Part 37 (1/2)
”Hi,” he responded, wanting to step closer to her, holding himself from doing so. ”Long time.”
”Too long.”
”Can't argue with that.”
Awkwardness.
”How have you been?” she asked.
”Actually, pretty okay.”
”So I've read.”
”You, too?” He pretended more surprise than he actually felt.
”Me, and probably a whole lot of other people.”
”Yeah, should be a real career starter,” he said, eyeing his shabby surroundings.
”Should be.”
More awkwardness.
”So how have you been?” he asked.
She considered the question for a second. ”Not as well as you.”
He looked at her curiously. She held up her hand to display the absence of rings.
”What happened?” he asked.
”Life, I suppose.”
”Divorce?”
”Bingo.”
”I'm sorry.”
”I'm not.”
”Then I'm not either.”
She laughed. He smiled.
”Would you,” she said, and then hesitated to wipe a tear. ”Would you-hold me?”
He moved toward her slowly and took her in his arms. At first, his touch was tentative, halting. She felt soft and frail, and began to cry on his shoulder. Fighting his own tears, he began to hold her tighter. She lifted her head from his shoulder, and looked into his eyes. He thought about that long, pa.s.sionate kiss that had always appeared in his dreams, but couldn't do it. It just didn't feel right.
She shared his conflict and stepped back. ”So this is where you're going to set up shop,” she said, deflecting the tension.
”I suppose so. The rent's right, the location's pretty good.” He looked around and frowned. ”The place does need some work.”
”I'll say.”
He showed her the layout that Connie and he had discussed. She liked the concept, and even offered to help. He accepted, realizing it might have been a good idea to have consulted his new partner first.
They left the building and walked up Nostrand Avenue. She told him about her miscarriages, the problems with Binny, and even about the incident with Paul Sims.
”You really should tell someone, especially your parents; he could be dangerous,” Joshua said.
”I am telling someone-you. I think he's more stupid than dangerous, and I'm not worried that he'll try anything again. He knows it's a lost cause.”
Joshua wondered about that. ”Maybe I'll pay him a little visit, just to let him know that he didn't get away scot-free.”
”Please don't!”
”Still worried what people might think about your a.s.sociation with me?”
”Are you going to start with that black and white thing again?”
”Do I need to?”
”If I wanted to keep you a secret, why would I be walking in public with you?”
”Are you really with me? Seems to me there's almost two feet between us.”
With that, she moved closer and took him by the arm. ”How's this, better?”
”Much!”
They both smiled, but he could feel her discomfort. Although Nostrand Avenue was pretty much an exclusively black part of the neighborhood, one never knew when a Hasid might pop up.
”So why don't you want me to talk to him?” Joshua asked.
”First, I don't believe that talking is what you have in mind. Second, I'd just prefer letting it be.”
He didn't press, but still had the mind to do something. He would respect her wishes, for now.
”I'm glad you're here,” he said.
”So am I.”
CHAPTER 44.
He was a staunch loyalist, a blind devotee to his master's will. As a.s.sistant to Rav Schachter, he enjoyed immense prestige and honor, though the things sometimes asked of him portended neither. He rationalized, believing the righteousness of his mandate. Even in moments such as this.