The Day the Flowers Died Read online

  Over next few days, Eli and Rebecca caught each other’s glances in the hallway, while one was leaving and the other was coming in. Occasionally Eli said, “have a good day.” Rebecca would smile and wave, motioning she had to depart. But minutes and stolen moments were all they had that week.

  Upon the weekend, Rebecca nestled on her sofa to watch television that evening. Someone tapped on her door a few times. She pulled her hair to one side, letting it dangle over her left shoulder, and straightened her knee length skirt and silk white shirt before answering. The safety latch let the door open a few inches for her to peek outside. When she recognized Eli, she relaxed and released the lock.

  “Are you available?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Rebecca tried to conceal her enthusiasm and opened the door wider to allow him entry. “No duties to attend to?” she joked.

  “Freed myself up.” Eli returned the humor while mimicking handcuffs falling off his wrists.

  “Freed from your business plans or your parents?” Rebecca raised an inquisitive brow.

  “From parental expectations. Besides it’s almost evening and my father doesn’t like me to finish up work on Shabbos.” Eli walked through the opened door into her apartment. He set his briefcase by the door and headed to her living area. Glancing around, his eyes broadened at the television set.

  “My home.” Rebecca closed the door behind her. “It’s miniscule, but its mine.”

  “You’ve made the space very accessible. It’s quaint.”

  “Thank you.” Rebecca went to the kitchen. “Would you like some milk, tea or coffee?”

  “Tea, please.”

  Rebecca filled her teapot and set it on the stove, separated from the living area by the sofa.

  “How long have you lived here?” Eli sat on the sofa.

  “For three years, since college. I left when I was nineteen. My parents live outside the city and I didn’t want to travel. It makes it easier for me this way.”

  “My mama would never allow something like this for my sisters, away from home to attend college.”

  “I’m an independent lady. I’ve always been. I fought my mutti on it, but my father was on my side.” Rebecca snuggled between the sofa cushion and a pillow sitting next to Eli.

  “Papa’s girl?” Eli questioned.

  “My mutti is now used to the idea of me being away, though it was difficult for her my first year. But I had my mind made up and I wasn’t going to change it.”

  “You have a television.” He gestured toward the wooden box, eager to ask about it. “I’ve only seen one other in another home.” Eli stood a brief moment to brush his hands over the soft wood frame and then sat down next to Rebecca.

  “My father.” Rebecca grinned and lowered her chin.

  “How are your parents doing since the Depression?”

  “My father saves a lot and has been able to take care of tuition for me, but it has hit them too, even with their successful business. We can’t buy the luxuries we once did.” Rebecca’s voice stressed the last sentence, “My mutti is still not used to that.” She turned towards Eli with her lean legs moving closer.

  “Why do you work then?” Eli laughed in his question.

  “I told my parents I wasn’t going to take their money for living expenses, only for tuition. My father didn’t want me working. But I wanted to make my own way, so I found a job.” She spoke quickly, then emphasized her question, “What about you?”

  “I went in ‘24. My parents do well and we haven’t had to worry about money. As long as I followed my papa’s plans for my life, he paid my way. So even after the Depression hit in ’29, my last two years of law school were taken care of for me. I’ve been working for the last two years at my papa’s firm.”

  “And you’re a successful lawyer now?” Rebecca’s right brow quirked upward.

  “I handle business law at the firm.”

  Rebecca met Eli’s eyes with her sensual gaze and Eli’s long lashes flitted as he watched her in return. He reached out and caressed her hand, his thumb pressing into her palm while his fingers memorized the softness of her skin. She stayed motionless, mesmerized, until the kettle on the stove whistled – toooot. Leaping from the sofa, she took the kettle off the burner, feeling Eli’s eyes on her. She poured Eli a cup of tea and then one for herself, placing them on wooden coasters on her coffee table. Eli sipped a few times and then stood in anxious propriety. “I should get to my room.”

  “I’ll see you again?” Her eyes invited him back.

  “Most certainly.” Eli stepped out the door and Rebecca followed him, waving goodbye until he scurried upstairs and out of sight. In his room, Eli took out his file from his briefcase and laid it on his teak table. Big and rectangular, it filled the middle of the living room. Books and papers rested on top of its maroon placemats. He went to his fridge, took out his cup of juice and swallowed in one gulp. His phone rang and he raced over to pick it up.

  “Eli?”

  “Yes, Mama, it’s me. Who else would it be?”

  “Are you going to make it to the feast this year? You know it’s just two days away. I don’t like it when you’re not there. It’s not the same.”

  “Yes, Mama, I’ll be there.”

  “It’s going to be real nice with lots of food and all your relatives.”

  “Should I bring anything?”

  “Don’t worry about it, son.”

  “Your place again?”

  “Yes, Eli, of course.”

  “What time?”

  “Try to be here by six. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Mama.” He hung up and walked to the shower.

  Rebecca cleaned up the cups before snuggling into bed and wrapping up in expensive quilt bought by her mother. Hours later, the alarm sounded when the sun barely rose in the sky. Rebecca lifted herself in slow motion out of the bed and rushed her bath before dressing in two beige shirts layered over each other and a long white skirt. She wrapped her neck with a black scarf and then headed out the door to hail a cab.

