The Kiddush Ladies

by Susan Sofayov

  “That’s terrible, Aaron.”

  “You’re right. She’s not that bad, no shark teeth. Enough art, I want to see this new upgraded dinosaur exhibit.”

  Children and tired-looking parents pushing even smaller children in strollers packed the exhibit. Most of the adults looked like they needed a drink and a nap. Some of the kids squealed, bouncing around in excitement. Others screamed out of the sheer terror of seeing the large bones strung together like beads on a bracelet.

  She and Aaron bolted toward the door, not even bothering to read the information on the bones.

  “I forgot how crazy it gets here on a Sunday. Let’s go to the Hall of Minerals and Gems.”

  They walked inside, and Naomi remembered how much she loved this exhibit. It was fairly empty, a few college students and an older couple. They meandered through, stopping to admire certain specimens or to concoct fantasy schemes of robbing the glass display cases. Naomi’s heart floated, feeling lighter than it had in years.

  In the back corner, Aaron stopped in front of a tall glass case. He reached behind her back and clasped his hand against her hip. Before she could ask what he was looking at, he pulled her around and kissed her--this time it wasn’t friendly.

  Naomi’s knees weaken and her heart pounded, but most of all she felt her lips moving with his.

  “Sorry,” he said, thrusting his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I really wanted to wait and do that in the Hall of Architecture, but I couldn’t take another minute.”

  Naomi knew her face was still red. The blood didn’t want to flow back down into her body. She couldn’t speak, partly from embarrassment and partly from the overwhelming desire to kiss him again.

  “It’s okay. This was a nice place to do it.” Gosh, she sounded so stupid.

  “Maybe we could do it again when we get there?” he asked, looking down at his shoes.

  “Maybe,” she replied.

  The rest of the afternoon blurred. When they reached their spot, he did kiss her again.

  “After I got over being totally devastated and angry over our breakup, I realized that every time something exciting happened in my life, I wanted to tell you. Don’t get me wrong, at one time I was completely in love with my ex-wife, but she never became a best friend like you.”

  Naomi didn’t know how to respond. It was the same situation with her and Jake, but if she told him that, it wouldn’t sound real--more like she was parroting him.

  “We did have fun together.” They walked in silence for a while, a very heavy silence. Naomi broke through. “Remember the first time we met? I volunteered to work on the school newspaper, and you, Mr. Big Shot Editor, wanted to interview me first. You were such a snob.”

  “Funny, I remember that day too, but my most prominent memory is that we were making out in the darkroom before the interview was even over.”

  Naomi slapped him in the arm. “You were supposed to forget that part. I didn’t want you to think I always kissed people after the first introduction.”

  Aaron chuckled. “Hell, I didn’t care. I was just glad you were kissing me.”

  After lunch, Aaron walked her to her car--more kissing. “I have to fly to New York in the morning. I’ll be back in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.”

  “Does that mean you, your mom and son will make it to Esther’s for dinner on Shabbat?”

  “Mom, yes. Son, no. And I can’t wait. I heard Esther works miracles with a chicken and an eggplant. If you don’t have plans, may I book you for Saturday night?”

  Naomi nodded.

  ***

  Miriam

  Miriam’s fingers breezed along the keyboard. The screen, in front of her, flashed departure times from New York to Tel Aviv. She had to coordinate the flights from Pittsburgh to New York because she didn’t want them to suffer through a six-hour layover.

  Joy bubbled through her. Her only regret was she wouldn’t be there to see Noah and Maria’s face the first time they glimpsed Jerusalem sprawled out majestically over the mountain tops.

  She booked them into the King David Hotel. The same hotel she and Joe stayed in during their honeymoon. The history and tradition of the King David would add ambiance to the adventure. As she typed her credit card number into the website, a sensation of peace replaced the stress that pounded in her head and untied the knot in her neck. Becky would forgive her, and life would return to normal. Once the hotel booking was completed, she began searching for a tour guide. It didn’t take her long to realize that finding one that met her requirements wouldn’t be as easy as she expected.

