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“Perfect! The universe is on our side, hun, see?” He looks so excited. “Everything’s working out for us,” smiling from ear to ear. “Let’s go. I’ll wait at your place until you finish up.”
“Alright,” I reply with a wide smile and hand him the keys to my apartment.
At around 5:30 I text him that I’m ready and waiting for him by his car. He comes out of the building, and we head back to his mansion.
“So, when were you planning on telling me about the necklace Michael sent you? I saw it on your bed as I was waiting.”
“I was planning on telling you!” I freak out. “I was so busy that I completely forgot about it. I’m sorry.”
“What for? First, it’s not your doing, and second, he’s right. It’s indeed a date to remember. It’s the day we met, too.”
I calm down and smile at him.
My parents’ silver Mazda parks parallel to the sidewalk facing the grand mansion gate. We await them at the entrance, instructing my parents to drive into the house’s private garage.
When they step out of their car, they look around, examine their surroundings. They seem both confused and hypnotized.
“Welcome!” he grins at them.
“Indeed,” my mother mutters and keeps meticulously scanning everything. Avi warmly shakes both their hands and walks them into the house. My parents react to the rest of the house just as they did to the huge front yard, the waterfalls, the soft grass, the luxurious cobblestone path, and the grandeur of the gray house. They look every which way, taking in all the sights and beaming luxury.
“They have no idea what I’m doing here,” I sarcastically whisper to him.
He wrinkles my lips joyfully and then kisses the tips of his fingers.
“Please, come in. Make yourself comfortable. Let’s get to know each other.”
Silvia, the housekeeper, along with two other young women, serve prepare beverages for us – cold, hot and even alcoholic – as well as trays laden with delicious treats.
Avi dedicates himself to familiarizing himself with my parents who, in the meantime, are trying to take in all the luxury and riches surrounding them.
“Your daughter is very important to me,” he puts the niceties aside and gets down to business. “I invited you over so you can see where I live and, hopefully, where Sam and Roy will soon live.”
“This is your house?” My mom looks dazzled.
“Yes, a house I can afford after a lot of hard work. I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth,” he tells them laconically. He tells them about how his father had died, where he had grown up, and what he had done. I look at him with immense appreciation, seeing just how hard he’s trying to make a good impression; he’s doing all of this to make me feel comfortable and reassured.
“In the not-so-distant future,” he adds, “I intend to marry your daughter.” I’m surprised, and yet my body tenses up. “I’m well-aware that you and she have had your fair share of misunderstandings and disputes that have surely left their mark. However, some believe that when a new person comes into the picture, they can help to change things for the better. I think it’s time we all put the past behind us and focus on our most important goal, which I’m sure we share; ensuring that your stunning daughter feels loved and safe, along with our precious Roy, of course, both at my side.”
“Has Roy already met you?” My mother sounds surprised. I’m guessing that she’s trying to make sense of things and calculate how long I’ve been divorced.
“When you know you’ve found the one, there’s no point in dragging it out,” Avi puts an end to her calculations. After all, it has only been a week and a couple of days. “A love such as ours is rare. Those who are lucky enough to have it, cannot ignore it. She brings colors and joy into my life. I’ve found a home and bliss with her. I hope that you can join us on this marvelous journey.”
My mother nods.
“She’s been through so much. I regret many of the things that have happened between us, and some of the things I have done in the past,” she adds. “I’m sorry for pressuring you into marrying Matthew,” she addresses me. The air becomes thick with silence. I notice that Avi’s expression has turned serious, fueled by anger and contempt. I immediately try to ease the tension, so he won’t lash out.
“Sorry for pushing you away,” I apologize, and quite exceptionally, I mean it. “I should have been more patient with you. I’ve just always felt unworthy.”
“What on earth are you talking about, my sweet child?” My father exclaims. He usually lets my mom do all the talking. “You’re so important to me. To us. You’re my eldest! Thanks to you, I’m a father. We’ve always wanted to be there for you, and we’ve never thought you were unworthy. We’ve wanted the very best for you. I agree that we’ve meddled one too many times, but we were only trying to protect you. I apologize if we have offended you.” Then he adds in protest, “all the riches in the world are worthless if my precious daughter is unhappy.”
“We were wrong,” my mother concludes. “We need to restart, to let go of the past and begin again with a clean slate. Sam, you’re very dear to us. I’ll do everything in my power to amend our mistakes and be there for you when you need me.”
“It’s alright, dearest mother!” I respect her and embrace the warmth and sincerity with which she has spoken to me. And then, of all the stories she could have told him, my mother chooses to tell the ‘cherry story’.
“You won’t believe it,” she laughs uncontrollably. “One morning, this girl just gets up and disappears. She went to the supermarket to buy cherries because she wanted to bake a birthday cake for her best friend. She was five! You have no idea how many hours we searched for her. Can you imagine? Life’s never boring with this one,” she laughs.
“Yes, you’re probably right,” I laugh along.
