Isaac lifted the last small suitcase into his trunk and slammed the hood shut. He had just enjoyed a great Shabbos with his family in Kayitz Colonies, a bungalow colony in the Catskill Mountains in New York. Like many of the other thousands of Orthodox Jewish families who escaped the sweltering Brooklyn heat for the mountains, he and his wife had found the mountains to be a great respite from their tiny apartment in Williamsburg.
The hardest part of the summer for Isaac was that he wasn't able to spend the week with his family. Since all his electrical business was in the city, he was forced to come visit just for the weekends. Still, he loved that his wife and kids got to relax in the pool and run around. He would come up every Thursday night, and leave on Sunday afternoon, packing as much fun as he could into those few hours.
He walked back into their cottage to say goodbye to his wife and children. As he was walking out, his wife asked him for a favor.
"Mrs. Steinwurzel asked if you would be able to drive her home. She has a wedding in Brooklyn and has no way to get in to the city."
"Sure" answered Isaac, "but find out if she's ok with being hot in the backseat. You know how my van's AC is. I can barely get it to cover the front."
"I'll find out." his wife answered. "She seemed desperate. maybe with the windows rolled down it will be ok."
A few minutes later, Isaac's wife confirmed. " She'll be fine, she said to meet her at the colony entrance."
Isaac drove over to the gate and let Bracha Steinwurzel in. She had a small bag, which he took and placed in the trunk. She got into the back seat, buckled up, and off they went.
They drove silently for a while, soft music playing over the car speakers. After a while, Isaac couldn't help but notice the glistening beads of sweat on Bracha's forehead. The summer heat was taking its toll, and the lack of air conditioning in the backseat made it even more uncomfortable for her.
"I'm sorry about the air conditioner not working back there Mrs. Steinwurzel," Isaac said. "Would you prefer to sit in the front? It's cooler here."
Bracha felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. How could she accept such an offer? This was a complete stranger offering her a place in the front, something only close friends and family did.
"No thanks" She said. "I'll be fine."
20 minutes passed, and even with the windows down, the heat was stifling. Bracha knew that it was considered inappropriate for men and women who weren't married to sit together in the front, but the thought of sitting in the scorching backseat for another hour was unbearable.
"I'm rethinking that front seat offer Mr. Weiser," She said. "I feel like I'm going to pass out."
"Please!" He answered. "There is no Mitzvah to kill yourself. And please call me Isaac."
"Oh yes! Thank you so much. That would be wonderful." Bracha replied, gratefully moving to the passenger seat.
As she settled in, her butt accidentally brushed against Isaac's arm. They both felt the accidental touch, but quickly pretended nothing had happened. Isaac focused on the road, and Bracha attempted to distract herself by admiring the scenery passing by.
"So how long have you been coming to the Catskills?" Bracha asked Isaac, trying to break the uncomfortable silence
"Just a couple of years now" Isaac smiled. "It's really nice to get away from the city sometimes."
"Yeah, I bet." agreed Bracha. "How do you manage to work full time in the city and still make it up here for the weekend?"
"It's definitely tough, especially when there's so much to do in the city. But having my family up here makes it worth it."
"I hear that. I wish my husband could join us, but he works too much. It's the third week in a row he just couldn't make it up." Bracha said with a touch of bitterness.
"I don't have much time to myself either, but at least I don't have to entertain him. He wants to be wined and dined, always looking for the next best thing. It's exhausting."
Bracha mentally kicked herself. Why was she baring her soul to this stranger. But there was something about Isaac's strong demeanor that made her feel safe. To be honest with herself, she found him quite attractive. Her upbringing wasn't as extreme as her husband, and before she had gotten married she used to go to the library and take out romance novels. She had always wished that her husband would treat her the way the men in those books treated their women, but she had long given up on that. Her husband barely spent 5 minutes touching her before "Doing the Mitzva" and having sex, and she had already gotten used to having to touch herself before he came into her bed so that he wouldn't hurt her.
She wondered what it would be like for Isaac to pull over to the side of the road and tear her clothes off. The thought made her a little tingly down there, and although she was ashamed of herself, she liked it.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Isaac said, breaking her reverie,. "It must be tough."
"Thanks," Bracha replied, a hint of relief in her voice. "It's just, I see your wife, how happy she is when you come. How happy your kids are. You're present, you're happy to be there with your loved ones. I guess that's all that counts."
"Thanks, you're making me blush," Isaac said as he eased the car off an exit and onto another highway. "I'm not used to strangers giving me compliments."
"Well it's payback from when you made me blush before, when my tush brushed against you!" Bracha blurted out, and then covered her face, shocked and ashamed that she had said that.
Well, I hadn't even noticed," Isaac lied, " I felt it but realized it was a mistake. But, truth be told, I'm back in the lead because you're blushing again!"
Bracha laughed. Her cheeks grew warm as she heard Isaac chuckle softly.
"You know, I've never seen anyone blush quite like you do," Isaac remarked, casting a sideways glance at Bracha. "It's kind of cute."
"Thanks!" Bracha said, " And now we'll continue the blushing party because I feel like my cheeks are on fire."
"They are," laughed Isaac. " Sorry for embarrassing you"
"On the contrary!" Bracha said, "I haven't felt this happy and lighthearted in months!" Bracha fell silent, lost in thought. Truth be told, she was angry at her husband Motty. He hadn't just not shown up, he also hadn't wanted sex with her going on five months.
No matter how hard she tried to look seductive, he didn't seem interested. Even her most revealing lingerie didn't pique his interest. She knew he was busy, but he never came home early enough to even share meals with her anymore, let alone have sex.
"I mean, I love my husband," Bracha admitted to Isaac with a sigh. "But sometimes I wish he were more like you."
