Through laughter, Leah called back down, “Good! It’s just that the reed keeps hitting her in the face when she tries to bend it!”
Michael relaxed slightly, then smiled to himself, listening to them for a while. Leah’s voice was so calm and smooth. He found it mesmerizing.
“Dad,” Elizabeth called from the window, “come and see what I’ve done!”
Michael stood up, brushed off some dust, and went up to the second floor. His daughter was waiting for him at the top of the ladder, holding a small, unfinished woven basket. Despite some gaps in her weaving, it was spectacular.
“See?”
“Beautiful, Elizabeth!”
Leah smiled, catching Michael’s eyes. “Would you like to try?”
“No, no. Boys don’t do that sort of thing.”
“But you tried to cook,” Leah said. “Boys don’t do that here either.”
“You called that cooking?” asked Michael, laughing.
“No, I was just being polite,” she replied with a smile.
Since Elizabeth was enjoying weaving with Leah, Michael decided to go back downstairs and sit under the fig tree again. Cassie wandered nearby, eating some grain from a basket left near the wall. Seeing Elizabeth so happy with Leah lifted his spirits. He wondered if Leah could ever be part of their future.
He shook his head and fretted about the new night approaching. Life now seemed so simple in Northport when Vicki was around.
Michael loved walking after a good swim. The weeks following Labor Day were always the best time of year on the beach because it was quiet and empty. The sand was still warm, and the sun’s heat soothed his shirtless chest while the waves caressed his toes.
Michael saw the Connecticut shoreline across Long Island Sound. He smiled, watching the scenery around him: a father teaching his son how to fly a kite, seagulls wrestling for a piece of bread tossed to them by an old lady sitting on a bench, a girl throwing a stick for her dog to chase, and a few boys playing football near the basketball courts.
But his favorite scene was the beautiful woman with green eyes lounging on a blanket about twenty feet ahead. She was watching him, smiling.
“Excuse me, young lady. Is there room on this blanket for me?”
The woman smiled back demurely. “Of course, young man.” She started to laugh. “Are you trying to pick me up?”
“Of course.”
Vicki was lying on her back, sipping white wine, and giggling. Her hair was tousled slightly from the ocean breeze.
Michael dropped down next to her on the blanket. “Look who’s here.”
Vicki rolled over to him, staring into his eyes. “What would you do if I wasn’t here?”
Usually it was Michael who started these kinds of conversations. But not now; it was much too beautiful today.
“Not here? Where are you going?”
“Come on, I’m serious. I’m so happy I found you. I know I couldn’t live without you.”
“Yes, you could. You could have anyone you want.”
She became quiet, openly upset that he wasn’t taking her seriously.
“Oh, you know I would be remarried in a month or two,” he kidded.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm . . . would you remarry someone who looked like me?”
“Not sure. I like blondes. You know, the Christie Brinkley type?”
Vicki whacked him on his shoulder. “Oh? Maybe I should rethink who I might remarry.”
“You have someone in mind?” asked Michael as he grabbed her arm gently.
“Yes, I do,” she said with a sly smile. “I like a tall man. Maybe Brad Pitt?”
“So, you’re looking for a man with looks and money?”
“And Christie Brinkley doesn’t have money?” Vicki countered.
They both laughed.
“You really like blondes?”
“Yeah, but she has to have a nice tan, too.”
“I’m not talking to you,” Vicki said, turning her head.
“Then I will kiss you since your mouth will be shut,” said Michael with a laugh. He peppered her with several kisses on the top of her forehead, behind her neck, the sides of her cheeks, and a few on her nose.
She giggled at him. “Okay, okay! I’ll dye my hair for you.”
“Good. And you can call me Brad.”
“You!” She pushed him over onto his back, staring down into his eyes. “Oh, you know you’d miss me.”
“Dad?” Elizabeth said, crouched down next to him. “Dad, you fell asleep. Did you have a bad dream?”
“No, Baboo. I actually had a great dream. It was about your mom.” He stood up, pulling her up with him into a hug. “I miss your mother so much.”
“I know, Dad,” she replied, feeling uneasy from the seriousness of his tone.
“I’ve tried to dothe best for you, Elizabeth. I’m sorry I haven’t gotten us home. I really have tried.”
“I know. I know you tried.”
“But it’s never been enough. I don’t know why I’ve been such a jerk. I’ve been so upset about losing your mother. I’ve made so many stupid mistakes. I could’ve done so many things differently.
“I should have let you roller-skate with the kids on the block but I was afraid you would hit your head. I should have let you go swimming with your friends at Jones Beach but I was scared a wave would drown you.
“I should have let you go shopping at the mall with your friends but I was worried about strangers. I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
Michael’s body began shaking as he held her tightly.
“It’s okay, Dad.”
“No, no, it’s not okay, Elizabeth. There were times parents would call and ask me to set up play dates. And I would never respond because I was so worried you would just drift out of my life.”
Michael released his hug and threw his hands in the air. “I didn’t let you have ice cream. Ice cream. Can you believe that? Looking back on it now, I can’t believe it.
“Elizabeth, I can never let anyone take you away from me. I will never let anyone hurt you. When I see you, I see your mother. Without her, you are the only reason why I have any energy to live.
“Understand this: you are the greatest gift I have in this world.”
Michael pulled her closer to him. “I’m afraid of losing you.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Please don’t be afraid because when you’re scared, I am, too.”
“I won’t. See?” His face lit up and he grinned, prompting Elizabeth to giggle.
Michael glanced up and saw Leah watching them from the upstairs window, smiling.
10
PAINFUL
REMINDERS
Elizabeth fell asleep easily after a lovely yet quiet dinner that night. Michael was reclining next to her, but still wide-awake. From across the room, Leah whispered to him, asking if they were comfortable. Michael nodded, although he realized immediately how restless he felt.
“Hey, do you want to go up on the roof to look at the stars?” he whispered back.
Leah hesitated. A look of concern etched across her face. It had been a long time since she sat on the roof, almost two years. “Yes.”
They climbed up the ladder. The sky was so clear that the illumination from the stars cast a soft blue light on Leah’s face. She shivered.
“Hold on.” Michael went down the ladder and returned with the blanket from his bedroll. He placed it over her.
“Thank you.”
The roof slanted slightly to the right and was surrounded by a three-foot balustrade on which they sat. The sky was glistening with stars—like a mosaic of beauty, Michael thought. A tranquil breeze danced off Leah’s hair, and the light from the moon was reflected in her green eyes. She looked more serious than usual.
“I used to spend a lot of time up here with Yochanan. We would talk about our dreams. But the last time I was here . . .” Leah bowed her head.
“Oh, your husband? I can see why you would come up here a lot.” He took a panoramic view of the town. “It’s so peaceful and beautiful. The sky is really pretty.”
She remained silent, catching Michael by surprise. “It is pretty up here, right?”
But Leah didn’t answer. She was lost in thought.