Chapter Fourteen
W alking into Levitan’s with Liv…Mayor Nachman was completely different than walking into Levitan’s with Abe. Or even different from the time he’d come in looking for advice and information.
This was business. He wasn’t on the job searching for help or an ally; this was the job.
Having Liv with him was another story, and he already knew he was on shaky ground.
Somewhat shaky ground.
Making complex a situation that he wished was very easy. Of course the first time there were feelings like what he was feeling, he was in the middle of a job he couldn’t mess up.
“Mayor, Mr. Rabinovitch?”
Paul Levitan looked different, nervous as he stood in front of them.
“Yes,” Artur said.
“This way,” he said, leading the way toward the back of the restaurant area he’d been in with Abe.
But instead of going into the kitchen area, Levitan turned and led them past bathrooms to an office.
Jennifer Cohen, Carol and a few others were waiting. “Please sit down,” Levitan said as he closed the door.
“Thank you for coming,” Levitan continued as Artur settled into a chair next to the mayor. “We’re concerned about the state of the Hanukkah celebration and a few other items.”
“I informed the group that based on information I had and that they should have, I was not concerned,” Jennifer Cohen said.
“But a few of us volunteered to serve on a special committee,” Levitan continued. “To act as liaisons between the larger committee and the both of you, to ensure things were on the up and up after…last night’s meeting.”
Carol added, “It was a conversation that lasted late into the night, and some of the other members needed to be put into their places.”
Artur had three guesses, and he didn’t think he’d actually need more than one.
“But the bottom line,” Levitan continued, “was that we insisted on our assistance, in helping this event to be fruitful.”
Insisted, huh.
Levitan went on. “Let’s start from the beginning. Do either of you think there’s anything salvageable about what came out of last night’s meeting?”
Whichever of the two of them had the idea to go through the notes he’d taken the night before, print them, and put them in binders was a genius.
“Yes,” Liv said, taking out the binders from the tote bag she carried. “Here. Take one, and we’ll give you a few minutes to go over them before addressing the situation.”
“We discussed the meeting,” Artur added. “And organized the comments before coming up with basic ways to address each of the issues that came up.”
Levitan nodded, and Artur turned to Liv. He wasn’t sure how to translate the look on her face, but it looked good. He wanted to say something, but the sound of the pages being flipped was too crucial.
“Absolutely,” Carol said. “Graphics need to be triple-checked, to fix all the concerns about spelling. For sure.”
Jennifer Cohen added with a smile, “And the food traditions need to be taken into account. Gluten-free and parve items need to be on the list as well as fried foods. They need to be added where everybody can enjoy them.”
Of course it was Jenifer Cohen who noticed the food.
“I think we can take care of some of that for sure.” Levitan added. “But didn’t Rivertown have some innovative ideas about food?”
Artur nodded. “Yes,” he said, but knowing his audience consisted of a few people who had connections to Hollowville, he smiled. “But Hollowville did it first. Not exactly in the same way as Rivertown, but the food hall at the Hollowville Festival is a good example of how to involve the community in creating a food space that meshes tradition and innovation.”
“I wonder,” said Carol, her expression thoughtful. Of course Artur had a feeling of where she was going. “I might be able to get some help there. You too, Paul.”
And knowing Carol the way he did, he was entirely unsurprised at Paul Levitan’s reaction. “Absolutely.”
“But, what really stands out to me is this idea of a staging area.” Jennifer Cohen said, “It takes the events away from temple grounds and allows events to be held in a way that wouldn’t disturb services. I wonder…”
“What are you thinking, Jennifer?” Mayor Liv asked.
“I wonder what the rabbi would think about moving Tot Shabbat to the staging area, or have a service in front of the dreidl, depending on how cold it gets…”
“Or even a Havdalah singalong,” murmured Artur. “Or something like that.”
“Oh, that would be fun,” Liv managed alongside the excited murmurs.
That smile was going to be the death of him. “And that would be a beautiful meld of traditions and community.”
