Page 37 of Analysing Her Assets

“His name is Shemesh. He’s Giddy’s brother.”

“Oh! I’ll take him to see Giddy.” Without asking for permission, the child snatched the leash from Gideon and ran towards the balcony.

“Hi, I’m Gideon, I work with Tamar.”

He said that to the boy’s mother, who looked so much like Tamar she had to be her older sister. She had the same nearly black hair except hers was streaked with gray, and the same dark, long-lashed slightly protruding eyes, but she was taller and thinner than Tamar.

She nodded her acknowledgement and stepped inside the apartment. He followed and finally closed the door. She glanced at the balcony. Her son was there, his arm around Shemesh’s neck and his other hand on Giddy’s head.

“You’re Gideon, the same Gideon who’s gained on Tamar in the analyst competition? And you’re going against her for the job, right?”

Her mouth was turned downwards. He stiffened with awkwardness. He was infamous here, perhaps resented. Her tone suggested he was an intruder.

“Yes. You are Tamar’s sister?”

“Well.” She scrutinized him with the same familiar, or should he say familial, haughtiness. “Humph, that’s upsetting.”

“What’s upsetting?” Tamar’s drawl drew Gideon’s eyes to the bedroom door.

He gaped.

She was wearing a dress whose color wasn’t exactly red, more like a mature burgundy. This was the first time he’d seen her in a color that wasn’t blue, black, or gray. Her lips looked redder, her hair blacker, her skin pearlier. The rich fabric reached a little past her knees, clung to her round hips, delineated her waist. He stared at her cleavage. Licking his lips, he could almost taste her nipples in his mouth.

The clearing of a throat pushed him out of his stupor. He lowered his eyes to Tamar's laced-up bright red army styled boots.

“You look great,” he blurted.

“Thanks.” She blushed, but her mouth curved in a small, satisfied smile. “Tally, Eyal, let’s go to the dog park, we’ll eat dinner afterwards.”

“Yes! Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.” Eyal was holding Shemesh’s leash, jumping up and down. Literally.

“Oh, this is for you,” Tamar said and handed him his mother’s bag. The sheets were neatly stapled and marked with notes.

“Thank you!” It was so generous of her. “That’s...that’s awesome! Did you like doing it?”

“Yes, actually, I loved doing this.” She glanced at her sister, who was looking on archly. “But I’m not a very creative person, so I don’t know how much use I can be...”

“Tamar, this is lovely,” her sister interjected. “I totally forgot you had this dress! That’s a great start for our T-team project!”

Tamar’s cheeks grew pinker.

“But you can’t wear this to work,” Tally added.

They all filed out, more or less together. Tamar managed to lock her place while holding on to Giddy.

“Can I take a photo of you? For my Instagram. With Giddy,” Tally said to Tamar when they reached the street.

“Of me?” Tamar sounded dubious. “You always say I’m too fat. And I do look fat in photos.”

Gideon couldn’t believe his ears. Tamar was berated by her sister, probably all her life, and accepted it as her lot. He almost launched a heated tirade in her defense, but then checked himself. He had no status here, no standing in the matter. Tamar would be embarrassed and humiliated. He wasn’t her boyfriend, he wasn’t sure he was even her friend. But he wanted to be. Her friend, that is.

“I was wrong to say it, Tamar. I am now aware of fat-shaming, so I’ll never say it again, to you or anyone else. Please, it’s so effective, pictures of my clothes, worn by real people,” Tally begged.

Eyal’s small hand sneaked into Gideon’s.

“Can I hold Shemesh?” Gideon handed him the leash but maintained a firm grasp on Eyal’s hand which twitched in his palm. The child was trying to get away.

“Please Tamari,” her sister pleaded. “You need to be on social media more, we talked about it on the phone when you invited me to your team. Right here, there’s lots of light.”

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