She sat down beside him, also frustrated. How she had longed for this—undivided attention, intimacy! He’d even, unbidden, canceled his evening shiur with Meir! This was the time she’d been preparing for, finally convinced she could trust him enough to be completely honest with him, even if it upset him. And now, instead, she was about to sacrifice this precious moment, to ruin it without any benefit to herself at all. But it couldn’t be helped.

“It’s Shaindele.”

She already sensed him inching away, his face and body stiffening.

“Must we? Now?”

“It’s not what you think!”

“But isn’t she being taken care of? Aren’t we paying a fortune for professional help? Not like when her mother was sick when we didn’t … Aren’t we doing whatever we can? Why do we need to talk about it? It’s upsetting.”

“What I’m going to tell you now is a thousand times more upsetting. I’m very sorry to have to do it now. I know you were hoping … looking forward to…”

He leaned back, making a curt, dismissive gesture with his hand, then clasping them together tensely in his lap as if to say, What does it matter what I was hoping for, what I want?

The gesture wasn’t lost on her. It took Leah aback. She had no idea he was so angry, that he was feeling the lack of intimacy between them as much or even more than she herself. But it didn’t change what she needed to do now, good timing or no.

“It’s Yoel Grub.”

“The psychologist? Nu? What?”

“He has been behaving inappropriately with her.”

“Vus is dus? ‘Inappropriately’?”

“His behavior is not tzniusdik. He’s ignoring yichud. He’s touching her. He’s talking to her about forbidden things. I think he’s a big fake. A pervert in rav’s clothing. We need to find her someone else. And while we’re at it, to inform all the people who recommended him that it’s dangerous to send young girls to him for counseling.”

Yaakov stood up. He took a step toward Shaindele’s room, but then he reeled, falling heavily backward onto the couch, almost knocking into Leah. She reached for him, concerned.

“Are you all right, Yaakov? I know it’s a shock—”

“A shock?” he repeated dully, his eyes wild. “A shock!” He was breathing heavily.

She was frightened he was having some kind of medical issue. “Please tell me you’re all right!” she pleaded.