“Meyer, you are so much like Dad, and I have no doubt you and Joan only want the best for me and Ari. I will be away from home, but you and Joan should treat me like I’m one of your own,” She shrugged. “Like you always have. Ari and I will stay in control of ourselves. I can’t imagine not being able to see him until I’m eighteen.”
“Do we have an agreement?” Larry asked.
Ari and Leah both nodded excitedly.
“Joan and I, along with your parents, have agreed any profits made go into investments for a college fund you won’t be able to touch until you’re eighteen. If the business makes enough money, you might get an allowance, but the amount will be agreed upon by both sets of parents and you will get equal amounts. I’m not taking any money out of the company. If you build it up, like I think you can, I will sell you my share in five years. Believe me; you won’t be making any money for at least a couple of years depending on how you promote your business.”
“Also, Leah,” Larry said, “on a separate matter, Cora Warshawsky’s brother, Dr. Isaac Rabinowitz, is a professional psychologist and specializes in family and grief counseling. I want you to know, if you need to talk to someone outside the family about Marsha’s death, he’s agreed to talk to you. It will be your choice, but it can be a good idea. Isaac has already talked to your mom a couple of times and she’s going to see a grief counselor in Miami who Isaac knows.”
Leah agreed if she felt she needed it, she would talk to Dr. Rabinowitz.
The following day we flew back to Seattle with Joan still concerned about Leah’s emotional state. But after an hour in the air, she nudged me and I looked over at Leah and Ari, sitting in adjoining seats. Leah was asleep with her head on Ari’s shoulder and her arms wrapped around his arm as if she was holding a teddy bear.
I agreed Leah would have some difficult times ahead, but Joan reminded me, if Ari was like his dad, Leah would be able to manage the difficult times.
Joan whispered a prayer. “Please, God, give Ari the wisdom, strength, and patience to help our blessed Leah through this difficult time.”
* * *
Ari, Leah, and Samantha set up a routine of getting up at the same time each morning to go for a run. The rest of the day, Joan kept Ari and Leah busy working on their business. They followed strict work hours and made the base of their business in an area above the antique-car garage. They took a class in woodworking and marine finishes and started building parts for the Ensigns.
Something else happened that the family hadn’t thought about. Samantha and Leah started getting close—sister close. Samantha loved cooking and especially preparing the Sabbath meal. Leah started helping the first Sabbath she was at our home and continued all summer.
They would plan the dinner, go shopping, and then cook together. Joan was in heaven watching them, and we noticed when Ari and Leah were planning a weekend activity, they would always try to include Samantha. Years later, when Samantha married, Leah would be her maid of honor.
Three weeks after the funeral, Isaac Rabinowitz came over to our home and spent a couple of hours talking with the family and then just with Ari and Leah. Leah seemed to like Dr. Rabinowitz immediately. He had a magical personal quality making him seem like he was your good friend as soon as you met him.
After talking with Leah and Ari, and with their permission, Isaac went for a walk with Joan and me, to fill us in on his thoughts.
“Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. Leah feels like she can talk to you guys about anything which is emotional gold for her. Ari is obviously the rock in her life. I would give anything to see him become a psychologist, but I know what a techie he is. He has such compassion, which is especially amazing for someone his age. He feels Leah’s pain and instinctively knows how to talk to her about it. When I spoke with them together, it was obvious how they support each other and nurture their relationship. I know many adult couples who don’t manage as well as those two.”
We agreed. Joan and I were both very proud of Ari and the young man he was becoming.
Isaac walked alongside of us, his hands clasped in front of him as he continued. “They told me instead of trying to figure out why Marsha died, they decided every week they would do something she liked to do and remember the good times with her. They said last week they ate Marsha’s favorite fast food, fish and chips, for lunch one day. Another day, they went for a walk along the lake because Marsha liked to walk along the water’s edge.” He shook his head. “It usually takes me weeks or months of counseling to get survivors to consider doing such things, but those two decided on their own. Not only that, but I’m certain they are dealing with the loss in a healthy way, because they have already decided their first baby girl will be named Marsha.”
* * *
We thanked Isaac for his help and returned to the house. We were so lucky to have a great clinician in the family at a tragic time like this. It was easy to see why his patients loved him.
Days passed and word about the ForJonathan business began to spread to Portland and some sailing clubs on lakes in eastern Washington and Idaho and the business continued to grow. Leah and Ari had taken pictures of Jonathan sailing in the Ensign and created a brochure they sent out to as many sailing clubs as they could find on the internet. They were getting so many requests for devices they had to contract with a woodworking shop to make and assemble some of the parts. They both worked through a text on biomechanics to create special devices for some of the physically challenged sailors.
One Monday morning, they received a phone call from an executive with a large Japanese company. While visiting Seattle on business, the owner ate lunch at the restaurant next to the sailing club. He'd noticed the Ensign going out with handicapped children and wanted to meet the business owners who produced the parts.
He came over to the house and met with us. Through an interpreter, he told Ari and Leah his son had a neuromuscular disease and he would be honored to represent their products in Japan. “Many Japanese people love sailing. I would love to take my son sailing. With your help he will sail,” the interpreter told them.
