Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
O verwhelming didn’t even begin to describe the Matzo Baller.
Everywhere Leah looked, there was something new to see. People in every direction – singles, couples, groups. Music and laughter floated from unseen decks. Her stomach growled at the promise of food; a blend of delectable scents carried by the night air.
It made her realize how much of a bubble she had been in over the course of the last three days, with Avi. The two of them had pretty much spent every waking minute – and some dreaming ones – together. She’d all but forgotten what she had even planned to do once aboard the Matzo Baller. Jaz and her Mahjong pitch felt a million miles away. Even the idea of Mrs. Ackerman’s grandson being somewhere on this floating fiesta seemed preposterous.
“You get the feeling you’re not in Kansas anymore?”
Leah felt a gentle shoulder nudge, and looked up to see a smiling and very handsome face. One of Avi’s lady friends, the one called Nora, had absently slipped an arm into the crook of this man’s suit-jacketed arm as she gabbed and laughed with the group.
“More like Ohio,” she admitted.
The guy laughed. “Iowa for me. Last year. You get used to it – and them – pretty quick.” He tilted a chin in the direction of the friends. “I’m Beck.”
“Leah.”
“Do we have you to thank for getting him here, safe and sound?” Beck’s date sounded like a real New Yorker, but her husky voice exuded warmth. “I’m Nora, I’m with this guy.” She cuddled up to Beck, smiling. “I dragged him on his first Baller last year, before I even knew his full name.”
A fellow curly girl, the one wearing a chef’s coat, stuck out a hand. “And I’m Talia. We won’t quiz you after, promise. That’s Libby – ” The girl with violet eyes gave a wave. “— and the bossy guy a few minutes ago, he’s my brother.”
“Guys, this is Letty.” Avi broke away from where he was conferring with a huge guy giving off bodyguard vibes. The kind of guy Leah had originally assumed would’ve been lurking back at the rest stop…although this guy was wearing the most chaotic leisure suit she had ever seen – crushed black velvet with neon dreidels and other Hanukkah paraphernalia printed haphazardly all over it. “We grew up together, but we just met three days ago, if that makes any sense.”
It was the perfect way to phrase it, actually. Avigdor Wolfson – the boy, the myth – had been left behind; a legend better forgotten in her teenage diaries. Road Trip Avi was the guy who was now putting his hands on her shoulders from behind and calling her by her nickname, not to tease and torment.
The big guy reached for her hand and brought it to his lips. Facial hair to rival her brother Lucas’ tickled her knuckles. “We are in your debt, Letty. I’m Jonah. Welcome to the Matzo Baller.”
“She’s here to raise some money for her custom Mahjong business…and to meet up with a Jewish doctor,” Avi teased.
Libby snorted. “Throw a latke in any direction, you’ll hit a few.”
Nora clutched Talia’s hand. “Mahjong! It’s pretty popular in the city right now. Weren’t we just talking about trying a class?”
“Yeah, in all our spare time.” Talia laughed. “But seriously, it would give the Jewish Grandma – that’s me – some legit street cred.” She jabbed her chef coat with her thumbs proudly.
“You can totally practice your pitch on me tonight, Letty.” Jonah smiled down at her. It was hard to look past his zany suit to know whether he was serious.
“Are you a venture capitalist?”
“No, but I do taxes for VCs and trust me, I see what they will and won’t spend their money on. So don’t be shy. Hit me up later!”
“Yeah, before he is lit brighter than that menorah’s going to be,” Beck laughed, gesturing toward the main event that would kick off the night’s festivities, waiting patiently.
She couldn’t believe she – they – were finally on board. They had been inching ever closer, trusty Bertha moving mile after mile, for the past three days. Bodies in motion staying in motion.
And now, as the docked boat gave a gentle sway, and the Manhattan skyscrapers across the way lit the night, she almost felt dizzy with it all. And certainly changed. However, she was still in her paint-spattered jeans, boots, and Mrs. Akerman’s frum sweater, her natural curls a tangled mess. She didn’t even have a hair-tie or a lipstick in her crossbody bag to at least pretend to make an effort.
She didn’t even have an empty tin of crumbs to present to Mrs. Ackerman’s grandson with an IOU.
But fur-clad arms enveloped her shoulders from behind, and Avi – in his cheap boots and those silly tight distressed jeans – had his nose pressed into her hair. Lips close to her ears. “How is it you still smell like rugelach?”
Leah’s phone began to ring – she pulled it from her crossbody bag and to her surprise and confusion, it was a number she had come to know well in the last couple days. “Um, Avi? You’re calling me.”
“Tobin!” Avi reached for the phone. “It’s gotta be.”
He plugged one ear with a finger and turned away so he could hear above the din of the boat, which was growing louder and more excited. An impromptu string quartet had set up nearby, and were playing everything from “Oh Hanukkah” to Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song.”
“It’s almost time,” Jonah shoulder-checked Beck, which practically knocked the poor guy over. “Grab one last drink – and Asher?”
The girls practically pushed the two men toward one of the many bars. “Girl time, anyway. Get outta here!”
Leah wished Jasmine was on board in the worst way. Jaz would link arms and drag Leah into the fray for a drink, a nosh, and a dance to loosen her up before schmoozing their way to a funding deal for their business. She even felt a wave homesickness for her coffee klatch of old ladies back at Bramblewood – Mrs. Ackerman, Mrs. Blum, and Mrs. Felder would no doubt have wise words for her. Or, at least, truthful words. Probably telling her she looked a wreck but not to worry, she still had youth on her side. She sputtered a laugh at the thought, and the three women before her turned their attention Leah’s way.
Nora, in her drop-dead elegant silver dress. The drape of the neckline alone would’ve had the coffee klatch gossiping for weeks. Talia, so self-assured in her chef coat and clogs, and Libby, with those sky-high shoes and bling jewelry.
They now swooped in on her. “Okay. Real talk. Avi is a fashion disaster in that coat but…guys have it easy.” Nora gestured to Avi, who was still on the phone but waving someone down from the top deck. “Us girls, well…” She glanced at Leah’s attire, but not unkindly. “Do you trust us?”
“Every year I swear I’m done catering the Baller,” Talia supplied. “Maybe next year will be my year,” she laughed. “I always bring a dress, just in case. But face it, no one wants to climb into a fancy dress after they’re frying latkes all night.”
“And I’m already on my second pair of Loubies tonight,” Libby chimed in. “I thought my kitten heels would handle this dress length, but no dice. What size are you, Leah?”
“Please let us glam you up? It will be so fun!”
Before Leah could form a response, Jay was back. “Does this guy belong to you?”
Accompanying him was a tall, thin guy with a guitar case slung over one shoulder, and a duffle and garment bag over the other. Leah had seen him before – but only in the little square of a photo ID in the wallet Avi had been carrying with him. The rocker’s eyes lit up.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes, brother!”
Tobin grinned. “Dude. You are the talk of the industry right about now. Rock and roll Houdini.” He held up his arms in offering. “You ready for your next magic trick?”
Jonah was back, two drinks in hand. Avi got in one sip before he was being pulled away by Jay, who was talking a mile a minute about set times and auction items. Avi threw an apologetic look Leah’s way, mouthing “ sorry ” as Jay barked out directions for the rest of them, Jonah and Tobin following in his wake.
“The girls will take good care of you!” Avi called as he disappeared into the fray. “They’d better!”
Nora cut to the chase. “Okay, Jay said we need to be on the deck for the baruch soon, so we don’t have much time. But I’m the master of the quick costume change. Plus I have my makeup case in the greenroom. Let’s do this.”