  The streets saturated with busy workmen, the homeless, and fathers struggling for their family’s survival. Rebecca sympathized with the struggle, never flaunting her wealth and never fully understanding the sacrifices each man and woman made. Though her upbringing was rigid in polite mannerisms and social expectations, she remained as free as the flowers she picked blowing in careless winds. She carried a crisp white lace apron inside her school bag for the job she procured and would attend after nursing classes at University.

  Eli tightened his button down blue shirt and fastened his dark blue tie around his neck before heading to his office. Last night’s rain still dampened his dark blue car. He wiped his window off with a towel and opened his door, laying the damp towel in his glove compartment. The streets teemed with vehicles and people rushing to get to work in the very early morning. Anyone who had a job was happy for it and employers took no excuses for tardiness.

  Everyone felt the tensions of Germany. Families fell apart; children went to bed hungry and more layoffs were on the way. The future of the country was uncertain, except for the promises made by eager politicians. Eli pulled up to his building a few streets away from his apartment. It felt like a second home to him, filled with family and friends. He walked in with a big grin and a beige brief case swinging in his hands.

  “Eli! Just the man I wanted to see.” A tall man with a short brown beard ambled up to him and handed him a few papers. “We need these checked this morning.”

  “I’ll get on it.” Eli walked through the hallway, passing a few doors until reaching the one with his name etched into a metal tag. He went inside his office and sat down in his cushioned chair, ready to begin the workday.

  Rebecca’s cab drove her to University and she hopped out while handing the cab driver the fee. She scrambled to her first class and then attended her next two until her academic day finished and she took another cab to the local diner. She rushed inside for the afternoon shift, p
ulling her hair into a bun and fixing it in place with bobby pins. She walked to the counter, smiled courteously at the cook with his head bobbing behind the pots, and opened the cash register. Meticulously handling the cash, she counted it twice for accuracy. The diner’s owner walked in through the front doors, his pinstriped shirt dangling over his black pants and loose belt.

  “Good to see you, Rebecca. How is everything today?”

  “Good, sir.” She lowered her head and tended to her afternoon duties behind the cash register. The owner with a rounded stomach walked with a limp, caused by an accident some years ago. He passed the counter on his way into his small office where he disappeared behind the shut door.

  The day passed in typical fashion for the both of them until they found their way back to their apartment building just before the sun set. The next day was almost as un-notable until Rebecca found an envelope underneath her door after work. Eli? She thought to herself, and with innocent and unbridled enthusiasm, she tore open the envelope to read the letter.

  Dear Rebecca,

  If you are not otherwise engaged tonight, I would be very happy if you would accompany me to dinner. I will be waiting for you outside our apartment building at five. Looking forward to seeing you,

  Eli

  A sure smile spread across Rebecca’s face as she read and then placed it on her coffee table. After showering, she changed into a long white and pink dress with a flower print. Raised in an affluent part of town, Rebecca had grown in the habit of washing regularly to appease her mother. Something the lower class did not. Gazing out the window, she saw Eli waiting below with his hands to his face, blowing in them to keep warm. She pulled on a marshmallow colored sweater and skipped down the steps to meet him.

  “Eli!”

  He turned around, not expecting her so soon.

  “Rebecca!” He walked to her and wrapped his arm around her waist to usher her into his 1923 dark blue Audi parked against the curb. They drove to a radiant restaurant, a mix of French and German cusine, its elegance caused from high lighting and extended windows let Rebecca know this dinner would be expensive. Eli parked and escorted her, with his hand over hers, into the posh dining facility.

  The hostess glared at them under the façade of an elegant smile and walked them to their table, careful not to linger too long. Wrapped up in each other’s glances and emotions, neither Eli nor Rebecca noticed the discourtesy.

  Eli brought his hands up to his chin as if in prayer. “I must confess something.” He whispered loud enough for only her to hear.

  Rebecca moved in closer, leaning over the table, stretching one hand out to his. “What?” The light from the high ceiling reflected in her eyes. Her pinky ran across her lips in an unconscious invitation to a kiss.

  “I have had my eye on you for some time and have been trying desperately to find a way to talk with you.” He couldn’t look away from her playful little finger.

  “I’m flattered.” Her eyes squinted, “but what kept you away so long?”

  “Humility? Fear? Work? Take your pick.”

  Rebecca laughed at his jest, picked up the menu and read over the items. “Eli coq au vin.” The waiter noticed Rebecca across the room preparing to order and, before she could ask for him, he stood beside her. “I would like to order this,” she pointed with her forefinger “and this to drink.” She moved her finger to the water with lemon. The waiter jotted the order down and walked beside Eli. He cleared his throat while waiting for Eli to decide. Rebecca noticed the waiter’s impatience and flipped her menu open facing Eli. “How about this?” She pointed to the German sausages with sauerkraut.

