Chapter Sixteen
D espite all of Artur’s concerns about what had happened at the initial meeting with the subsection of the chamber of commerce, it turned out that with a few exceptions it had, in fact, been a prelude to suggestions delivered by some of the chamber members during the second meeting itself.
“Story time involving the temple youth group, with a special group of selections from Briarwood Tales celebrating Jewish authors and Hanukkah stories.” The suggestion came from Jennifer Cohen and Carol.
“Some of the Briarwood restaurant owners and food vendors have volunteered to create Hanukkah-appropriate menus based on the cuisine of their menus,” said Peter Levitan. “There is a great deal of Hanukkah food from all over the world, and a great deal of it can be represented in Briarwood.”
“There are a few conversations that need to take place,” said the superintendent of schools, “but I think the district and the boosters would love to organize an outdoor sports section.”
The list of suggestions continued on, and the inspiration was a red sports car, flying through the autobahn of his mind. Visions and photos popped up like random gas stations. This was absolutely wonderful.
They weren’t out of the woods yet, but it felt really good.
“There are so many wonderful ideas,” said Liv, full mayor persona on display. “It’s going to be difficult to narrow them down. Thank you all.”
As she banged the gavel and the meeting ended, he found his head spinning.
“Walk me to the car?”
He nodded. “Absolutely,” he said.
They said their goodbyes and as they left the building, side by side, they headed toward her car.
“You’re quiet,” she said in the glow of the streetlights by town hall. “What’s going on?”
He had to be careful on how he couched this from the beginning, knowing both the mayor and Briarwood wanted an event of their own, that wasn’t like any of the other Hudson Valley Hanukkah events, not even in name.
“I wonder,” he said after pausing for just a little, “what the feasibility is of having a multi-day event cycle? ”
“What?” she asked. “Explain.”
She looked intrigued, which was a victory. “Well, how about you make the arrival of the dreidl sculpture the core of a series of events that take place over a few days? Center the whole thing around it, like you see with the arrival of an honored guest—human or horticultural—that happens during this time of year.”
She snorted.
Maybe he went a little too far. Hmm.
She interjected, “I like this idea.”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’?”
She nodded. “We have to be very, very, very careful.”
“Aah yes. It’s a multi-day cycle celebrating the arrival of Hanukkah and the Briarwood dreidl sculpture.”
“Great idea,” she said with a grin. “As long as nobody starts singing ‘here comes the dreidl, made out of clay, spinning and bringing joy every day…’ ”
He laughed as a vision of a dreidl wrapped in a white ribbon spun through his brain. Of course, her song cued up another musical memory of his. But his voice was worse than hers, so he didn’t even try to sing it; a reference was going to be better. “Just don’t make a dreidl lane. That would make it worse.”
“As long as the rabbi, the cantor, and the youth group aren’t spinning the dreidl down that absolutely not renamed street, we’ll be fine,” the mayor replied.
He could see the joy in her eyes under the lights; his guess was that she was desperately trying to hold back a tidal wave of laughter.
She was gorgeous.
Which meant he had to shove things back on track. “Dreidl as signifier of Shabbat?”
Liv grinned. “Menorah Havdalah.”
This kind of banter was yet another reason why he enjoyed spending time with her.
H wanted to spend more, which brought him back to the butterfly of a topic flittering around them. He’d asked her a question and though he didn’t want to push, he needed to let Abe know her answer, good or bad, yes or no. Theoretically it didn’t matter what answer he was going to give Abe, but the bottom line was that it did.
To him.
He wanted her to come but…
“You here?”
“Yeah. Sorry. Mind went elsewhere.”
“Would you mind telling me where it went—if it’s not too private?”
He could take the easy way out, but he’d never been that kind of person. “My friend Abe,” he said. “I need to tell him something , whatever it is.”
“I’ll go,” she said, looking around, as if to see if they were alone for sure. “But don’t make a big deal about this. I just…want to be. You know?”
