The day of the wedding finally arrived. I was dressed in a black dress that fell down below my knees and some black heels. My sister had joked that I looked like I was attending a funeral when she saw the outfit, but she said she loved it so my mother and I agreed that I would wear it.

The ceremony was a traditional Jewish ceremony that was held in the synagogue my sister and I had grown up attending. I smiled softly when I saw Jonah come in with Meyer, but I wasn't allowed to speak to him as they arrived just before the ceremony began.

Once the two were married, we headed to the reception. I was busy talking to guests, many of whom had watched my sister and I grow up. The women were more than thrilled to be asking about potential suitors for me. I would always smile and brush it off as Jonah's image manifested in my mind.

His dark hair that was just long enough to notice the natural curl to it. His dark eyes that always softened when he looked at me. I'd seen him at his angriest and he always softened the second I came into his line of sight.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt, but may I steal Mattie away?" Jonah asked as yet another women went on about me needing a husband.

"Only if you promise to take her off the market soon. She quite the berryer," the woman said.

"Maybe one day ma'am," he said.

"She wasn't joking," I said.

"I know she wasn't," he said. "What'd she call you?"

"A berryer. A women who would make a good housewife more or less," I said.

"I'm a little stressed about the speech."

"You'll do amazing," I said, fixing his tie and the collar of his shirt.

"You look great," he said.

"As do you, bubbala," I said. Calling him a darling earned a smile from him.

"Thank you," he said, taking a few deep breaths before heading out to give his speech.

After his speech, he immediately came over to me for reassurance that he'd done amazing. I gladly gave him the encouragement.

"Jonah," my sister said, walking over to us.

"Congrats," he said.

"Thank you," she said. "For everything. And, don't let little Tilly here get away. She thinks too much with her head sometimes, but she's one you'll want around in the long run."

"You aren't the first to tell me that," he said, smiling at me.

"I mean it Jonah," she said before heading off to see the other guests.

"Would you like to dance?" Jonah asked.

"I don't think that's going to happen," I said as Harriet, Joe, and Lonny, waltzed in.

"Rain check?" He asked. I nodded and he walked over to Meyer. The team looked in my general direction before sending Jonah back to me.

"They said they'll cover tonight," he said. I mouthed a thank you to Lonny before allowing Jonah to lead me to the dance floor.

"Mattie," Jonah said.

"Jonah," I said. We were dancing away as some kids from the synagogue ran around and a few couples danced to the slow song.

"I really do like you. I want to start a relationship with you. I know your head is telling you now isn't a good time, but your heart has to be saying something different," he said. "I mean if my Safta can find love in Auschwitz and your parents can survive a camp together, maybe two teenagers from New York can have a great love story too."

"I would really like to give it a try," I said.

He smiled down at me, resting our foreheads together for a few seconds before the song ended.

"Is there any weird Jewish courtship rules or can I just ask you to be my girlfriend and call it a day?" Jonah asked as we walked over to the table my parents were seated at.

"I think you could just ask, but my Tate will know for sure," I said, giggling a little.

"I'll go talk to him," he said before walking away. I stared at him in shock that he would respond like that.

"What's going on with you and Jonah?" My mother asked me as I reached the table.

"He wants to officially make me his girlfriend but he wanted to make sure there weren't any Jewish courtship rules," I said.

"And you agreed with him mammele?"

"I figured it was time to stop thinking with my head so much and start listening to my heart on occasion," I said. She smiled at me softly and pulled me into a hug.

"You have a good heart Matilda," she said.

"Thank you Mamme," I said.

"Tilly," my father said, gaining the attention of both my mother and I.

"You are old enough to marry, so you may date if you please. However, dating is not a game to us like it is to many American teens," my father said. I looked at Jonah who was sweating a little and moving anxiously.

"I know Tate," I said.

"That is all Jonah. You may date if you wish," my father said.

"Thank you," I said, hugging him quickly.

"Mattie, will you be my girlfriend?" Jonah asked.

"I'd love to Jonah," I said. He smiled at me, causing me to smile in return.

When my parents and I arrived home later that night, noise in the kitchen scared all three of us.

"It's just me," Harriet said.

"What that-?" I cut myself off from swearing. I needed to stay in my parents good graces.

"I brought your parents a wedding gift. It's in the basement," she said. She sat down at the table, eating whatever it was she had made for herself.

"Stay here mammele," my mother said. I had a feeling I didn't want to see what was in the basement and when I heard yelling I knew I was right.

"Who is it?" I asked softly as I sat down with her.

"The one who killed Aaron," she said matter-of-factly. I nodded a little, wanting to go down there and rip his head from his shoulders myself.

"This why you abandoned Joe and Jonah in Alabama?" I asked. She nodded and I rolled my eyes at her.

It fell silent between the two of us as we waited for my parents to return. It lasted for what felt like forever before the phone began ringing.

"Hello, Markowitz residence," I said as I answered the phone.

"Mattie," Meyer's voice came through.

"Hello Meyer," I said.

"Don't worry about it because I know your parents are busy but someone broke in and burned a good majority of the Ark. Most our files have been lost."

"They were all copies anyways," I said. "We'll work around this."

"That we will dear. Please pass the message along," he said.

"I will," I said and the line went dead.

I explained the situation the Harriet who just nodded as she internalized her anger with whoever did this.

Once my parents returned, I explained the situation again to them. They thanked me before sending me to bed so they could talk to Harriet alone.