Page 57 of Margins of Love
Pavel pushed the huge emerald back onto the tray and frowned. “As far as I can tell, this is my store and my emerald. Until one of you pay me, I shall lock it back up.”
“Pavel, what did my father offer you?” Fave interrupted the quarrels as he stepped to the counter, positioning himself between Arnold and Rachel.
She took a step to the side, and he wished to close the distance between them and kiss her, but Fave could not muster such heroic courage. That was for legends, myths, and romantic stories.
“Whatever it is, I can pay more,” she interjected. The heartbroken girl from the alleyway had disappeared and a businesswoman was standing there, one not to trifle with, it seemed.
Arnold kicked Fave. “The chit wants our emerald. She will take it and win the competition.”
Arnold’s fists were tight and the vein on his forehead pulsed. Fave did not doubt that Arnold was holding back his fists because Rachel was a girl. He would have long been dueling for the emerald with any male by now.
Pavel’s eyes shot from Rachel to Fave to Arnold, back to Rachel, and then to Fave. “Seeing young people behave in this manner over a gem, where our people have enough enemies as it is. Shame on you! All of you!” Pavel packed up the tray and disappeared into the back room.
Rachel frowned, evidently confused. “What people? What’s this competition?” She looked at Fave and Arnold, fuming. “I am not a jeweler. We’re money lenders.”
“He is going to win the competition on his own. We have no chance,” Arnold scolded Fave. He turned to leave.
“Wait!” Fave looked back at Rachel one more time, and then stormed after Arnold.
CHAPTER38
“Have they gone?” Pavel peeked in from the back room.
Rachel gave him a wistful smile.
He came closer and looked at her gently. There were stories hidden behind every wrinkle on his face. “Maidale, he is not for you.” His voice balmy, returning to the familiar Yiddish they had established. He reached out and put his hand over the one Rachel had on the counter.
She needed to steady herself but could not. It had been too much today, too much to come tomorrow. In this instant, with this stranger who so gently offered his friendship, she lost her composure and sobbed uncontrollably.
Pavel pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket. It was monogrammed PAK and he wiped a tear from her cheek. She took it and felt a pang of gratitude for his kindness that she could not understand.
“You like him,Maidale.” Pavel pretend to sort something in a drawer but she knew he was just giving her privacy to regain her composure.
She shook her head.
“Oy, oy, you do. I can tell. Very much indeed,” Pavel mumbled.
Another floodgate opened in her eyes and she could barely hold back the sobs.
“When is the wedding?”
“Tomorrow,” she cried.
Pavel dropped his head. “Did Rabbi Solomon arrange the match?”
She nodded.
Pavel sighed deeply. “He is a good man. He has a golden touch when it comes to these matters.”
Rachel looked at him. It had never occurred to her to have faith in the match. She certainly had none.
“I will have the earrings ready for you tomorrow. Wear them in good health and think of me. Tell sharp tongues they are aquamarines. But know in your heart that these are very special stones, just as special as you.”
With his words, Rachel stopped her sobs but tears still rolled down her cheeks.
“If I had a daughter, I would tell her to keep them as a talisman. Don’t think of them as a fallback. You shall never fall,Maidale.”
Pavel’s words hit the center of Rachel’s heart. He gave her all the friendship she had missed for the past weeks. She had found no one to confide in. Nobody to guide her. Nobody to cheer her on for what felt like her heroic sacrifice at the altar. But somehow, this stranger, someone she had never met and yet had come to trust, offered her a glimpse of hope in what was one of the darkest days in her life.
