***
Becky
Becky walked down the aisle to her seat in the front row. She didn’t care who saw her slap Miriam. The woman deserved it. Becky folded into the linen draped chair and adjusted her dress. The letter had made her position very clear, and Miriam ignored it. The witch got what she deserved. Becky crossed her legs and lifted her chin. The slap served its purpose. Miriam wouldn’t be in the room during the ceremony, and it eliminated any chance of seeing her during the reception.
David slid into the seat next to her just as the music started. The judge was already in position. All eyes turned toward the back of the room as the bridesmaids began their march down the aisle. “That was wrong, Becky. Just plain wrong,” David whispered in her ear.
“Shush,” she said, placing her index finger in front of her mouth. “It’s starting.”
***
Naomi
Naomi and Aaron entered the room handed in hand. She felt so alive and in love. Just a few months ago, her life felt like a dark never-ending tunnel. She couldn’t even dream of a light at the end, and even if she could, it wouldn’t have involved a second chance with Aaron. She swore to herself that she would never again doubt the existence of miracles.
Naomi spotted Ezra’s waving arm as soon as they entered the room. He motioned for them to sit in the seats he’d saved on his left side.
“Do we have to sit there?” Aaron asked, as Ezra’s arm continued to flail in the air.
Naomi smiled and pulled at his hand. “Stop it. He’s no big deal.”
“That’s your opinion,” Aaron responded. “How tall is he?”
She shook her head and continued propelling him down the aisle. “Stop it,” she said again.
They climbed over another couple who didn’t bother to stand to let them pass. Aaron sat on Naomi’s left and Ezra sat on her right. Next to Ezra was his father.
She reached out and very obviously clasped Aaron’s hand. When she turned to see his face, he was smiling.
Naomi’s hand remained locked in his throughout the entire ceremony, except for the few seconds, she needed to wipe the tears from her eyes. Noah was the first of her friend’s children to get married. All of their lives were changing--empty nest, marriages, relocation...
***
“Mom,” Josh yelled, stretching his tiny arms in the air.
“Let me answer the door before I pick you up, sweetie.” Naomi waddled to the door. Josh toddled behind her, still begging to be picked-up. She was grateful to see Becky and Miriam, kids in tow, standing on her front porch.
Naomi pushed open the screen door. “Thanks for coming so fast.”
“Do you really think it’s time?” Becky asked.
“I’m not sure, but I’ve been getting these awful pains in my back just like I did with Josh.”
Josh loved playing with the Noah and Miriam’s son, Nathan. When he saw the boys come through the door, he tried jumping, but his feet didn’t leave the ground.
The three boys rushed down the basement steps heading toward the huge box of Legos in the part of the room Naomi and Jake designated as Josh’s playroom. Miriam’s twin girls found comfortable spots on the floor and disappeared into their books.
“You need to sit down,” Miriam said.
“Do you think that’s a good idea? I heard that walking can kick start labor,” Becky said.
“I think you’re right, but she’s two weeks early,” Miriam replied.
“Mommy.” Josh reappeared at her feet and wrapped his arms around her leg. “Popsicles.”
“Just a minute,” Naomi said, wondering how he got back up the steps so fast.
Josh toddled back down to the playroom and within seconds, reappeared with Noah.
“Please, Aunt Naomi, can we have popsicles?” Noah begged.
Becky walked across the living room to the kitchen. “Sit down, Naomi. I’ll get them.”
Naomi sat down and sucked in her breath. “Aghhh,” she groaned and began panting, blowing the air out through her mouth. “Yep, start timing the contractions. I think my water just broke. Help me up, Miriam, and then call Jake.” She waddled to the powder room.
The plan was for Jake to meet her at the hospital. Naomi climbed into the passenger seat of Miriam’s minivan. Becky stayed behind to take care of all the kids.
***
“...you may kiss the bride.”
The judge’s booming voice pulled her back to the present. Yes, all of their lives were changing. She prayed the change holding her hand would last.
The happy couple walked down the aisle, smiling and waving. Maria glowed and Noah practically floated by, held up by the smile, covering his face.
A hotel employee trailed behind, directing the guests to move through the doors on the left side of the room, into the adjoining ballroom for the reception.
While standing in the aisle, waiting for the crowd to move forward, the awkward moment she wanted to avoid became inevitable.
“Aaron,” she said. “I’d like to introduce you to Ezra’s father, my ex-husband, Jake.”
Aaron extended his hand. “So,” Aaron said, a wicked twinkle lighting his eyes that made Naomi a bit nervous. “You’re the guy Naomi dumped me for. Man, I spent a lot of years hating you.”
Jake’s eyes widened. Naomi elbowed Aaron in the side, but he just laughed. “I promised my twenty-one-year-old-self that if I ever met you, I’d say those words. Nothing personal, Jake. I just hate breaking promises.”
Jake eyed Aaron’s smiling face. Finally, he smiled back. “So you’re the Aaron who inspired her to draw hearts all over her notebooks. She was writing Mrs. Aaron Brenner all over the cover of her notebook the day I met her.”
