Chapter 33
Leah pulled the last Mahjong set from Bertha’s hatchback. Thanks to Jaz’s quick thinking and overnighting sets to influencers Leah had missed – plus to a couple more in advance – everyone had received their “Gift of the Mahj” sample and the Hanukkah promo shots were posting as she and Jaz had hoped.
Each night, Mahjong Muses’ social media lit up with their beautiful wares being displayed around lit menorahs, in windows with falling snow backdrops, and even in group photos of friends as they played.
Kara Koff — recipient of Leah’s remaining Mahjong set in her bag that night on the boat — had tagged them in a short reel that had already hit a million views. And Avi’s media clip modeling his T-shirt had been shared widely – and had sold them out of much of their apparel.
This last set, she and Avi had decided, would be mailed to his stepmother as a late Hanukkah gift. Its pattern was reminiscent of her bone china Leah had spied in the family dining room. And Avi had written a long letter to his father to accompany it, suggesting a visit after the holiday.
Despite the wintery weather, she and Avi had traipsed the city yesterday on a whirlwind bucket list tour. Out in the gen pop, as he would call it. Avi in his fifty pounds of Persian wool, off-brand boots and band hat. And in typical Manhattan fashion, he was mostly ignored, although a few people did stop to ask him for directions.
They’d meandered through Central Park to throw coins into Bethesda Fountain’s dry base. Then warmed up with a visit to MoMA, where they sat and chatted in front of the Starry Night painting for hours until a guard finally had them move along. Not before asking Avi for an autograph, though.
Next, they’d made an honorary stop on Fifth Avenue at Rockefeller Center. The rink, as Avi had warned Leah, was at holiday capacity, but they could at least take a selfie for Mrs. Rose. Just to be polite.
Together, they tucked a blue wooden dreidel into the thick, artificial spruce of a Library Lion’s wreath on 42 nd Street. Leah hoped Mrs. Blum’s grandkids were due any minute to find it, as tomorrow was the eighth night.
All in all, it had been a pretty productive Hanukkah.
And it wasn’t over yet.
Tomorrow, they’d leave at what Avi referred to as the ass-crack of dawn to take Bertha on a more direct route to Ohio – back to Beth El Campus in time to illuminate the last candle with her dad. No open flames at Bramblewood, but it would still be a special moment – to hear her dad’s and Avi’s voices weaving together once more. Plus, the Bucket Listers were throwing another one of their legendary combo parties: the Felders’ sixtieth anniversary/Winter Solstice – and to welcome a certain rock star back to Ohio.
Leah turned to shut the hatchback when she spotted the empty urn, twisted up in Avi’s old hoodie and tucked in back.
“Well, Mrs. Horowitz…I didn’t quite win over your sister. But I fulfilled your Niagara Falls wish,” she whispered. “And I’m gonna have a great story for Saul and the others when I get back.”
The short-term rental apartment still boggled her mind each time she walked in: doorman at the ready, private elevator up to the penthouse. She set the Mahjong kit on the table, next to new art supplies from Blick and the big road map she’d spread out yesterday – her latest inspiration for a set: a road-trip themed set of tiles. She hoped to have it ready to show Eli Gold, when she and Jaz had their investor video call with him next week.
Come up to the roof?
Texting each other was still pretty novel.
Leah pulled her coat and boots back on, summoning the elevator once more. Inside, there was a poster hanging on the wall she hadn’t noticed before.
MUSIC TO MELT YOUR HEART
Leah couldn’t stop her smile as the doors opened onto the roof, where light snow was swirling down.
A clear dome igloo awaited, the perfect size for two and lit softly from within. She spied a cozy couch layered with blankets inside, and Avi’s guitar leaning against it.
The elevator dinged again, revealing the headlining act. Looking hot enough to melt the snow…her heart was a given.
“Ah, the leather pants finally make an appearance.”
“For our thirty-ninth date? Hell yeah, they do.”
Honestly, they had both lost track, but each day felt like a first date all over again. Magical and new. Even more so tonight, as Avi took her hand and led her inside what felt like their personal snow globe.
They had come so far from that disastrous December date on the calendar fourteen years ago.
“I think I’ve finished it.”
Like Leah’s new design inspiration, the road trip had been the catalyst for Avi to embrace his next phase: Painted Doors taking a well-deserved hiatus from the road and each other. Working to refill the well on their own creative pursuits.
He’d played songs for her every day and so far, she’d loved his entire playlist. It didn’t matter whether he had written a song himself or not; just knowing he had her in mind while singing it was enough.
But he had been working on a new one, every afternoon when the light hit the room just right. She only knew the title and the chorus, which he would sing in her ear when he wrapped himself around her.
“I can’t wait to hear it.”
Getting stuck with Avi had taken her to unexpected places—from unchartered snowy roads to the familiar streets of their childhood town. But no matter where the adventure led, being with him felt like coming home.
The Playlist continues…