Chapter 31
Wedding by Remote Control
“I was at New-Hope Medical Center,” she told me one evening when I called her from the base. My breath caught.
“Did something happen?”
“You asked me to go there. Did you forget?”
Yes – I had forgotten that during one of those weekends, I’d asked her to go to New-Hope to get the paperwork I needed for my medical license.
“You have no idea what flashed through my mind for that split second.”
“Sorry, I thought you remembered.”
“So how did it feel to be there, as … as a doctor’s wife?”
“It was the first time I went there not for tests, not for hospitalization, and not for something to do with me.”
“Well…?”
“I was in the administration offices. Naturally, the director’s secretary wasn’t there. Murphy’s law.”
“So what did you do?”
“I left the request with a clerk who promised it would be handled and sent by mail.”
“Perfect.”
“I also went up to the ward.”
“Which one?”
“Yours. Mine. I wanted to see Shira and the boss.”
“And…?”
“Shira wasn’t there. Too bad.”
“And the boss?”
“He was so happy to see me. First time I ever saw him glowing with joy, as if he were the groom.”
“Did you tell him?”
“That we’re getting married, of course! I didn’t want to say, ‘we got married.’ Besides, we’re in the middle of planning the wedding, right?”
“And what did he say?”
“He showered you with compliments. He said, ‘I hope he’ll become an internist and work in our ward. That’s the biggest compliment I can give anyone.’ Yes, I’m quoting him. Believe me, when I left that meeting, I wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget.”
“Chances are I’ll become an internist, but that’s so far off. We’ve got a lot on our plates now – what about the wedding?”
“Do you have time?”
“There’s no one here, so I can listen.”
“I went to the rabbinate, and my father came with me. He testified that I’m single!”
“Really?”
“He told me in passing that he’d testify that I wasn’t a lifelong spinster.”
“And what about the female rabbi?
“I met with the counselor, that’s what they called her. After answering a few intimate questions, she approved the wedding for between January 29 and February 3. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll go back to her and tell her I’m late.”
“Lily, you’d lie?”
“If I have no choice, I won’t tell the truth. That’s not lying!”
“And the hall, the dates?”
“My father’s checking about a hall.”
“I hope this doesn’t blow up on us…”
“My man, I think it’s reasonable. My father suggests we do the ceremony before the party, with only family present. He doesn’t want what he calls our ‘snatched’ wedding exposed.”
“Whatever you and your parents decide, we’ll go with.” It was the first time she called me “my man” and I liked it.
“Do you have guest lists?”
“I got to about 80 on our side. I guess together we’ll reach 150–160. If your parents object, we’ll invite only the close family.”
“Someone’s coming. I have to free up the phone. I miss you.”
“Me too. Kisses.”
“Kisses.”
“The wedding is on February 3, at the Ramat-Aviv Hotel,” she told me a few days later.
“You worked it out with my parents?”
“Of course. They’re very happy. The chuppah’s at 8:30 p.m. The rabbi doesn’t care about the mikveh business. I hope it’ll be okay.”
“You sound a little hesitant. Did something happen?”
“Yes. How are you able to read me from afar?”
“What happened?”
“The wound on my leg opened again, and I’ve been in bed since yesterday morning.”
“And now?”
“It’s okay, no discharge. Looks like the bed rest is helping.”
“You’re sure the wound’s the main thing?”
“No.”
“So what is it, my Lily?”
“I had a bad dream.”
“Tell me.”
“I dreamed my mother and your mother had a terrible fight. My mother cried, and my father stepped in – which is so unlike him.”
“Are you okay? You sound sad.”
“In my dream, your mother, who was at our place, got up and stormed out, and after that I didn’t hear from you either – you disappeared.”
“Lily, I’m with you.”
“I know, it was a dream, a bad dream. I felt lost. You left and weren’t coming back to me. I was angry at my mother too, so angry I ran away.”
“And now?”
“Wait a second. I felt the images in the dream mixing together. One dream came, another went, and the logic broke down. All I remember is the feeling of rage, loss, and pain.”
“That’s all?”
“Isn’t that enough for you?”
“My Lily. I love you, and you know it.”
“You’re with me? Right? You’re mine? Right?” she sounded afraid.
“I’m yours forever,” I told her. “Only yours!”
“My man, I know.”