A post about Zev was too personal, but sharing pictures of her kids with the whole world was fine?

The hours when Deena’s kids were in school felt like borrowed time.

Shira Gluckman sat down on the windowsill in Deena’s studio and bit into a dulce de leche snickerdoodle. “In-sane,” she declared.

“You think?” Deena said. She felt so pressured to post her most incredible content that week, while the giveaway ran. She was getting those followers, now she needed to hold on to them.

“I need you here again tomorrow,” Deena said. “We’ve got to get this Shavuos series done.”

Shira groaned. “Noooo. Not tomorrow, I have a packed schedule. Real work, for a change.”

Real work, paying clients. Good for her, but this was bad news. “But you’ll squeeze me in, right?” Deena offered a supplicating smile. “Your portfolio, Shira. Think about the beautiful portfolio you’re building with my pictures, think of your branding. The time to invest is now.”

“And for that you’re giving me?”

“Experience, my dear. Plus snickerdoodles.” Deena rearranged a cookie on the set and sighed. “I wish I could offer you something to make it worth it. I’m just trying to keep my overhead as low as possible for now…”

“Actually,” Shira said, “there is something you could give me instead of a paycheck.”

“Let’s hear.”

“Basically, my husband is starting to carry a new line of vitamins. It’s the same brand he’s been selling until now, but for kids.”

Deena held up her hand. “You don’t have to go on. You want me to market the vitamins for him. Put it on my WhatsApp status, do a post or a story. Am I right or am I right or am I right?”

Shira grinned. “You’re righter than right.”

“Great! I’m really happy to do that for you.”

Shira reached for another snickerdoodle. “So I think you should talk to him directly, he has his ideas and stuff. And of course, we’ll want to include your kids.”

My kids…

Zev’s mother’s face rose in Deena’s mind. Her disappointment, her frustration…

And the hypocrisy. She hadn’t said anything aloud, but her thoughts had been transparent. A post about Zev was too personal, but sharing pictures of her kids with the whole world was fine?

Deena’s stomach hardened.