Day of Atonement Read Online Free PDF Page B

finest clothes. Jewelry glittered from fingers, ears, and necks. “Services must have ended at some of the shuls. People are starting to head home. Go.”
    Decker went upstairs. He stopped midway and shouted down, “Maybe this is all for the better.”
    Rina agreed that it probably was. Decker knew she was placating him, but even so, her response made him feel a little better.
     
    A medley of voices said to Rina,
    I’m so sorry.
    Did you take his temperature?
    Can he eat?
    It must be jet lag.
    His work is so stressful.
    He should eat a little.
    Those planes are so crowded, everyone coughing into one air filtration system.
    Did you give him Tylenol?
    These flus come on so all of a sudden.
    Just a little soup.
    Rina parried the questions like an expert fencer.
    A minute later, Decker heard knocking on the door. Duo knocking. His stepsons, no doubt. But he asked who it was just to make sure. When they answered with their names, he told them to come in.
    They patted his cheek, held his hand, smoothed out the covers for him, asked if they could get him anything.
    He felt so damn guilty faking it. To make himself play the part with Strassbergian integrity, he thought about meeting Frieda Levine, meeting her parents , and his stomach legitimately churned.
    Sammy asked him if he’d gotten sick because he’d been obnoxious on the plane ride over. Decker assured him that was not the case. But the boy remained unconvinced. Sam was the elder of the two, hypermature and, like his mother, willing to tote the world’s problems on his back if he had a big enough knapsack. Decker kissed the boy’s sweaty cheek; to make him feel better, he told him to bring him up some tea. To make Jake feel equally useful, he told him to bring up some lemon and sugar.
    Jakey smiled: It was Rina’s smile. The kid was Rina’s clone. Sam had lighter hair, but was darker complexioned, looking like his dad. That must be hard on the Lazaruses, too.
    In a grave voice, Sammy suggested honey in his tea instead of sugar. Honey was more soothing, and after all, it was Rosh Hashanah. Honey was traditional fare for the holiday, symbolizing a sweet New Year.
    Decker said honey was a spiffy idea.
    After the boys were gone, he locked the door behind them, not wanting any uninvited guests.
    A moment later, the handle turned, a knock, and Rina said, “Peter, open the door.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    Rina came in. “Didn’t mean to sound like an army sergeant.”
    “You’ve been fielding those questions like a pro.”
    “Thanks.” She felt his forehead, then his cheeks, with the back of her hand.
    “Rina, I’m not really sick,” Decker said.
    “Oh,” Rina dropped her hand. “That’s right. What am I doing? I don’t know what I’m doing. You know, Peter, you actually feel a little warm.”
    “Life imitating art.”
    There was a knock on the door. The boys again, bringing up his tea.
    Jacob said to Decker, “Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery—a refuah shelema .”
    “Thank you,” Decker said.
    “Want me to eat with you?” Sammy offered. “You look sort of lonely.”
    The truth of the matter was that Decker would have loved the company. But he said, “No problem, Sam, I’m just fine. I know there’s a bunch of kids downstairs. Have a good time.”
    Sammy kissed his forehead. “You feel warm, Peter.”
    “I think your father has a little fever,” Rina said.
    “Rest,” Jacob said, kissing his cheek. “I’ll check on you later.”
    “So will I,” added Sammy.
    After the boys left, Rina said, “You want company?”
    “I’m okay.”
    Rina said, “You do look lonely. Downright needy.”
    “No, I’m really fine.”
    “Friggin fine?”
    Decker laughed. “No, I’m not fine at all. I want you to stay with me—”
    “Then I will.”
    “No, I won’t hear of it. Eat with your kinfolk…” He paused a moment, thinking: kinfolk. Except for her sons, Rina didn’t have a single blood relative downstairs. But he did. “Go eat with them.