Chapter 23 Who Gets Married on NYE?

"They didn't even care!" Leah exclaimed with both joy and bewilderment, almost spilling her bloody mary as she gesticulated her point. She brought the cocktail to her mouth to cover her excitement.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Maya asked, mirroring Leah's sipping of her cocktail. The girls had met for brunch the day Leah got back to Manhattan after her Christmas with Gabe, when no one seemed to give two cents about her being Jewish. When no one commented or questioned her about her religious proclamation at dinner, she had expected that someone would mention it the next morning. She had woken up from her fitful sleep in the aerosol-smelling studio/storage room/office/guestroom ready to answer questions about Judaism, the way she generally did with non-Jews who always seemed intrigued by her religion—No, she wasn't religious, but yes, she followed many traditions, no, she didn't eat pork or shellfish, and yes, she had been bat mitzvahed—but no one mentioned it again. Not when they opened presents next to the tree which blocked a painting of a severely obese naked woman; nor when they ate French toast and bacon (except for Leah) for breakfast.

"It was just shocking," Leah responded to Maya as the waiter brought their brunch orders—eggs benedict for Leah and pancakes for Maya. "Like, it was such a big deal for my family."

"Of course it was." Maya then went on to explain to Leah the Jewish fear of fading away. Every time a Jew marries a non-Jew, their children become less Jewish. Sure they are half-Jewish, and maybe the next generation, a quarter, but unlike in mathematics, fractions in Judaism didn't really count. Half-Jews were less likely to uphold traditions and marry other Jews, and their offspring, quarter Jews, even less. "Christians don't have to worry about this," Maya continued. By default, everyone in the US is Christian, unless they make significant efforts otherwise (like Jews do). By default, Americans celebrate Christmas, swear on the bible, and follow Christian ideals. No amount of intermarriage will change this. "There will always be Christians. Even if they marry Jews, by default, they will still be Christians. And their children will be Christians."

True, thought Leah. Being Jewish took effort. It was not a default option. Like asking for ranch dressing instead of ketchup for a burger or switching off cookies that tracked your activity online. "Well, I guess Gabe doesn't even have to worry about that." Leah segued to the even more major thing she discovered during her trip. "He said he doesn't want children."

Maya clicked her tongue. "Most guys say they don't want children. They don't until they do, until their wives tell them they do."

"No, Gabe was really serious about it. He doesn't want kids at all." Leah hoped Maya had some more enlightening insights about this fact, something that could help Leah understand and accept and maybe even change this pivotal flaw in Gabe. But Maya only shrugged and stuffed pancakes into her mouth.

With their plates and glasses almost empty, Maya turned the conversation to the real important thing that two young single girls in New York needed to discuss after Christmas: "What are we doing for New Year's?"

Ugh. Leah sighed. She had heard so much about the magic of New Year's in New York. She'd heard about the parties and the glitter and the celebrations on every street. She'd wanted to be a part of it so badly. But her cousin Rebecca had to go and ruin it for her. Had to go and ruin it for everyone. Who gets married on New Year's Eve anyway? Only the most selfish person in the world, also known as Leah's first cousin Rebecca.

"Do I have to go?" Leah asked her mom on the phone sometime after Thanksgiving when invitations were officially sent out. Leah vaguely remembered hearing about a Save the Date sent over the summer and Leah had agreed she would go—that was before she had moved to New York and before she had learned about the epic adventure that only happened at the start of the year.

"Of course you have to go!" her mom insisted. "She's your cousin and you've always been so close!" So close to killing her, Leah wanted to say. There were a few ways to describe their closeness: for one, their age. They were just a few months apart. They had also gone to the same summer camp and slept in beds next to each other until high school when Rebecca joined USY instead of BBYO. "BBYO girls are just a little too promiscuous for me," Rebecca had said without ever even attending an event. Leah had taken it as a personal attack on herself—she was not promiscuous at all! She had one crush! One boyfriend her entire BBYO experience! Her friends may have kissed a few guys, but they weren't promiscuous! Especially when all the guys were Jewish!