  The tour guide needed to be educated in history. There was nothing worse than a tour guide who just repeated the standard speech and had no ability to answer the more complex questions that two educated young people like Noah and Maria would ask.

  The guide would also be doubling as a driver, so the person needed to have an outstanding driver safety record. Finally, the guide needed to speak perfect English. She didn’t want Maria to miss out on anything if the guide mixed Hebrew and English.

  After searching for a half hour, she located a private guide from Tel Aviv whose credentials met her standards. She booked him for their entire trip.

  The question of who to tell first, Noah or Becky lingered in her mind. She pondered the idea of asking Naomi for an opinion, but changed her mind.

  ***

  Becky

  Becky sat on the overstuffed sofa waiting for Maria to step out of the dressing room to model another white fluffy concoction of fabric. Becky didn’t want to be anywhere near Maria in a white dress and watching the girl’s mother sob with joy made her want to puke. Hell, she would rather be sitting in the dentist’s chair having a root canal without Novocain. How did she let Noah talk her into this? “Bonding opportunity.” Screw bonding.

  Maria stepped out from behind the chintz curtain swathed in a silk column dress that transformed her from a young college graduate to a regal princess. Becky couldn’t help but gasp. It was impossible not to see what Noah saw in this girl.

  “Oh, oh, that is the dress,” her mother, June, said, clapping her hands and springing onto her toes like an overexcited kindergartner. Both women turned their heads toward Becky, their faces covered in anticipation. Even Becky couldn’t be a bitch.

  “That dress is simply stunning.” Before Becky could say any more, her phone rang. The name Naomi flashed on the screen.

  “I’ll be finished with work in a half hour. Let’s meet for a drink,” Naomi said.

  “I’m not at work. I’m in Shady Side with Maria and her mother, buying dresses.”

  “Fine, I’ll drive over to Walnut Street and meet you after you’re finished shopping or are you having dinner with them?”

  Becky held the phone tightly to her ear and mouthed the word “emergency,” while walking out of the dressing room area.

  She began speaking, once she was sure she was out of their earshot. “Hell, no. I’m not spending a second more than I have to with these women. This actually gives me an excuse to ditch out early. See you soon.” Becky hung up the phone.

  “As much as I hate to break this party up, that was my best friend. Something has come up, and she needs me. Buy that dress, Maria. And, June, I liked the silver-colored dress you tried on first the best. Toot-a loo.” Becky grabbed her bag, put her shoes back on, and bolted out the front door. A drink--Naomi has impeccable timing.

  Becky reached the agreed-upon bar, knowing that Naomi wouldn’t arrive for another half hour. She ordered a glass of red wine, pulled out her phone, and checked her email. Client, client, she couldn’t care less about their legal problems.

  Part of her wanted to tell them to get a new lawyer and leave her the hell alone, but the money they shelled out for petty contract squabbles and custody agreements was helping to fund this ridiculous wedding.

  Becky loved this bar. Leather upholstery covered the booths, and the entire bar smelled expensive. Naomi gracefully slid into the seat across from her and pl
aced her purse next to her. Sometimes Becky wondered how Naomi managed to get through almost fifty years without realizing that she was gorgeous.

  “Hey, friend, I heard some gossip this morning about you and Aaron--kissing in the museum.” Becky made a clicking sound with her tongue and shook her head in false disapproval. “Is he still a good kisser?”

  “You talked to Laurie.”

  “Yeah, some best friend you are,” Becky said. “You should have called me first, because getting anything out of Laurie requires me to go into lawyer interrogation mode.”

  “I didn’t call either of you. She picked up Sarah on Sunday evening and interrogated me for fifteen minutes. Besides, you have enough to think about.”

  “Well, I’m thinking about you and Aaron now, and it’s a nice diversion. Do you think you two will get together again?”

  Naomi didn’t reply, just shrugged.

  “Come on, don’t tell me there wasn’t a spark. He’s still handsome, and those eyes could melt a statue.”

