Page 16 of The Dreidl Disaster

“Which is?”

“Is there a plan to fix this? Because way too often people tend to have opinions about a situation but not a solution. More importantly than the man himself, does he have a strategy? A plan?”

Jennifer was nervous, and rightfully so. This was the second employee the Empires had sent to facilitate this event, and way too much had gone wrong already.

Liv understood this particular mind-set all too well; it was something that sprinted through her own mind. Which is why she answered the question as well as she could. “His strategy seems to be not to have one,” she said. “I will admit it sounds strange, but actually I think it works.”

There was a pause. “Interesting.”

Good interesting? Bad interesting? She wasn’t sure, but there wassomethingin Jennifer Cohen’s tone that made it clear the other woman wasn’t done. “I need to meet him.”

It was a reasonable request, and she wondered why the other woman hadn’t made it sooner.

“Maybe we can have a meeting,” Liv offered. “Town hall, tomorrow before the special session?”

“No,” she said. “That’s too close, and I need to see if we’re going to survive tomorrow’s meeting with our dignity intact.”

“Fair enough,” Liv said, though she believed the other woman was being slightly dramatic despite how high the stakes were for her. “Name the time, and I’ll be there.”

“What about tonight?”

“What?” It was a surprise, but Liv had to recover quickly. Clearly tomorrow was out of the question so tonight was the best answer. “Here at town hall?”

“No,” Jennifer replied.

In the silence that followed, Liv heard finger­nails…Jenni­fer’s or hers or someone’s, tapping against a wooden desk.

“I’ve got an idea,” Jennifer broke the silence with a bit of enthusiasm. “How about the two of you come for dinner?”

Once again, Jennifer’s solution was…interesting. “Impress him with your potato kugel and then see if you think he’s ready?”

Jennifer laughed, but Liv knew there was a degree of confirmation. Liv knew the other woman well enough at this point: temple sisterhood president, friend of the Briarwood synagogue gardening club. She wasn’t awful, just…involved.

“Oh I know it’s last minute,” she continued, as if Liv hadn’t said anything, “but having the two of you for dinner would be lovely. Roast beef, yes, maybe some blintzes, but no sour cream…some lovely bread…potato kugel of course.”

Which, judging by the tone, was what she’d wanted in the first place. Her, Artur, Peter and Jennifer, eating a menu she’d clearly already planned out. Strategizing or something.

And despite the other plans she’d had to prepare for the meeting, when duty called, she had to answer. “Sure,” she said. “Thank you for asking me. I’ll be there.”

“Good,” Jennifer said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let the fixer know as well; the idea of having his number within Peter’s reach is not…something I’d like. You understand.”

She did. Peter was a lovely man, not so involved in his son’s hockey career as to be a pest, but…someone with enough interest and involvement in things to make Jennifer nervous. “I do,” she said. “I absolutely do.”

“Good. Looking forward to meeting him and hearing your plans, Mayor.”

“Of course,” she said, reminding herself who this was. “I’m looking forward to it too.”

“Good to hear,” Jennifer replied. “See you at seven.”

Seven it was. And at seven, she’d show up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for anything that could be thrown her way.

Including the fixer she was about to call with a dinner invitation he probably wasn’t expecting.

*

It was coldin Briarwood. Abe’s jacket still wasn’t warm enough and thinking of the mayor wearing his jacket was the first step in a slippery slope of dangerously emotional thoughts that would keep Artur off balance.

But there was a larger problem.

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