"I’m not sure if ZeeZee would be interested. I mean, her family’s seriously rich; it’s not as if she needs to earn her pocket money”

Anew week, a new start, Tammy thought, as she mixed spices into the chopped meat. Sunday dinners were usually leftovers, but Tammy had decided to make Yehuda’s favorite meatloaf recipe instead as a conciliatory offering.

She still wasn’t quite sure why things had deteriorated so badly last week, but she knew that she couldn’t let the atmosphere in their home remain so strained. It’s up to the woman, she repeated to herself, something she’d heard in all the shalom bayis classes she’d ever taken.

Her phone rang, and hands full of raw meat, Tammy pressed the Talk button with her elbow.

“Rikki! Three times in one week! You’re gonna spoil me here.”

Rikki laughed. “It was amazing spending time with you last night. But I actually just had a quick question. Can you get me the phone number of that girl we met at the Kosel?”

“ZeeZee? Sure. Why?”

“I’m looking for a babysitter for two afternoons a week. The center where I work has been begging me to put in more hours. I was really impressed with ZeeZee last night. What do you think of the idea?”

“Mmm, interesting.” Tammy washed her hands. “I’m not sure it’ll work, though. First of all, it absolutely can’t interfere with her class schedule. I’m already in hot water with Rabbi Freund.”

“Oh, of course not,” Rikki said quickly. “My work hours are flexible; I can work around her schedule.”

Tammy began peeling a potato. “Also, I’m not sure if ZeeZee would be interested. I mean, her family’s seriously rich; it’s not as if she needs to earn her pocket money.”

“I hear. But it can’t hurt to ask, right?”

Tammy frowned and sat down. Why was she so hesitant? There was nothing wrong with giving Rikki the phone number. She trusted Rikki; her family was great, and there was nothing in her home that could be a bad influence on a seminary girl.

So why was something niggling in her gut at the idea of ZeeZee becoming close to her old friend?

She heard the front door opening. Yehuda! He was home! She stood up hastily.

“Listen, Rikki, I gotta go now. I’ll call you later with her phone number. Hatzlachah!”