  Naomi blushed. “The kiss was nice. But don’t turn into Esther and try to match us.”

  “Fine, I’ll drop it. But you should feel guilty for denying me a bit of fun right now.”

  “I didn’t call you to talk about Aaron.”

  Becky looked at Naomi and didn’t like the serious expression covering her face. “Who died?”

  “No one died, Becky. I think I know why you are angry at Miriam, and if I’m correct, it’s not her fault.”

  Becky looked at her, eyebrows furled. “Say it.”

  “It’s painful to think about it. Don’t make me say it out loud.”

  “What do you know, Naomi?”

  “There was an affair. It started after Miriam’s mom died.”

  Becky wanted to scream, yell, or throw something at the wall. Instead, tears streamed down her cheeks. Humiliation overwhelmed her.

  “How did you find out? Or have you always known?”

  “No, I just found out. It doesn’t matter how, but my mother confirmed it. She knew.”

  “I found out after our Hanukkah get-together. Remember, I promised to empty my parents’ house?”

  Naomi nodded.

  “While emptying the closet, I found a shoe box. Inside it, tied together with a ribbon, were small stack of envelopes. They were from him. When I read them, a rock slammed into my chest. It’s been crushing me ever since.”

  “I understand that, but why are you taking this out on Miriam? She had nothing to do with it. And I’m one hundred percent sure she knows nothing about it.”

  Becky slugged back a gulp of wine. “Bullshit, she’s known for years. The bitch didn’t want to tell me because she only has two friends--had two friends. Now she has one. What a fake, with her ‘one big family,’ crap.”

  “Stop.” Naomi lifted her hands, palms facing Becky. “Please stop talking and listen to me. You cannot pin the sins of your parents on her.”

  Becky felt her blood turning to steam. “What the hell? Are you kidding? My mother is dead. Every time something important happens in my life--she’s not there! For years I’ve struggled to figure out the reason she did it. Why she wanted to leave me and my father. That bitch’s father is the reason she killed herself. She couldn’t live with the guilt over the affair, but she wouldn’t stop seeing him either. I read all about it in the letters. He was more important than me.” She whipped her head around, searching for the waiter.

  “No, that’s not true. Depression killed your mother,” Naomi shot back.

  “Sure, depression over that asshole, who was supposed to be my father’s best friend. Waiter.” She snapped her fingers.

  A perky blond boy approached the table. He glanced at Becky’s face and stopped a few feet from the table. “Scotch, neat,” she barked at him. “And Miriam knew about the affair.”

  Naomi shook her head. “I think you’re wrong.”

  “Bullshit. She knew.”

  Naomi reached across the table and tried to clasp her hand. Becky pulled away, but Naomi’s eyes continued to bore into her.

  “Listen to me,” Naomi said. “My mother said that the situation caused your mother terrible pain. She loved your father and he loved her. But she loved Miriam’s father too. But my mother doesn’t believe the affair had anything to do with her death. She told me your mother battled demons beyond an affair.”

  The waiter gingerly set the glass in front of Becky. She grabbed the heavy cup and downed the liquid in one gulp, slamming it back onto the table. “You’re wrong. The affair killed her and Miriam knew all about it.”

  Naomi shook her head.

  Becky clenched her teeth. “A year after her mother died, Miriam dragged me to Century Three Mall to help her pick out a dress to wear to the spring formal at Joe’s fraternity. As we walked into Kaufmann’s, her dad and my mom walked out. My mom was holding his arm, laughing.”

  Naomi gripped the stem of her wine glass tighter as Becky continued.

  “Of course, Miriam ran over to them, squealing like a little kid. I remember her words. ‘Daddy, I forgot you and Mrs. Greenburg were shopping today.’ Miriam turned to me and said, ‘They’re buying your dad a surprise birthday present!’

  “I looked at my mom and saw the embarrassment in her eyes. At the time, I attributed it to Miriam’s loud, attention-grabbing behavior. But looking back, it was the expression of someone caught committing a crime.”