“Yes, that may be true, but you won.” In an attempt at pseudo gallantry, Aaron dipped forward and swooshed his arm across his body.
“Stop it, both of you. Let’s be nice and go eat.”
Awkwardness hung in the air and Naomi cursed the slow-moving crowd. Aaron must have read the stress on her face. He turned to Jake and patted Ezra on the back. “You raised a real mensch here.”
Jake reached out and patted Ezra on the other shoulder, beaming with pride. “Thank you.”
Ezra turned red and the crowd finally started moving.
***
Miriam
By the time Joe opened Miriam’s car door, she felt as if her soul was releasing all the pain that it had been holding for the last months. The sobs racked her body and, once inside, she leaned forward, head against the dashboard, unable to form any words.
“Honey,” Joe said, patting her gently on the back. “She’s losing her mind. Becky’s not right. She needs professional help. Nothing in this situation makes a bit of sense.”
Miriam twisted her head to look in the sideview mirror. Mascara streaked her face, and her eyes were already puffy and red. She returned her gaze to her lap.
“I never dreamed I’d say these words, but maybe your friendship is over.”
She sat up straight and wiped her nose on the old Panera napkin she found stuffed in the glove box. “I know, but it feels like my sister just died. I don’t know this person living in Becky’s body.”
Joe backed out of the parking space. He handed the pimply faced kid in the booth the parking ticket and a fifty-dollar bill. According to the parking receipt, they were at the wedding for only an hour and five minutes. The gate lifted. Joe turned left, the direction of home.
“I wish I could understand what she’s thinking. We were college roommates when they had the affair. Maybe, I saw my dad once a month. She went home more than I did. Maybe she knew all these years and is feigning innocence.”
The Parkway was empty. They were through the tunnel and on Banksville Road within minutes.
“I give up, Joe,” Miriam said, swabbing the napkin over her still tearing eyes. “I’m tired of apologizing for something I didn’t do. I’m through begging for friendship. To hell with her.”
Joe patted her hand. “
You’re right, you did everything you could to save the relationship. Now, you have to let it go.”
***
Naomi
The minute Naomi walked into the ballroom, she was flanked by Laurie and Esther.
“We need to talk,” Laurie said.
“Okay,” Naomi said. “Let me set my purse on my seat. Then we can talk.”
“No,” Esther said, grabbing Naomi’s elbow. “Now.”
Naomi obediently followed them into the hallway outside the ballroom. “Becky smacked Miriam across the face and sent her home,” Laurie said.
Naomi almost doubled over. Her mind went blank.
“It’s true!” Esther said. “I didn’t see the smack, but I heard it. She hit Miriam hard.”
“I need to sit down.”
Naomi shuffled toward the same bench that Joe and Miriam vacated forty-five minutes earlier. She leaned over, elbows to knees, clamping her head between her hands, feeling as if the wind was knocked out of her. She couldn’t control the ache that now owned her body or the barrage of memories flashing through her mind.
***
Becky
A flood of well wishes and hugs from friends and family kicked off the reception. Becky wallowed in the attention. The ceremony was perfect. It was time for the fun to begin. Now she really understood the words, “nachas from your children.” Noah brought so much joy to her life. Each Shabbat she gave thanks to Hashem for him.
Becky scanned the room, looking for Naomi, nowhere in sight. She walked to the head table and set her bag on her chair. Still no sign of Naomi, but she noticed Aaron heading her way holding two glasses of wine. “For me?” She took one from his hand, not waiting for his answer.
Aaron glanced around the room and shrugged. “Sure.”
Becky took a big sip--cabernet. She was more of a Shiraz person, but at this point she was grateful for anything. Every time she’d held a wine glass during the hors d’oeurves, something distracted her, causing her to set the glass down and not remember where. “Where’s Naomi?”
“I believe that she, Laurie, and Esther had simultaneous bladder issues.”
“Okay, I’ll check the bathroom.” She slipped past him, keeping her fingers locked on the stem of the glass. Halfway across the room, she spotted her three friends reentering the ballroom. They all looked so serious. As she approached, she noticed Naomi’s red eyes. It looked like she had been crying. Becky hoped Jake hadn’t said anything stupid to hurt her.
“What’s wrong, Naomi?” Becky asked when the three women halted in front of her.
“What do you mean what’s wrong with her?” Esther’s words exploded from her mouth. “You, that’s what’s the matter.”
Becky felt her nostrils flare and eyebrows furrow. “What are you talking about?”
“You smacked Miriam and sent her home. That’s what I’m talking about,” Esther said, as Laurie gently clasped her arm.
“Shush, this isn’t the time or the place for this,” Laurie whispered in Esther’s ear.
Esther flicked her wrists at Laurie. “I will not shush,” she said. “I heard the slap. She probably left a hand print on poor Miriam’s face.”
Becky’s blood pressure climbed upward. “Poor Miriam! You have no idea what you’re talking about, so please shut up right now.”
“Your parents had an affair. So what. Let it go,” Esther said.
“Please, stop fighting. The situation is bad enough,” Naomi said.
