“We don’t know for sure he was a porno producer.”

“C’mon, he was something sleazy. The point is, we were the most conventional couple in the place. Yaakov, there are places in the good old USA where I wouldn’t take you on a bet, and it’s not just the Deep South or rural Texas. It’s lovely areas with pretty little homes and green lawns and posters in their windows that say, ‘The South shall rise again.’”

His jaw was still clenched. “Your bigots do not excuse my people’s stupidity!”

“No one’s making excuses. It’s just that stupidity comes in all colors, including the white liberals in the West Side. God, Koby, you remember the party Mom gave for Alan’s birthday? The looks on the guests’ faces when they met you. Man, if their smiles had been any more frozen, I could have chipped them off with an ice pick.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“Yeah, it was especially fun when Mrs. Hauser handed you her dirty wineglass and asked for another chilled Chardonnay, even though all the hired waiters were white, wearing tuxes, and carrying trays.”

He waited a beat before he spoke, taking in the memory. His eyes darkened. “Yes, that was uncomfortable.”

“Koby, you were seething.”

“She was very apologetic.”

“She was apoplectic!”

He pressed his lips together. “What does that mean?”

“‘Apoplectic’? It’s an old word for a fit … like a seizure. But now it means someone in a snit. And she certainly was in a snit. In fact, she was horrified because the worst thing in that world is being ‘aware’ of color. And of course, they’re all very aware of color. They think it’s great that Jan raised a liberal daughter, but they wouldn’t want it for their own, believe you me.”

“They’d be even more horrified to find out you’re not a liberal.”

“On social issues I am.”

“You’re a cop, Cynthia. With cop ways of doing things and cop opinions.”

“Definitely. I have a big problem with anyone who breaks the law.”

“We’re in agreement. So that is why I don’t make excuses for those jerks.”

“I’m not making excuses; I’m just thinking this out. Even my dad, who truly adores you, even he had a reaction when he first met you.”

“Your stepmother didn’t.”

I hesitated for just a moment. “I don’t want this to be construed as a criticism of Rina, because I think she’s a great person. But to Rina, the world is divided into two categories: Jews and non-Jews. If you’re Jewish, you’re in; if not, you’re not. You’re Jewish, ergo you’re in. She may be color-blind, but she has her standards. Sammy could bring home the most beautiful, brilliant girl, and if she wasn’t Jewish, heads would roll.”

I exhaled and shook my head.

“We all do it … this us/them thing. With me, it divides between law-abiding citizens and felons. Even in your field, where there isn’t supposed to be any bias, I bet biased decisions are made all the time. If a kidney is available, can you honestly say to me that they consider a seventy-year-old in the same way that they consider a twenty-year old?”