Read Online Revving Up the Holidays by A. S. Fenichel - Free Book Online Page B

took the assignment seriously. They laughed when
Daniel got grease on his hand and smudged it across his nose.
    The three of them had been at it an hour when Sadie walked
into the shop. “Are they driving you crazy yet?”
    All three were crouched down as if they were catchers in a
baseball game staring at the exhaust pipe they had just bolted into place. He
noticed a bit of wiring that he’d neglected to hide from sight and tucked it
inside the frame. “Nope. They’re my assistants. They do excellent work.”
    The two children smiled and started dancing around the shop.
Isaac laughed.
    Sadie said, “Well, motorcycle assistants, it’s time to get
cleaned up for dinner and it looks as if you will both need baths.”
    They groaned.
    Isaac said, “Your mom’s right. We can’t do any more until I
go and get the tins back from the bike shop tomorrow anyway.”
    “The kids and I will be home all day. Maybe we can come
along with you to the bike shop.”
    He almost told her no. He’d been doing things alone for so
long, he didn’t know how to be a part of something bigger than himself. It
would have been as if he’d slapped her hand away. To his surprise, he enjoyed
spending time with his family. He’d loved helping each one of the kids tighten
a few bolts and he didn’t care that the process had taken twice as long. It had
been fun. When was the last time he’d had any fun? Hadn’t Ben said something to
that effect? “Sure. That’s a great idea.”
    The kids started a new dance and his sister smiled before
herding them out the door.
    * * * * *
    The seat was in place but mirrors and lights would be the
final pieces in making her whole again. He ran his hand along the soft leather
to the newly painted black gas tank. Everything about the bike shined. Only one
thing was missing. Shaking off the thought, he took one more look at the Harley
before turning off the lights and heading toward the house for the last night
of Hanukkah celebration.
    His mother was already in the kitchen cooking with Sadie. He
leaned over his mom’s shoulder, kissed her cheek and plucked a sweet noodle out
of the kugel she was making. She slapped his hand but not before he’d managed
to snag a bit of the noodle pudding from the pan.
    He heard giggling from the living room. “The kids sound
happy.”
    “Gigi is playing dreidel with them,” Sadie said.
    His heart skipped a beat. “You invited Giada here tonight?”
    His sister huffed. “Well, it was obvious that you two had
some kind of falling-out. How were you going to fix it if you didn’t see her?”
    He shook his head. “Did Giada jump at the invitation?”
    Sadie frowned for a second but then shrugged. “She took a
little convincing.”
    “I’ll bet.”
    His mother turned to Sadie. “Are Isaac and Gigi dating?”
    “Yes.”
    “No.” He tried to give his sister a stern look but he was
too excited by the idea that Giada was in the next room.
    His mother raised an eyebrow.
    “Maybe,” he said.
    “You’d better go get cleaned up. We need to get the candles
lit soon and dinner will be ready in forty-five minutes.”
    Isaac went out through the foyer entrance and avoided being
seen in the living room. He took a quick shower and dressed before returning.
    Giada sat on the wood floor with Mark and the two kids, her
legs tucked under her and her skirt spread out around her. The four of them
spun a small top and used toothpicks to gamble on which of the Hebrew letters
would appear. It was an ancient game meant to help children learn Hebrew. He’d
played it hundreds of times as a child. But all he noticed was her smile and
the way her skin glowed. She adored the children and they loved her.
    She must have sensed his presence. She looked up and her
expression fell. His heart actually clenched at the idea that he caused her
sorrow.
    “Time to light the candles,” Sadie announced from beside
him.
    The kids jumped up, screaming with glee. Mark moved them in
the direction of the