He did. “I won’t even make a big deal to myself when I think about it,” he said. “I’ll just tell Abe to take it calm. Sound good?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Saturday night, okay?”
“Yes. Can you arrange the meeting with the Hanukkah consultant Carol was talking about?”
Whiplash. But it was the best kind. “How about tomorrow?” he asked.
“Sounds good,” she said. “I’ll make sure we have something lined up with the JHPA president in the next few days following.”
And her smile? It lit everything up. Not just her face but the world.
And he couldn’t stop himself from falling into this wild, wonderful feeling.
Which was going to be trouble. So much trouble.
The best kind of trouble.
*
The next morning, Liv shook off the stardust and headed toward Briarwood Tales; that was what his message had said, after all.
Meet me at 9 a.m. at Briarwood Tales; we’ll meet our Hanukkah consultant there.
There was a good space in the parking lot, and there was a chill in the air.
It was gorgeous.
She was going to miss days like this, she reflected as she headed into the store. It was one of her favorite places, and from what she knew, the Hanukkah consultant was the assistant manager.
She wondered if he’d made it;, if he found a parking space.
Her fears dissipated, because when she looked up, he was already there, chatting away with the dark-curly-haired woman—who had been introduced to her once as the co-owner.
“Hello?”
“Mayor Nachman,” the woman said with a smile. “Good to see you this morning. Glad this is my in-store day here in Briarwood.”
Livvy raised an eyebrow. “Nice to see you too. Um…”
“Oh I’m sorry,” the woman said, shaking her head. “I need to introduce myself. I’m Sarah Goldman-Lieberman.”
“Nice to officially meet you,” she said, trying to think of why that name sounded so familiar.
“Hi.” Artur.
And with one word, all of Livvy’s thoughts went out the window. “Hi,” she managed.
“Sarah is going to help us,” he said. “She’s…”
And that’s when the lightning bolt went off above Livvy’s head. Sarah Goldman-Lieberman was the woman in charge of the Hollowville Hanukkah Festival, having started in that position the year it went big and made Hanukkah into part of the tourism calendar the way Halloween was. “Yes!” Liv said. “You planned the famous Hollowville Festival.”
“I did,” Sarah said; the pride in the other woman’s eyes made Liv even more grateful for what was happening.
And to Artur for connecting them.
“I’m just glad that though Hollowville was the first,” Sarah continued. “There are so many others popping up. I think it’s important for municipalities to recognize the religious diversity of their residents, and plan accordingly.”
“She’s being modest,” Artur added, like he needed to fact-check this woman. “But she was also called in as a consultant in Rivertown. And I suspect that her fingers have been involved in a bunch of other festivals.”
“Which is why I really appreciate the fact that you’re willing to spend time here, in Briarwood, helping us figure out what our event is going to look like,” Liv added, even more excited about the prospect of what was going to happen.
“Do you have a name for it yet? A direction?” Sarah asked.
Liv nodded. “It’s going to be organized around the sculpture, so we’re going to be treating it more like the opening of an art exhibit as opposed to a festival.”
Sarah nodded, and as they sat down she pulled out a notebook and a bright blue pen with a menorah on the top. “Well, you’re right,” the consultant said as she opened the notebook. “Hollowville is a festival, but its central event is the menorah lighting, and the menorah itself.”
“Right,” Liv replied. “But our sculpture is going to be a dreidl.”
“Which seems to be a less active part of the event,” the consultant confirmed, making more notes, which made the menorah bend with the movement. “So more like Rivertown, which is a central event that takes place over a few days, that starts with a class for the participants. First year there were kinks that had to be ironed out, but things went really well and have been for the past few years.”
“It’s the talk of the town,” Artur said. “I mean Rivertown.”
Rivertown was Artur’s hometown after all; she needed to ask him more about it. But that would be later. “I figured,” she said.
“So, what’s your sense of Briarwood?” Sarah asked. “Because I think we’re getting somewhere.”
