Eight Nights (2 page)

Her smile was wry.

“Yeah, Sam was thrilled to have me move in, but my profs were all really good about me starting late, especially since I’m only a freshman.”

His father had insisted that Lucas finally enroll in university for the fall, since the doctors hadn’t expected him to make it to summer. When September rolled around, Lucas and his dad fought for days, Lucas refusing to leave his bedside while his father adamant that at twenty, Lucas had already put off his future for long enough. Lucas won the battle, and he held his father’s hand as he slipped away.

Eight Nights

7

Now he was alone at a school where everyone in his classes already made friends at the start of the year and, thanks to a housing shortage, his roommate was a senior jock with whom he had nothing in common. He could move out -- aside from the life insurance, his dad had left him a fair amount of money -- but then he’d be even more isolated.

He cleared his throat, eager to move on to another topic. “So, Hanukkah starts tonight.

That must be fun.”

“Yes, it’s a nice time of year. What will you do for Christmas?”

“Oh, just hang out or whatever. I’m not religious, so it’s no big deal.”

“Hmm.” She stood and surveyed the room again. “Do you have a suitcase, or one of those duffel bags my son likes so much?”

“I’m sorry?” Lucas’s duffel was somewhere at the bottom of his closet, and unless --

“Pack your bag, Lucas. You’re going to spend the holidays with us.”

“Oh, that’s so nice of you, but I couldn’t impose.” Despite how lonely he might be over Christmas by himself, he was definitely looking forward to time away from Sam.

“You can, and you will. There’s simply no way I’m leaving you here all alone.”

“I really appreciate your concern, but I’ll be fine. Really.”

Sam returned, looking marginally more awake than when he left. His mother turned to him. “Samuel, Lucas will be coming to spend the holidays with us. Do you know where he keeps his overnight bag?”

Getting to his feet, Lucas was very tempted to tug on Mrs. Kramer’s arm to get her to pay attention to what he was saying. “Thank you, but I’m not even Jewish. I don’t want to intrude on your Hanukkah.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re more than welcome.”

Yawning widely, Sam clapped him on the shoulder. “Dude, there’s no point in arguing.

Trust me.”

8 Keira Andrews

Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but he couldn’t think of a good reason he should stay on campus alone for the holidays. Half an hour later, he found himself in the back of the Kramer family SUV, heading toward New York City as the first snowflakes of the season drifted down.

Eight Nights

9

As they crossed the bridge to Staten Island, Lucas peered out the window as the city passed by. Sam snored lightly in the front seat, and Mrs. Kramer listened to a talk radio station that Lucas had tuned out near Poughkeepsie.

“Have you ever been to the city before?” Mrs. Kramer asked. Her voice jolted Lucas from his reverie.

“No, this is my first time.”

“We’ll have to show you around, then.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Lucas already felt awkward enough.

“I insist. I’m sure Sam would be more than happy to take you into Manhattan. There’s a wonderful Degas exhibit at the Frick.”

Lucas realized the best way to deal with Mrs. Kramer was the same way he dealt with Sam: he nodded and smiled. “Thanks, that sounds great.” Of course, the idea of Sam voluntarily going anywhere that didn’t serve beer seemed highly unlikely.

They were only on the island for ten minutes before they pulled into the driveway of a large, two-story brick home. The lawn and shrubs were as neatly manicured as Mrs. Kramer, and large picture windows glowed with soft lights in the overcast afternoon.

10 Keira Andrews

“What a beautiful home you have.”

Sam, roused from his slumber, grunted. Mrs. Kramer smiled widely in the rearview mirror, her lipstick still somehow untouched despite the cup of coffee she’d had. “Thank you, dear.”

Inside, a man Lucas assumed to be Sam’s father shuffled into the foyer to greet them.

He was tall and thin and balding, his glasses propped on his head. He looked as if he’d just woken from a nap. “Hello, son. Good drive home?” He pulled Sam into a hug.

“Hey, Dad. Yeah, sure.”

“He slept the whole way as usual, Benjamin. Just like you would have done.”

Mr. Kramer shrugged sheepishly. “Like father, like son, I suppose.” He suddenly noticed Lucas hovering just inside the door, holding his duffel bag. “And who’s this?”