“She’s right. The situation is worse than I thought.” Becky turned her back to them and walked away.
***
Naomi
The rest of the evening didn’t matter. Naomi barely ate her food and failed to find any energy to dance. Aaron insisted it was rude not to dance at a wedding. He pulled her onto the dance floor for a few slow songs.
“There’s nothing you can do to help Miriam.” He clasped her right hand and placed his left on her lower back. “The strain on your face is killing me.”
“Sorry, I hate feeling helpless.”
For a few moments they breezed across the almost empty dance floor. The younger crowd seemed to avoid the slower music. “Why do you feel any responsibility in this whole debacle? You’re not their mother or their therapist. You’re just a friend, an over-attentive, caring friend.”
She pulled back and looked at him.
“That didn’t come out right. What I meant was...”
“This better be good.”
“You’re an amazing friend. The kind of friend people dream of having, but you can’t let their madness interfere with your life and happiness.”
“It doesn’t, really.”
He gracefully pulled her close, spinning her around twice. “The mere fact that our current conversation is about them, rather than what I want to do to you when we get home, is proof enough that you’re over involved.”
“But--”
“No buts.” He dipped her slightly. “You have to let the kids learn to fight their own battles.”
They moved together so naturally and, for a few moments, they were alone in the room. But, half way through the song, the scenery changed.
Each time Aaron turned her, she ended up facing Becky.
When the dance ended Ezra met them at the table. “I haven’t seen Aunt Miriam and Uncle Joe all night.”
Earlier in the evening, Jake invited Josh and Ezra to sleep at his house. She was grateful when both boys accepted the offer. Not just because she wanted to spend the night with Aaron, which was true, but because she needed silence.
To avoid answering Ezra’s question, she picked up her bag and pretended to look inside for something, stalling, but the right words weren’t hiding at the bottom of her clutch purse.
“How are you going to get home if we can’t find them?” Ezra asked her and then looked over at Aaron.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your mom gets home,” Aaron replied.
“Okay.” Ezra appeared relieved. He leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Good night.”
She watched his back as he headed out the door to meet up with his father. Now, it was time to locate Josh, who was in the middle of the mass of bodies partying on the dance floor.
When they found Josh, it didn’t take long to figure out that he had done a few too many L’chaims with the scotch bottle.
“Good night, Mom.” He took a staggering step toward her, kissed her cheek, and then turned to walk back to the dance floor.
Naomi clasped his shoulders. “No more dancing. Your father wants to leave--now.”
Josh swayed, trying to keep his eyes focused on her face. “Why? The party isn’t over yet.”
Naomi gently turned him toward the door. “Go, your dad is waiting.”
Aaron chuckled, watching the poor kid stagger across the room.
“Remember when you could drink that much and not need two days to recover from the hangover?” Naomi asked.
“Ah.” He closed his eyes wistfully. “The good old days.”
Naomi and Aaron searched out the newlyweds, finding them near the door, flocked by well-wishers. When it was their turn to offer mazel tovs, she hugged Noah and became teary eyed. Before walking away, she reached into her bag, pulled out a five-dollar bill, and stuck it in Noah’s hand. “Take this, use it for tzedakah in Israel.” She reached back into her bag, pulled out another five and placed it in Maria’s hand. “When a Jew travels while carrying money for charity,” Naomi said, “he or she becomes what is known as a mitzvah messenger. We believe that the person with this status receives extra protection for safe travel. So, this five dollars is for you to give to charity when you safely return home from your honeymoon.”
Chapter 22
Naomi
Naomi woke, comfortably spooned against Aaron. She didn’t want to move or think, just enjoy being in this wonderful man’s arms. The sun was already shining through the windows. Last week, she wrestled with herself--take Friday off or work? A long, slow stroke
up his arm confirmed that using one of her vacation days was a good decision.
He stirred, and she felt his lips on her neck--luxury, pure luxury. “Do we do something today or just stay in bed all day?” he asked between kisses.
Naomi gave a soft moan. “Bed, only bed.” She rolled over to kiss his lips, which quickly escalated beyond the kiss.
Afterward, Naomi ran her finger along his jaw, enjoying the opportunity to stare uninterrupted in his eyes.
“Stay in bed?” he asked.
“Yes, coffee and breakfast in bed. You stay here and I’ll be back.”
“No.” He slid his legs over the side of the bed. “We cook together. I make great omelets, but my coffee tastes like mud.”
He stood and stretched, and she felt a stirring. Wow, what a body for a man almost fifty. He pulled on the only pants he had--tuxedo pants. “No, you can’t cook in those. I’ll get you a pair of Ezra’s sweat pants.” She put her nightgown on and was about to leave the room when the phone rang.
She picked it up, but before she could say hello, a voice blasted her ear. “How freakin dare you.”
It took Naomi a moment to figure out who owned the screaming voice. She extended the phone away from her ear and scrunched her face at Aaron. He mouthed the word “Becky,” which made it pretty clear that he could hear her from across the room.
The Kiddush Ladies Page 24