"Hello?"
"Um, yes, hello? Is this, uh…Tara Maclay?"
"Speaking," Tara replied pleasantly, holding the phone to her ear with her shoulder as she pulled boots onto her feet, "Can I ask who's calling?"
"This is Ira Rosenberg."
Tara's eyes widened and she swore under her breath as she almost dropped the phone, straightening up just in time to catch it.
"Hello, Mr. Rosenberg. I, um…Willow's still in Quantico."
"I know, dear. I actually wanted to talk to you."
"Oh," Tara replied, taken aback slightly, "Okay."
"I do appreciate the… peculiarity of this. I find it quite strange myself that I'm speaking to my future daughter-in-law for the first time."
"It's, um, nice to talk to you, sir," Tara said, wondering what the phone call was about, "I'm looking forward to meeting you at the wedding. And I know Willow's ecstatic about it."
"It's been far too long."
Tara heard the mournful tone in the man's voice and was unsure what to say. Fortunately, Ira composed himself and continued speaking.
"I forgot to ask, is this an okay time? I wasn't sure of your schedule."
"Oh, no, it's fine," Tara reassured, "I was just getting ready for work."
"Good. Willow says you're a social worker? That sounds like very rewarding work."
"It is. I really enjoy it."
"Good. Good," Ira repeated, a small awkward silence following, "I actually called because I was thinking I might come to Boston a couple of days before the wedding. I know both of you lead very busy lives, but I thought it might be nice to see Willow…and you of course…I mean it was just a fleeting thought-"
"Oh, Mr. Rosenberg-"
"Ira, please. We're going to be family."
"Ira," Tara said with a smile, "That would be wonderful. Willow would love it, so would I."
"Great. Wonderful. The reason I called you directly, is that I was thinking of surprising Willow. But I wasn't sure whether that was a good idea and seeing as I'm sure you know her better than anyone, I wondered what your opinion might be on that?"
Tara's smile widened and she nodded, before realising she was on the phone and Ira couldn't see her.
"Oh, I think surprising her is a great idea. When were you thinking of coming down?"
"Your wedding is on Tuesday the 24th, correct?"
"That's right."
"Perhaps the Friday beforehand? I can catch the afternoon flight and be there some time in the late evening."
"Sounds great," Tara said, her smile beaming, "You're more than welcome to stay here. Will and I can take the sofa, it turns into a bed."
"Oh no, I couldn't impose. I'll just find a hotel nearby."
"I know Will would love it. And it's certainly no imposition."
"Well, if you're sure. I insist I take the sofa though."
Tara glanced at her watch and saw she'd have to leave soon, but knew she had to ask something first.
"Ira? Has there been any…change in your wife's…attitude towards all of this?"
"I'm afraid not," Ira said over the line with a sigh, "My wife and I lead…well, quite separate lives within our marriage. I mentioned your impending nuptials and she just ignored me for a moment before saying she had no idea what I was talking about, that we had no daughter."
Tara sighed as well and shook her head.
"Please don't tell that to Willow. She's so happy to have you back, I just…"
"Don't worry, my dear, I have no notion of it. All I want is to rebuild my relationship with my daughter."
"That's all she wants too."
"Well, I am very much looking forward to meeting you, Tara. You sound like a wonderful girl. And I must admit, the traditionalist in me is very pleased you're having a Jewish ceremony."
"Oh yea?" Tara said with a chuckle, "How does that part of you feel about your only daughter marrying a woman?"
"I just want her happy," Ira replied and Tara could hear the smile in his voice.
"Well, I'm meeting the rabbi later today, after work. He seems really nice."
"Good. Well, I better let you get off to work. It was very nice talking to you, Tara. I look forward to seeing you soon."
"You too, Ira. Um, bye?"
"Goodbye."
Tara heard a click on the other end of the phone and hung up on her end as well, slightly bewildered by the conversation she'd just had, but pleased at the outcome of it. Glancing at her watch again, she let out a high pitched squeal when she saw the time and grabbed her purse, before running out the door.
"Tara Maclay?"
Tara dropped the leaflet in her hand at the sound of her name resounding against the walls of the eerily quiet synagogue she had just walked into. She turned slightly to see a man, a little shorter than her standing there with a smile on his face.
"Yes, I'm Tara Maclay. Rabbi Goldstein?"
"In the flesh," the rabbi replied, extending his hand, "It's nice to meet you in person."
"You too," Tara responded, shaking the rabbi's hand firmly.
"Would you like to follow me into my office?"
"Sure."
