I had no words to describe how shocked I felt at hearing Jamie could act like such a jerk. The Jamie I fell in love with in high school would have never cheated. I thought back to our conversation last night about his father’s infidelity. Had his father’s actions caused Jamie to change, or had he grown into a hereditary trait? Was it a learned behavior, or ingrained in him at the start?
I’d never have the chance to know, because with my newfound knowledge, I’d never see him in the same way and the new Jamie was not someone I wanted to get to know better. I’m guessing that’s why he high tailed it out of my place first thing this morning.
“Why didn’t you call me and tell me last night?”
“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d want to know. You were pretty intent on getting laid and I didn’t want to stop you. You needed it, and I figured you were safe with Jamie. I assumed you wouldn’t fall in love with him overnight, so I could wait and tell you in the morning. Was I wrong? Should I have called you last night?”
If she had called me last night, I would have never gotten to feel a man naked against me, and I had missed it. Or rather, I missed the intimacy. If I hadn’t slept with Jamie last night, I might not have learned what I really craved.
Not sex.
Love.
“I’m glad you waited and told me this morning. You really are the best friend anyone could have.”
“Does that mean you’ll come to my program today at the retirement home?”
“Anything for you.”
CHAPTER 11
APRIL 6, 2012
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
WEIGHT: 177
STATUS: SINGLE
Every year my parents hosted Passover dinner at their house. We aren’t very religious, but we still read through the entire Haggadah, which takes us about six hours from beginning to end. Sometimes, I can convince Missy to come to protect me from my nagging relatives, but this year she promised her mother she’d go to their cousins’ home, leaving me to fend for myself.
I volunteered to bring the wine, so that I didn’t end up getting drunk on the sweet Manischewitz wine like I did when I was fourteen. By the end of the Seder, most of us will have drunk about four glasses of wine. It might as well be the good stuff.
I walked through my parents’ door with my arms filled with bottles of wine, smelling the scent of brisket in the air. All the usual suspects were there already including my parents, Seth and Emily, my Aunt Hannah and Uncle Morris, my Uncle Saul and Aunt Trisha, my cousins Jon and Meredith along with their kids Greg and Natalie, and my other cousins Nancy and Harold with their kids Ellie and Stacy. I heard adult voices coming from the family room and the children’s voices coming from the basement, chaotic and crazy as ever.
I placed the wine on the tables set up in the dining room, taking in the beauty and splendor of it all. I always got a chill whenever I reflected on how Jews all over the world celebrated the holiday and how it united us all.
“Chag Sameach Pesach,” said a voice from behind me.
My heart began to beat wildly and I turned to the source of the voice.
Goldman.
My brother must have invited him. God give me the strength not to make another drunken mistake tonight.
“Chag Sameach,” I repeated. “Why aren’t you with your family?”
“My brother and my dad flew to Florida to be with my dad’s side of the family and my mother went on a cruise.”
“Why didn’t you go, too?” I would go to Florida in a heartbeat if I had the opportunity.
“I can’t miss work.”
“Well, it’s your parents’ loss and our gain then.”
Wait, did I just flirt with Goldman? Oh dear Lord, I haven’t even had my first glass of wine yet.
He didn’t seem to notice, thank goodness. “Thanks. So, your brother felt badly for me and invited me to your little shindig.”
“Did he warn you?” I lowered my voice.
“Warn me? Warn me about what?” He stepped closer to me.
I started getting nervous about being close to him. When I caught myself biting my lower lip, I immediately stopped myself since he’d wonder why his proximity affected me so much. Honestly, I don’t know how I would answer that question when I didn’t know myself.
“Well, first of all, we do the entire Seder. That means a service before dinner and after dinner.”
I saw a brief glimpse of fear in his eyes before he resumed his cool façade. “I can handle that. We get to drink wine, right?”
“Oh yeah. I brought the good stuff.”
He smiled and I melted. “Then I think I’ll make it through. What else?”
“My aunts spend most of the night gossiping about people you’ll probably know from the community, like who just got a facelift and who’s about to file for bankruptcy. It gets worse as the night progresses and they drink more wine.”