“Drew? We’re here with the cake.”
“Great. I already told the doorman to let you up. Tell him my name, and he’ll give you the apartment number.”
“Okay.”
“Who was that?” Esther stood before the small mirror and admired her necklace.
“A surprise.”
The doorbell rang. “Guys, can one of you get the door, please?”
“I’ll get it,” Luke volunteered and left the room. Drew heard voices, and then Luke reappeared with two men at his heels. One he recognized as Rabbi Fine, and the other was a slightly shorter, dark-haired man with intense blue eyes. Both carried large boxes.
Rabbi Fine’s gaze swept over the table and when their eyes met, he smiled. “Drew. Glad to see you looking so well.”
“Come in, Jonah, please. Everyone, this is Rabbi Jonah Fine and his husband, Gideon Marks. Gideon is an incredible chef and has brought some birthday treats for you, Nana.”
Jonah and Gideon set the boxes on the table and Ash, who’d walked in on the tail end of his introduction, set down the coffeepot and held out his hand.
“Jonah, good to see you again. Thank you for your visit the night of Drew’s surgery. I didn’t know how much I needed to talk to someone until you came by.”
“That’s what I’m here for. This is my husband, Gideon.”
They all shook hands and then Mike piped up. “Let’s see the cake.”
Everyone laughed and Gideon opened the box. “I made a chocolate with mocha filling because someone told me the birthday lady loves coffee.”
“Oh, doesn’t that look beautiful,” Esther said, clapping her hands together. “Gideon, if that tastes as good as it looks, which I’m sure it does, I’ll be coming to you for all my goodies from now on.”
Ash removed the cake from the box and set it, pride of place, at the center of the table. Thick swirls of rich chocolate covered the sides, but it was the beautiful pink flowers dotting the surface and the white script readingHappy 95thBirthdaythat made it extraordinary.
“Gideon, it looks amazing. I almost hate to cut it.”
Flushed with praise, Gideon gave a surprisingly shy smile. “I’m glad you like it. It isn’t every day I get to make a cake celebrating such a special occasion, and I wanted to make sure I got it right.”
“You must stay and have some and coffee with us,” Esther said. “I insist.”
Jonah, with his arm draped over Gideon’s shoulder, met Drew’s eyes.
“Please, guys. We’d all love it,” Drew said, and everyone at the table joined in agreement.
Gideon nodded and Jonah answered. “We’d like that. Thank you. And Happy Chanukah and a happy birthday to you.”
As they spoke, Ash and Jordan brought in two more chairs, and Drew’s spirits lifted even further as he watched them joke together. The heart had an amazing capacity to heal and thank God, Jordan had forgiven him and gotten over his dislike and mistrust of Ash. With the empty chairs placed at the table next to Drew, Jonah and Gideon took a seat.
“Along with the cake, my partner and I also made some cookies and pastries.” Gideon opened the box and Drew sawrugelach, mini fruit tarts, and napoleons.
“Gideon, thank you. It all looks amazing. I know we can’t wait to taste it.”
Esther stood with the knife in her hand, but Brandon called out, “Don’t cut it yet. We have to take pictures and sing ‘Happy Birthday.’”
“Yes, we have the candles over on the side table.” Louisa handed them to Ash and he slid two out of a box. He placed them in the center of the cake and struck a match, lit them, then stood waiting. Drew took out his camera to record the moment and saw others also were taking pictures, wanting to keep this memory for the years to come.
Esther leaned over and with Ash holding her elbow to steady her, blew the flame out.
“I never imagined I’d reach this age and wasn’t sure at one point I wanted to. But I know how wonderful life can be and that maybe there’s a reason for me to be here. It was so that I could live to see the blessings I’ve been given in my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. To know that no matter how we’ve suffered over the centuries, we have the love and strength running in our veins to persevere and never let anyone destroy us.” Her gaze, bright with unshed tears, passed over everyone at the table. “We must never let hate win over love. You are all an example of that, and you carry the torch for the next generation to shape it for what is to come. Each of you has suffered loss and pain and lived in darkness, but you never gave up. I know you’ll make all of us proud, because you choose love.”
Ash seated her, then returned to his seat and put his arm around Drew. “You okay?”
