Close to six, there was a knock at the door.

  Thomas—already dressed in his Shabbat attire—opened it to find Veronica and her parents standing in the hall.

  May Bomberg (warmly): Ms. Mendelson invited the whole family tonight, after you set up your dates this weekend, so we could talk about expectations for you two. And I heard it looks like you’re having a hard week. Come here—give me a hug.

  Thomas hugged her, then Veronica slipped into his arms for a quick squeeze. Daniel offered Thomas a firm handshake, and they all stepped into the living room.

  From the kitchen, Ruth called out:

  Ruth: Dinner will be ready soon—we’ll begin shortly with the lighting of the candles. Veronica, would you like to help with that?

  Veronica lit up, remembering all the times she’d done it with Shoshana.

  Veronica: Absolutely—yes.

  Daniel chuckled as they moved farther inside.

  Daniel Bomberg (teasing): You know, if it weren’t for Shoshana—I love that girl—I’d grab a shotgun and march you two down to the courthouse so this one couldn’t get away.

  Sholomoh: I guess you’ve heard the news about our boy.

  Daniel: That he passed early? Come on—it took me three tries to get everything in order. I can’t tell if he’s clueless, or if I missed some notes he was given. It’s supposed to be a process that isn’t easy.

  Sholomoh: Oh, we’ve got work to do. He doesn’t get a free pass. But when he goes up next time, it’ll be to prove he’s completed every required task. Which is one reason I wanted you here tonight—to make sure everyone knows what’s supposed to come first.

  Daniel: Am I right that Thomas is working with Shoshana to get ready?

  Sholomoh: Yes. From what her father says—and what we’ve seen—she’s making good progress with him.

  Daniel glanced at his daughter dramatically.

  Daniel: Alright then. This Saturday I expect you to bring your copy of the Summa Theologica and study with Thomas at the bookshop. And if you forget your copy—well, you know I’ve got a few in the back.

  Veronica: Dad—I’m working on it.

  Daniel: Now you’ll have some help.

  Thomas: Don’t worry. I’m going to need your help with spelling and grammar. So it’ll be a fair trade. And I’ll only work on it as long as Shoshana and I studied that week.

  Veronica: Great—we’ll be at it all day.

  Everyone at the table laughed.

  Ruth (coming in): What’s so funny?

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Daniel: Thomas promised to work with Veronica only as long as he and Shoshana studied the Summa.

  Ruth: Did she mean actual study time, or time on the phone? You know they usually only do half an hour to an hour of real studying—but it’s not uncommon that we have to chase them off the phone.

  Daniel: I think she’s afraid he’ll count the phone calls.

  Ruth: They do have four hours if he’s not helping customers.

  Veronica leaned toward Thomas with a sweet, exaggerated plea.

  Veronica: Thomas… you’ll save me, right?

  Thomas rolled his eyes as the call came to light the Shabbat candles.

  After dinner and the blessing that followed the meal, Sholomoh smiled broadly, looking around the table.

  Sholomoh: Bombergs, from this point on, Thomas and I usually discuss some topic or another after Shabbat dinner. Tonight the topic is expectations for you two dating. Veronica—don’t feel singled out. As your father can tell you, even if Shoshana weren’t in the picture, we’d still be having this conversation.

  Veronica: What is he talking about?

  Daniel: I once went out on a date with David’s sister—before I met your mom.

  Veronica: Really?

  May: Yes.

  Veronica: And you knew about it?

  May: Hard not to know. She visited often. Easier just to write it off as a next-door-neighbor crush.

  Sholomoh: When Thomas first moved in here, one of the rules I gave him was to be sensitive to Shoshana’s feelings. I’m going to ask the same of you. Please keep everything said here tonight from her until we’ve had the same talk with her. Just like Thomas didn’t tell her what you two discussed on Tuesday. We only know because Ruth overheard.

  Veronica: Yes—of course.

  Ruth folded her hands on the table.

  Ruth: From what I overheard, you were feeling pressured by your current boyfriend to move things to the next physical level. You were discussing it with Thomas, and he showed you the boundary he gives Shoshana. And let me be clear—you didn’t do anything wrong. There hasn’t been a commitment by either party, so it falls into a gray zone.

  She paused.

  Ruth: But you need to understand something important—about being made uncomfortable with physical pressure. It so happens Thomas experienced the same kind of thing in eighth grade from girls teasing and touching him. If he’d been a girl, it would’ve been taken much more seriously. So when he pulled back and said he wasn’t ready—I believe that came from a very real place.

  The Bombergs looked at Thomas, stunned, trying to picture it.

  Ruth: To make it worse, those in authority knew and informed his parents—and it was brushed under the rug.

  May: Oh my goodness. There was no way for us to know.

  Ruth: Exactly. Unless you paid close attention, there was no way. And honestly, if Iona hadn’t brought it up, we still wouldn’t know. Thomas never shared this with anyone until this week.

  Daniel: I can see how confusing that would’ve been—especially with his religious values. I understand why you say it’s a sensitive topic.

  Ruth: Do you see why he may have pulled back and said he wasn’t ready?

  Veronica: Yes. Is that why he was upset yesterday? He was talking about it with Ms. Hendrix. I get mad when a boy brushes against me by accident—but to do it intentionally, for a whole school year… I’m sure those girls loved seeing him react but…

  She fell silent.

  Ruth leaned closer.

  Ruth: Let me ask you something serious. Over the past two weekends, with how much Thomas and Shoshana were around each other—if you and your boyfriend were in the same situation, how many times would you two have slipped off to be alone?

  Veronica: If I’m honest? Almost every chance we could get.

  Ruth: Veronica… what if I told you Thomas and Shoshana haven’t even had a private kiss yet? They’ve never tried to sneak away.

  Veronica: I can’t imagine. I think I’d be mortified.

  Daniel: The more I hear, the more I like the boy.

  Sholomoh: We’d like dating to be open and discreet.

  Open—meaning you’re not seeking private places to hide.

  Discreet—meaning your public affection stays modest.

  Veronica: So, out in public when we’re together—but we shouldn’t draw attention to ourselves?

  Sholomoh: Exactly. Is that alright with you?

  Veronica: Yes.

  Sholomoh: Then enjoy yourselves tomorrow night.

  Ruth raised a final point.

  Ruth: One more thing. You heard earlier about Thomas moving forward in the organization. That means dating cannot be the main focus. Your schoolwork, your religious activities, and preparing for the next medallion come first. Are we clear?

  Veronica and Thomas (in unison): Yes.

  When everyone stood, May crossed over and hugged Thomas in a soft, motherly way.

  Daniel: Thomas, before you go on your date tomorrow, I’d like to talk with you about some matters—not related to my lovely daughter and whatever she sees in you.

  Veronica looked at Thomas, puzzled. He opened his arms and pulled her into a hug—quick, sure, comforting. She melted into it, surprised by the ease of it, and cherished the warmth it gave her.