Mrs. Kramer ushered Lucas forward with a gentle hand on his arm. “This is Sam’s roommate, Lucas. He’s going to spend the holidays with us.”

After blinking in surprise, Mr. Kramer smiled broadly, shaking Lucas’s hand firmly.

“Welcome! It’s good to meet you.”

“Thanks, nice to meet you, too.” Lucas peered around at what he could see of the tastefully decorated home. The living room featured dark redwood, accented with rich reds and yellows. He glimpsed the kitchen at the end of the front hall and saw more redwood cupboards and stainless steel appliances.

“Sam’s room is still a disgusting mess from Thanksgiving.” Mrs. Kramer glared at Sam as he opened his mouth. “I told you I’m not your maid anymore.” Glancing at her delicate gold watch, she pressed her lips together. “I’ve got to get organized in the kitchen; everyone will be here before we know it. Nathaniel has the extra bed in his room, so Lucas can stay there.”

Lucas followed Sam up a plush staircase off to the right. “Lucky you, you get to crash with my geeky little brother.”

Eight Nights

11

“Are you sure he won’t mind?” Lucas certainly wouldn’t be happy, and he had to admit the thought of rooming with a kid wasn’t his idea of a good time. Sam was bad enough.

“Who cares? What Mom says goes.” At the top of the stairs, Sam pounded on the first door on the left. “Yo, loser! Open up.” With that, he continued down the hall, which was decorated in muted tones of green and brown.

“Wait, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Dude, I’ve gotta piss.” With that, Sam disappeared into another doorway, closing it behind him.

After waiting a good twenty seconds without a response, Lucas knocked tentatively on the door. He didn’t hear any movement inside, so after another half minute, he knocked a little louder. This time he heard what sounded like a curse, followed by, “What?”

Lucas slowly poked his head in. The large bedroom had two twin beds jutting out from the left-hand wall, and Nathaniel sat at a desk straight ahead against the window side of the room. Lucas saw immediately that he wasn’t a little kid at all. From the back, he looked at least Lucas’s age, with short, wavy, chestnut hair.

“I’m reading, Sam.”

“Um, I’m sorry to bother you.” Lucas stood in the doorway awkwardly, not sure how to proceed.

Nathaniel spun in his seat. “Who are you?” He stared with big eyes through a pair of black-framed glasses, his soft features making him more pretty than handsome.

“I’m Sam’s roommate. From college. I guess I’m going to be your roommate for the holidays.” He glanced around the neat room, covered in childish wallpaper depicting sailboats and anchors. In the center of each wall was a large, framed black-and-white photograph. The stark and beautiful pictures of mountains and trees seemed out of place.

Nathaniel took this in before he smiled ruefully. “Clearly this was my mother’s doing.”

12 Keira Andrews

“How’d you guess?” Lucas smiled back. “Look man, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t be too happy if I were you.”

He shrugged. “It’s cool.”

“Thanks. I’m Lucas, by the way.” He dropped his bag and walked to the desk, putting his hand out.

Nathaniel stood, and Lucas could see they were about the same height. He regarded Lucas for a long moment before extending his hand. “Call me Nate.”

* * * * *

He leaned against the doorframe between the living and dining rooms, watching as Sam’s relatives chatted happily. There were grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…fourteen people in all. They’d all been very friendly when he was introduced, but Lucas couldn’t help but feel out of his element. He hadn’t been to many family gatherings.

“All right, time to light the menorah!” Mrs. Kramer clapped her hands once for attention. “Samuel, why don’t you do the honors and read the blessings.”

Sam didn’t look too excited, but he dutifully stepped up to the ornate candleholder in the front window. From the elevated candle in the center, two wings of four candles curved down gracefully to the left and right. After a moment, Sam spoke in what Lucas assumed was Hebrew.

Almost all of the guests recited the blessing along with Sam. Two more blessings followed, and Lucas wondered if he should bow his head. He glanced around the room and found Nate watching him from the other side. Lucas blushed and focused on Sam as he lit the center candle on the menorah, followed by the one farthest to the right.

Eight Nights

13

“Nathaniel, come and say the Hanerot Halalu. Stop hiding in the back.” Mrs. Kramer extended her hand and Nate came forward.

Taking a small book from his mother, he slipped his glasses on and began reading quietly. His voice was soft and melodious in contrast, and Lucas could hardly believe Nate and loudmouth Sam were related at all, let alone brothers.

