Illusions of Love by Cynthia Freeman

that we were no longer two against the world, we discovered we had vast differences of opinion. Till then I knew nothing about his family. We were no sooner engaged than his mother insisted I keep a kosher house. Need I say more? I would never marry outside our faith, but how would I ever be able to adjust to orthodoxy? Good Lord, I don’t know anything about Judaism. Well, one word led to another and we began finding fault with one another. I with his religious fervour and he with my lack of it. At first there were mild spats, but then he began to criticize me calling me a Jewish princess. He said I gave the impression that I was above his family. The truth, I realize now, was that we came from two different worlds. I could no more fit into his than he could mine.
    Anyway, Martin, I’ve come home a little wiser than I was before. I’ve grown up a lot since then and I know one thing. Breaking off a love affair whether it’s good or bad is always painful. I’m not going to say forever, but it will be a long time before I fall in love again.
    Martin, darling, this letter is so long I will sign off here.
     
    Please write and let me know how you are, though I admit your mother keeps us informed. Well, dear friend, I’m sure that we will look back upon our callow youth and reflect upon it in years to come.
    With deep affection, Sylvia

Chapter Six
    Two years had passed since Sylvia had exhorted Martin to reflect upon his callow youth, and now he was graduating from Yale. Martin’s parents had driven up from New York, bringing Sylvia, who had come East on a shopping trip. Martin found himself less angry with his father in recent months. The deteriorating situation in Europe gave them a broader base on which to agree. And since Sylvia’s confession about Maury, she and Martin had seemed to pick up the carefree friendship they had enjoyed as kids.
    After the ceremony Martin began pushing through the crowds. Parents were taking pictures, sweethearts were kissing, and kids were running around trying to attract their older brothers’ attention. Finally he saw Sylvia waving.
    He ran to meet her and took her in his arms.
    “Martin … Oh, Martin,” she said breathlessly.
    “I’m so proud of you!” Kissing her, he was unaware that his family was watching with approval. Martin, still carried away by the excitement of the day, hugged his mother, also unaware that she had laid a much more serious interpretation to Sylvia’s kiss. She hoped that, in Sylvia, Martin had found a woman who cherished him as much as she did.
    Bess’s eyes filled. This was her son, her only child, in cap
     
    and gown.
    “Oh, darling,” she said, ‘you’ve made us so very proud. “
    Something in his mother’s voice made Martin remember all the years of devotion she had lavished upon him as a child. Today all the resentments of his youth had abated. They had been growing pains at worst, and now he could say with a grateful heart, “Thank you, Mom. I hope I’ll always justify that feeling.”
    Julian put an arm around his son’s shoulders.
    “I doubt if there is a father here today who is more proud and happy than 1.1 thank God you’re my son. Congratulations.”
    “Thank you, Dad,” Martin answered softly.
    As his father turned away, Martin felt enormous guilt for all the hard words he had exchanged with Julian over the past four years. He vowed to be more understanding in the future.
    Dominic and his family came over, and the Roths went out of their way to be pleasant. It was as if they too were trying to turn over a new leaf. Dominic had taken a job with an advertising agency on Madison Avenue, and Martin’s desk waited for him at his father’s brokerage firm. An additional Roth had been added that week to Roth and Seifer, Brokers.
    The two friends said goodbye and the next morning Martin was on his way back West. He had some doubts about joining the family business, but this time he decided to at least give his parents’ way a fair