“How about we all have a drink?” She picked up the wine list and perused the selections. She sniffed. “I don’t believe I know any of these labels.”

“Probably because they’re kosher wines,” Rina said. “A lot of them are very good.”

“How about this one?” She pointed to the most expensive bottle. “Herzog To Kalon? Did I pronounce that correctly?”

“You did.” Rina winced. It was over two hundred dollars a bottle. “Sure, let’s get a bottle.”

“One bottle? Let’s get four. And don’t worry, young lady. I’m paying.”

“Told you,” Tyler said to Decker.

“We invited you, Mrs. McAdams,” Decker said.

“It’s Nina and pish on that. I know what poor Tyler makes. It’s appalling! And even with your pension from somewhere, this is a large crowd. It would be my pleasure and I won’t hear of anything else. So let’s spend a lovely Wednesday night eating, drinking, and being merry.” To punctuate her sentence, she picked up a menu and everyone else did likewise. Within moments, the table buzzed with conversation.

Decker spoke across the table to Cindy and Koby, “Thanks for making the trip.”

“If the mountain won’t come to Mohammad . . .”

“I’ll come. I promise. I’m dying to see my boys again.”

“They miss Grandpa,” Koby said. “I miss him as well.”

Decker smiled. “Who’s watching the boys?”

“My partner, Mary, and Koby’s classmate, Alicia,” Cindy said. “They met at a party at our house and are now an item.”

Nina said. “So you have the gay thing covered as well.”

Tyler put his hands to his forehead. Sammy said, “This is nothing.” He cocked a finger at Decker. “You should meet his mother.”

“Leave Ida alone,” Rina said. “She’s lovely.”

Rachel said, “I think I’m getting the short ribs.” She looked at Jacob’s girlfriend, Ilana. “You want to split it?”

“Sure, I’ll split it with you.”

Jacob banged a spoon against some stemware and stood up. Everyone looked at him. Hannah said, “Make it quick, Yonkie.”

“Just a few words.”

“It better be, Yonkie, I’m hungry,” Sammy turned to Tyler. “He likes to make announcements.”

Hannah said, “He’s sentimental.”

Cindy said, “In all fairness, how often are we all together?” She looked at Yasmine. “You’re here along with Gabe’s spirit.”

“I’ll fill him in when he gets home.”

“Where is he?” Hannah asked.

“Uh, Japan . . . Osaka.”

“A lovely place,” Nina said. “Especially compared to Tokyo.” She turned to Rina. “Have you been?”

“It’s on my list.”

“The cherry blossom time is simply exquisite.”

“Nina, he’s trying to talk,” Tyler said.

“Oh, pish!” She turned quiet.

Jacob said, “It’s impossible to keep this family’s attention for more than thirty seconds.”

Ilana patted his hand. “Make it quick, sweetie.”