” He sounded desperate.
She wanted to feel sorry for him, but she couldn’t. Excitement took precedence over any charitable feelings toward this man who’d tried once again to control her actions to suit his needs.
“You can’t do this,” he said. “Not now. I promise we’ll come back to visit your uncle, and surely you can see that’s the most reasonable thing to do. I mean, if there were no danger, we could both just change our tickets and return to Jerusalem. But as it is, we’d be foolish to remain here when we can just as easily come back after things settle down.” He extended a hand toward Acie. “You tell her. Surely you agree with me. For her sake.”
She shook her head. “Jason, this is the first time I’ve seen Rina happy in weeks. No, we’ll get on our flights and leave her to see her uncle.” She stared hard at him. “That is, if we love her and want what’s going to make her happy.”
Rina grabbed her dear, wise friend and pulled her into a hard hug. “I do love you.”
When the hug ended, Acie smiled at Jason.
&n
bsp; He glared back. “You’re glad, aren’t you? I could tell from the beginning.”
“Jason, don’t,” Rina said. “This has nothing to do with you. It’s just something I’ve got to do. I need to see him.”
“And you don’t need me.”
“Well, it was sweet of you to want to help, but with him back in town, no, I don’t.” Obviously, Jason only responded to brutal.
He flicked a hand in the air. “Great. After all our years together. It seems to me my promise to bring you back should be good enough. I don’t want to get hit in crossfire, and I don’t want you killed either. It seems like this uncle of yours isn’t showing a great deal of consideration for your health.” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared straight ahead.
An announcer interrupted with what seem like noise until the words came in English. “El Al Flight 28, departing for Rome, is now ready for boarding.”
She turned to Acie. “I’ll walk with you. Do you want to wait here, Jason?”
“I’ll be someplace.”
Acie extended her hand. “Good-bye, Jason. I’m glad I got to meet you. Thanks for the ticket home.”
“Whatever.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Out of sight of Jason, Acie stopped. “Honey, you head on out so you won’t miss your ride back.”
“Acie.”
“I know. Me, too.”
“You’re a wonderful friend. The best kind.”
“Besties, remember? Sisters. Will you write me right away? Let me know everything?”
“And you send me an email and tell me the wedding plans. Give Mae and Giorgio and Nicco and the kids a big hug, and all the grandmothers, will you?”
“You’ve always got a home in Perugia. Don’t you forget.”
“I won’t.”
They hugged again before Acie tore herself away. “I’ll miss you, girl.”
Rina watched until she could no longer see that bright hair. Trying to swallow the lump in her throat, she used the tips of her fingers to dab at her eyes and headed for the nearest restroom.
Jason was upending a miniature bottle of bourbon over his coffee cup when she found him again.
Two From Isaac's House Page 30