As we were saying good-bye, the Japanese executive turned to me and spoke in halting English. “It must be a great honor to have children who devote their energy to helping the less fortunate.”
I proudly put an arm around both Ari and Leah and agreed that yes, it was.
He turned to Ari. “Next month my wife, son, and daughter will be vacationing in Seattle with me. We will be going to museums, gardens, and baseball games. If it is possible, I would love to take my family sailing also.”
A smiling Ari told him, “We can absolutely make it happen.”
Chapter Nineteen
~ Ari and Leah’s Next Step
After a couple of successful years growing the business, Leah was permanently relocating to Seattle to get ready for her college career. On Friday she would be flying in, and on Sunday, she and Ari would get the keys to the duplex townhouse they bought with proceeds from their ForJonathan Company.
On the Tuesday prior, I decided to have a serious talk with my son. “Leah is making a major commitment to live with you this year. She’s a great lady and deserves the best, in my humble opinion.”
Ari’s face lit up at the mention of Leah. “I agree, Dad. Ever since we were little kids we had special feelings for each other and did our best to take care of each other.”
“You need to consider a few things, Ari. You must be careful as there is a possibility she could get pregnant while you two are living together.” By now, Ari was quite used to my direct approach to all things. “Also, it would be considerate of you to come up with a special gift expressing your commitment to her. You could give it to her when she arrives Friday.”
When Friday arrived, we picked Leah up at SeaTac Airport. She was radiant and it was easy to see she was looking forward to attending university and living with Ari.
Ari too had an air of excitement about him. He planned something and he seemed barely abl
e to contain himself until we were home. When we finally arrived he couldn’t even wait until she put her bags away. He grabbed her by the hand and sat her down at the dining table.
She expressed confused anticipation, and he looked nervous and eager. “Leah, you and I have known for a long time we were meant for each other. From our first meeting, to all our family visits, I’ve always felt I had a special relationship with you. I’m a better person because of you. Now, we’re taking the next step and we are going to move into our own home and attend university together.”
Joan looked on with surprise as Ari went to the refrigerator and brought out two champagne flutes, concealing them as best he could. He kneeled down and brought one out from behind his back. “I want to show you how much you mean to—”
Ari was cut off by a scream from Leah as he handed her one of the champagne flutes, which had an engagement ring tied to it with a lovely red ribbon.
“Leah, will you marry me?”
She was crying so hard she couldn’t answer, so instead she threw her arms around him, spilling champagne.
When she composed herself enough to speak, she said, “You’ve always been so good to me.”
“Does that mean yes?” Ari asked.
“Yes, yes, of course yes—a thousand times yes.”
Ari untied the ribbon and placed the ring on Leah’s finger and they each sipped their champagne, smiling from ear to ear.
Samantha had been waiting patiently in the background until the ring was on Leah’s finger, then she began to clap and cheer.
“Were you in on this?” Joan asked.
“I helped him pick out the ring yesterday,” Samantha informed her with pride, “‘cause that’s what big sisters do!”
Joan looked at me now. “Did you know?”
I shrugged. “Not exactly—but I had a feeling. When I saw Samantha’s cat-that-ate-the-canary grin when we arrived, I knew.”
Leah hugged everyone and showed off her ring. They put the phone on speaker and Ari called his Aunt Golda. She screamed for Aaron and her children to tell them the news.
Leah called her parents and Ann, her brother, Austin, and her Aunt Michelle and Uncle Morris, It was difficult for her to talk to them through her crying.
Michelle called Ethan and David over to tell them Leah was engaged to be married, and I heard one of them ask if it was to Ari.
“Yes, Ethan, who else would she get engaged to?” Michelle shouted back to him.
Then, in the background, an enthusiastic, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Michelle turned back to the conversation. “Well, David just dropped down on one knee, and punched his fist into the air screaming. I’d say it’s safe to assume the twins are ecstatic Ari will officially be part of the family now. They want to speak to the happy couple to congratulate them.”
She put them on the phone, coaching them from the sidelines. “Be sure you welcome Ari to our family,” Michelle told them.
After the twins talked to Ari and Leah, Michelle returned to the phone, asking for Joan. “So my big brother comes through for my niece by marrying you and producing a partner for her. I am so happy for them. They always seemed like they would be perfect together, but it’s so hard to know for sure. I guess they knew.”
“When I think back, there were lots of signs,” Joan replied. “One of the biggest was that they were always happy taking care of each other, independent of what they were doing.”
Samantha smiled and expressed joy for Leah and Ari, although she seemed like she was trying not to show her sadness. I could see it. It seemed like her mother could too. Everyone else around her had a special partner, without Nathan she must have felt a little alone.
Chapter Twenty
~ A Partner for Samantha
During spring break the following year, twenty-four-year-old Samantha was out with a number of friends hiking through a scenic Olympic Peninsula rain forest, located in the northwest corner of Washington State.
As they hiked along the beautiful trails, Samantha became aware of a member of the group she never met. He was quiet, a little taller than Samantha, and drop-dead gorgeous. He had a thin build like a distance runner. Samantha decided she would talk to him.
