"I am hyper excited to entertain 39 challah bakers tonight, you have no idea. Read my lips, you’re so going to regret this”

Leah being Leah, Deena had no choice but to be ready with a challah dough at eight.

She’d refused to book a babysitter for this and had asked her kid sister Raizy to come over instead. Raizy was thrilled — she loved Miri and Nechama, and her mother was so happy to help in some way. “You can call her anytime, she’s always bored at night.”

The only thing left was deciding what to wear.

Casual, definitely casual. She could go in a slinky skirt and T-shirt, that’s probably how most women would show up. But her version of casual was a bit more practiced.

In the end she slipped on an oversized sweatshirt, pulled a beanie over her fall and applied her makeup aiming for that no-makeup look that still made her features pop.

Deena Lizman. Here she comes.

She was slipping on her booties when Leah texted: I’m outside. Nu???? Deena poked her head into her kids’ room. Raizy was sitting on Miri’s bed, reading aloud to the girls.

“I’m leaving,” Deena mouthed. “Take whatever you like from the pantry and freezer.”

Opening the door to Leah’s car, Deena hoisted her bag of dough over her shoulder and chanted, “This is how the Yidden left Mitzrayim.”

Leah burst out laughing. “See why you have to come?”

“Thanks,” Deena muttered. “Thanks, really. I am hyper excited to entertain 39 challah bakers tonight, you have no idea. Read my lips, you’re so going to regret this.”

Leah pulled an imaginary zipper closed over her lips.

When they arrived, Huvi’s kitchen was teeming with women — most of them in slinky skirts and T-shirts. Deena shrugged in her sweater, casually straightening her back. She spotted Miri’s morah, who was apparently Huvi’s neighbor or cousin, and waved to her. Then she made a lame attempt to find a quiet corner.

But before she could find a spot on the counter for her challah dough, the show began.

“Nutsandbasil, woo-hoo!”

Deena stepped down hard on Leah’s toes as she lit a grin on her face. “Hey, guys. This is so fun!”

“I hope you’ll share some of your magic with us,” Shuli Templer said. “I feel like my challahs are okay but like really nothing wow, know what I mean?”

Deena chuckled. “You know I don’t keep my recipes secret.”

For better or worse, it was show time. Studiously avoiding Leah’s gaze, she pulled a collapsible tripod with a ring light out of her bag and clicked it open. “Okay, guys, are we ready to do this? I’m so pumped, it’s going to be so inspiring. A challah bake, as a zechus…”

Her cheeks flushed. She had no idea for what zechus they were doing this.

Damage control. Quick.