“Exactly,” the mayor said, smiling again. “Speaking of melding traditions, I wonder if your idea of turning the chess table setup into a dreidl table would be a good one to add.”
“I can see it,” Paul Levitan said.
“Yep,” Jennifer Cohen replied. “I really like that.”
“Good thoughts,” Carol said. “I have someone on staff who may be able to help. And by on staff, I mean my second in command here and in Hollowville.”
Yep. The light laughter and a grin in his direction. Carol knew what she was doing.
“I also think you should probably talk to the head of the JHPA, involve him.,” Jennifer Cohen interjected.
The laughter continued, and he could see the blush in Liv’s cheeks.
Hmmmm…
“He’s absolutely willing to take part, so once there’s a role for him to play, I’ll involve him” she said.
“Good enough.”
And as the meeting came to a close, he found himself feeling slightly better and yet slightly worse. Even more uncertain about his standing with Liv.
*
After they finished the meeting, they headed back to her office. He was gathering his things rather quickly and she suddenly looked up at him.
“What?”
“I wondered, well you look like you’re in a rush. Do you have somewhere to be?”
“Eventually, just like you,” he replied, that smile again. “Why?”
She sighed. “I don’t know what to make of that meeting.”
He shrugged and the rise and fall of his shoulders made her smile. “I think that we’re in a good place. It’s a friendly crowd, stepping in to separate us from the rest of the chamber. Don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”
She nodded, though she wasn’t sure what to believe. “You know the person who organized the festival in Hollowville?”
“Yes. Friend of a friend. And you know the head of the JHPA.”
“He’s marrying my cousin,” she said. “Which, yes. I realize. The Rivertown friends?”
“Yes. My best friend’s wife, also a friend from high school, lived in Hollowville for a few years, and one of her close friends works with Carol.”
“The web we weave,” she said with a laugh. “So many connections.”
“Strings and threads,” he said. “Do you want to start massaging those connections before next week’s meeting? Maybe next weekend? I might be able to convince my best friend to barbecue. In his backyard.”
“Backyard in Rivertown?”
“Yep. Kosher barbecue.” He paused, and she wasn’t sure. “Although if you want to stay in Briarwood, I have another friend who might be interested in throwing a select party.”
“So, my choices are a select party in Briarwood or a pop-up kosher barbecue for a select number of people. In Rivertown.”
“Yes,” he said, grinning. “Anyway, you want to come? Be one of those select people? Massage connections?”
Since the disastrous mayoral re-election where Jerry McManus made her secrets public, she’d made so many choices: to hide away, to spend time with a tiny group of her relatives if she wasn’t campaigning or working. Nothing else.
She’d hidden her heart away.
She’d hidden her life away.
It had given her political success, and she enjoyed her career.
And it had turned the chamber of commerce into watchdogs.
The very last thing she needed was someone else trying to upset her carefully organized life.
Except she needed to admit she already had. And the fact that she was even thinking about saying yes, well… But she needed to clarify. “Are you asking me out, Mr. Rabinovitch?”
“Depends,” he said.
“On what?”
“On if you’re ready to explore what’s going on between us,” he said. “But if all you’re ready for is business, and massaging contacts, that’s fine too.”
“Do you want a business meeting, or do you want a date?” And that was a question she didn’t realize she was going to ask until she actually did. “I mean…”
“It’s fine,” he said. And then he paused, looking up at her, making her heart stop. “Are you ready to jump off the cliff with me, or are you in the mood to simply drive to the parking lot?”
She laughed, and it wasn’t a bad thing. It was…good. It was nice. He definitely was going to be the death of her. “Can I put a hold on the decision?”
He nodded. “Just let me know as soon as you can.”
“Will do,” she said. “Though I will say if I was going to agree to something, the idea of a kosher backyard barbecue in Rivertown would be a better choice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he continued as if he’d caught the thoughts running through her head. “I’ll keep everyone on a need-to-know basis.”
“I appreciate it,” she said. And then all she could do was watch as he finished packing up his stuff before he headed out the door.
She had things to do and choices to make.
Quickly.