Tara followed as the rabbi walked down the aisle of the synagogue and turned into a small room, a desk and shelves of books set up inside. He gestured for her to sit and she complied, looking around the office as Rabbi Goldstein sat opposite her.
"So, you're getting married."
Tara relaxed into her seat and smiled at the rabbi.
"Yes, I'm getting married. Willow really wanted to be here too. I promise we'll make an appointment to see you together as soon as she gets back."
"I do like to know the couple as best I can before I marry them. I take it you don't have a regular rabbi who you'd ask to perform the ceremony?"
"No," Tara replied, blushing slightly, "I'm not Jewish. And Willow, um…"
"Doesn't attend regular service?"
Tara nodded, still blushing.
"That's quite alright," Rabbi Goldstein replied with a small wave of his hand, "There's room for any and all types of worship and belief. I've preformed many interfaith ceremonies in my time. The purpose of today's meeting is to see exactly what you'd like in your ceremony."
"Oh," Tara responded, relieved, having expected some kind of chastisement, "That'd be great."
The rabbi looked at Tara curiously for a moment, seeing she was relieved at his attitude towards the service.
"Not a good history with religion?"
Tara tensed up again, but shook her head.
"No. My father was a strict catholic and we didn't really, um…get along. He was very set in his ways. But, um, I don't really have a religion so we don't need to incorporate anything there. And I have a list from Willow of the things she definitely wants."
The rabbi decided not to press further and smiled at the blonde.
"Well, let's start with that then."
Tara produced a piece of paper from her purse and handed it across the desk to the rabbi, who read through it.
"Chuppah, of course…the ketubah…the breaking of the glass. No mention of the readings or prayers here, did you want to leave those out?"
"Yes, we were thinking a kind of secular thing," Tara nodded, "Willow's more into just keeping up her Jewish culture than the actual God stuff. Is that okay? I did a lot of research looking for a rabbi…it was hard enough finding one willing to do an interfaith marriage let alone a gay one…at this stage I think we'd be willing to settle if we had to do the blessings."
"This is your wedding," Rabbi Goldstein said with a wave of his hand, "You should never have to settle. I'm more than happy to include or not include whatever you want."
"Wow," Tara smiled, visibly exhaling, "You really are an awesome rabbi."
"Thank you," Rabbi Goldstein responded with a fond smile, "Now, are both sets of parents going to be present?"
"No. Um, just Willow's Dad."
"Right, of course," the rabbi replied, inwardly kicking himself for forgetting that Tara had just told him she wasn't in contact with her own father, "So will he be walking her down the aisle?"
Tara smiled and nodded her head.
"Definitely. She's really looking forward to it."
The rabbi smiled back started writing down details on a piece of paper in front of him.
"And where is your wedding location? I remember you telling me on the phone but for the life of me I can't remember."
"The Public Gardens," Tara replied, feeling excitement as she thought about it, "That works for the, um, Chuppah, right? Having it under an open sky?"
"Your research?" the rabbi questioned with a playful smile.
Tara nodded and bit her lip.
"I wanted to make sure I learned about her traditions as well. I mean, we celebrate Hanukkah and I light the Menorah and stuff but I wanted to learn the wedding things so I'd know what was going on."
"Speaks of your love for her. Is there anything I can help clear up?"
"I think I'm okay…the Ketubah is the marriage contract right? We sign it and then it's read out during the ceremony?"
"That's right."
"And the Chuppah's the canopy…the stepping on the glass thing, I get that. And, uh, I think she wants to do the whole spinning chairs at the reception but only because, um, and I quote, 'it's fun to be all twirly'."
The rabbi let out a deep laugh and took out a diary from a drawer in his desk.
"She certainly sounds very colourful."
Tara smiled and nodded her head.
"Colourful is definitely a good way of putting it."
The rabbi started flicking through his diary, smiling quietly.
"Can we organise a day before the wedding when I can meet you both together?"
"Of course," Tara replied, nodding her head, "She's back on the November 8th…"
"And your wedding is the 24th," Rabbi Goldstein said, leafing through his diary.
"You just name the date and time and we'll make ourselves available."
"The 12th at 4.30pm?"
"Sounds perfect," Tara replied, secretly relieved he hadn't suggested the day right after Willow returned. She'd already taken it off work, pre-empting the 'celebrations' of her fiancée's homecoming, "That's the…Thursday?"
"Yes. Is that okay?"
"Definitely."
The rabbi scribbled something in his diary before closing it and fixing the blonde with a winning smile.
"I truly can't wait to preside over your nuptials, Tara. Nothing makes me happier than seeing two people in love commit to spend their lives together."