“Good idea.” My father looked as if a headache were coming on. Just then Sammy walked in. “Dad, could you— Oh, hi, guys.” He homed in on my fiancé. “Koby, we need to talk. I’ve got this emergency situation. A basketball game on Sunday.”

“I’m working, Shmuel.”

“What time do you start?” Sammy asked.

“Three.”

“No problem. The game’s at ten.”

“Sammy, that’s enough,”’ Decker said.

“Our star forward’s grandmother died. I promise you’ll be out by one because we’re all going to the funeral at two.”

“Sammy, you are truly sick,” I told him.

My stepbrother ignored me. “Koby, we really need you. Otherwise it’s going to be embarrassing.”

“Surely there are other token blacks in this area.”

“Not this late in the series. They’ve already been snapped up. C’mon. I’m going back to New York next week. Please?”

“I have to help Cindy pack.”

“I’ll help her pack after the funeral.” Sammy looked at me. “Where are you going?”

“I’m moving,” I told him.

“Oh. Where?”

Koby raised his eyebrows.

“Oh.” Sammy looked at Daddy, trying not to smile. “Okay. I’ll help you pack, Cin. I promise.”

“I can manage. I don’t own that much.” I regarded Koby. “You can play.” I elbowed my stepbrother in the ribs. “Anything to shut him up.”

Koby rubbed his forehead. “You are a nag, Shmuel.”

“Persistent.”

“Just this one last time.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

“Don’t expect miracles.”

“Koby, it’s all a matter of image! Skill doesn’t hurt, either.”

Decker wagged a finger at him. “You’re overstepping your bounds, young man. I’m only permitting it because he’s now family. Say hello to your brother-in-law.”

I showed Sammy my ring.

“Really? Cool!” He kissed my cheek. “I gotta go call Yossi before Shabbat. He’s gonna freak when I tell him. Thanks, Koby.”

“And mazel tov?” Koby prompted.

“Oh sure. Mazel tov, although it wasn’t exactly unexpected. But it’s still neat.”

He left.

“Well, he was certainly excited,” I commented.

My father laughed. “Sammy was born politically incorrect, God bless him.”

Rina came into the living room. “I thought I heard voices.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Dressed like that, I’m assuming you’re staying?”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“Of course.” She kissed my cheek. “Shabbat Shalom.”

Without a word, Koby showed her my finger. My stepmother’s eyes lit up. “Oh my goodness, it’s beautiful!” She hugged me hard. “Did you tell your mother?”

“Yes, she was the first one we told.”

“Perfect!” Rina hugged Koby and kissed his cheek. “Mazel tov, mazel tov! This is so incredibly exciting!”

“All this and a gold shield, too,” I said.

“Oh, that’s right! We definitely need champagne!”

Koby lifted the bottle.

Rina said, “I’ll go chill it.” Her face was suffused with pure happiness, unlike the happy but wistful expression that my father wore. “Have you set a date?”

“We were just talking about this,” I said. “I asked Dad if you could put up Koby’s parents because they’re—”

“Of course!” Rina said. “We’ll put up anyone you want.”