When Nate was finished, he folded his glasses back into his shirt pocket, and Mr.

Kramer burst into song, everyone else following suit. Lucas couldn’t understand the lyrics, and as the verses went on, it seemed like only the older people knew all the words. After the song ended, Mrs. Kramer brought out trays filled with what looked like lightly powdered doughnuts without holes.

“Hands down, the best part of Hanukkah.” A pretty young woman with long, reddish hair smiled eagerly at Lucas, a tray in her hand. “Try one.”

Lucas returned her smile and picked up a doughnut. “Thanks for the tip. What’s your name?”

“I’m Rachel. Sam and Nate are my cousins. You’re Lucas, right?” She beamed at him.

“I am.” Lucas glanced at Nate, alone across the room, thumbing through the prayer book. “So what’s Nate like?” He hoped his tone was casual. There was something about Sam’s brother that he found intriguing.

“Nate? He’s always been quiet. He’s twenty-one now, but he’s still never had a girlfriend. Always too busy studying and taking pictures. I don’t know; he’s weird.” Shame flickered across her face. “I mean, I love him, of course! He’s a really good guy.”

“Oh, of course.” Mrs. Kramer walked by, apparently in the middle of an argument with an elderly man. Lucas raised an eyebrow at Rachel, changing the subject. “What’s up with them?”

14 Keira Andrews

Rachel rolled her eyes artfully. “Papa thinks we should be observing the Sabbath -- it’s every Friday. That would mean going to synagogue and not cooking anything or using cars to get home. It’s just not practical.”

“Does he follow the rules every week?”

“Yes, but he and Bubbe -- our grandmother -- are the only observant ones in the family.” Rachel leaned in and lowered her voice. “Except if there’s a Mets game on a Friday.

Then all bets are off.”

Laughing, Lucas took a bite of his doughnut, and a divine sweetness filled his mouth.

“Wow, you’re right. That’s delicious. I didn’t know you guys had holiday doughnuts.”

Laughing, she said, “Sufganiyot, but yeah, that’s basically what they are.”

“And you eat them before dinner?”

“In our family we eat them before and after. Sometimes during,” Nate said, appearing beside Lucas and reaching out to the tray.

Lucas laughed. “Beats turkey, that’s for sure.” Not that he and his father ever had a traditional Christmas. They’d made their own tradition: pizza and junk food and football on TV. His dad had loved football, and even though Lucas didn’t, he never complained.

He remembered their last Christmas, when his dad couldn’t keep anything down thanks to the never-ending chemo. He fell asleep in his armchair at halftime, but Lucas kept the game on, just in case his dad woke up.

“Rachel, I think my mom needs you in the kitchen,” Nate said.

As she scurried off, Lucas swallowed the large lump in his throat, blinking rapidly as he looked at the floor. He was going to make a fool of himself if he didn’t get it together. After a calming breath, he took another bite of his doughnut and tried to act normal. “So, you guys eat like this for eight nights in a row?”

Nate smiled softly. “No, we just have a big dinner on the first night and once again before it’s over, depending on everyone’s schedules. We light the menorah every night, but Eight Nights

15

that’s about it. Hanukkah’s actually not that big a deal. It’s not a high holiday like Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah.”

Another tray went by, and they both grabbed another sweet treat. Lucas was feeling better, his memories of his father receding. “What other Jewish delicacies await me tonight?”

“You like potatoes?”

“Does anyone not like potatoes?”

Nate seemed to ponder the question seriously. “No one I can think of.” He added,

“Tonight the potatoes will be in pancake form. Latkes.”

“I really hope there isn’t maple syrup involved.”

As Nate grinned, a dimple appeared in his left cheek, and Lucas felt a flutter in the pit of his stomach. He reminded himself that the last thing he needed was to develop a crush on his roommate’s brother. The brother he was sharing a room with for the next two weeks.

Mrs. Kramer dashed by, insisting that Lucas eat the last sufganiyot on her tray. He gratefully obeyed and stuffed it in his mouth.

“It’s time to sit down.” Nate’s hand was warm on Lucas’s shoulder, and a tingle ran all the way down his arm. He nodded and followed him into the dining room, hoping his cheeks weren’t too bright.