Petra Sokol was loving everything about Alexandra. She liked the weather, not too hot with the ocean breeze but warm enough to dip her toes in the ocean. After a day or two she wanted to do the full dip and joked about skinny dipping after dark. Natalie begged her to go get a swim suit so she enlisted Bertha to go with her down to the dive shop so she could buy a new swimsuit. The place catered a bit to the young. They had to hunt for one piece swimsuits and what they found was so high cut and low cut Petra asked the sweet young girl if they had any of the children’s styles for old ladies. The girl was a teenager in a toque and while very helpful, she did not have a swimsuit Petra wanted. That was until they passed a mannequin wearing a bright green wetsuit with a big sale sign on it. “I’ll take that!” Petra exclaimed. “Nothing’s going to fall out of that spy suit. I’ll be like a bond girl!” She tried to convince Bertha to buy the bright blue one behind it. “Young lady have you got flippers? Because we’re going to need flippers!”
Now they had made it to the bakery with a few bags of eclectic shopping. Petra’s eyes lit up at the bakery sign and she gestured that she wanted to go inside “We could use a little pick me up Bertha. Come on…” She led the way in and held the door for her partner in crime and then stood and gawked in the display case. Petra was in her usual flowers housedress with a purple and silver toned babushka and a bright pink face mask. On her feet were her red high top sneakers with beige stockings above. She had her patchwork purse on but anytime she needed to pay for anything she reached right into her bra. “Never keep your cash in your purse...first place they’re gonna look..” She’d say. And she usually paid cash, which vexed the young. But the lady behind this counter was a white haired peer and Petra grinned at her. There was another older woman in the bakery too. “Must be senior’s day.” She mused aloud.
Bertha walked into a bakery with the fascinating name of Earthcakes with her days purchases, which included a bright blue wetsuit, since she and Petra had few choices in that young people shop. She bought it, but could not help but comment on blue whales. Being in a bakery wouldn’t help if she were looking to fit into a bikini … but she wasn't, so she eagerly followed. Marcus would worry about her diabetes, but Marcus was working and she could treat herself if she wanted to. She took in everything, including the fact that not a single person in sight seemed to be under 60. “That’s what I’m talking about.” she was dressed in loose purple pants and a blinding yellow dashiki with brown sandals on her feet. Her locs were in a braid over her shoulder.
Esther had walked into this little bakery hoping to find a good challa, but this place seemed to be strictly sweets. However, she wasn't going to say no to a small cake. Or even a large one. She decided to buy a cake … or maybe a pie. She heard someone comment about senior day and turned to see two other senior citizens walking in the door. One was a lovely black woman with an incredibly beautiful dreadlock braid over her shoulder and the other was a woman in a babushka. She herself was dressed in earth brown slacks and a loose red blouse in black flats. “It must be.” she smiled at the woman in the babushka. “Hello, I’m Esther Fogel. Pleasure to meet you both.”
Petra turned and smiled at the woman who introduced herself as Esther. “Hello Esther. So nice to meet you. I’m Petra. Petra Sokal. We’re here visiting out grandchildren….they’re engaged to one another. And Natalie is pregnant.” she beams. “Do you live here in town?”
Bertha watches the two women interact while she also looks at the many, many kinds of cakes and pie slices. She gave a slight wave. “I’m Betha Lawry.”
Esther blinks. “A pleasure.” she waved at both women. “Sokal? Oh she works with my grandson, Levi Samuels.” she placed her hand over her heart. “What a small world. Oh, I didn’t know Natalie was pregnant. Mozel tov!”
Zilpha watched the three wme, just sitting back and watching. It was always nice to see older people around. It made her feel better about being old some days.
Petra beams “Oh that is a small world.” Petra knew limited Hebrew but since Esther had said Mozel tov she said thank you back “Toda.” She smiles “I mostly speak Czech but….a few words.” She head juts at Bertha and looks back to Esther “Did you meet Marcus? Such a nice boy. Levi seems very nice too. I’m so glad they have this practice here so they can start their family.” She smiles at Zilpha “It all looks so good.”
Esther smiles at the thank you and nods. "Then lets tryand stick with English, eh?" she shakes her head. "I have not. I usually leave the firm work to the boys. My son and Levi .. and natalie who is not a boy. Our first woman, as a matter of fact."
Bertha listened to tham and arched her bows. "She's the first woman lawyer? How many lawyers are there?" she wonders. "Marcus is a police officer. they live right above Levi .. so you should all meet." she declared.
Zilpha smiles. "Thank you. "The cakes all come in the mini varieties, as well."
Petra nods about the English and the rest “My Natalia is very good at putting the boys in their place. It’s her life’s work with the ones who need it most. They should all meet. Maybe over a cake….tonight! But let’s have some treats to sample first.” She beams at Zilpha “this is your shop? What do you recommend with a nice coffee?”
Esther nods. "Good. She is the first women the firm's ever employed, so she must be pretty impressive. and yes ... lets have them all meet. Joseph too, since he's in town to check on this branch." she looks at Zilpha. "Do you make coffee cakes?"
