She was a woman with everything except the one thing she really wanted: an attentive husband, in tune with her needs.

Akiva grinned wryly, piled his plate with an assortment of cheeses and Israeli salad, and waited for an individual pan of fresh shakshuka.

The hotel breakfast hype was real and Akiva appreciated that in a program. Libby wasn’t coming down; she was tired and had requested he bring a plate up for her and the kids. He was just making them portions when he heard the unmistakable sound of Menashe hissing from behind a Greek pillar.

“Because I can’t! I told my father I’d make these calls. Dassi, just drop it, okay? It’s speedboating, not our wedding anniversary.”

Akiva winced and waited a beat before casually walking around the pillar. Menashe was nowhere to be seen but he spied his sister-in-law, white-faced and drawn. He thought of Libby, practically hyper in full vacation mode, tan and chilled.

He felt terrible for his sister-in-law. She was a woman with everything except the one thing she really wanted: an attentive husband, in tune with her needs.

But he’d been Menashe. He knew what it was like to feel invisible strings tying you to Daddy’s every whim; to feel that choking sense of obligation and familial duty. Between a rock and a hard place, and there was no room for wives who didn’t get it….

He bit his lip. There was only so much he could say to his little brother. The rest would have to play out by itself.

But he could daven. And he would.