The Two-Family House(90)

“I do,” she answered, smiling. “I know my father is proud of me.” On her way out, Natalie forgot to close the door to Mort’s office.

For the first time, he decided to leave it open.





Acknowledgments

This book is for the women of my mother’s family—for my mother, Janice Cohen, whose recipe box I really do talk to; for my grandmother, Tillie Sack, whose unconditional love for every one of her grandchildren made us all believe that we really were that beautiful, that handsome, that smart, and that talented; and for my aunts, Shelley Marcus and Barbara Wisnefsky, who have been my cheering section always. Thanks to the four of them for sharing the stories that have always comforted and inspired me.

I could not have written this book without the constant help and friendship of two brilliant and special writers and women. New friendship in one’s forties is an unexpected gift, one that Elisabeth Bassin and Susan Kleinman have given me. Without them, I would have shut my laptop long ago.

Five years ago I had the good fortune of walking into Steve Schnur’s class at the Sarah Lawrence College Writing Institute, and my life was forever changed. I must thank my classmates, past and present, for all they have taught me. And to Steve, special thanks for his encouragement and kindness.

Thanks to Leslie Powell, sister of my heart, and to all of my Westchester girlfriends for sharing motherhood and madness with me for the past sixteen years. Thanks to my father, Harris Cohen; my brother, Robert Cohen, and my husband’s parents, Carol and Barry Loigman, for all of their enthusiasm. If my brother-in-law, Mark Loigman, was still with us, I have no doubt that he would be the most excited of all.

I have always had a soft spot for fairy tales, and when my agent, Marly Rusoff, called me for the first time, I felt like I had stepped into one. A million thanks to Marly for believing in my characters, for helping me to create the best possible version of this story, and for welcoming me into her magical world. Without Marly and Michael Radelescu, this book would still be just a lonely file on my laptop.

With all the novels out there waiting to be read, I am so grateful to my editor, Jennifer Weis, for choosing mine. Thanks to Jen and Sylvan Creekmore for their enthusiasm, guidance, and hard work. Thanks also to everyone at St. Martin’s Press who helped to bring this book to life: Sally Richardson, Jen Enderlin, Brant Janeway, Lisa Senz, Jessica Preeg, Angela Craft, and Olga Grlic.

Thank you to Lynn Goldberg and Kathleen Carter Zrelak for their energy, their guidance, and their positivity.

The Two-Family House is a story rooted deep within me, but I could never have written it without first being a mother. Thanks to my daughter, Ellie, for her love of reading and language, and for sharing so much of herself with me. Thanks to my son, Charlie, for making me laugh and for being the sweetest cure to anything that ails me. How fortunate I am to have one of each.

The very last thank you is for my husband and best friend. Love and gratitude to Bob always for listening to me read my stories at night when all he wants is to sleep, for believing in me even when I don’t, for loving me when I am at my worst, and for singing with me in the car, as promised.