Page 29 of The Twins

“You’ve been married 7 years?” Blanche cuts me off, her voice lethal and steady.

“Yes.”

“We just…what the fuck, Tov? You’ve been cheating on him!”

I shake my head. “No. I have not.”

“You can lie to him and yourself, but I won’t do that. I won’t be the ‘other’ woman! And my sister!” Blanche points at Dottie. Dottie grins knowingly at me. “You’ve been fucking your way through the female population of Charlotte and along the eastern seaboard.”

“That’s a gross exaggeration.”

“It’s just gross.” Moshe’s face scrunches up.

“Don’t be jelly,” I tease but this is not the right crowd. Masud steps closer to the head of the bed, a solid pillar of support next to me. I feel the underlying tension that thrums through his big body. I look up at him with a genuine smile. I won’t tell his story, his past, his childhood, they aren’t mine to share.

“Not jealous. You’re a cheater—” Motherfucker.

“Ezra, watch yourself.”

“Why? You’ve been having affair after affair while your husband has been none the wiser—”

“Ez, stop.” Dottie tries and I love her for it. But Ezra is riding this sanctimonious horse all the way to the end.

“This whole time…every word out of your mouth—”

“HE WATCHES!” The room silences at Dottie’s exclamation. Sighing, I shrug and slide back down into bed, the entirety of my upper left chest and shoulder on fire.

Ezra stares at her like she’s grown a second head. “What? Was he…” Ez swallows hard, “Was he in the room with you when you…?”

“The mirror,” Blanche mumbles, Dottie points at her.

“Yes. The mirror. He’s on the other side, isn’t he?” Biting my bottom lip, I dip my chin in confirmation.

“So, you aren’t a lesbian?” Harper’s question comes out of nowhere and I start laughing. My cousins and brother join, but my aunts, uncles, and parents aren’t as amused.

“I’m bisexual.”

“I’ve only ever seen or heard of you with women.” I tap the side of my nose then point at Harper. The men of the Kosher Nostra have chosen intelligent partners.

“Out of respect for my husband and our marriage…with his consent.”

“Okay. This is none of our business.” Mom claps her hands to get everyone’s attention. “She’s just woken up from major surgery, this isn’t the time or the place.” She approaches Masud and reaches out to put her hand on his arm.

“Don’t touch him,” I tell her as he recoils.

Hands in front of her, she’s instantly contrite. “I’m sorry, Masud.”

“Mom, Dad, can you give Masud and I a few minutes alone?” They exchange a look I’m familiar with, communicating telepathically, before they agree. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, within reason, as soon as I speak to my husband.”

It takes a few minutes, the girls coming up to give me a quick hug, the guys waving as they leave, shaking their heads and whispering. “Do you need anything?” Ruthie asks and out of everything, her tenderness and concern for me bring tears to my eyes.

“No, you need to leave. I’m about to piss emotion.” She laughs, kisses my cheek, wiggles her fingers at Masud, and lets Zeppo lead her out.

Dad sighs pointing a menacing finger at Masud, “We’ll be having words.”

Tev chuckles, “We’ll be throwing fists.”

“Try it,” I dare both of them. Tev’s eyes flare, knowing he might try but I’ll succeed.

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