Tormented by the question of ‘what if...’
Home for Hanukkah, Sergeant Isaac Janko has never forgotten the baby his girlfriend gave
up for adoption years ago. But he didn’t realize how angry he still was....
More than time separates them...
A chance meeting at Temple brings Zehava Elbaz face-to-face with the first and only man
she’s ever loved. She sees a deep and hidden pain in him, one she blames herself for...
An invitation to Hanukkah brings them together...
The two must confront their pain and loss. They have only eight days to face their past, and
win each other’s trust, but it is a time for healing, reconciliation and miracles…
“Isaac.”
The sound of his name tripping off her lips locked him
in place. He kept his attention fixed beyond the gate.
Home for only a few days, he could make this work if he
kept the contact as minimal as possible.
“Yes?” He canted his head, turning an ear toward
her, and refusing to look. Not when he wasn’t sure
whether he wanted to kiss her or throttle her. The level
of violence shivering in his muscles appalled him, one
match away from erupting.
“Hanukkah begins this week.”
“I know. It’s why I came home.” Confusion flickered
through him. Her shoe scuffed on the blacktop. She
came closer and he fought in vain against turning. “I
know it’s the first time in years….”
“Are you asking me if I want to spend my first Hanukkah at
home with your pseudo-children since you gave away ours?”
Once the words were out, he couldn’t take them back and
with his attention locked on her, he couldn’t miss the verbal
lash striking its mark. Regret filtered through his fury. He
wasn’t sure who angered him more. Her for what she did, or
him because he never stopped loving her and hating her for
it.
Ouch. The barb sank deep and raked her emotions over the
coals. She shouldn’t have been surprised by the strength of
the sting, but it didn’t diminish the impact. Zehava absorbed
the words and the pain, letting both sink through her until
they reached the marrow of her bones. The whip crack of
fury from anyone else would be met in kind, however she
believed Isaac deserved his pound of flesh. And she’d give
him this one. Only the one.
Don’t bring it up.
“And I’m probably the last person you want to talk to….”
For the love of all that’s holy, leave it alone. His head
began to ache from clamping his teeth together.
“I’m expecting a lot of kids are going to be here this
week. The neighborhood is full of single mothers,
fathers and their kids need a place to spend Hanukkah.
I’m going to light the menorah for them each evening
at dusk. They’d love to meet you. You’re a hero for so
many and maybe—maybe you’d like to spend some
time here, too. Help out.” Her voice drifted away and he
pivoted slowly.
He wanted to walk the hell away and keep his mouth
shut. The hesitation was still in her eyes, yet he also
glimpsed hope. Faint, but there, in the liquid dark
depths.
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