“Briar-wood’s…open-ing,” Liv said, feeling more comfortable with the wording the more she spoke, “is going to be centered around the delivery of the sculpture. But because the sculpture doesn’t so much play an active part in the celebration of the holiday, I see the space we’re creating as more of a gathering spot.”
“There are options for the spot where we celebrate,” Artur added; this confusing, perplexing, amazing man who got joy from planning this event with her.
“I love this,” Sarah added. “You always have the best ideas,” she said, turning toward Artur.
Their banter reminded her of the way she talked to Judith or Naomi. And it was wonderful. And if pressed, Liv would think that Sarah was also part of his extended friends circle, the ones he liked to spend time with during Hanukkah. And if she had to bet anything, she’d bet Sarah was one of the people who liked large Hanukkah celebrations.
But she didn’t say that.
Instead, her ridiculous brain pointed out the fact that this woman knew Artur enough to know his business. Thankfully, the rational side reminded her that it was Artur’s business to have all sorts of connections and know all sorts of people so that he knew who to call on when he needed someone to fix a problem.
She wondered if long after this event was over, she’d be able to be one of his experts. Local-Governments-R-Us, call Liv Nachman at 914-222-2222, or some random number that was easy to dial, for assistance in completing town business.
“Are there events that have been suggested?” Sarah asked, bringing Liv’s attention back to the conversation. “Have you looked at feasibility?”
“I think we’re looking at a multi-day event cycle,” Artur said, “What I think we need from you at this stage is maybe an understanding of what the days might look like.”
“How many feasible event slots,” Liv clarified. “And then I think we can narrow down the events based on the slots.”
“Do you have priorities?” Sarah asked, clearly focusing on the event. Unlike Liv, who was sneaking glances at Artur. “Do you want competing events, or do you want the town solely focused on one event at a time?”
Liv tapped her fingers on the table before looking back up at Sarah. “Let’s figure out two different event schedules, one on each side.”
Sarah nodded, and took the papers Liv passed over, the list of events and spaces as well as timing. “Give me a few minutes,” Sarah said with a smile. “I’ll take a look.”
And as they stepped away from the table, Artur looked up at her before turning back to Sarah. “Do you want us to grab lunch?”
She couldn’t help but smile…even as her stomach chimed in and added its opinion.
“Oh, that would be lovely,” Sarah said. “Get whatever. I mean, if you meant to include me.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. And,” Artur continued, “of course I mean to include you. Liv, do you want to come with me?”
She nodded, grinned back at him. “Sounds good.”
And after a quick second of conversation where Artur confirmed Sarah’s number and food tastes, she followed him outside.
“How do you know her again?”
He nodded, and the smile made his face as bright as the sun. “Her best friend is my best friend’s wife, and her husband is part of an art crew in Brooklyn that includes a sofer.”
She blinked. “There’s an art crew in Brooklyn who knows a sofer?”
He laughed. “You’d think they’d be in style.”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “But that means her husband knows my cousin’s boyfriend.”
“Your cousin…?”
“Leah,” she replied, remembering that he didn’t know the ins and outs of her family. Which meant she had to be specific and clarify. “Leah’s boyfriend is a sofer in Brooklyn.”
“Does he trade under the name ‘the hot sofer’?”
In any other circumstance, it would be weird, but at the same time, she knew that Samuel’s brother started the whole thing as a marketing strategy. Granted, that strategy was partially responsible for the fact that Leah was dating Samuel again, but it was still somewhat ridiculous.
All the same, Liv laughed. “He does. My cousin won’t admit, but she hates it.”
“Hates the name? Hates…”
“The way it was managed, initially,” Liv replied, knowing that he’d get it. “It created crowds that he wasn’t able to handle.”
“I see,” he replied, and she could see the gears running through his head. “Yeah. Something like that in the circumstances he was most likely appearing in would probably be a crowd control hazard without some kind of protection. And now?”
“Now she just hates it because she thinks it belittles him.” Which if nothing else was the best way of describing Leah and Samuel’s relationship. But that was for later, not now.
