Read Online Brooklyn Love (Crimson Romance) by Yael Levy - Free Book Online Page A

divvied up the Shabbos preparations, even though both knew that nobody could cook like her mother. Debby Shine put her whole soul into her cooking, elevating it to the level of art. Rachel could not think of cooking as an art, hard as she tried. So she usually didn’t bother trying.
    “I’ll turn off the soup. But Rachel, where is the cholent?” Ma called.
    Rachel stopped painting and guiltily stared at the portrait.
    “Ma, I forgot to put it up,” she answered hesitantly. “Could you?”
    Rachel heard a familiar sigh, followed by the sounds of her mother busy in the kitchen. “Some balabusteh you’ll make,” her mother grumbled just loud enough for Rachel to hear. But Ma was right, as always. It had been Rachel’s responsibility to cook the aromatic Shabbos stew. She hadn’t meant to be irresponsible, but she had so much on her mind these days between school and Daniel Gold. Sometimes, in quiet moments, her mind still wandered to that sweet waiter, Jacob Zohar, but she pushed these thoughts out of her head. Leah was in love with him, so there was no point in thinking about him. Ma always said the first quality to look for in a guy was availability. Daniel Gold was a catch — and he was certainly available. Daniel, Daniel, Daniel. Would she marry Daniel Gold?
    She stopped herself, knowing she had to get back to work or she would be late for Shabbos. Gazing at the painting, Rachel remembered the vivid descriptions of the women in her family, all of them strong, great balabustehs — capable women — who took care of their homes and their families with efficiency, grace, and a smile. She wondered if any of them ever forgot to make the cholent when they were supposed to.
    She glanced at her watch, knowing that she had to speed up the pace of her work if she was going to finish it before sundown at 4:17. If she worked even one minute past sundown, she’d break the law and desecrate the Sabbath. Rachel would never want to sin like that. True, she could resume working on Saturday night or Sunday, but realistically, it wouldn’t happen. Saturday was date night with Daniel, and Sunday she had to work as an art counselor at the Home for Disabled Adults.
    The penetrating ringing of the phone broke her trancelike concentration.
    “It’s me,” the male voice announced on the other end.
    “Daniel?” Within months, this man could become her husband. Her heart pounded so loudly that she wondered if he could hear it.
    “I have to cancel tomorrow night. I have previous plans I completely forgot about.”
    “You don’t want to go out with me?”
    Daniel laughed. “It’s not that at all. I’d promised to go with Frisch to a comedy club for his birthday. He’s an old friend from Columbia, so it would be inappropriate for me to cancel.”
    “Oh.” Her parents would be so disappointed. “I guess that’s a good reason to cancel a date.”
    “Look,” he countered politely, “you could come if you like. But you might get bored with my friends from Columbia.”
    “That sounds great! I’ve never been to a comedy club!” What would her mother say?
    Ma called up the stairs. “It’s time to light the candles, Rachel.”
    “I have to go,” Rachel told Daniel.
    “All right, then,” he said. “I’ll pick you up Saturday night. Have a good Shabbos.”
    Rachel hung up the phone and left her painting supplies out, her canvas drying. She took one last look at the muted portrait of a young soldier and his young bride gazing at each other with love in their eyes, knowing they were destined for each other. Basherte. Would that happen for her and Daniel? With that thought repeating itself in her head, she raced down the stairs before Shabbos descended over Brooklyn.
    Rachel lit the Sabbath candles that were anchored proudly in ornate silver candlesticks. She was ready to greet the Sabbath Queen, an invisible presence, and a royal guest.
    Ma lit a candle for every member of the family, even for her sons who had married and