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Becky yawned in the car as it pulled up to the departure section of Newark Airport.
“You didn’t get much sleep. Sorry.” Sam put the car in park and popped the trunk.
“I’m not. I’ve never been so happy to be exhausted in my life.” She grinned at him.
Sam chuckled as he got out and set her bag on the curb. A representative of the airline took her luggage. She flashed her ID at him and her boarding pass. Sam stood close, his hand resting on her shoulder.
“Please don’t rekindle any old relationships in Milwaukee, okay?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.” She tipped the airline man, and he took her suitcase away.
“Good.”
Sam took her hand and led her inside. They approached the security line slowly. Becky hated to say goodbye. Her night with Sam had been a sexy, loving, mutual exploration.
“I’ve waited a long time. I don’t want to lose you now.”
“You won’t. And don’t you find someone else while I’m gone.”
He grinned. “There is no one else like you.”
Her heart swelled. “It’s only a week.”
“Yeah. About seven days too long.”
Getting up on tiptoe, she whispered in his ear. “I’ll count the hours.”
Ignoring the early morning crowd, Sam eased her into his embrace for a steamy kiss. When they broke, she ran for the security line, hating to say goodbye. She couldn’t resist glancing back. Backing toward the exit, Sam raised his hand in farewell. Becky sighed. Tears wetted her eyes.
“Coming back after the holidays?” a woman asked her.
Too choked up to speak, Becky nodded.
“He’ll be here then. It’s only a few days.”
“But it’ll seem like a lifetime,” she replied.
The woman patted her on the back. “You’re next, honey.”
Safely buckled into her seat, Becky closed her eyes, reliving her steamy night with Sam. He’d been passionate and tender. The way he’d kissed her and touched her had ignited a flame that still burned. He had a few years on her, years she guessed he’d spent perfecting his lovemaking. She’d never had a night like that with any other man. Sam had taken control, making sure to arouse her to the point she’d reach satisfaction before he took his pleasure. She could hardly wait for more time between the sheets with her unselfish lover.
A small sigh escaped her lips. Opening her eyes, she looked around to see if anyone had noticed. The older woman sitting in the seat next to her spoke.
“He must be some guy.”
Becky felt heat in her face. “He is,” she replied. Then shut her eyes again.
As the plane taxied down the runway, Becky remembered resting in Sam’s arms, snatching what little sleep they could, snuggled together. Shortly after the aircraft left the ground, she conked out and awoke as the plane began its descent.
Jostled by the hustle and bustle on board as people took down luggage from the overhead racks and jockeyed for position to deplane, Becky’s heartbeat quickened. Her family waited for her. Damn, she’d be overjoyed to lay eyes on her pesky older brothers and her father. Her pulse thudded in her ears. She hadn’t expected to miss them so much.
As she neared the baggage carousel, she heard a familiar bark or two. There they were, David and Joe with the pugs. Becky ran to them, hugging her brothers as the dogs leaped up, anxiously trying to lick her face. When she’d done with the men, she bent down and snuggled with Trixie and Norton. They slobbered her with wet tongues and much love.
“What color is your suitcase?” David asked.
Within minutes, Becky and the entourage were ensconced in the car, heading for home.
“How’s Mom?” she asked.
Her brothers gave her the latest information and assured her their mother was scheduled to return on Monday morning.
“She’ll be home for the last night of Hanukkah,” Joe said.
“That’s great. How’s Dad holding up?”
“We’d be glad if you could do the cooking. Dad has a lot to learn,” Joe said.
“I’ve lost five pounds on his meals,” David piped up.
“I’m on it.” Becky leaned back. With a pug on either side of her, she petted them each in turn. Happiness filled her veins. Her life, previously in the slow lane had ratcheted up to the fast track.
“You guys’ll have to give me some work time.”
“You brought work home? Oy. Dad’s not going to approve.”
“But it’s the best kind of work. Let me tell you about Gordon Albright’s new book.”
Becky took over the conversation, bringing her brothers up to date on her almost-promotion and the task she had to complete to get there. She kept information about Sam to herself. Long ago, Becky learned not to divulge anything about any guy she dated to her brothers. They’d tease her incessantly and ask about the guy daily. If she said one negative thing about him, her brothers offered to beat him up.
