Recap: The FBI traced the small device behind Junie’s ear to the terrorist Muhammad Abdullah, her former owner. A fierce thunderstorm struck, and Junie went missing.
The next morning, I automatically started to call for Junie to take her out. Then the sinking feeling hit me – she wasn’t here. Junie never came back.
I headed downstairs. Aunt Ruthie was sipping coffee.
“Did she come back?” I asked hopefully.
“No, Evie. But I’m sure she will. She knows the way home.”
I wanted to believe her, but I knew something Aunt Ruthie didn’t. That evil man had hurt Junie before. What if he found her again? What if she couldn’t come back?
Mom strode into the kitchen. “Good morning. Your friend Rikki is on the phone.”
She handed me her phone.
“Hi, Evie. Did she come back?”
“No,” I said.
“Let’s think positive. B’ezras Hashem, she will. She knows the way.”
I swallowed. “Yeah, but what if…”
“Don’t even think it. Think good – it will be good. That’s what my father always taught us. By the way, your mom, and anyone else from your family who wants to, is invited for Friday night dinner.”
“Thank you. Tell your father that’s really nice.”
After I hung up, I asked Mom if she’d like to come.
Mom surprised me. “I’d like to come. I want to bring Jake and his daughter.”
“Uh, okay,” I said. I hadn’t really gotten to know Mr. Cohen yet, and I didn’t know his daughter, but it felt good that Ima wanted to join. At least one parent wasn’t letting me down.
I pushed all the disappointed feelings deep inside and tried not to dwell on my father – how his visit had left me feeling like a stranger he barely knew or cared about, while he had his own family now. I wasn’t going to sit around pining for what could never be. I wasn’t!
…
Friday afternoon, I dressed in a pink button-down blouse and a long black pleated skirt that Rikki had lent me. Ima wore pants and a turquoise blouse.
Mr. Cohen arrived, and Maggie was with him.
“Are you coming, too?” I asked Maggie.
“My father said we were invited. If not, then…”
“Wait – is Mr. Cohen your father?” I asked.
Maggie nodded. She whispered in my ear, “Remember, he adopted me.”
It took me a few moments to process the news. Maggie was Mr. Cohen’s daughter!
I linked my arm in hers. “I’m so glad you’re coming.”
“Did you find Junie yet? I heard she’s missing.”
I sighed. “She’s still not home. We put up signs and everything. I miss her so much.”
“Me, too,” Maggie said. “Emmie keeps asking for her.”
We all piled into Mr. Cohen’s large SUV. “How’s the skating going?” he asked me.
“Good, thank you.”
“Your mom thinks you’ll win the competition hands down.”
“I don’t know. My coach is very critical, but I’ll give it my best.” Mr. Cohen showed more interest in my skating than my own father ever had.
We pulled up to Rikki’s house. Rikki was outside watching her brothers.
She ushered us inside. Rabbi Bernson welcomed my mom and Mr. Cohen warmly.
“Do you have any news about Junie?” Maggie asked Rikki.
“Actually, I do!” Rikki smiled at me. “A neighbor called. She saw your sign and said she spotted your dog under her bushes last night.”
“So, let’s go there!”
“I already went. Junie wasn’t there.”
“Where could she be?”
“It’s a good sign that she was seen nearby. We’re going to find her,” Rikki said confidently.
Sarit was setting the table. She nodded at me.
“Rikki, please show me where you keep the glasses,” she said.
Rikki dutifully headed into the kitchen.
“It was so kind of your father to offer for me to sleep over,” Sarit said. “I can spend more time with you and your friends.”
Rikki didn’t respond. I was pretty sure she was gritting her teeth.
“Maybe you’ll hear from your mother today before Shabbos,” Sarit added.
Rikki set up the candles. Then she motioned for me to follow her upstairs to her room. “I wanted to give you something, Evie. You’ve been so kind, spending all this time on the skating lessons. I want you to have this. It’s a real silver ring from Eretz Yisrael.”
She handed me the ring.
“It’s beautiful. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Please wear it and enjoy.”
I slid it onto my finger. I noticed Hebrew words engraved inside. “What does it say?” I asked.
“It says, ‘Jerusalem is in my heart.’”
Sarit walked into the room and admired the ring. “That’s a lovely ring.”
“Thank you,” I said.
It was about an hour before candle-lighting when Rabbi Gold handed Rikki his phone. “Herb said they spotted Junie.”
My heart fluttered.
To be continued…
Susie Garber is the author of Captured (Menucha 2025), an historical fiction novel, Please Be Patient (Menucha 2024), Flight of the Doves (Menucha Publishing 2023), Please Be Polite (Menucha Publishers 2022) , A Bridge in Time (Menucha Publishing 2021), Secrets in Disguise (Menucha Publishers 2020), Denver Dreams, a novel (Jerusalem Publications, 2009), Memorable Characters…Magnificent Stories (Scholastic, 2002), Befriend (Menucha Publishers, 2013), The Road Less Traveled (Feldheim, 2015), fiction serials and features in Binah Magazine and Binyan Magazine and “Moon Song” in Binyan (2021-2022) and Alaskan Gold ( 2023-2024).