Page 3 of The Dating Contract

And then Leah took in her sister’s expression, trying to discern what was going through Judith’s mind.

That way meant disaster.

No. Absolutely not. “We’re not waiting on that line,” Leah said, making it very clear to her sister that this was a line she wasn’t crossing.

“Wouldn’t even think of it,” Judith said, sounding chastised. Because of course her sister had no poker face and it was very obvious to Leah that Judithhadthought of suggesting they stand on the line.

Instead, as if Judith was changing tactics, she looked toward the crowd. “What’s going on?”

“The hot sofer,” said the woman closest to them, or rather the woman standing in front of them.

“I wouldn’t mind if he, you know, mademea ketubah,” said the man who’d gotten behind them.

Because she had followed Judith, and now Leah and her sister were, in fact, waiting on the line.

Of course they were.

But she’d heard many things in her lifetime (she was a sports agent after all) but this? Well. This took the cake.

“Are you waiting for a consult?” Judith asked, because it seemed they were actually going to get a consult with this ‘hot sofer.’

Whoever he was.

“I just want him to sign my…well…” the young woman said, pointing to what she’d been carrying; it was rolled up and secured with a rubber band. Leah figured it had to be some kind of poster.

“So you just want his autograph?” Leah clarified.

The woman nodded. “Yes.”

“Got it. And,” Judith ventured, not to be deterred by autograph seekers, “if you do want a consult?”

“His business manager,” the gentleman chimed in, “is over there. He’s the one inside the line.”

There were many sofers who had business managers on site at the convention. With no reason for…lines and this kind of disaster.

But she followed Judith anyway, as her sister made a beeline toward the area where the business manager was supposed to be. Supposed to, because if she was running this appearance, she’d be nowhere near this…mishegas.

“Judith Nachman!”

Her sister turned at the sound of the voice, which was familiar in a way that made Leah nervous.

“Aaron!!” Judith yelled, in what clearly seemed like recognition.

Wait. Aaron…Levine?

Judith was a year younger than Aaron Levine. As they started to talk, Judith enthusiastically describing how excited she was for the wedding, the bright tones of her sister’s voice wreaked havoc through Leah’s already messed-up head…

“Oh,” Aaron said, “my brother can totally make your ketubah!”

Aaron had one brother.

And the less Leah said about him, the better.

“Really?” Judith squealed, and yes,actuallysquealed.

But the squeal filled Leah with dread. “Um,” Leah managed, wanting to put the brakes on this impending disaster as quickly as she possibly could.

Unfortunately, it seemed the train had left the station, as her sister wasn’t paying attention to anything. She was focused on the ketubahs and…

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