Bertha looks interested. "How old is the firm ain't no women in it before Natalie?" she holds up a hand. "Maybe I should ask them not ya'll."
Zilpha grins. "I make coffee rolls, yes. I've been considering getting into making breads too. I might have to get some help from someone younger." she sighs deeply.
Petra gives Esther a little nod and then gives Bertha a little grin. She was a delightfully fierce woman, Bertha was. She listens to Ziplha “Just make sure they have a work ethic. Some of those kids...on their phones all the time like zombies.”
Esther looked at Bertha with a grin. "Well of course women have worked there before. Secretaries, file clerks, housekeeping." but she knows what Bertha means. "But these are traditional Jewish men. Natalie convinced Joseph to give her a chance in the firm and he hasn't looked back. She is like family since many of our lawyers are family. Nepotism." she looks at Zilpha. "Two of those coffee cakes. Please. And ... oh and one of those lovely chocolate tea cakes, please. And coffee,"
Bertha snorts. "I get it." she shrugs. "But if anyone can be worthy to bust open tradition, it's Natalie." she nods sharply. "But I bet that's why she ain't mentioned she pregnant. Maybe afraid those men get scared and fire her." she snorts at Petra. "Oh they awful .. the younger they are the worse it gets. They walk in the street and get hit by cars for not paying attention." she shakes her head. "Zilpha, baby .. let me have the chocolate too. I'm celebrating. And coffee."
Zilpha smiles at the ladies and nods. She waits fofr Petra's order and then seves the ladies. "The coffee cakes will take a little while, if you'll have a seat."
Petra nods and has a knowing look about the traditional Jewish men “It can be a sadly patriarchal culture. But often women rule the home front. Men don’t always know where the power and priorities lie. It should be both of course. We’re catching up slowly.” She chuckles and then looks at Zilpha “The chocolate and a coffee for me as well please.” She looks curiously at Esther after Bertha mentions why Natalie may have kept her pregnancy quiet “Fogel...so this Joseph...Samuels? He is a son in law? And here I go blurting everything out. Do you think it will make trouble for my granddaughter?” She looks both protective and apprehensive.
Esther takes her cake and coffee and motions to a cosy table. "Ladies?" she goes to sit and once they are comfortable, replies to Petra. "Yes, Joseph Samuels. He was my Talia's husband. And Levi is my Talia's son. There won't be trouble. Not with Joseph or Levi." she huffs. "Maybe with Joseph's older sons, but in this day and age I think they might be afraid of being accused of not being inclusive. Joseph will take care of her, as will Levi."
Bertha sits and looks relieved to hear that Natalie won't get a hard ime of things. "That helps. Marcus will take care of his family, but cops don't make the same .. plus he's a teacher at the school. Not exactly making a lot of money, but ... he knows how to handle money growing up poor himself."
Zilpha works happily in her kitchen, preparing the coffee cakes for the customers.
Petra looks pleased the two men Natalie has to work with the most are not going to pose a problem “Well a few good men are better than none. Natalie will take care of them too...and Marcus. Both those kids have level heads.” She smiles at Bertha and then looks at Esther “Your daughter and Joseph divorced? You spoke in past tense...” She takes a bite of her cake and almost falls out of her chair it’s so good.
Esther was smiling as she took a bite of her cake, glad Natalie will help take cae of the men. Then the smile fades. "Talia is the only one of Joseph's wives he DIDN'T divorce." she tells them. "She died when Levi was 10 ... Cystic Fibrosis."
Bertha looks sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Esther." shepauses. "So the ONLY one he didn't divorce. Sounds like true love." but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious how many ther wives there were.
Petra puts her hand on her heart and looks at Esther with compassion “A parent should never have to bury their child. I am so sorry.” She nods in agreement with Bertha “Yes true love. And maybe Joseph had bad luck before and after? Natalia took awhile. Marcus will be her third husband. But I can tell he’s the right one finally. We don’t always get to choose the order people come into our lives.”
Esther nods at Petra and Bertha. "Thank you. Joseph has two divorces before and after. Talia was the one for him."
Bertha nods slowly. "Yes, Marcus never married but women in and out." she rolled her eyes. thn sipped her coffee. "More wives won't heal a broken heart." she says about Joseph.
Petra had been chowing down on her cake and then nods slowly “People settle. For all kinds of reasons. It’s a filter for love. I wish sometimes we could just give the young our wisdom. But they need to live it.”
Esther chews and then sips her coffee. "They do need to live it." she agrees. "But most of the time, they just don't believe us."
Bertha chuckles as she eats. "Most of that is they can't imagine we did any of the things they did. We just found 'em in a alley or something." she snorts. “I’ve had to tell Marcus more than once I got his mama the old fashioned way. Just to see him squirm.” she laughs.
Petra nods at Esther and then laughs hard at Bertha “Oooh you’re wicked. That’s so funny Bertha. I have done similar to Pavel.”
Esther laughs. "Yes ... just to see the look on their face. Worth every moment." she toasts them with her coffee. "Now, I've ordered these coffee cakes ... should we go and tell Natalie that I know ... and see if her reaction tells us that she hasn't told Joseph yet?"
