She stands by the window watching the rain crash. Inside she feels cracked raw aching for a nod an assurance. Right. As if Levi can give her that

The class ends and Jodie dispenses high-fives. “Shira I like your energy! Amazing job today Malka! Nice sneakers.” She stretches relishing the strain of hard work in her muscles. A stop at the new coffee shop is in order. The smoked cherry flavor seems intriguing.

Outside Jodie pauses to inhale the winter; the air cool bliss on her flushed cheeks. Her phone jingles. She stills. It’s Wednesday shopping day with Kayla. Must she forget everything? Frustration leaks through her clenched fists. Why did Kayla have to make her engagement so ridiculously short? Where is she running to?

Cold fog fills her head. She smiles when she spies Kayla shivering beneath a store awning her purple-and-gray plaid shawl streaming in the wind.

“Ma!” Kayla is pink-cheeked and eager. “How was your day? I’m starving. Let’s have a snack before we shop ‘kay?”

Her anger deflates leaving her empty. “Sure sweetie whatever you want. What does your fancy list say we do today?”

*

In the linen shop Kayla fingers multihued fabrics elaborate tapestries.

“You think Ma?” she asks holding up a crushed suede pillowcase deep red and streaked with silver.

Unbidden come thoughts of her own linen sets the ones she never used. Fuchsia with gold leaves; it had been love at first sight. Levi felt it belonged in a little girl’s room. And the burgundy swirl a mishmash of bold colors. Levi said it was good for the gypsies.

“I think I’m going with this one ” Kayla says holding up a gold brocade.

Jodie opens her mouth to respond but something black and urgent twists in her gut.

“It looks great Kayla let’s take it ” she manages and tosses a credit card in her daughter’s direction. Vaguely she hopes that it’s the right card or Levi will have her head. What’s wrong with you?

Kayla leads the way out of the store beaming bearing her enormous bags full of fresh linen and promise. One more minute of this and I’m going to scream!

Jodie steps out, sweating in the cold night, and says, “You know, Kayla, we have to get away for a bit. Just us.”

Kayla pauses, surprised.

Jodie searches her daughter’s beautiful eyes. She gulps. “The shopping will get done. Now’s our chance to have a great vacation, before you go gallivanting off to Eretz Yisrael with your new husband.” Her words leave a bitter streak on her tongue. She looks up anxiously, hopes Kayla didn’t sense it.

Her daughter laughs. “Seriously? I mean, why— what makes you think of this now?” She raises her arms, the fancy bags. “And how are we going to pay for a vacation now?”

Jodie waves her hand, quickly. “Come on, sweetie, let’s finish up and go home, make some plans.”

Kayla laughs again, uncertain. Jodie hums. Another hour or so and all the stores will close. They will go home, ooh and aah over Kayla’s purchases, then get cozy with cookies and tea, and plan.

“This is over the top, Chava,” Kayla is saying. “You know my mom... Yaaawn! Gosh, I’m tired.”

Jodie half-listens, drowsy. After a morning Segway tour, there was hardly time for a quick ice cream lunch on the way to the parasailing place. Flushed with exertion, happy and ravenous, they’d shared an early dinner of turkey sandwiches on their porch, the setting sun gilding their little dinner party in magic hues. Snug in her terry hoodie, Jodie hugs her arms to her chest, lulled by the soft hiss and lap of waves in the distance.

“It’s like you’re in this little bubble of sun and ocean.” Kayla sighs softly. Chuckles. “Okay... but a newlywed bubble is not quite the same. Kind of like what my mom will have now.” Cross-legged on a beachchair, Kayla turns to grin at her mother. “Huh, Mom? Just you and Daddy. Like shanah rishonah.”

For a tortured moment, Jodie thinks of her foyer, stripped of Kayla’s colorful scarves and a dozen scattered boots... just Levi’s polished shoes, parked neatly on the rubber mat, his black umbrella wrapped tightly, swallowing glints of raindrops.