CHAPTER THREE: Breathtaking.
"Anshel, Avigdor, I did not think you were coming in," Reb Zalman said as they entered the study hall.
"It was my fault, I'm sorry," Yentl said.
"Anshel was buying a present for Hadass, it's their anniversary today," Avigdor added.
Reb Zalman's face lit up. "Ah... no wonder. At least you remembered," he shook his head ruefully. "I had completely forgotten. My wife did not say a word the entire day. It was not until the next day that my father-in-law asked me how my anniversary went. He must have seen the dismay on my face. He told me to go straight home and grovel... and never forget. And I never have," he concluded smiling.
Yentl breathed a sigh of relief. Now she didn't feel so bad knowing she wasn't the only one to have forgotten.
"Well, let's get back to the text we were studying yesterday," Reb Zalman said. "Anshel, I take it you brought your book with you?"
"Yes, yes I did."
"Good."
Yentl and Avigdor parted company when they left the Yeshiva for the day. Avigdor had told her that he had meeting with the local Matchmaker. That there was a possible match for him. He said he had obligations he still had to fulfill for his family, even if it meant not marrying Hadass.
"Good luck?" Yentl told him.
"I'll need it," he replied as he headed for his meeting.
Yentl walked the quiet streets alone. The walk would do her good. It would give her a chance to think.
She noticed there were a few shops still open, but not many.
She knew as soon as she walked through the town square she would be minutes away from the place she now called home.
She slowed down her pace.
She felt nervous.
She had never bought anyone a gift before.
She found her palms were damp and wiped them on her pants.
Would she hand the gift to Hadass as soon as she saw her and say, "Here."
Would, should she wait until they were alone?
No, her in-laws would probably want to see the gift.
Before supper or afterwards? Perhaps while they were in the sitting room having their evening tea?
Who knew there were so many decisions to make?
"Anshel..."
Yentl looked up.
"Anshel, where are you going?"
Yentl looked around she had walked past the house.
Hadass had stood on the steps outside, she had seen Anshel through the window and when he had not entered she went to look for him.
His head was down and she thought she heard him muttering to himself. He was preoccupied.
She had called his name to get his attention – she did not wish to disturb his thoughts. It seemed obvious to her that he had not noticed that he'd walked right past the house.
Yentl saw Hadass waiting by the steps, she quickly backtracked. "Hello," she said as she reached the house.
"Good evening Anshel."
They stood looking at each other, neither saying a word.
Yentl swallowed, her heart raced in her chest.
The light coming from the entryway shone on Hadass.
Yentl had seen her everyday for over a year, if she counted the time she had dined at the Vishkower's residence before Avigdor's betrothal had been broken.
She had seen Hadass when she woke from her sleep, when she had come from her ablutions and many other times.
She had seen many facets of Hadass' appearance.
She recognized that Hadass was pretty in an abstract way. She never gave it much thought one way or another.
Now as she struggled to breathe, her estimation had changed.
Hadass was not pretty.
She was breathtaking.
And her mind was coming to grips with that piece of information, looking at it from different angles, examining each facet and finding her assessment correct.
Hadass, her wife, was breathtaking. 'I wonder if this is how Avigdor feels.' She thought briefly.
Hadass wondered why Anshel was staring at her so intently.
The look he gave her was unlike anything she ever noticed from him, it was almost unsettling.
In the back of her mind, a sense of familiarity hit her. She had see it before, the look elsewhere, she was sure of it, but, she could not remember where.
She automatically raised her hand to her hair, a nervous habit she had.
"No, don't you're perfect," Yentl whispered when it looked as if Hadass was going to rearrange her hair.
"Hadass... Anshel, come inside. Supper is getting cold."
"Yes Mother."
"Yes Mother Vishkower," Yentl replied.
She waited for Hadass to go inside first before walking up the stairs, closing the door behind her. She hung up her coat and proceeded into the dinning room.
"Hello Anshel... come in, come in," Reb Alter Vishkower said waving him inside.
Yentl nodded briefly, "Uh... good evening."
"Sit, sit. How were your studies?"
Yentl went to her place at the table and waited until Hadass draped the cloth napkin on her lap before replying. "Thank you," she said. "Oh, studies, they went well. Rabbi Zalman says within a year or two Avigdor and I will be able to teach…"
"That's wonderful Anshel," Reb Vishkower said as he banged on the table. "Esther, did you hear? Our son-in-law is going to teach in a year..."
"Or two and Avigdor as well," Yentl interjected.
"Oh Anshel, I'm so proud of you, aren't you Hadass?"
Hadass looked in his direction, she smiled at him. She had heard him mention Avigdor even if her parents had chosen to ignore the comment. "That's very good news Anshel."
"Thank you. And how was your day Father Vishkower?" she asked.
"Such a good boy, he comes home with splendid news and he asks me about my day," Reb Vishkower tells his wife.
Yentl noticed as supper was served that Hadass had made all of her favorite dishes. She could not remember a better meal.
The conversation wasn't very exciting she nodded and added a few comments here and there. All in all, it was a nice evening.
She got up and pulled out Hadass' chair for her when she got up to get dessert. She looked in her father-in-laws direction when she heard his voice: "Come along Esther, I'm sure Anshel and Hadass would like some time to themselves."
She quickly rushed over to her mother-in-law and pulled out her chair.
"Such lovely manners," she said as she patted Anshel on his cheek. "Such smooth skin," she muttered.
Yentl could not help but blush, "Thank you."
"Where are you going?" Hadass asked her parents as she came through the door with a tray in her hands. "Don't you want dessert?"
"You father and I are going upstairs, why don't you and Anshel go to the sitting room."
"Of course mother, if you're sure?"
"Of course we're sure."
"Good night Hadass," Reb Vishkower said as he accompanied his wife out of the room. "A learned scholar in the family, can you imagine?"
"I can't wait to tell Ruth, she'll be so jealous," Yentl heard them say as they left.
"Come along Anshel," Hadass said as she carried the tray out of the dinning room.
Grabbing the package, Yentl followed Hadass. She slid the partition open allowing Hadass to enter the sitting room.
When Hadass sat down Yentl decided it was time to give her the gift. "I... um, I got this for you," she said as she held out the brown paper wrapped package, "Happy anniversary Hadass."
"Oh Anshel, thank you," she said smiling. He had not forgotten. She had seen the package he carried with him, but when looked as if he was not going to give it to her she thought the worse. "I have something for you as well." She pulled out a small flat rectangular box and she had left in the sitting room earlier and handed it to him. "I hope you'll like it."
Yentl looked at it and wondered what it was. She looked at Hadass, "I'm sure I will thank you."
They both stared at the gifts, neither of them making any gesture to open them.