Bertha toasts with her coffee. "I think we should ... she'll have ot tell either Joseph or Levi or both of them, sooner or later, right?"
Petra grins “Well whoever needs to know, it will go better over cake.” She grins at both ladies. “Let’s do it.”
Esther nods and holds up her last forkfull of cake. "To news with cake."
Bertha does likewise. "To cake."
Zilpha comes out of the back where the kitchen is with two bakery boxes that smell strongly of cinnamon and vanilla. "Lets call it an even fifty, Esther." she suggests and smiles when she brings over the payment tool and Esther pays without complaint.
Petra cake toasts too “What you two said.” She eats her last bite too and takes her plate and coffee cup to the counter “Thank you Madam “ She says to the bakery proprietor. “Very good cake. I didn’t catch your name?”
Zilpha smiles at Petra. "I'm Zilpha Ainsworth. Owner and operator of this place." she introduces herself. "And if you are interested, I also bake bread. Started that a few years back, but can still do it on request."
Esther also moves her plate and cup to the table. "Delicious!" she proclaims. And these coffee cakes smell incredible." she pauses. "I'll remember about the bread. I didn't see challa in the store and fresh baked is always preferable."
Bertha moves also with her plate and cup. "It is incredible and I'll also remember that fresh baked bread." she nods to herself.
Petra nods and smiles in greeting “Zilpha Ainsworth. Petra Sokol. I like bread. I used to make bread when we had our place on the river but I have gotten lazy. I would love some homemade bread. Challa is nice.” She smiles at Bertha and Esther and then Zilpha “Thank you so much Zilpha. We’ll be back.” She takes a little paper ad card that has the store phone number on it and slips it into her purse before heading for the door.
Natalie is at home relaxing. She’s got music playing through her iPhone on a dock with speakers and she’s casually looking at some files on her computer, working but not really working on some legal documents she needs to have ready midweek for one of the local businesses. She has a bottle of sparkling mineral water in one hand and is casually sipping.
Zilpha bids her customers farewell and eases back into her everyday. It's nice meeting people in her own age group.
Esther beams. "I will contact you very soon. Friday is coming!” She follows Petra across the street and shakes her head. “How ironic they all live in the same building. Just when you think the world might be large, eh?”
Bertha follows. “Don't nothing happen in God’s world by mistake.” she proclaims. “Even the crap. All part of the big plan.”
Petra can hear the music as she approaches the door to Natalie and Marcus’s. She had agreed with Esther and Bertha about both the small world and God’s plans. She and Bertha had both been given keys so she unlocks the door and beckons the other two in, mostly Esther since Bertha was as at home in the space as she was now. “Natalia….we have a guest, and cake.” She could see Natalie sitting at her laptop “You’re not working again are you? You work too hard…” Petra slid off her shoes and set down her shopping.
Natalie stood up from her chair and smiled. She was wearing a comfy aqua toned patterned tunic style shirt dress over calf length black leggings. “Hi Baba, G-Mama…...I’m only sort of working. Don’t worry.” She saw Baba ushering in Esther Fogel. “Oh hello Esther. Come on in.”
Bertha come in grinning, watching Natalie looking up. “And what is ‘sort of working’ supposed to be?” she moves in and motions to the laptop. “Working in comfortable clothes?” its a chide and she’s not hiding it.
Esther walks in and waves to Natalie. “It’s so good to see you again. I’ve been dying to see this little satellite office and now I can.” she sets the cake boxes on the tiny dining table and moves in the living room. She, of all of the older woman is arguable in the best shape … the money to hire personal trainers and yoga instructors has her with the body of a woman half her actual age. She made up for that by refusing to dye her hair ..but that was also respecting her dead husbands wishes. Looking between Bertha and Natalie, she can't help but grin and wait for the answer.
Natalie sighs at the chide and nods “Called out….but in my defence…” She turns the laptop to face the older women “Only one of these tabs open are work related. I’m also completely time wasting on social media and shoe shopping……” She tries to downplay the work. There’s also a tab 2 in where the heading can just be seen as part of a word Pregnan…
Petra enjoys having Bertha as part of her team up to work on Natalie not to work so hard. Petra eyes the laptop and looks up at Natalie “You could take a whole day off sometime. But this is a good start. So just the shoes and the twitter?” Her eyes twinkled as she subtlety pointed out what Natalie may not have realized was obvious, even though she had already spilled the beans to Esther.
Bertha laughs. “Oh, well .. shoe shopping … that’s totally different.” she leans over and squints at Natalie’s screen, seeing it fine, she believes. “What else. Why be on that Twitter? You can’t hardly say anything.”
Esther laughs a little harder tan either of the others. “Workaholism is almost a job requirement at Samuels and Sons.” she tells the other two. “But I advocate days off. Live a little, youknow.” she sees part of the word pregnancy from her position .. good genes … good doctors and good health.
