Page 51 of Margins of Love
Fave gestured that Lizzie and Eve should sit with him.
“Fave! Fave! Where are you?” Arnold’s voice echoed through the halls.
Fave leaned backward to make himself visible to Arnold.
Arnold came to the threshold of Eve’s bedroom. She nodded, he entered and sat next to Fave. In moments like these, when the family was conspiring together, Fave’s heart filled with warmth and love.
“You left me behind to pay the hack. Did you think you’d be rid of me that easily?” Arnold gave Fave a warm smile, indicating his unwavering support.
Fave smiled back wistfully. “Mother, you have to tell Carol to invite us tonight. And the Newmans.”
Eve shot Lizzie a knowing look. “Darling, I know you took a fancy to the Newman girl, Rosie, is it?”
“Rachel,” Fave and Arnold corrected her in unison.
“Rachel,” Eve tested the name on her tongue. “How very—”
“Jewish.” Apparently Arnold could not help himself. Fave frowned at him.
Lizzie’s surprise would have been worth painting and framing.
Eve’s, however, was utterly frozen. “What did you say?” She looked at Arnold, not even mustering a haughty “I beg your pardon.”
“We saw her today,” Fave added.
“Where?” Lizzie’s attention was piqued.
“On the way to the second lender,” Arnold answered. “Bustle-Smith’s barrister gave us his address.”
“I don’t understand.” Lizzie arched her brows.
“We paid off the barrister,” Fave started.
“He was cheap,” Arnold added with a shrug.
Eve looked at them. She never appreciated it when people trailed off during important explanations. Especially not her children.
“Mother, Rachel lives in the house marked with the ‘N’ from the barrister’s envelope, the second lender. Her last name is Newman, so…” Arnold stopped speaking when he saw Eve’s eyes softening.
Eve stood and walked around the room.
“Ilan Newman is the second lender. Rachel’s father,” Eve said.
“They have amezuzahon the door,” Arnold joined in, “Slanted.”
Eve looked at Fave with a frown. “I hope you did not pay him yet because I assure you, he will tell Carol that you paid him a visit.” Eve knew her ‘best friend’ all too well. She would leverage any information to her benefit.
“Mother, none of that matters. She is Jewish. Don’t you understand, she’s one of us!” Fave blinked in the bright bedroom. The opulent beige and blue drapery, bed covers, and pillows made him look serene in his endeavor to find his true love.
Eve’s look was that of a woman who understood matters of the heart and, at the same time, a mother who did not want her little boy to grow up. “We have a contract with the betrothed,” she said gravely.
“I will pay the whole fee for my breach,” Fave said.
Eve’s right brow rose.
“From my funds,” Fave added, ignoring the impending wedding.
“Yourfunds?” Lizzie asked. “What funds doeshehave?” She turned to her mother.
