“You like Cabernet,” Cindy said.

“Yes, I do.” Decker smiled but didn’t continue the conversation. Rina tried out a nervous smile. She was so tired of playing referee, but that seemed to be her lot in life. “Everything okay?” she asked her stepdaughter.

“Just fine. Hannah’s dressed and ready to go.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” Cindy was trying to make eye contact with her father, but he had busied himself with flower arranging. “Koby needs candles.”

“Of course,” Rina said. “Do you want to light, Cindy?”

“Yes, thanks.”

Rina went into the pantry and brought out four tea lights. Decker was looking at his daughter with deadpan eyes.

Cindy said, “I found the baby’s mother, you know.”

“Congratulations,” Decker said. “I should have told you that right away.”

No one spoke for a few moments.

“I’d like to talk to you about it,” Cindy said. “I have some concerns.”

Curiosity flickered in Decker’s eyes, but he kept his equilibrium. “Sure. Go ahead.”

“I don’t think this is the right time. It may take more than a few minutes.”

“Okay. Why don’t you give me a call tomorrow night?”

Cindy knew her father was giving her the brush-off. But she proceeded as if she didn’t know better. “Actually, if you have time, I’d like to meet with you on Sunday. Could you come out to my place?” She tried a sheepish smile. “I’ll even cook you breakfast.”

Decker remained expressionless. “I told Hannah I’d take her to the movies.”

Rina said, “There’s a two o’clock show. You could probably make it back in time.”

Decker raised a disapproving eyebrow at his wife. But she was right. If he didn’t back off, he’d deserve what he’d get. “It’s important to you, Cynthia?”

“Kind of, yeah. I’d really appreciate your help.”

He gave a forced smile. “Sure, honey. Around nine, then?” “That would be perfect.”

“Here you go.” Rina handed her the tea lights. Cindy thanked her and they all left it at that.

14

When I came back into the living room, Hannah was seated next to Koby, the two of them turning the pages of an oversize art book entitled Solomon’s People. The tome was almost as big as she was. She looked splendid in a lime green dress and matching jacket that magnificently offset her red hair. She was learning the tricks of being a carrottop at a very early age. “What’s that?”

Koby said, “A book of Ethiopian Jews. I know several of the people.”

“Who?” Hannah asked.

“This lady here,” Koby said. “She was a very good friend of my older brother Yaphet. She married a rabbi and lives somewhere in the Negev.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“Oh yes, very, very beautiful. I had a terrible crush on her. Alas, my affections were not returned.”

“Then she’s stupid,” Hannah said.

“No, but I thank you for the support. It was more like she was seventeen and I was thirteen, though I was as tall as she. For an Ethiopian, I am very tall.”