Natalie smiles “It’s a fast social check in I guess Bertha. Esther can I offer you anything to drink? My family knows they’re welcome to help themselves.” She looks at the two grannies who have very much made themselves at home “And is the cake to share? Should I get plates and forks and a lifter and knife?”
Petra looks amused by the whole situation “I think maybe we should let Esther invite her good men to help us eat the cake yes?” She looks at Esther.
Bertha blinks. “A lifter .. oh .. one of them fancy things you lift cake and pie up with, right?” she snorts and shakes her head. “Ya’ll outclass me every time.” she looks at Esther, too. “Yea .. invite them boys up here. It’s a celebration!” she begins to dance in the direction singing to herself “Celebrate good times, come on!”
Esther nods. “I’d like some more coffee, please.” she accepts the offer and looks at Petra and Bertha. “Oh wait, girls! SHOULD I invite the boys?” she looks between them and not at Natalie at all.
Natalie looks at the three older women who seem to have their own plans going on in her home and grins “I’ll make coffee. Invite whoever you like. I’ll make the big pot.” Bertha’s singing of pop songs highly amused her. Bertha and Petra were like a force of nature together and now they had recruited Levi’s grandmother too it seemed. This should be an interesting day.
Petra waves her hand at Natalie’s kitchen “Oh she has all the gadgets and she barely cooks.” She dances along with Berth when she sings but Petra’s dancing is more Eastern European folk dancing which looks just weird with the song that’s being sung. “Invite the boys Esther.” She encourages.
Bertha moves around the kitchen. “Lawdy I love this itty bitty widdle kitchen.” she praises it. “Now where's that sweet sweet sweet spatula?”
Esther hlds up her phone and looks squarely at Natalie, not wanting to blindside her. “Are you sure you want me to invite just anybody when you announce your pregnancy officially?” she smiles at Natalie kindly. Not everyone thought employers were family and even in their firm they hardly invited the janitor and secretary over for tea. But Natalie was different to them, even if they were not different to her.
Natalie is casually separating out a coffee filter and directing Bertha to where to find a lifter for cake “Second drawer from the end Bertha. It’s small but well designed.” She turns and freezes looking at Esther as her mouth drops open. After a minute she closes it “OK...you know….” She inhales and exhales looking at her Baba.
Petra stops goofing around and dancing and looks contrite. “I am sorry Mali Zeli (little cabbage). I am so excited for this baby and you and Marcus. And I didn’t know who Esther was yet. Please forgive me if I misspoke your news.”
Natalie smiles at her Baba “It’s ok.” She smiles at Esther next “Levi knows already. I actually commend him if he hasn’t told his father. But we’re moved….so yeah..here we are. Let’s do this.” She looks a little apprehensive since Joseph is her boss and she neglected to tell him before the move.
Bertha finds the cake lifter and rolls her eyes at it. “Gadgets .. you could use a butcher knife to slice and lift.” she watches as Petra apologizes and Natelie says its ok. She moves to the cake box and opens it slowly.
Esther smiles and arches her brow. “Levi would not tell business that is not his, Natalie.” she explains. “I know that can be hard to believe in a family like ours where you gfind out one Samuels is getting divorced befor that Samuels finds out but …. It’s true.” she picks up her phone. “Let's make it easy. Joseph only.” she sends him a text and holds her phone. “Now we’ll see if Joseph is also ‘only sort of working’.” she laughs.
Natalie turns back to look at Berha “Hey, you do you.” She knows her own gadget fetish and is fine with Bertha cutting cake with whatever makes her happy. Then she looks back to Esther and listens to her, looking a mixture of comforted and still worried. “I hope he doesn’t feel betrayed that I didn’t tell him sooner. I really respect him. And I will work hard to keep this satellite office running to the Samuels and Sons standards.”
Petra sniffs as the cake box opens “Mmmm…” Then she looks at Bertha and between Esther and Natalie “Find your courage Zeli. We know you have lots of it.”
Bertha opens the first box and looks at it. “Well thats good cut into four.” she announces of the square coffee cake, laughing. She cuts it into four and then opens the other, not yet getting plates. Once the coffee is ready she’ll worry about that. It’s a dead simple coffee cake. Nice cake with a butter, cinnamon and clove crumble atop it.
Esther smiles. “I know you will.” she replies. “And don’t worry about Joseph … unless he’s an ass about it.”
Joseph Samuels had gotten the test while he was about to open and start his laptop. He was alone in the apartment. Levi and the younger kids had gone to the beach and he had decided to practice being retired at home, but it hadn’t worked. No sooner had he opened the laptop then a text had come from his mother-in-law stating that she was upstairs with Natalie celebrating and he should join them. It was like she’d busted him. So he went up the back stairs and knocked, seeing not only Esther, but two other older women as well as Natalie.
Natalie had nodded at Esther and her second statement was less than comforting. She finished setting up the coffee and hit the button and then the knock at the door came and she wiped her hands on a dish towel and went to answer it “Joseph.” Her smile was genuine but her body language showed her nervousness. She stepped back so he could step in but then she was a little tense and fidgety “Your mother in law and my Baba and Marcus’s G-Mama have cake….uh...I put coffee on too.”
