Chapters (45)
“But the children,” Leah protested as Chasya finally succeeded in squirming out of her grandmother’s firm grip, running to Leah, and burying her sticky face and hands in the silky folds of the long white gown. Leah lifted her, burrowing her nose into the child’s soft neck. The wedding dress would just have to go to the dry cleaners. “You smell like bubble gum ice cream.”
Chasya laughed, shaking her head. “Strawberry. I want to come home with you and Tateh.”
“Tomorrow, Icy,” Leah murmured, reluctant to let her go.
“But why?” the child protested.
“Don’t bother your mameh,” Fruma Esther admonished her.
The little girl turned around to look at her, astonished. “My mameh?”
Leah looked down at her, her face radiant. “Yes, I’m your mameh now, my lovely girl.” Now and forever and forever.
The child laughed and jumped up and down, suddenly full of energy. “But can I still call you Mommy?”
“Yes, my darling.” Leah smiled, a sweet bud of happiness opening inside her.
“Come, we have presents for you at Bubbee’s house. Say good night to your parents,” Fruma Esther said firmly, her eyes blinded by tears.
Leah kneeled next to the child, taking her little body in her arms, breathing in the childish warmth that mingled joyously with the honeyed drips and spills of the celebration. “Good night, my sweet little Icy,” she murmured into her hair, which badly needed a shampoo, kissing her stained cheek. She got up and looked at the little boy cradled in an exhausted sleep of oblivion in his older sister’s arms, gently smoothing his tousled blond curls out of his eyes. She put an affectionate arm around Shaindele, kissing her flushed cheek. “Thank you so much! We’ll come to pick them up tomorrow before you have to leave for school.”
“I can take the day off,” the girl offered, a little too eagerly, Leah thought. She studied her a moment, troubled. Shaindele was very committed to her schoolwork. “No, you have exams soon.”
The girl shrugged, a bit sullenly.
But then Yaakov was moving past her, hugging his children and talking to Fruma Esther, saying his final good nights and making it clear it was time for all of them to leave.
And then, it was just the two of them.
“Come,” he whispered thrillingly.