Recap: Shekeret’s father tracked her down and broke into the house. He pointed a gun at Evie. Just then, Junie rushed in, and the father aimed the gun at Junie. Shekeret ran in. Her father fired, and Shekeret was injured. The FBI agents arrived a second later.
“Are you all right?” Herb questioned me and Maggie. My mother and Jake Cohen hovered over us. “We were so worried.”
“Baruch Hashem, we’re okay,” I said.
Junie jumped into my lap and I buried my face in her fur.
“We need to take Junie to the vet,” I said.
“You’re all going to the hospital to be checked out,” Herb said.
…
At the hospital, we met Rabbi Berson and told him what happened. Rikki was just being released. We tried to get information about Shekeret. We were told she was being admitted and undergoing emergency surgery.
Rikki and I hugged.
“I’m so sorry what you went through. It’s so crazy about Sarit!”
I nodded. “She actually saved Junie and us.”
“My mother’s on her way home now. Her flight was rerouted during the storm, and she spent the night in Boston.”
“So, my information wouldn’t have helped that terrorist anyway,” I said.
…
Shekeret had to be in the hospital for a week, and Rikki, Maggie, and I all visited her. When she was discharged, Rabbi Berson invited her to stay with their family.
..
I was sitting on the floor playing catch with Emmie and Maggie when Aunt Ruthie strode into the living room. “Evie, your father’s on the phone.”
All different feelings churned inside of me. Part of me wanted to run and speak to him, and part of me wanted to ignore him the way he ignored me.
Maggie was watching me, and so was Aunt Ruthie.
I took the phone.
“Hello,” I said coldly.
“Evie, I wanted to know if we could get together if you’re not too busy tonight. I wanted to talk to you.”
“Okay,” I said. You’re like eight years too late, I thought to myself.
“Can I come by tonight? We’ll go out for ice cream.”
“Okay.”
…
After dinner, my father appeared at the door. Aunt Ruthie answered and called to me. “Your father is here.”
I headed out the door. We strolled together in silence. We passed the park. “Let’s sit here a minute,” he said. He pointed to a bench near the lake. A swan floated by.
We both sat down. A streetlight cast leaf shadows on the sidewalk.
“Evie, I want to explain…”
“What?” I asked, looking down at my hands.
“I don’t know how to begin, but I want you to at least hear what I have to say. I didn’t leave you because I wanted to leave. I loved you, and I still love you dearly. I had too many issues then. I couldn’t be a good father or a good husband. I was dealing with an addiction, and I was not able to control myself. I needed help, so that’s why I came to Utah. I came here and I got the help I needed, but then, somehow, it was too hard to go back, and I am sorry – so sorry that I didn’t communicate with you all these years. You’ve grown up into such a beautiful young lady.” There was a catch in his throat.
He took my arm. “Evie, I want so much to be part of your life again. Will you come and meet Vicky and your stepsisters?”
It was a lot to think about and a lot to try to forgive. I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m so sorry…”
He walked me home. Moonlight lit our path.
When we reached the door to Aunt Ruthie’s house, I heard myself use the name I used for him when I was four. “Daddy, will you come to my competition?”
“When is it?”
I gave him the information.
“I wish I could, Evie, but I have work that day, and it’s a long trip to LA.”
I didn’t say anything. What was there to say?
He kissed my head, and I headed back into the house.
…
The day of the competition, I davened for success. Rikki called and wished me luck.
Allie called too. I felt confident in my camel spin and my jumps. The triple axel was smooth now. Even Mrs. Laster didn’t criticize it. Mom and Maggie were there to cheer me on. I headed to the back locker room to change into my skating outfit.
First, Janvier Fernandez skated an almost perfect program. She executed a perfect double axel and then a triple.
How was I going to beat that?
A girl named Katrina Horn skated next. She popped the axel. Her score was low. Tears streamed down her cheek as she exited the rink.
I heard my name called. I closed my eyes and visualized my dance routine. I glided onto the ice. I started with the camel spin. I could hear Mrs. Laster’s voice telling me to lean properly. I segued into a sitting spin and then a layback spin. I could feel the music moving me.
The jumps were next. I said a short prayer and skated into my first jump. I heard a burst of applause. My triple axel was perfect!
Next, I did the double, and then I gracefully ended in an arabesque.
The scores went up. I gasped. I had the highest score. I’d won.
I skated to my coach. Mrs. Laster nodded. “Good job, Miss Gold,” she said.
Mom enveloped me in a big hug. Then Maggie came forward and hugged me. Emmie clapped.
I was called to receive my gold medal.
As I skated back to the bench, a familiar figure strode towards me.
“Congratulations, Evie!” Daddy stood there just like in my dream.
“You came?” My voice was husky.
“I wanted to be here for you!” he said.
He held out his arms, and I felt his hug for the first time in eight years.
Tears streamed down my cheek. Thank you, Hashem, I said. Thank you.
Epilogue: Ten Years Later…
I’m living in Israel with my husband and two sons. I go by Chavie now instead of Evie. Rikki and I speak every day, and when she and her husband come to Israel, they stay with us. Sarit Aharon lives in Crown Heights with her husband, and we speak often on the phone.
Maggie lives across the street from me in Israel, and her boys play with mine. I have a goldendoodle, and Maggie and her boys love to come play with her. She reminds both of us of Junie.
My mother and Maggie’s father married, and they come to visit often. My father moved to Israel, and he comes to us almost every Shabbos.
I run a women’s skating class, and we perform once a year for women only.
A woman wanted to write about our story, Maggie’s and mine, and she interviewed me.
“Any life lessons you’d like me to impart to my readers?” the writer asked.
“Yes, Hashem is so kind and big and loves us so much. He can do anything, and in the blink of an eye things can change for the better. Never give in to despair or worry.”
Stay tuned for the next historical fiction serial, im yirtzeh Hashem, starting next week…
Susie Garber is the author of 11 popular Jewish books, including her newly released historical fiction novel The Blizzard (Menucha 2026) and recently published novel Captured (Menucha 2025). She is also the current news editor of Binyan Magazine.