  Naomi shook her head. “Even if that’s true, Miriam simply believed they were shopping for a gift. That’s pretty harmless. Think about it, if David decided to buy you a piece of jewelry, don’t you think he would take me or Miriam for a second opinion?”

  “Stop making excuses. Miriam knew exactly what was happening on that day because she said nothing about my mom holding her dad’s arm.”

  “Did you say anything to her about holding his arm?”

  Becky reached into her purse, pulled out the wallet, and tossed a fifty-dollar bill onto the table. “Of course, you would side with her. But I don’t give a damn what you think. My mother slit her wrists over that man. And I will never, ever believe Miriam didn’t know about the affair.” Becky turned and marched away from the table.

  “Don’t you dare walk out on me.”

  Becky heard the words Naomi shouted at her back, as she pushed open the glass door, but the words didn’t stop her from rushing down Walnut Street toward the small parking lot at the end of the block. She didn’t want to talk anymore, just go home and crawl into bed. Love two men--bullshit. An affair is an affair. That man stole her mother away from her father. His best friend seduced his wife and because of that...

  Becky climbed into the car, slammed the door, and crumbled onto the steering wheel, letting the sobs wrack her body. She’s gone forever.

  Chapter 13

  Naomi

  Naomi tried to focus on the document she was typing, but her thoughts flipped flopped between kissing Aaron and Becky’s irrational behavior. Between Monday and Friday, Aaron fantasies wrestled for brain space against the problem of how to tell Miriam about the affair. But in the end, rehearsing a speech to give Miriam won the match.

  The best part about working for a Jewish organization was that, during the winter months when Shabbat came in early, the office closed at 3:00 p.m. Today, she walked out even earlier, at 2:00 p.m., and drove straight to Miriam’s house.

  Miriam answered her enormous oak front door wearing an expensive workout suit. Based on her perfectly applied make-up and fresh smell, Naomi guessed she hadn’t been to the gym. “Are you leaving now?”

  “No. Come on in. My personal trainer cancelled on me. We were supposed to meet at 2:00.”

  “Good, make me a cup of coffee,” Naomi said, walking into the foyer and taking her shoes off before stepping on the beautiful marble floor.

  Miriam turned and walked across the entrance that was bigger than the average person’s living room. “Anita, please make coffee for me and Naomi.”

  The words, “Hi, Naomi
,” shot out from the kitchen. Anita began cooking Shabbat dinners for Miriam about sixteen years ago. She also cleaned her house on Mondays and Wednesdays.

  Each year, one month before Passover, she scrubbed the entire six bedroom monstrosity clean of hametz. A bread crumb didn’t stand a chance against Anita.

  Miriam and Naomi settled into overstuffed chairs in the room Miriam referred to as her parlor.

  Anita delivered the coffee on a small silver tray. Then she placed a few chocolate-chip cookies, carefully arranged on a dainty china plate, on the end table.

  “Are you here to tell me good news about you and Aaron?” Miriam asked, eyes wide with interest.

  “No, I’m not.”

  Miriam tilted her head sideways and her smile melted away.

  “Miriam, I came here to tell you something that I didn’t think you would want to hear in a phone call. All week, I’ve struggled with how to tell you and, honestly, I don’t know how to soften it, so I’m just going to say it, okay?”

  Miriam leaned forward, elbows to knees, the coffee mug between her hands. “Okay, say it.”

  “Becky found some letters addressed to her mother when she was cleaning out a closet.” Naomi inhaled. “They were from your father.”

  “My dad? Why would he send her mom letters?” A perplexed expression covered Miriam’s face. She set the cup on the glass top of the coffee table and leaned back.

  “Oh, gosh, this is so hard,” Naomi said, shifting her eyes toward the ceiling and squeezing her head between her raised elbows. Inhaling through her nose, Please, Hashem give me strength. She exhaled.

  “Well?” Miriam looked uncomfortable in a chair she bought purposely for its comfort factor.

  Naomi sighed. “After your mom passed away, Becky’s mother and your father had an affair.” There she’d said it. The tension in her shoulders released--a bit.