Their closeness could then only be described as living parallel lives in different universes. Leah went to college where she joined Hillel and Rebecca became active in Chabad. So active, that she started dressing differently and then suddenly became engaged the minute she graduated college .

"She's a little young to get married," Leah's mom commented when the Save the Date arrived, but Leah could read her mom's real feeling all over her face: disappointment that Rebecca had beat Leah in finding a nice Jewish husband.

"Can I at least bring a date?" Leah asked when her mother insisted she attend the wedding. If she had to miss New Year's in New York, maybe she could at least still get her midnight kiss from her boyfriend. It was a big maybe though if he would agree to miss New Year's for a boring Jewish wedding upstate.

But much to Leah's surprise, her mom agreed to her bringing a plus one and Gabe agreed to be that plus one. So for better or for worse, they'd be taking the train upstate while the rest of the world seemed to pile into New York for the celebrations.

Leah told Maya about her plans, trying to make them sound less terrible than they actually were. Weddings could be fun! Surely there would be an open bar! She suggested to Maya they do a fancy dinner when she got back from the wedding and they could gush together over their New Year's adventures. Maya nodded, taking the last bite of her pancakes.

After brunch, Leah zigzagged back to her apartment. She hadn't yet seen Marissa since she got back and she had resolved to avoid her until she could figure out a new living situation. The easy way of avoidance was just to not be home unless she had to be. She could easily sleep and shower at Gabe's, eat at restaurants, and spend her free time walking the endless avenues and streets in Manhattan. Sure it was cold, and her apartment did have heat, but what was a little cold in exchange for avoiding the place she spent half her salary on?

All the walking gave her time to think about what she should do about her apartment. She wasn't ready to gamble with a new roommate and living alone was not in her budget. It may have been the cold freezing the logical parts of her brain, but she was starting to wonder if she could simply move in with Gabe. She already spent so much time there. They could both save money if they split the rent! Better yet, they could find a nicer apartment and move together!

The idea came to her when her nose was burning cold and her toes felt like stones connected to her feet. She found herself just steps away from her apartment and succumbed to the thought of putting her feet on the heater inside, despite the fact that it meant she might be in the same place as Marissa. Should she walk over the few blocks to Gabe's place? Tempting, but she knew he wanted some alone time to finish his book and she didn't want to seem needy or desperate (even if she was).

She quietly snuck into her apartment, took off her boots, and tiptoed into her room to put her feet up on the heater. Her phone buzzed and she was ready to put her boots back on, hoping it was Gabe saying he finished his book and couldn't wait to see her again even though they had been together nonstop for several days already. She grabbed her phone. It wasn't Gabe, it was disappointment.

Hope you had a good Christmas, friend! Chinese food as usual?

Asher. Out of boredom, Leah responded right away. The response would have been too fast if it were to someone she was actually interested in.

Had a real Christmas this year! Was awesome!

Sweet! A partridge in a pear tree and everything? I want to hear about it. BTW do you have New Year's plans? The speediness of his response showed he too held Leah in the same regard she held him. Friend.

Ugh my cousin is getting married! Who gets married on NYE? She tried to sound friendly.

Rebecca? That girl always has to be the center of attention , he responded right away. He knew all about Rebecca from their high school years. Another text came in.

A few people from BBYO are coming to the city to celebrate together. It wouldn't be the same without you! Can you back out?

Who's coming?

Jake, Ryan, Ari, and a bunch of Echad girls, like Jen, Mal, Alli. And you ; )

Echad girls. Her BBYO chapter. Her family. She felt a desire to go. To ring in the New Year with the people who were her everything before she packed up and went to college. The girls she promised would be her best friends forever, even after college and kids. They were all supposed to move to the same old folks home together. But everyone had gotten busy. Some pledged sororities, others became passionate about their studies. None carried the same flame for BBYO once they were out of the thick of it. But there were fond memories. So many memories. And Leah would have loved to see her old friends.

But she couldn't back out, especially with Gabe already agreeing to be her plus one.

Sounds cool. I'm not sure if I can go ? I'll let you know though.

She got a thumbs up back and that was the end of the quickfire conversation. Leah immediately felt the fear of missing out boil through her.