#scarsdale

"Papa?" Zara goes hunting for Aaron in his study, plate of cookies and a mug of tea in hand.

"Mmm?"

"I brought you macaroons." She gently sets the plate on his desk. "How's the minecrafting?"

"Mm? Oh, thank you Princess. Good. Redstone."

"Oh! Exciting!" She slips behind the desk to check his screen. "Papa, could I talk to you?"

"Of course, Princess." Absently. Chick-chick-chick-chick game-sounds.

She rests her chin on Aaron's shoulder, watching him play. "Well, you know Mama..."

"Mm."

"She's going to be fifty, nu? I think... oh... Papa, you call me Princess, but Mama, she's a queen then - no?"

"Of course." Chick-Chick-chick-chick-chick

"She wouldn't tell you this, of course. Mama wouldn't. But... I have a secret, and it is one that would make her deliriously happy."

"Mm?"

"I did all the research, too!"

"Good for you, Princess! That's a life skill."

"Well, I learned that from you. But, oh - it was the other day, when you were at work. How long has it been since you've surprised her?"

"Mm?"

Chick-chick-chick-chick

"You don't know?"

"Know?"

"I do. Eighteen years! Papa, eighteen years since just the two of you went somewhere!"

"Papa, I'm not even 18!"

"What?" Watching the mining. "We went dancing at the community center last year."

"Feh."

"Papa, that isn't the same. Don't you find Mama beautiful?"

"What beautiful?" He looks around. "Zara, what's wrong?" Chick-chick-chick-chick .......

"But does Mama know? I know you do, but... Papa, you want to make her happy, nu?"

"She is your bashert, isn't she?"

"Of course she is, what, Zara...." He turns from the game. "What's wrong?"

"That's what I've been trying to talk to you about. Mama would never complain... after all, she loves you."

"And this is why she wouldn't ask, either. That's why I'm sneaking behind her back to let you know..."

Concerned. "Is she ok? I should go talk to her?" He's half out of his chair. "Maybe, is she sick?"

"Sit, sit. She is not sick, she is... oh... what is the word..."

He doesn't sit, but doesn't go. "Is she mad at me? Sad? What???"

"I think a little sad. Not unhappy, that's not the same... but... wistful? Longing?"

"Sometimes, Papa, you can be too wrapped up inside. I do it too, don't I?"

"I think... I think she wants to feel romanced. To be swept off her feet. To feel beautiful and desired."

"What? Zara... no, you're fine! I think, sure, I think... what's wrong with... I should go ask." He starts away.

She catches his hand. "Wait, Papa..."

"What, Zara, I need to go ... talk to your mother."

Distracted.

"And make her feel bad? No, no, no..."

"Papa, I did the research, I have a perfect plan!"

"Bad, what bad, I don't make Hannah feel bad, Zara, not on purpose.... what plan?" Asked and interrupts himself.

"You go talk to her, make a shanda? No. No, what you do is surprise her with a romantic gesture - make her feel like a bride!"

"Dinner tonight, maybe? On Mother's day? So - here's what I'm thinking. She was watching that show with Khan and Tattoo - the cruise ship one?"

"Like a... Zara... " He shuffles uncertainly.

She leans over to the computer - saving & minimizing the game before pulling up the browser. "She said she's never been on a cruise."

"No, I should take her to jail with an option of drowning....."

"What's got into you?"

"And see, I can drive now, I'm self-sufficient..." She pulls up a travel website.