Chapter 15 #2
Her heart did a full-body somersault.
He grinned, wicked and tender all at once. “There’s so much I want to say, but I haven’t eaten in days. Do I smell knishes?”
“In the oven,” she said. “Come on, Rabbi. Eat now, talk later. We’ve got plenty of time.”
They did.
They really did have all the time in the world to share their hearts, and it felt like a miracle. Side-by-side, hand-in-hand, they joined their friends and family in the noisy, overflowing kitchen, and Libby had never felt lighter.
“Rabbi, would you do the honors?” Mrs Katz held out the matchbox and pointed at the menorah on the dining room table.
Micah lifted both hands. “Mrs. Katz, I’m honored, but this is your home. I couldn’t possibly—”
“Nonsense.” She beckoned to him. “I light the candles all the time. We’re thrilled to have a rabbi in the house.” Her gaze touched Libby, who sat beside Shiri with an open seat on her other side saved just for him. “Such a happy Hanukkah this year.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” The truth rang through him, quiet and sure, as he accepted the matchbox.
The room was filled with voices, laughter, and clattering platters.
Talia hovered, making last-minute adjustments to the food, but everyone else was seated and ready to pounce on the feast. Libby smiled at him, cheeks pink, hair coming loose from her bun, the deep blue of her dress making her eyes even more violet than usual.
He stepped to the head of the crowded table. Everyone settled—more or less. Jonah crunched something loudly, but he stilled when his date—a gorgeous blonde who looked vaguely familiar—whacked him.
Micah smiled. “I promise not to keep you from the kugel too long, but while I have you all gathered, I want to thank you.”
The room hushed. Not perfectly—there were too many of them in too small a space for that—but their attention centered, warm and full.
“It means the world to me that you’ve welcomed me and my family so generously, especially considering everything that happened over the weekend.
” The temple board had yet to meet concerning his big reveal, but Ezra was confident he had nothing to fear.
His throat tightened. He pressed on.
“Meeting all of you on the Matzo Baller and seeing the way you show up for each other, for the Jewish community, and for causes that matter is incredibly inspiring, and I want to warn you I’m going to be approaching you with ideas to expand your tikkun olam project throughout the year.”
A murmur of excitement rose.
“Hell yes!” Jay beamed, raising a fist for Rebecca to bump.
“And…” He swallowed. “In the true spirit of Hanukkah, where oil burned far longer than anyone could have hoped, Libby gave me more chances to see the light than I deserved. Actually, I did deserve them, but I didn’t believe it—and now I do, all thanks to her.
” The entire table collectively swiveled toward Libby, who silently beamed at him, blushing.
“Libby, I’m sorry for making so many missteps, but I promise to do better moving forward. No more hiding.”
He struck a match, lit the shamash, and recited the blessings, carrying the flame from one end of the menorah to the other.
When every candle was lit, he settled the shamash in place and lifted his gaze to Libby’s while the room erupted with cheers, clapping, and Jonah’s booming voice. “Who invited this latke blocker? Let’s eat!”
He looked at her, ravenous.
She looked back, glorious.
Time held still.
Chaos buzzed around them as plates started passing and glasses were filled, but none of it mattered. Only her. The joy in their hearts. And the quiet promise passing between them.
If it’s bashert, you’ll know.
Hours blurred in the warmth and the noise. Every time he needed to catch his breath, he looked at her. Sometimes she caught him staring and reached for his hand. Once she just smiled—full and real—and he thought: I am the luckiest man alive.
At one point, he pulled Jay aside.
“I’d like to give the money I made in Palm Beach to The Trevor Project with the Matzo Baller donation this year.” He named the sum, speaking quietly.
Jay’s eyes widened. “Micah—that’s a staggering amount. Are you sure? All of it?”
“I can’t imagine a better use for it than helping kids find the light in themselves, you know?” he said softly. “It feels right.”
Jay clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s make it happen.”
Later, Rebecca reminded him of her offer for a collaboration between Beth Hatikvah and Brightworks, and Leah cornered him about designing a bespoke M. Waterman-themed Mahjong set. He agreed to both, as long as a percentage was donated to the Matzo Baller charity each year.
His parents were having a ball talking to Mr. and Mrs. Katz, and Shiri was holed up on the couch with Libby, looking at pictures on her phone—probably from his bar mitzvah. He didn’t want to know.
His heart was full to bursting, and his belly was full of Libby’s donuts. This batch had been even better than the ones Palm Beach. He was forever going to link the taste of homemade raspberry jelly with the best night of his life.
Eventually, coats were pulled from the closet, bags were gathered, and leftovers were foisted on them. His parents and Shiri hugged them fiercely, extracting promises to meet for brunch tomorrow.
The cold night air greeted them on the Katz’s front porch steps, crisp and glittering with enormous, fluffy snowflakes. Libby hooked her arm through his. He turned toward her, and she rose onto her toes and kissed him, slow and sweet.
Heat curled around his spine.
He pressed her into the corner of the porch, threading a hand between them, through the wide buttons of her coat, to cup her breast and find her nipple, already peaked, with his thumb.
She gasped into his mouth. “Wait.”
He stopped. “No one can see.” Which wasn’t exactly true because their driver would get an eyeful when he pulled up, but the street was deserted now.
She rummaged in her tote bag and pulled out a small box wrapped in silver paper. “I have another present for you.” Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
He took the gift and pulled her closer, pressing against her belly. “I have another present for you, too,” he said solemnly. “But I can’t give it to you on the porch.”
She giggled. “Open it.”
“Fine,” he sighed and let her go, ripping through the paper to find...
Body-safe paint.
In every color of the rainbow. A whole new palette for his new favorite canvas.
When he looked up, she was watching him with a wicked smile that sent heat shooting through every nerve in his body.
A thousand ways to paint her exploded in his mind’s eye.
“You might regret this gift when I spend hours touching your body everywhere except where you need it.” Reverence and desire tangled in his throat, making his words emerge as a harsh whisper.
She bit her lip, laughing. “Is that a threat, Rabbi? Because I’m not scared.”
He leaned down to kiss her—only to have her yawn directly into his mouth.
She froze, eyes wide and watery. “Oh my God, I’m sorry. I swear I’m excited. I just—” Another tiny yawn slipped out. “—might need a nap first.”
He burst out laughing, joy cracking him open from the inside. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her feet, holding her tight as snow fell around them.
A horn honked from the street, their ride pulling up.
He set her gently on her toes, kissed her forehead, and gathered their bags. “Nap in the car,” he said, winking. “I’ve got plans for you.”
He helped her down from the porch and followed her into the night, his heart blazing with every intention of showing her just how brightly they could burn together.