Petra beams at Bertha “Oooh that looks good. Smells good.” She looks back at Natalie and Esther and then at Bertha “I hope this goes well.” Then before she knew it Joseph was there and Natalie looked a little twitchy. She gave him a bit of a wave “Hello Joseph. I’m Petra.”
Bertha sees the coffee maker start and divides the other coffee cake into quarters. Then Joseph is let in and she waves to him with her knife hand. “Oops…” she sets it down and waves in a less threatening manner. “Hey Joseph. I’m Bertha and you're just in time for cake.” she sounds mildly disappointed at that second part, but the cake smells fantastic.
Joseph walks in and arches his brows at the greetings, especially at the black woman with incredible white dreadlocks and her cake knife. He’s dressed in cargo shorts and a button down, trying this casual thing even more. His feet are bare. “Hello ladies.” he goes to Esther. “I was going to work, but cake sounds better.” he gives her a kiss on the cheek, clearly fond of this woman. “What are we celebrating? I haven’t officially retired, you know.” he looks at Esther as if to say don’t push me into it.
Esther grins and leans into the kiss. “Well, at least I don’t have to introduce everyone.” she jokes and laughs when Joseph admits he was about to work. “You’re only sixty, Joseph … as long as you don’t die at your desk I think everyone will be happy. Oh and you cna’t die before I do.” she looks at the cake. “Lets get this cake and some coffee and you will soon find out what we’re celebrating besides your NOT retiring. Yet.”
Natalie chimes in “I hope you're not retiring anytime soon Joseph.” She likes having him for a boss and worries that one of his older sons would be the successor. She didn’t always see eye to eye with them all. Levi was a bit of a gem among the Samuels men as was Joseph. The coffee machine beeped and Natalie fast walked to it and got cups, cream and sugar and spoons to stir, bringing all the the table on a tray with the coffee carafe. She sets everyone up with a cup and pours and then sits down herself “OK….I’m just going to rip the bandaid off. Joseph, I’m pregnant. I should have told you before the move. But I would have wanted to move here either way.” Then she swallows and exhales “Cream and sugar?”
Petra had practically patted Joseph on the head but not quite “Ooooh you’re a young thing still.” She sat down by Bertha “Don’t go scaring the man now.” she said late about the knife wave. Then Natalie brought the coffee and came out with her news and she just quietly watched.
Bertha brought out the plates and started putting the large slices on them, then taking them to people. “He’s a baby, but he’s a RICH baby.” she proclaims when she hands chunks to Petra and Joseph. She finally gets her own and sits with the others as Natalie just comes out and says that she’s pregnant.
Joseph feels slightly herded, but sits and takes his coffee cup. Bertha then hands him a piece of coffee cake that his quick mind tells him is a quarter of a square nine inch pan, meaning his piece is a good 3.5 inches square. He sips his coffee and is staring at the large piece of cake when Natalie announces that she is pregnant. He quickly realizes that her anxiety might be because of a firm that is, admittedly majority male. Grinning, he moves his eyes to her and toasts her with his coffee. “Mazel tov.” he sips. “It doesn’t matter when you told me. The only thing it might affect is caseload and here…” he motions to the windows and Alexndra beyond. “Not too much caseload. Levi is basically in charge of this place anyway, so if he doesn’t mind, I don’t mind. It might be nice to see what policies he has for day care and the like. Right now he is my first choice in taking over the firm, but if you’re both happy here, I may give it to one of my older sons …” he sighs. “Or just not die until one of my younger boys has their degree…” he picks up his fork, ready to dig into the coffee cake.
Esther beams at Joseph’s acceptance. “Told you.” she almost sings to Natalie and then looks at Joseph when he mentions Levi being in charge. “Well, the older boys are .. competent. But … maybe a bit too stuck in their ways.” she considers. “The best of the older boys ….” she stops herself. “A conversation for another time, although if it will keep you from dying before me, I vote for Ruth. She’s only ten, so plenty of years before she is ready to take over the Canadian empire.”
Petra nods with Bertha’s proclamation as she takes a big bite. Cake round two. She had no concerns about more cake. Joseph was supportive and she smiled at Esther “Oh good. He’s not an ass.” She chuckled. She didn’t really know the man other than by reputation. She just listens and eats after that.
Natalie visibly exhales like she’s made it past a finish line at a race. “Levi was very supportive when I told him. He would be a good head of the firm for sure but...he’s also good for here. Of course it’s your call but no one will ever run it like you do Joseph.” She was curious as to what Esther’s take was on the best of the older boys. “Well it took Yoseph about 6 months to stop asking me to bring him coffee like I was a secretary and David hit on me until I threatened to self represent for sexual harassment and tell his wife. Natan is actually pretty decent, but sadly influenced by the older two. I’m not blaming you Joseph. I know you weren’t their only influence…..in face working as much as you do that might have been part of the problem. Somehow…..you got Levi too.” She looks as Esther, aware that maybe it’s her daughter the world has to thank. “And I don’t really know the younger ones but I already like the idea of Ruth.”