Now? Now was the time for her to bask in the sun of Artur’s smile and the way it made her feel. Hand in hand, sharing a bit of herself, and maybe, building something with a foundation for a shoulder to cry on.
The man was an enigma wrapped in a riddle, and if she took the time to think about it, Livvy had no idea whether she or her heart were going to survive him.
*
The next morning, Artur received a text.
Meet us at the JHPA headquarters.
The GPS said he was heading to an office building in Briarwood, in a new development area that Artur had sneaking suspicions he’d recognize the second he pulled in. There were cars in the parking lot, but he didn’t take the second to look at them, though he did head upstairs to the building.
It was a short elevator ride as he ran through the items he expected to discuss with Asher, knowing there were a bunch of them. JHPA participation, some local mentorship events. And probably Liv, considering Asher was dating her cousin.
One of them.
The elevator doors opened, only to reveal Liv standing there, just by the elevator. Gorgeous. He wanted to thread his fingers through her hair. He settled for a smile.
“You ready?” Liv asked as he walked into the antechamber just outside the elevator.
He shrugged. “For most things,” he replied. “Not sure what this is going to be.” Which was true, considering he had a feeling who was going to show up for the second half.
She laughed. That laugh was going to be the death of him.
“Let’s do this,” she said as she opened the door to the offices.
“You guys ready?” said a familiar voice. Well. Not that familiar.
Artur had seen Ash Mendel during his playing days, and had been out of the country when Ash retired. But the touch of gray in the man’s hair and the slight softening of the shoulders were the only real changes he could spot.
“Nice to see you,” he said.
“Nice to see you too, Artur. Liv?”
“Hey, Ash,” Liv said with a grin. “Shall we sit down?”
They headed across the office to a conference room, and Ash took out a bunch of papers and passed them over.
He skimmed the agenda, and the background information on the local mentorship program.
“This is for part two,” Asher said as Artur looked up. “My co-founder will show up for the second part and this agenda.”
Artur smiled; based on the tight format of the agenda and the bits of information it had, he had a strong suspicion who the co-founder was.
And most likely, he was a mutual friend.
“First part,” Asher continued. “I see you’ve got some kind of schedule settled?”
“We have a preliminary, two of them actually, that we’re looking at.” Liv in full mayor mode replied before passing the pages they’d prepared after meeting with Sarah to Ash.
“And I see a few places the JHPA can play along,” Ash replied, still clearly focusing on the papers. “The winter sports expo if the high school goes through with it, and some of the players can work with the youth group.”
But he could see the sparks flying in Liv’s eyes, the words on their way out.
“What about the blessings?” Liv asked. “I mean maybe some of the players can come and light candles with the town some of the nights?”
Artur watched the dynamic between them, prepping to step in before Asher nodded. “I like this idea. A lot. I think, depending on schedules, it’s important to have some of the players on site, celebrating the holiday even as this is an event co-sponsored by the Empires.”
Which was a cue if he’d ever seen one, but at the same time he was going to show his support for an idea and person he agreed with, cue or no cue. “I can see what I can do on that end,” he said. “A gentle push about diversity and holidays and the meaning behind what this is.”
“Good,” Asher said. Was there relief in his voice? “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Not a problem,” he said. “Anything else you want to cover before…”
There was a squeak of a door hinge, and then footsteps.
Very familiar footsteps.
“Ash, Mayor…poker this week?”
He laughed, and if he’d seen people stunned before, he couldn’t be even more surprised at the expressions on both Liv and Asher’s faces.
“I think I might be able to,” Artur managed, knowing the completely indirect invitation was, in fact, for him. “But not sure.”
Jacob nodded, looked at him; he’d known Jacob long enough to realize that this was an inspection. An ‘are you okay, is there something I can see that’s wrong?’ But a moment later, he smiled. “Good. Glad you’re settling back in.”
