Page 19 of The Twins

Neither conversation interests me, and my cousins that are in relationships are whispering and giggling with their partners, Sophie is texting someone furiously under the table, two of the Goldman Girls are talking with the Goldman Boys…and Blanche is tickling my clit with her foot from the other side of the table.

I do enjoy a woman who knows what she wants.

“Bailey,” Aunt Esther calls out to the other end of the table. Ernie’s girlfriend perks up in her chair, eager to answer like an excited puppy. “What was the problem with that supplier the other day?”

Bailey sits up, leaning over the table, “I wanted a complete bathroom refit for a little boy with Spina Bifida, and they were trying to charge me almost double because they caught wind of the Kosher Nostra’s affiliation.”

“Would you like me to speak to them?” The room quiets, everyone glancing between Dalisay and I with shocked expressions. I smirk at the older woman, and she returns one of her own. I suppose the fact that we spoke at the same time, with the same offer, in a detached voice would be creepy to most. For me, it gives me a little tingle…though the dexterity of Blanche’s toe might have something to do with that.

I have mad respect for the itty-bitty dictator of a woman. The fact that she’s giving Tevye a hard time is delightful. And now, her offer of “assistance” just endears her to me more.

My cousin Sophie, Jonah’s sister, points between us, “Did you two just become best friends?”

“Friends are overrated.” Ok, I’ll admitthatwas creepy.

“Tovah, watch Arlo, I’m gonna show Dalisay and Theo around.” Tev tosses his napkin on the table and stands, holding out his hand for Vandy. Poor girl has lost all her coloring as her eyes dart nervously from me to her mother. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll meet you in the sitting room shortly.”

Conversation resumes, though stilted as I seem to be a creature of fascination to them. Eh. You get used to it. Instead, I focus on my nephew. He’s still “eating”. And I use that term loosely. There is food on his tray, but he’s smacking it around with increasing agitation. I gently dislodge Blanche’s foot, and swivel in my chair to face Arlo.

“Little man.” His eyes snap to mine and I know instantly there’s something wrong. His eyes are glassy, gaze unfocused. I pick up a fruit bite Devorah makes for him and hold it in front of his mouth. “Eat. Don’t play with your food.” He grunts and bats my hand away. Cheeks flushed, but otherwise pale, his movements are uncoordinated. Granted, he’s not quite 2 yet, but this isn’t normal for him.

I reach for him just as his eyes roll back and he slumps in his highchair. Scooping him up, I yell, “Someone get Tev! Yak, I need a vehicle!” Clutching him to my chest, I rush out of the dining room, down the hallway and into the foyer. Someone opens the front doors and I’m outside just as an SUV pulls up.

“TOVAH!” Tev runs, Vandy right behind him. I offer him Arlo’s limp body, but with a curt shake of his head, he opens the back door for me to get in. Vandy climbs in next to me, Tev in the front, and we’re off with Anton driving.

“Tovah.” Vandy speaks softly. My head swivels but my hands tighten on the little man in my arms. “Can you tell me what happened?” She doesn’t try to take him from me, just starts examining him while I hold him.

“Irritable. Not eating. Uncoordinated. Unconscious.”

“Good, thank you. I think he’s in metabolic crisis. He’s fevered, though, I think he’s coming down with something and that’s what triggered it. He hasn’t been quite himself all day.” She lays her hand on my upper arm, and I feel the warmth of it leaching through the sleeves of my dress. “The hospital will stabilize him, he’ll be alright, Tovah. Tev?” She stretches between the front seats and rests her other hand on Tevye’s. “He’s gonna be ok.”

My brother and I grunt in unison, making Vandy smile and shake her head.

Two and a half hours later, she’s proven right. He’s sleeping in a crib in a private hospital room. He has RSV and it compromised his immune system fast. It sent the rest of his body into a tailspin. Insulin, breathing treatments, steroids, IV. But he’s stable.

“I hate to leave you…I’m gonna call off—”

“Vandy. Go to work,” Tev gruffly cuts her off. Her jaw snaps shut and there’s a spark in her eyes, but she quickly breathes through it.

“Are you telling me to go to work because you don’t want me here?”

Tev’s eyes snap to hers, reluctantly tearing them off his son. “What? That’s bullshit. I want you here.”

“Use your words, fucker.” I smack him in the back of the head on my way out of the room to give them a minute alone.

A few minutes later, Vandy is flushed and breathing heavy, but gives me a smile in the hallway. I tell her, “I’m staying.”

“Thank you.” She swallows hard. “I don’t want to leave them, but there isn’t much I can do. I’ll be in and out to check on them. I just don’t want him to be alone. He’s been doing so well, I don’t want this episode with Arlo to set him back.”

I can’t help but laugh. Long and loud. Vandy patiently waits for me. “You know how when you’re shitting, and you’ve got to push and push, you ate a bunch of cheese or something and it’s gummed it all up, and you need to take a breath, but you’re afraid what you’ve managed to push out will be sucked back up into your body and you’ll have to start all over again?”

I laugh harder watching the emotional journey Vandy goes through as she processes my words. “YES! I don’t want him to experience emotional constipation!”

“He’s got you, Vandy. He ain’t interested in anything but moving forward with you and Arlo.” I’m surprised when she launches herself into my arms.

“He’s got you, too, Tovah. I know you both are allergic to feelings but tough shit. He needs you right now, so does Arlo. Thank you for being here with them when I can’t.”

I push her away, clear my throat, and give her a half grin. “I’ve been taking care of him since he decided he’d be better off as a separate cell.”

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