Bertha nods at Petra's assessment. "Good thing, too." she digs into her cake and closes her eyes. "Oh hell yes!" she proclaims and goes for the coffee.
Joseph considers Natalie's opinion of his older boys. "I wish you had told me about David. I would have represented you and been with you as you told his wife." he sighs deeply. "Yoseph is more like my own father and grandfather. My grandfather is dead and my father was considering changes when he died." he purses his lips about Natan. "He was the one I was considering ... but with his brother's influence. "He's only been married twice and this second one seems to be lasting, so he can concentrate more on the job. I'll see what he thinks about training for himself." he grins. "Ruth ... id only 10, but if I have a say on my predecessors predecessor ... AND Ruth wants to get into law ... she'd be good in the position, I think." he eats a bit of the cake and nods in satisfaction. "Is this from the bakery across the street?"
Esther nods as she eats and listens to Joseph without interrupting him. She respects his position as the patriarch. She looks at Natalie. "Levi is Talia's daughter and Talia ... well .. Talia was special." she looks at Joseph and nods. "I think I will see how she does with challa ..."
Natalie holds up a hand “I can handle myself. You know that. If I had really felt unsafe I sure as hell would have told you. It was really just more of an irritation and from what I can see he doesn’t do it to clients. I agree about Natan. And now I want to meet your Ruth again. The younger ones came with you right? I could have sworn I saw them out the window with Levi.” She smiles between Esther and Joseph about Talia being special “I’m sure she was and I’m sorry she passed.” She eats some cake now too and looks at it with joy after chewing and swallowing “Earthcakes does Challa? Who knew….”
Petra looked more and more impressed with Joseph as he suggested he would have stood up for Natalie against his own son being out of line. She ate as she took in the conversation and then eventually nodded about the Challa “I think that baker lady could do just about anything. I got a good feeling about her.”
Bertha smiles as she listens to the going on and realizes that Joseph is not an ass. “Very good, indeed.” she continues mostly to concentrate on her coffee cake and coffee, not getting in Natalie’s way.
Joseph nods at Natalie. “I know you can, but you know that a mark on his record could have gone quite a ways. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a fine lawyer, but he is stuck in many ways in a time that was very different, even though that was more my father’s generation than his.” he shrugs. “Talia had a great deal of influence on how the younger boys have been raised, especially as Levi was thirteen when Immanuel was born..” he chuckles. “And yes, the kids are at the beach where no doubt people are thinking that Levi is their father, not their brother.” he shrugs.
Esther grins as she listens. “Talia was my only child. And the only woman not to be divorced by Joseph.” he smiles at him, fondly. “And we will be here the rest of the week, so there is plenty of time to meet the rest of the family, Natalie.”
Natalie sighed “I probably should have told you. I’m sorry. I was new and I really wanted the job.” She listens to more about Talia and Levi and the ages “That must be weird for Levi sometimes. Especially since he doesn’t have any kids himself. And I guess since he hasn’t been married...no divorces?” She smiles “I’d love to meet them.”
Petra gives Bertha a little grin and then looks at her empty plate and puts her fork on it before sipping her coffee and listening. “How old is this Levi? Maybe it’s just good practice for when he gets a wife. Pavel…..well he was a late bloomer…” She smiles at Natalie.
Bertha smiles as she finishes her cake. She sets the plate down as well and chuckles. “Marcus was an early bloomer, but you get that a lot with poor boys. I was happy he was more into the books and girls than the gangs and their drugs.”
Joseph nods. “I remember how eager you were to work for us.” he remembers with a smile. “That passion was no small part of why I hired you.” he looks at Petra and Bertha. “Levi is 31 and .. to be honest, I don't know how into girls he was as a younger man.” he shrugs. “Tuns out he’s gay. He never brought anyone home to meet the family, so I don’t know. He is in what seems to be a loving relationship with a doctor who is a bit older than he is … not not as old as I am, thank goodness.” he grins. “Watching them look at each other reminds me of Talia and I … even after 10 years of marriage.”
Esther smiles. “Some of them are later than others. Talia didn’t show much interest in boys until her mid 20’s. Then she met this upstart young man fresh out of law school and still with two divorces under his belt. I worried, but she told me she made him earn everything and, in the end, he married her a couple of years after they met. Levi came nine and a half months later and yes I counted.” she smirks at Joseph.
Natalie gives Bertha a curious look about Marcus being an early bloomer. She knew about his past women but she wasn’t sure he’d shared the chronology of it by age and stage. She didn’t judge it, it was just a curiosity. “Marcus is a brilliant and loving man so it all worked out.” She smiles gratefully at Joseph about him hiring her for her passion and then blinks a bit for a second at the news that Levi is gay and dating a doctor. “Now I feel like I should have seen it. There has been a guy around and I didn’t clue in. That’s beautiful though. I’m so glad that happened for Levi.” She grins at Esther as she talks “Mom was watching you guys Joseph.”
