“Aviva, I—” I heard her hang up the phone.
MAYBE A WEEK later, Rabbi Barney, the head of the school’s board, came into my office without knocking.
“What’s this about us doing a fund-raiser for Congressman Levin? A man named Jorge Rodriguez says he spoke to you.”
Jorge had left word for me three times in the past week, and I had ignored him. This was a mistake on my part. A man in Jorge’s job was used to being blown off and used to doing whatever it took to get someone to pay attention to him. Of course he would have gone over my head.
I laughed to give myself time. “Oh, it’s nothing. You know how pushy those political people can be, always looking for money. I took a courtesy meeting with Embeth Levin—she used to be my neighbor in Forestgreen. I couldn’t get out of it—Aviva’s working for the congressman now, I don’t remember if I told you.”
“That’s not what Jorge Rodriguez said. Jorge said that you pitched them on the idea of a Night of Jewish Leaders, and now it’s on the congressman’s public schedule.”
“No,” I said. “I specifically did not agree to anything. I was having a discussion with them out of courtesy.”
“Politicians.” Rabbi Barney sighed. “Well, the local press has picked up on the event. I don’t see how we can not do it now.”
Why the hell not? “Why not?” I said.
“If we cancel the event, it will look as if we were supporting Levin and now we aren’t supporting Levin. We don’t want to appear to be supporting Levin, but we don’t want to appear to not be supporting Levin either. It’s an extremely awkward position, Rachel. I don’t blame you for what happened, but you must be careful about who you agree to meet with. You’re the principal of BRJA now.”
It was clear that he did blame me. On some level, I was offended. If it had happened as I had described it, then it wasn’t my fault. Of course, it had not happened this way—and so it was my fault—but he didn’t know that.
Rabbi Barney instructed me to plan the event but to try to keep it as low-key as possible. “Let’s all try to keep our jobs, Rachel,” he said.
As soon as Rabbi Barney left, I called Jorge.
“I was starting to get hurt feelings. I thought you were ignoring me on purpose,” he said.
AVIVA PHONED ME that evening. “What are you trying to do to me?” she yelled.
“Did I raise you to be this self-centered?” I said. “Not everything has to do with you. Knowing what I know about the congressman, you think I want this fund-raiser at my school? I have nothing to do with this.”
“Then why did you call the congressman’s office?”
“No, Aviva.” I expected God to strike me dead, I had never lied so much in my life. “I called them months ago, before you even went to work for Levin. Someone at the school had an idea for a Night of Jewish Leaders. I called the Levins because the school asked me to, because I knew them, because your father had operated on his mother, because Levin is the most prominent Jewish leader I know. It is a coincidence, my love, nothing more. Maybe Embeth had the idea to turn it into a fund-raising event? But it did not come from me.”
“Then end it,” she said. “You’re the principal. You can end this. Nothing happens at that school without your say-so.”
“It’s not that simple,” I said. “His staff put it on the schedule. And some guy named Jorge?”
“Yes, Jorge Rodriguez. He’s in charge of fund-raising.”
“Okay, so you know him. This Jorge fellow went over my head to Rabbi Barney. And now the whole thing’s become political, I guess. My hands are tied.”
I could hear Aviva breathing, but she had not hung up.
“Fine, Mother,” Aviva said. “I believe you. I need you to promise me you won’t say anything about”—she lowered her voice—“my relationship to anyone. Promise me you won’t talk to the congressman or to his wife.”
“Aviva, God forbid, of course not. I won’t mention your relationship, but I’ll have to talk to them. It isn’t practical for me not to talk to them. They used to be our neighbors.”
Aviva began to sob.
“Aviva, what is it?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, the bully from her voice gone. “I’m tired,” she said. “I miss you,” she said. “And I’m twenty and I feel so old,” she said. “Mommy,” she said, “I think I should break it off. I know you’re right. I just don’t know how to do it.”
My heart bloomed like a hothouse rose. All the lying had been worth it if this was going to be the result. Even if I got fired for this narishkeit fund-raiser, it would have been worth it if I had managed to save my daughter and her good name. “Are you saying you want my advice?” I said cautiously, not wanting to scare her off.
“Yes,” she said. “Please.”
“Talk to him without bitterness. Tell him that you loved the time you have spent together, but that neither of you is in the right place in your life for this relationship to continue.”
“Yes,” she said.
“Tell him that you understand that his life is complicated. Tell him that you are too young to settle down with one person. Tell him that the end of a school year is a good time to reassess. It is, Aviva.”
Aviva began to sob again.
“What is it, my love?”
“I’ll never meet anyone as good as him again.”
I bit the tip of my tongue so hard, I could taste the blood in my mouth. The things I did not say!
If I ever write my memoir, that should be the title. Rachel Shapiro: The Things I Did Not Say!
SEVEN
It had been six years since I had seen Aaron Levin in the flesh, and what I noticed about him was that he had a small bald spot in the middle of his black curls.
Aviva was there, of course. How could she not attend Boca Raton Jewish Academy Presents a Night of Jewish Leaders? It was a hot ticket, and she worked for the congressman and she was my daughter. She was wearing the St. John suit I had bought for my meeting with Embeth—I hadn’t even known she had taken it from my closet. It was too tight across her bosom, but she still looked like a little girl in it. I did not know if she had broken up with him, or he with her.
The congressman greeted me warmly. “Rachel Grossman, you look wonderful. Thank you for setting this up. It’s going to be a grand night.” And other politician schlock.
“Happy to do it,” I said. This was how civilized people behaved.
Nothing in his behavior suggested that he was screwing my daughter. Though what he was supposed to do, I do not know. What behavior of his would have pleased me? I led him and one of his aides into the dressing room behind the auditorium. The students were going to give speeches about what being a Jewish leader meant to them, and then the congressman would come out to give his own speech and present a small cash prize to the graduating senior who showed the most leadership potential. I had invented the prize about a week ago to make everything seem legit.