“I know…” Liv managed, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Excuse me,” Jacob interrupted, putting his hand out to Liv, clearly having decided to take control of the situation instead of letting small bits of information trickle out. “Jacob Horowitz-Margareten. New part-time Briarwood resident, boss of the best project manager ever and partner on the local mentorship program.”
“Nice to officially meet you,” she said, taking his hand.
He let the hand go before sitting down and looking up at Asher. “So what are we looking at here?”
Asher passed Jacob the event schedule. “I like this,” he said. “What were you thinking of; a pre-party of some sort? Fundraiser while everybody is paying attention to the joy of Hanukkah?”
“That sounds good,” Asher said.
“It’s a way to involve the community more,” Liv said. “I’m in favor of it.”
“Maybe using the model of the dreidl project, and with a few local artisans designing and auctioning off dreidls?” Jacob added. “Proceeds going to whoever we want?”
“Artisans? We don’t have that kind of time,” Liv said. “Designing dreidls could be time-consuming.”
Artur shook his head. “Your cousin’s boyfriend the sofer and his group of friends might be convinced to put their Pictionary pencils down.”
Liv snorted; thankfully she wasn’t the only one. “You’re right. And if we spin this as an event for the community, for the mentorship program, centered around local product Samuel Levine and his hand-picked creatives, it might be something.”
“As long as you don’t mention the fact that Isaac is responsible for the famous Hollowville Menorah,” Jacob said.
Now it was his turn to snicker. “Yep.”
“And that’s the event done. We can schedule either before or after the Multi Day Event Cycle or installation, or whatever you’re calling it, starts. Keep me posted on who says yes and who says no. Now the small party.” Jacob turned to Liv. “You’re going to come and talk to the mentees before this big event?”
Liv nodded. “That’s the plan.” And then she turned to Artur. “Do you want to come with?”
Artur nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”
“Good answer.”
Of course it was. Because he couldn’t think of anything else. “Let me know the day you’re going, and I’ll go with you.”
“Good,” Jacob said. “Asher, we have business. Artur, I’ll text you poker details. Mayor, it was a pleasure.”
And as quickly as they came in, they headed out. Artur knew there were going to be questions, and all he had to do was prepare to answer them.
*
Liv left the office having gone through the most fascinating, and strange, meeting of her life. “I don’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one,” she said as she headed into the street.
Artur didn’t seem very perturbed by anything, whether it was his job or demeanor. Knowing him at this point, it could possibly mean both.
“I think it was productive,” Artur replied. “We got support from the JHPA, which is important, and the mentorship program has that event, which I’m thinking is the kickoff event for the…” he paused, and she watched his hands move, elegant fingers grabbing words out of the air “…whatever you’re calling this.”
“And you got dragged into two events that you neither knew were coming nor planned?”
He laughed, as if her insinuation was that predictable. “One I expected and of course I’m going to the mentorship program. And the other? The poker? If it comes to fruition, it’s just…” he paused again, and she wondered what he was going to say “…Jacob’s version of claiming me in front of Asher, and supporting you in the process.”
“And he’s…Judith’s boss,” Liv managed, “which is…wow.”
Artur’s eyes were twinkling now. “Man’s a hurricane if you’re not prepared.”
Liv wasn’t, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “Is there anybody he doesn’t like?”
Artur gestured toward a tiny noodle shop in the shopping center with the building, and Liv nodded. “He and Isaac don’t get along. But Isaac is a singular personality who doesn’t like people, and he and Jacob have stepped on each other’s toes.”
Isaac…one of Samuel’s artist friends? Yep. Had to be. And also the guy who built that gorgeous metal menorah in Hollowville, at least that’s what she could remember. But all she could think about, aside from the udon she was about to order, was the tangled web of connections that she and Artur shared.
And Saturday.
Already there were dynamics that she needed to watch, toes she couldn’t step on. “So, what am I walking into on Saturday?”
Having ordered their udon, they moved into a private booth, sitting across from each other. Artur grabbed the chopsticks and separated the pieces of wood, “There’s going to be a good group of people, a lot of them close friends.”