Petra nods a little about Marcus “Well he found Natalie at the right time.” She looks like she’s processing the info about Levi being gay a bit longer than Natalie and then finally she shrugs “Oh well….to each their own. As long as they’re happy and healthy right?”
Bertha beams in pride. "He is ... but he ain't never loved nobody the way he is with you." she states. "It's in his eyes." she laughs a bit at the teasing. "I suppose we all do, but sometimes how long it took isn't as important as we once thought." she winks at Natalie.
Joseph laughs and blushes a little bit. “She was a virgin when we got married. Told me it was the best gift she could think of.” he shrugs. “And then she said Levi was better than that.” he laughs a little, but there is a touch of sadness in it. “We wanted more, but the sickness just … it didn’t happen.” he clears his throat, finishes his cake and drinks deeply of his coffee. “And Levi … well he’s just an incredible lawyer. I understand why he kept it hidden from me, but it still makes me feel like I failed him, somehow.”
Esther smiles about the love Bertha sees and absolutely beams at what Joseph reveals. She also gets sad a moment about Talia’s sickness and then nods about Levi. “Well, he’s a good lawyer and a good man .. and anyone who has a problem with who he sleeps with .. well I don’t have time for them.” she nods. “Maybe when I was younger .. I would have balked. But all I want is for Levi to be happy. And he is.”
Natalie beams at Bertha “Don’t worry...it goes both ways G-Mama. Marcus is it for me, forever.” She winks back. As Joseph talks about Talia she feels her being soften to him. She’d never seen this sweet vulnerable side of this giant of the legal realms, this patriarch of such a known and powerful family. He loved this Talia like she loves Marcus. She could see it, and he still did despite marrying after her and having more children. And his love for Levi was quite beautiful too. Natalie feels her eyes water and she nods “I’m sure you didn’t Joseph. It’s just complicated. I mean in our faith too…..it probably took a lot for him to tell anyone.” She looks at Esther too, glad she’s accepting of it, despite how she may have felt earlier in her life. “You’re a good grandmother Esther.”
Petra looks immensely happy as Bertha talks about how much Marcus loves her Natalie. “You and Marcus give me hope for the future.” She listens sadly as Joseph talks about his one true love and how the illness took her. “I am so sorry Joseph. My Vlad went in the night, blessedly quick. But I still mourn him every day. Great loss comes from great love. There’s no avoiding it.” She sighs listening about Levi “There’s always going to be people who act out of fear because they don’t understand. Vlad and I survived the holocaust...we were hidden. But it wasn’t just Jewish people who were taken. Homosexuals were taken by the Nazis, others too…..but if Levi knows his history….a gay Jewish man. I can see why he’d say nothing for a long time.”
Bertha smiles and nods. "That's that then." she says,, emotion in her voice. She looks at Petra in shock. "That's bullshit." she states.
Joseph sighs as Natalie mentions their faith. "Yes ... our faith ... our ... rabbi..." he blows out a breath and looks at Esther. "I'm ready to find another synagague." he's been thinking they may have to. "Or even worship at home."
Esther smiles at Bertha's reaction and looks anxious when she mentions their faith and then their Rabbi. She'd been thinking about it as well. "If that is what the family needs to do, then that's how it will be." she demures and defers, bt she looks like she agrees with him one hundred percent. Even though she defers to the men .. it is not always on every subject. She looks at Petra. "Our Rabbi .. he is young ... Levi's age. But he is very ld fashioned. He is more Orthadox ... and .. well you know how it is. He wa sone of Levi's best friends once, but I'm afraid he might ... he might consider it a violation .. I mean … of course he can’t have him executed, but …”
Petra nods at Bertha “It’s absolute bullshit…” And after she listens about the closed minded Rabbi she scoffs and adds on “And so is that Rabbi. So odd for someone young.” She downs her coffee and begins to pour more for anyone who has even a half empty cup.
Natalie shudders at her Baba’s words. She knew of it but it was still too awful to comprehend. She listens to Joseph and Esther speak about their Rabbi and frowns “Weird choice to go full orthodox. I mean isn’t he trying to attract worshippers? I confess I don’t really attend anymore. Weddings and funerals…..and to a degree I observe the holidays but my Judaism is more culture than religion now.” She shakes her head “That must have been a very painful thing...for Levi and that friend. That’s huge to not have someone’s support on.”
Bertha’s eyes widen and she straightens in indignation. “Oh that’s some first class bullshit right there!” she proclaims and if she had feathers they’d be ruffled.
Joseph sighs. “No one’s getting executed.” he announces. “But Rabbi Dreyer is becoming more and more conservative. It makes a bit more sense now why Levi backed away from him once he got married. I wouldn't be surprised if Gavriel … Rabbi Dreyer started pressuring Levi to get married, too.”
Esther sighs and looks at Natalie. “Well most are, but I suppose even the Jews need conservatives.” she rolls her eyes. “And some young people go conservative to try and give themselves .. power when they feel helpless in this world.”
Natalie grins at Bertha’s indignation. G-Mama was just too amazing for words. Natalie listens and then has to laugh “Be a nice kick in the pants if Levi married the doctor guy.” She looks between Esther and Joseph “What’s the boyfriend’s name? He must be new because I’ve only ever seen Susan McKinney….and one hello from the midwife, who wasn’t as much of a hippy as i expected.”