  “No, I can’t eat that,” he said mostly to himself. The waiter flinched at his remark. Rebecca looked at him, confused. “Pork,” he clarified. “I’ll just take this.” He pointed to the sautéed chicken with vegetables and then moved his finger up to his favorite white wine. “A bottle with two glasses, please.” The waiter moved away to fulfill his orders.

  “You don’t like pork?” Rebecca asked.

  “I try to keep kosher. My father would kill me if I didn’t.”

  Rebecca smiled in childlike form. “Do you mind if I eat my pork in front of you?”

  “Go ahead. Enjoy. This is your night.” Eli touched her hands resting close to him. An elderly couple at the next table stared at the two of them in their unfettered mingling and then the look of disgust appeared just before they turned away and whispered.

  The sommelier set the wine in the center of the table with two glasses beside the bottle. The chef served the food on expensive white porcelain plates. Placing the chicken before Eli, the waiter winked at Rebecca when he set her dinner before her with his back to Eli.

  “Will there be anything else?” The waiter asked with folded hands, his eyes focused on Rebecca.

  “No, thank you. That will be all,” Eli confirmed his departure and the waiter left.

  “This looks delectable.” Rebecca began eating and Eli smiled, watching her enjoy each bite.

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  The room filled with sounds of muted chatter in French and German, glasses clicking and soft music. Eyes circled around the room, over at them and then away again: eyes curious, eyes confused, eyes of distain.

  Nearing the end of dinner, Eli looked at his watch and pursed his eyebrows.

  “Are you alright?” Rebecca asked.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m heading to my mama’s Sukkos feast tonight and I can’t miss it. She will be especially upset with me if I’m late, since I missed last year’s.”

  “Oh.” Rebecca’s blue eyes clouded and she shaped her plump lips into a pout.

  “My mama makes a big deal of it every year and my relatives are expecting me to be there, too.”

  “Maybe we should get going then?” Rebecca recognized the gravity of distress on Eli’s face. “We can finish up. I’m just about done and then you can drop me off and head to your parents for the evening.”

  “You don’t mind? It’s so rude of me to be departing early.”

  “I don’t mind. I’m getting tired anyway. We can go out again when you have more time.” Rebecca slid out of her chair, eager to encourage Eli to honor his parental expectations and he plodded dutifully with his arm slid around her waist, drawing her close. He smiled when she rested her head on his shoulder as they walked to his dark blue car.

  Saturday, October 17, 1931

  The light of day radiated through Munich and, for Eli and Rebecca, in an inconspicuous way, it somehow shone brighter over their apartment building. Rebecca awoke to the daylight shining through the drawn curtains. She opened the framed glass and smelled the fresh air blowing into her room. “Munich in the fall.” She smiled and loved how she felt at this moment.

  After clipping the orange Marsh Marigolds she bought at the flower shop on the street corner, she arranged them in her crystal vase. Marsh Marigolds reminded her of Buttercups, another favorite flower. Expecting Eli early, she then hastened to clean the mess on the kitchen counter and coffee table,. Saturdays gave them more time to spend together than the busy weekdays.

  She tossed the dirty plates into the sink and let them soak while she luxuriated in a bath scented with fresh orange soaps. The white satin dress she chose for the day unapologetically emphasized her womanly shape.

  Eli skipped steps to his cheerful whistle on his way from his apartment to hers. He wore a blue shirt that buttoned to the top, but decided against a tie. A brown belt accessorized his brown slacks, and his dependable trench coat covered all. He knocked, calling her name.

  Rebecca opened the door and, for a moment the sunlight from the kitchen window shone through the white satin dress, settling over her delicate female silhouette underneath which became visible to Eli for the first time. Eli blushed, the sunlight vanished, and his gaze jerked upward. Rebecca walked into the hall, clasping her arm around his, and turned to lock the door. Eli held his other arm behind his back and, before Rebecca could get her key
in the lock, he revealed a single bright blue Cornflower.

  Her eyes widened in surprise and, when he stroked the velvet petals once down her cheek, she closed them for a moment. “It’s beautiful.” She made sure her hand touched his to take the flower. With an alluring smile, she stepped backwards into her apartment and, after adding it to her other flowers, Rebecca came back to Eli. “Thank you.”

  “I noticed you loved them.”

  “I do; my second favorite flower next to Gerber Daisies.”

  “I’ll have to get you one of those next time.”

  Colder than previous Octobers, their breath fogged in front of them when they reached the sidewalk. Rebecca tightened the black scarf around her neck and Eli blew into his hands and rubbed them for warmth while they walked up the street.

  “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” he told her, trying to keep a secret he desperately wanted to share. “How was your week?”

  “Busy, but I’m almost done with school. I’ll be able to concentrate on nursing full time soon.” Eli noticed her shivering and took her hand into his.. “And you?”

  “Always a long work week with clients.” Eli shook his head.

  “Have you ever worked on a big case, an important one?” Her blue eyes widened.

  “Every client believes his case is the big, important one.” Eli laughed, “So I guess I have.” They strolled a few more blocks until reaching a park filled with kids. The youngsters, bundled in heavy winter coats and knit wool hats, played under their mothers’ watchful eye.