Now she raised an eyebrow. “Of each other? Of you? Do I need a map? Should I bring reinforcements?”
He dropped the chopsticks immediately, his hands up, palms out, as if he was suddenly the conversation traffic cop. “It’s not going to be that kind of thing, I mean where you need reinforcements,” he clarified. “You can bring people, but I promise, the will be no pressure, personal or professional.”
She nodded. Okay. This felt better. But still, what was this event really supposed to be? “So, this isn’t pressure for me, or isn’t supposed to be. What is this for you? A family reunion?
He laughed, picking up the chopsticks again as the teapot arrived. Hot tea got poured into the tiny cups that sat next to them.
“I’m friendly with old-fashioned nudniks, or busybodies,” he replied as the steam rose from their cups. “My friends don’t want to judge you; they just want to see you. See what you’re like…and what you’re like with me.”
Rather, she thought, as she put her hands around the cup, seeking the warmth it provided, what she saw in him. Okay. That made sense.
“So, who are these people? I mean…don’t need names, social security numbers and all of that jazz…”
Artur snorted and put his own hands around his cup. “What classified information do you need, Mayor?”
Liv laughed. God she adored bantering with this guy. “Maybe their professional states?”
He didn’t answer immediately, but he nodded “Okay, sure. Is there any particular reason for this briefing?”
What was her reasoning? Why was she asking him these questions? Aside from wanting to know more about him and his friends, but that couldn’t be the only information she wanted.
And then it hit her. “I’m trying to figure out who I can bring with me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “It’s a debate?”
She nodded. “Different people would have different advantages.”
“Makes sense,” he said. “You wouldn’t bring someone that you didn’t think could fit in.”
“Or couldn’t enjoy themselves.”
“Right. Well,” he continued. “At this party there will be: the host of the party—the guy who created the barbecue menu for Levitan’s, and his wife who is a Meal Network host— Batya’s Journeys I think the show is.”
“I think we may have gone to the same school for a very, very brief period of time,” Liv managed. “I was little and she was older, but they talk about her in the alumni magazine.”
“It’s possible,” Artur replied. “You went to Schecter?”
Liv nodded. “For a number of years. My sister and I. Anyway, so?”
“Right. So next is the hurricane you just met, and his equally formidable wife—a museum curator. Then there’s the Hanukkah consultant and her husband Isaac.”
“The Isaac that Jacob doesn’t like?”
“That would be the one,” he said with a grin. “Then you have our friend the attorney and her girlfriend possibly of the moment, possibly more. And then my buddy Leo and his wife, who is friendly with a bunch of people in Briarwood.”
She nodded. There was an interesting group of people coming to this event, and she wondered what was going on. “Based on what you told me,” she began over slurps of her noodles, “my thought is that if I bring either of my cousins, they will be either pulled into a work thing or intimidated and not enjoy themselves.”
“Aaah. Okay. So then what or who’s your plan?”
“My sister,” she replied as he signed a credit card receipt she didn’t realize he’d gotten.
“It’s fine,” he said quickly. “If you’re concerned, it’s a business expense.”
Whether he actually meant he considered their outing a business expense or whether he was just saying that, who knew. But either way. “Thank you.”
He nodded after he passed the plastic tray over to the waiter, taking a break to slurp his own noodles. “Tell me about your sister.”
“Her name’s Naomi, and she’s younger than I am.”
“What does she do?”
“She’s an event planner, mostly weddings but some other parties, corporate or otherwise. Anyway, she’s uninvolved with politics and sports, but she likes events and likes being around people.”
“Well,” he said. “Looking forward to meeting her.”
“Whether you’ll say that after the event remains to be seen.” She said as they dove in to lunch before finishing and heading out of the restaurant. “See you on Saturday?”
“See you on Saturday.”
And their goodbyes were done, leaving her free to wave and head back to her office, to the work she had waiting that had nothing to do with him or with Hanukkah.