Petra beams at all Bertha’s profanity. She loved her bluntness. “People get too hung up on their politics defining them. It’s why we have wars still. And oppression. He should marry the doctor and invite the Rabbi.” she snickers a bit at the thought.
Bertha still snorts at the very idea of the Rabbi and then looks at Natalie. "Yes, it would. Serve all them right."
Joseph laughs. Bertha was a breath of fresh air ... a cyclone. "His name is Jasper Rogers. I don't know if they plan to get married. Levi suggested to me he doesn't want to only because with him having his own place, it gives them a bit of a love nest." he shrugs. "I can't fault his logic." he had found also that he didn't mind talk of his sons sex life as disturbing as he might have. At least it was communication and he loved that with all of his children.
Esther giggles. "Oh it would. I'd become a lebian if it weren't for the fact they seem to think lesbians don't count." she rolls her eyes and looks at Joseph. "Well good for him .. that's a fine idea. And as big a hint not to overstay our welcome as you could with for." she rolls her eyes.
Natalie took in the rotation of the conversation and was about to respond to Joseph when Esther shocked her with the lesbian comment and made her laugh “You’d make a great lesbian Esther. Don’t let the stinky Rabbi hold you back.” She’s teasing her of course. Then she replies to Joseph “Love nest? What’s going on at the doc’s house that they can’t love it up there? Roommates? Kids? Does he live with his mother?”
Petra almost falls out of her chair for laughing “Oh I could never be a lesbian. But I support you Esther if you want to stick it to the closed minded….does he live with his mother?” Petra looks desperately curious now.
Bertha is in stitches. “Oh that would be super, girl! Go for yours!” she encourages. Then she purses her lips with attitude. “Send the Rabbi pictures .. hell … seduce his wife. Sheeeeeit …. Give me her number. Iain’t gay but to see th elook on his face, I might switch teams for a minute.”
Joseph looks at the woman and his jaw nearly comes unhinged to drop on the floor. “Esther! I …” he can’t really continue, he just laughs. But he recovers a minute and tries his level bast t bring the conversation back to PG somewhere. “Jasper has three kids. Um .. 17, 16 and 15 I think he said, so full house.” he’d mention that three kids means he;d need privacy but these women would go … god knew where, but he was afraid to ask almost.
Esther actually blushes and then laughs. “Oh my god … now I’m tempted.” she says to Bertha. “But the press … well, it might help the firm. I’m not bad looking for eighty.”
Petra slaps the table “You’re not 80? My god…..what do you drink? I’m 91. I still swear by Czech beer. I was going to make a joke about a cougar but what do they call it if it’s an older woman and a younger woman? Because that would have to be in the press. You and Bertha both.” She teases them. “Look what you’re doing to this poor boy..” She gestures at Joseph and his reaction. She nods about the children.
Natalie just laughs and shakes her head “Joseph, you’ve been holding out on us with this wild mother in law. She’s as bad as our family’s grans.” She smiles between Baba and G-Mama. “And no Esther you don’t look eighty. And neither do you two look your ages.” She points between Baba and G-Mama. She exhales at Joseph “I’m glad it’s kids and not living with his mom. You said he’s a little older than Levi and he has teenagers…” She ponders it.
Bertha stares at Esther. "Lawdy girl you look great for eighty. I'm 81 but round .. or is that rotund? Either way."
Joseph facepalms. "Esther .... The firm would survive ... my sons ... well .. the older three would probably all stroke out." he blows out a breath and looks at Natalie. I've been holding out on you? SHE'S been holding out on ME?" he gets a bit serious. "Well I don't know much about the kids mother ..." is all he'll say about it.
Esther giggles like a little girl. “My secret is good eating and plenty of exercise. I even lift weights.” she nods. “I’m no bodybuilder, but I do alright. In other words, good genes, good food and being a slave to my body.” she rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Now if I wanted to freak out my grandsons I’d tell them all about my sex life….” she gives Joseph a warning look as his face drops into both of his hands.
Petra swats at Bertha “You always say round is a shape right?” She laughs and then acknowledged Joseph with a nod and then listens to Esther and looks simply delighted “Well will you tell us? Now we’re going to wonder if you don’t.”
Natalie looks both amused and mock scandalized “You know they always say dirty old men...but it’s dirty old ladies.” She muses “old men can’t keep up with the likes of you three.”
Bertha nods emphatically. “Yes I do and it is. And your routine sounds way too much like work to me, Esther.” she also looks interested in Esther’s sex life. She waves her hand at Joseph. “He’s grown. He can handle it.”
Esther grins. “Well, there’s Moshe … from the JCC. He’s a nice young man .. well he’s no baby. He’s 45….
Joseph stands suddenly. “Look at the time.” he proclaims. “I have to go file a motion to do something by morning. Ladies .. a pleasure.” and before any of them can do more than laugh at him, he is gone back downstairs.
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