She found out he was quite knowledgeable about the rain forest. He told her it was formed thousands of years ago by glaciers, as well as many facts about the flora and fauna of the Olympic Peninsula. As they walked, they started to discuss many subjects. Samantha was quite pleased this guy was so well read. She found she was laughing with him quite a bit, as well.
Looking at the great muscle definition he had in his legs, she asked if he was a runner.
“I run at least three miles a day and try to run a five-K once a month,” He replied.
“I run a couple miles every day,” she told him, “but I’ve never run a five-K.”
“Maybe we could get together for a run sometime,” he suggested.
“That would be fun. What’s your major?” She assumed he must be a bio major, with all of his knowledge about the rain forest.
“If I tell you, you have to promise to keep talking to me.” He grinned.
She returned his smile. “I’ll let you know after you tell me.”
“I’m working on a PhD. I’m majoring in knots—you know, like when you tie your shoes.”
“Oh really,” a broadly smiling Samantha said. “Are you good enough to apply knot theory to protein folding?”
He gave her a shocked look, “You know about knot theory?”
“My dad has a PhD in mathematical optimization, as well as finance.”
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Samantha Minkowski.”
Upon hearing her name, his face brightened further. He looked at the necklace she was wearing—a miniature Chai suspended on a chain. With a knowing smile he said, “How about dinner together tomorrow night?”
Samantha replied, “I don’t go out on Friday nights.”
“I’m sorry. I should have said that I was asking if you would do me the honor of coming to my home and lighting Sabbath candles for me.”
Oh my God, thought Samantha, he’s Jewish!
“I’m Gould by the way, Moshe Gould.”
Samantha’s heart was racing as she shook hands with him and told him that she would prefer that he came to her apartment the following day. “Tell you what, Moshe. Why don’t we meet at my place around four o’clock and we can walk to a market nearby. We can buy whatever looks good and cook it for dinner.”
“Four o’clock sounds fine.”
Driving back to the University, Samantha rode with Moshe in his slant-nose Porsche 935. She was surprised to see that he had installed four-point belts in the car. It looked more like a race car than a street car.
“I did some aerodynamic work for my father last summer and he paid me with the car. It’s wonderfully quick, has great handling, but also is safe.”
The ride back to the University a number of interesting discussions. It seemed they were never going to run out of things to say to each other.
When Samantha asked her friends about Moshe, they told her some people thought he must be gay, because so many girls had tried unsuccessfully to get him to go out with them.
“I guess he was waiting for you,” Samantha’s friend Rachel told her.
When four o’clock on Friday arrived, they walked to the market and bought a beautiful tuna filet. They took it home to marinate and then cook outside on a charcoal grill.
Moshe also grilled fresh vegetables and made a Rumanian-style eggplant dish. They shared kitchen duties, lots of conversation, and even more laughter. Moshe could act, and at times, he would tease Samantha by talking in a serious voice preventing her from knowing whether he was kidding or not.
She loved that. Naturally, his silliness provided even more opportunity for laughter.
Samantha blessed the candles to welcome the Sabbath. Moshe recited the blessing for the wine and she recited the blessing for the beautiful C
hallah she had baked for them that morning.
Before they opened their prayer books, Moshe recommended they sing the Shehechianu because, he said, “I feel this is going to be the first of many Sabbaths we celebrate together.”
As they started to eat, he told her, “Wait until you hear the commentary by the Lubavitch Rebbe on tonight’s Parsha. It is fascinating.”
After dinner he asked if she would like to go dancing with him on Sunday evening. “Seattle has a great Lindy scene,” he told her.
Samantha couldn’t believe her luck. She met a great guy who cooks, davens, and dances. This was too good to be true.
“You’re an interesting guy, Moshe. How come no one has latched onto you yet?”
“Someone did. We were about to become engaged when her parents made it clear that I wasn’t sufficiently Jewish for their daughter. We were having huge arguments with them, and with each other. I thought we were so perfect—we spent four years together, from age seventeen to twenty-one—and then her parents basically told her she had to choose between her family and me.”
He shrugged. “It was about control. I’m an independent guy and her parents always did things in a way to continually run her life. Having an independent guy around, who wasn’t afraid to tell people what he thought, was anathema to them. She finally told me she needed time to decide. Four years together and she needed time to decide? I told her I decided—to say good-bye. I remember when I told my dad, he said, ‘About time you woke up.’”
Samantha briefly described how she was certain she was intended to marry Nathan. “I felt we were perfect for each other but Nathan didn’t share my feeling. My brother, Ari, found his partner at a young age. Our parents knew they were right for each other from a young age, too. I always thought the same thing would happen to me.”
Moshe told her, “I’ve dated off and on since then. The older I became, the more I realized what I wanted in a relationship. It’s so much easier now to get an understanding of a person early in a relationship. There are some key questions I ask, or subjects I bring up. Unlike everyone else I’ve run into, you’re the only one who wants so many of the same things in a relationship I want. I don’t even remember how many times we’ve talked about how important our families are to each of us—but that’s when I realized you were someone special.”
Finding a Soul Mate (Meant to be Together Book 1) Page 19