For the time being, Sam Golden would remain her secret—a delicious secret she’d savor in private.
* * * *
IT WAS ALMOST NINE a.m. when Becky walked into the house. She unleashed the pups while her brothers carried her luggage up to her room. Her father sat at the kitchen table, finishing a bagel and coffee.
He rose to greet her. Shocked at how thin and pale he was, she hugged him tight.
“I’m so glad you’re home,” he said, his voice tired.
“Me, too, Dad.”
He broke from her. “It was touch-and-go for a while.” He returned to his seat and sipped coffee.
Becky refilled his mug and offered some to her brothers. She then filled her own. Together they took up all the seats, except one, at the table. Her father went into details of her mother’s illness. From time-to-time, Becky squeezed his hand. When his voice faltered, as it did only twice, her heart broke.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.” Her words were barely audible.
Her father patted her hand. “It’s okay. You have your own life. That’s the way it should be.”
Becky lowered her gaze to her mug.
“Finish up. Your mother’s expecting us at noon. We’ve gotta pick up a corned beef sandwich from Harry’s for her.”
“Might as well get one for all of us,” Joe said.
“Is that a slam on my sandwich making?” Becky’s father, Fred, replied.
“Let’s be honest. You didn’t exactly miss a career at Harry’s, Dad,” David put in.
With chuckles all around, the family donned their warmest coats and piled into the car. Becky couldn’t wait to lay eyes on her beloved mother.
She stood back so the men could enter the room first. Becky leaned against the door jamb and let the shock of how frail her mother appeared sink in. Then their eyes met.
“Becky?” Myra’s voice wobbled.
“Mom!” Becky strode in and plopped down on the bed, snuggling her face into her mother’s shoulder and burst into tears.
When she stopped, David touched her back.
“Let’s eat. Ma’s probably starving. I know I am.”
Sandwiches and pickles were passed out. The family balanced their food on their laps while Myra Cohen’s food sat on the table they moved to her bed.
“I’m coming home tomorrow, Becky. Here’s a list of things I want you to do before we celebrate the last night of Hanukkah. Okay?”
“Sure, Mom.” She took the piece of paper.
Peppered with questions from her family, Becky answered the ones about work, how she liked New York, her roommates, and colleagues—and managed to skirt any asking about her love life. Not wanting to lie to her family, Becky wasn’t ready to discuss anything about Sam. Besides, it was early and there wasn’t much to tell—that is, much she could repeat to her family.
After lunch, they returned home. Becky headed to her room for a nap.
“I’ll wake you up in time to make dinner,” Joe called up the stairs.
“You do that.” The dogs followed her upstairs, jumped up on the bed, and cuddled close. She fell asleep with her arms around the pugs, dreaming about Sam.
After her nap, the evening went quickly. She prepared a simple, delicious meal. They lit the lights, saving gift exchange for the last night when Mrs. Cohen would be with them. Becky turned in early.
She said a prayer before going to sleep. Grateful that her mother was alive, she included special words for her. Becky vowed to spend the week cooking up a storm to get her mother’s strength back and put the family on an even keel once more.
In the morning, before they headed to the hospital, Becky got a text from Sam.
Can you come back early, for New Year’s Eve?
She repliedI’ll see if I can change my plane reservation.
While David drove, Becky used her phone to reschedule her flight back to New York. The rest of the day was lost in transferring their mother to the house, preparing applesauce, potato latkes, wrapping packages amid general teasing and mayhem.
The warmth of her family’s love filled Becky’s heart. During dessert, Joe insisted on playing Dreidel with the chocolate chip cookies Becky had baked. Each took a turn at spinning. When the dreidel came up Gimel for Becky, she laughed. Gimel meant all.
“You keep the cookies,” she said, forfeiting her win of the entire pot. “I already have it all.”
“I guess Hanukkah isn’t cancelled,” said her father.
“Just postponed,” David said.
“This could actually be my best Hanukkah ever,” Becky piped up.