Honestly, Leah was getting the picture. But she was still doubtful. Had this been happening anywhere else, she would have been instantly wary and would have taken Shaindele’s side immediately. But because it was Boro Park, and because Yoel Grub was apparently so highly regarded by the frumest rabbis who sent all their teenage girls to him, how was it possible that something could be so wrong?

Leah put her hands in her lap, squeezing her fingers until the knuckles were white. She took a deep breath. “Shaindele, you’re sure, about the touching? You couldn’t have imagined, misunderstood … You’re absolutely certain?”

Shaindele nodded, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. “He asked me to sit in his lap, Leah. He asked me if I wanted him to caress me the way Duvie did. He said he was older and could do it better.”

Leah felt her heart begin to pound. This was no misunderstanding. There was not a single doubt left in her mind that Grub was grooming her. Thank goodness Shaindele had had enough sense to figure it out in time and ask for help.

“Oh my good Lord! Come here, sweetie.” She gathered the girl in her arms. “You did the right thing, telling me. And you are never, ever going back to that sicko again, you hear me? We will find you someone else from outside Boro Park. A professional.”

“But what about my school, the principal? And what will Tateh say?”

“Never you mind about that. I’ll deal with all that.”

The girl wrapped her arms around her stepmother’s shoulders and leaned into her. “Thank you, Leah. Thank you so much!”

“Try to relax, honey. Be glad you were smart enough to figure this guy out sooner rather than later. I’m sure a lot of the other young girls the rabbis sent to him weren’t. I’m very proud of you, Shaindele.”

These were the words that in the future the girl would hold on to and carry with her. For what was to come, she’d have no choice.

25

A RAY OF HOPE

Yaakov was sitting at his desk trying to concentrate on his work. Outside, the sun was shining, and the sky was blue. He had felt the spring coming the moment he stepped out of the house that morning. In only a few weeks, it would be Passover, the official inauguration of springtime.

How he looked forward to all the preparations that turned the house upside down! Everything would be thoroughly cleansed. All the most beautiful dishes and cutlery, used only one week a year, would be unwrapped from their cartons and readied. Special groceries would be purchased, unique dishes prepared.

This is what I need, he told himself. Renewal. Spring. Beauty. To get in touch with the ancient story of the Hebrews released from brutal slavery to freedom and life as sovereigns in their own land.