Chaya was just finishing the editing of her latest workout video when the phone rang. She took a quick look, and was surprised to see that it was her neighbor Avi. "That's weird," she thought. It wasn't considered proper in their Ultra-Orthodox circles for men, especially married men, to call women just to chat, so there must be a good reason why her next door neighbor would be calling her out of the blue.
"Hi Ms. Goldstein, This is your neighbor Mr. Shapiro calling"
His voice was warm and friendly, and Chaya couldn't help but feel a slight bit of amusement at his usage of her last name when they both knew each other's first, but that was the community they live in. "Hello, Mr. Shapiro. How may I help you?"
Avi hesitated before continuing, "Well, I typically wouldn't bother you about this, but my usual babysitter canceled and I just can't find a replacement. I usually wouldn't bother you but would it be ok for me to ask you to come by for an hour or so?"
Chaya felt her heart race. Helping someone out in need was part of being a good neighbor, and taking care of children was something she was very comfortable doing. "Of course, Mr. Shapiro.
Chaya replied. She quickly packed her laptop and grabbed her purse, making sure to spritz herself with her favorite perfume before leaving. The fragrance of jasmine and sandalwood wafted around her as she walked towards the Shapiro residence.
As she entered the house, she could hear the excited chatter of little children coming from upstairs. Chaya smiled, remembering how much she loved being around children. They always brought such joy and innocence into her life.
"They should be 99% asleep by now," Avi said as Chaya slipped into the couch. "Thank you so much for stepping in"
"Not a problem at all," Chaya replied. As the door closed behind him
Chaya opened the book she had brought along with her and started reading.
The words on the page blurred together as her thoughts drifted back to the day Avi and his family had moved in. At first, Chaya hadn't paid much attention to them. She was focused on her own life.
She remembered how she used to see Avi and his wife walking, laughing together, and talking animatedly. They seemed like the perfect couple. But then, suddenly, without any warning, they separated. People in their community whispered about possible reasons, but no one ever confirmed anything.
Chaya didn't want to pry, but she couldn't help but notice how well Avi managed his new role as a single father. He was always attentive to his children, making sure they were fed, bathed, and entertained. He even found time to exercise and maintain his home.
As Chaya watched Avi interact with his children, she couldn't help but admire his strength and resilience. He seemed to handle everything with grace and ease, despite the challenges he faced. And let's not forget, he looked incredibly good while doing it. His broad shoulders, toned arms, and defined abs visible when he was swimming with his kids in their backyard pool made it hard for Chaya to keep her eyes off him.
She tried to focus on her book, but her mind kept wandering back to the image of Avi shirtless, water dripping down his muscular body.
The more she thought about it, the more aroused she became. Chaya couldn't believe she was having these thoughts about her neighbor, who was technically still married. She felt guilty for even entertaining such ideas, but she couldn't deny the intensity of her desire.
In her mind, she pictured herself and Avi playing tag in the pool, their bodies colliding with the force of their laughter. She imagined his strong hands gripping her waist as they raced across the water, their faces close enough to share breathless smiles.
Her heart raced faster, and she felt a sudden urge to explore her own body. Gently, she reached down beneath the hem of her dress and began caressing herself, allowing her fingers to glide over her soft skin. With each stroke, her breath became heavier, and her desire grew stronger.
As she touched herself, she could almost feel Avi's hands on her, his lips brushing against hers. She closed her eyes, lost in the sensation, her body trembling with anticipation.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching the room. She quickly adjusted her skirt and looked up. At the doorway was one of Avi's sons, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Where's my daddy?" he asked
"It's okay, sweetie. Your daddy will be here soon," Chaya reassured him, hoping her voice would remain steady. The boy nodded, yawning widely as he stumbled back to his room.
Chaya followed him, making sure he was safely tucked in under the covers. Feeling a sense of calmness settle over her, Chaya decided to sit on the edge of the boy's bed and read her book until Avi returned. She was exhausted from her day, and the soft mattress provided a comforting surface to rest upon.
As she began to read, her eyelids slowly began to droop. The soothing rhythm of the words and the calming atmosphere lulled her into a deep state of relaxation. Before she knew it, Chaya found herself falling asleep, her head nestled against the pillow.
Avi came home quietly, trying not to make too much noise and awaken his sleeping children. Surprised not to see Chaya in the living room, he began to look around the house. As he tiptoed past his son's bedroom, he couldn't help but notice the sight of Chaya sleeping peacefully on his son's pillow.
He stood there, watching her for a moment, taking in her beauty, her dark brown hair cascaded over the pillow, and her face bore a gentle expression, reflecting the kindness within her soul.
Avi felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He had never expected to feel this way about another woman, but there was something undeniably special about Chaya.
Avi stood there, watching her sleep, feeling a mixture of emotions coursing through him. He admired her beauty, her intelligence, and her kindness. He couldn't help but think about how she had stepped in to help him when he needed it most.
He knew he shouldn't be thinking about her like this, but the feelings were too powerful to ignore.
After standing there for a few minutes, watching the peaceful rise and fall of her chest, he softly called out her name, causing her to stir slightly. Chaya's eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him with a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
"Oh, Mr. Shapiro! I didn't mean to fall asleep." Chaya apologized, hastily sitting up and smoothing her hair.
Avi smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't worry about it, Ms. Goldstein. I understand. You've been a great help today."
Chaya felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. "Thank you, Mr. Shapiro. I appreciate the opportunity to help. And you can call me Chaya by the way, Ms. Goldstein sounds like I'm your teacher or something"
"Sure thing Chaya", Avi said. "And you can drop the title and call me Avi too."
Chaya blushed, still embarrassed from being caught sleeping. She noticed a framed photograph of Avi hiking up a mountain on the wall and decided she'd ask him about it in an attempt to change the subject.
"That's quite an impressive picture!" Chaya exclaimed, pointing at the photo. "Where did you take that?"
Avi smiled, proudly recalling the memory. "That was taken during a hike in the Swiss Alps. It was an amazing experience."
