Cibi shakes her head.
‘That’s OK. You will again.’
‘I’m not sure I will, Livi. God used to live in here.’ Cibi touches her chest. ‘But now my sisters fill that space.’
‘If your heart is full, then maybe it’s the same thing.’
‘I have always had my sisters, Livi. There has never been a time when one or other of you wasn’t there for me, but we needed God in those camps, and where was he?’ Cibi says, firmly.
Livi has no response for this. Her sister’s heart was broken, just as hers was, and Magda’s. Like Cibi, she has no idea if, when or how they will begin to heal.
Cibi stands and takes Livi’s hand. ‘The sun is coming up and we have all the time in the world to discuss your love life and my faith, or lack of it. Right now we need some sleep before Karol wakes up.’
*
A week later, Magda and Yitzchak and Livi return to Cibi’s house for dinner. Cibi thinks Magda looks pale. While memories of the wedding party are recalled and savoured, Magda stays ominously silent. Maybe her sister has an announcement, Cibi wonders mischievously, but when Cibi tries to catch her eye, Magda looks away.
‘I’ve got some good news,’ says Cibi, wondering if this is just what Magda needs to cheer up. ‘Uncle Ivan wrote to me. He, Irinka and the children have been given permission to come to Israel. Isn’t that wonderful?’
‘It’s wonderful!’ says Livi, clapping. ‘We’ll be a family again, all of us together.’
‘Do you think it’s wonderful, Magda?’ asks Cibi cautiously, when her sister fails to show the same enthusiasm as Livi.
‘Of course I do!’ says Magda. ‘Irinka’s pregnant, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, they want their new baby to be born in Israel. Isn’t that romantic?’
Magda nods.
‘Magda, come on!’ says Cibi, while their husbands are taking the plates through to the kitchen. ‘Tell me what’s going on with you. You’ve barely said a word all evening.’
‘Don’t forget she’s a newlywed, Cibi,’ says Livi, cheekily. ‘Maybe she’s just too happy to talk.’ Livi winks at Magda.
Magda raises her eyes, and both Livi and Cibi startle: Magda looks scared.
‘You’re worrying me now. Please,’ says Cibi.
‘Yitzchak,’ calls Magda. ‘Can you come in?’
The sisters are still sitting, side by side at the table when Yitzchak and Mischka come back into the room.
‘You’re right, Cibi.’ Magda swallows. ‘I have something to tell you and you’re not going to like it.’
‘What is it?’ asks Livi, her hand at her throat. ‘And why don’t I know? I live with you, for God’s sake.’
‘We wanted to tell you both at the same time. As you all know, I have loved living here.’ She looks at her husband. ‘It’s where I met Yitzchak after all. But’ – Magda takes a deep breath – ‘we want to move.’
Cibi looks confused, Livi startled.
‘What are you saying? You want to leave Israel?’ Cibi whispers.
‘Of course not!’ exclaims Magda. ‘How could you think that, of all things? We want to move to Rehovot. It’s a bigger town and it’s growing. It’s better for us, for our futures.’
Cibi rounds on Yitzchak. ‘Is this your doing?’ she demands.
‘Of course not!’ says Yitzchak, showing her his palms. ‘It’s not what you think, Cibi. This isn’t about abandoning the family.’
‘Cibi, please don’t be silly. Look at me,’ says Magda. ‘This is a farming town and I’m not a farmer. Neither of us is. I want to do something different with my life, that’s all.’
Cibi doesn’t know what to say. She stares at her hands, rough, a little calloused – but she doesn’t mind. She has found she loves the land.
‘Let’s just hear them out,’ Livi says, letting out a long breath. She nods to Magda to continue.
‘It wasn’t an easy decision, but when have any of our decisions been easy? Anyway, there are more work opportunities there, and we want to start a family.’ Magda’s faltering voice seems to reach Cibi from a long way away.
‘And you think this is OK, do you?’ Cibi says finally, turning to Livi.
‘I didn’t know, Cibi, so please don’t think I’m in on it. But they’re a couple now and couples have to make their own decisions, don’t they?’