Magda placed another portion on her grandson’s plate. “Anyone else like as long as I got the spatula?”

“I’ll take another piece,” Stefan said.

“You like the lasagne, Stefan?”

“It’s good, but it isn’t yours, Magda.” He winked at his daughter. “No offense to you, Ginny.”

“None taken. I agree.”

Magda tried to hold back a smile and was unsuccessful.

“So how long is this friend coming out for?” Sammy said.

“I think she said a week.”

Magda said, “She was a very strange girl growing up. Always very nervous.”

“She was okay,” Rina said.

“Meaning she’s weird,” Sammy said.

“She’s not weird,” Rina said.

Magda said, “Didn’t her mother pass away when she was young?”

Rina stared at her mother, then whispered yes. Magda instantly realized her faux pas and glanced at the boys. They were quiet. They had accepted Akiva as their father so completely, she had momentarily forgotten about Yitzchak. She clasped her shaking hands.

“I’m a stupid old woman,” she muttered behind tears.

“Oh, forget it, Omah,” Jake said, patting her hand. “We love you.”

Sammy kissed his grandmother’s cheek. It had become quite bony over the past year. Like always, Omah was decked out. “Stop worrying, Omah. You can mention Abba here. We do it all the time. Even Dad talks about Abba.” He took the spatula out of her hand. “Here. Take some more of Eema’s lasagne. Even if it isn’t as good as yours.”

Magda wiped her eyes. “You are such good boys.” She suddenly stood and hugged her grandsons fiercely. “I want you to know that I loved your abba.”

“Of course you did, Mama,” Rina said. “Just enjoy the meal and relax.”

“It’s just I get stupid with my words.” Magda sat down.

“Yitzchak is not insulted,” Stefan said. “He knows we all loved him. Believe me, he knows. Now the important question. Who is Honey, Ginny? I don’t remember her.”

“She had blond hair,” Magda said. “Very nice hair. She married a very religious man, didn’t she, Ginny?”

Rina nodded. “A Leibbener Chasid.”

“Terrific.” Sammy’s smile was snide. “Another fringy Chasid.”

“Shmuel, show some tolerance,” Rina said.

“The Leibbeners are weird,” Sammy said. “They don’t use phones.”

“What you mean they don’t use phones?” Stefan asked.

“Just that,” Sammy said.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“I think it’s true,” Rina said.

“Why?” Stefan asked.

“Because they’re weird,” Sammy said.

Jake said, “I really don’t mind sleeping in the attic.”

“Is the baby crying?” Magda asked.

The room fell silent for a moment. Rina shrugged and went back to her lasagne.

“If your friend has a husband who is diamond dealer,” Stefan said, “maybe he knows the family that disappeared.”

“What are you talking about, Stefan?” Magda asked.

“The case that Akiva’s working on,” Stefan explained. “The family that is missing.”