Prologue: This is the fourth story in the saga of Eyal and Annie. If you have read both 'Ghost' and 'Israeli Sunset' than there will be a better understanding of this storyline.

Five years have passed since Annie and Eyal with their three children watched the most beautiful Israeli sunset. Life is good for the Lavin family, Avi has graduated from Georgetown University with a BS in International Affairs and following in his father's footsteps, joined the Department of Defense in Military Intelligence - now stationed in Romania. His little sisters, Rebekah and Sarah are growing like weeds. Rebekah is now twelve, still taking dance and in the Girl Scouts while Sarah is starting kindergarten and loves to read, like her father. But there is a new addition to the family - two-year David, a playful happy bouncing baby boy. Betsy is still with the family, she is also a member and very much cherish nanny with three young children under foot and Annie working in the job she loves with the CIA. Eyal has all but dropped out of his spy game, devoting his time to the diamond enterprise and being a father and husband. This Israeli is now living the all American family man life and loving it.


The small NATO military base in Romania is surrounded with high fencing and barb-wire, gray painted buildings, all looked bleak and forbearing. There are about four hundred NATO forces station there and Avi is to a British and American cooperative listening post for much of Russia and parts of the middle-east. His living quarters are drab but his roommate and him had found some orange paint and painted strips on the walls. The two guys in the room next them had also found paint a little yellow that they had mixed the left over orange - they had a brighter room, so that room is the place for goofing off and playing cards.

Avi had return for his shift and looking forward to opening his in E-mail box for letters from home. Joyce Bernstein, the love of his life was finishing up her last year of college and they were talking about getting married. They had been sweethearts since high school and he knew she was the right person for him. He always looked forward to her mail but this one was different, cold and short.

'Dear Avi, I don't know how else to tell you this but to be cold and hurting. I have met another man and have been seeing him for the last six months. I'm so very sorry to have leaded you on with my e-mails and it must end now. Our time together was wonderful but there is no future for us. I'm sorry for being so blunt, please forgive me. Joyce'

He reread the e-mail again, not sure he did believe what just happened. Hurt overcame him and he sank down to the floor with his knees pulled up to his chest, sobbing. How could she, after close to six years - why now. Was it because of being separated, maybe he had some foolish dream that his girlfriend and love was like his stepmom. The love between Annie and his father had endured every hardship possible and their love only grew stronger. Rolling over on his side, he wanted his life to end. There was no need to go on, nothing to live for - his world was crashing down around him and he was stuck in some god forbidden out post gathering intel for the military.

"Hey Avi, you want to go for a beer?" Jess was his roommate and a likeable person.

"No thanks."

"Now considering how you are looking and acting I would adventure to say you received a 'Dear John Letter'... Am I right?"

"Yeah, she found someone else." Avi doing a good job of holding back the tears.

"Well hell I know how to fix that, I've been there before. We don't have to be on duty for three days - pack an overnight we are going to play."

"I really don't feel like playing." Avi turning his back to his friend.

"I know but it is the best therapy for a stab heart. Trust me man, someone did it for me and now I can pass the secret on to you."

"And what secret is that - getting drunk." Avi now looking at Jess, thankful his roommate cared.

"Hell no, maybe a few drinks but seeing why we are here. Like I said, trust me." Jess was pulling out his travel bag and packing a few things.

"Okay Jess, I'm with you. Let me shoot off a quick note to my parents so they won't be getting in touch with her like they have."

"Take it from me, wait a few days before you read any reply for them, parents mean well but not really in tune to your feelings."

"You don't know my parents." Avi opened his laptop and started to type, short and sweet. 'Joyce has called it quits with me. No need to tell you how I'm feeling because both of you have been there. Give the kids a kiss from their big brother and love you both. Avi'.


Rubbing his face and balancing his cup of black coffee, Eyal in the wee hours of the morning toddling from the kitchen to his den. Time to check the European opening diamond trade market, possibly make a few purchases or trades and then return to the comfort of his bed and Annie for a couple more hours of sleep. There staring him in the face was the e-mail from Avi.

Closing his eyes he softly whispered, "My poor son." He remember the hurt and worthlessness as if it was yesterday as he watched his beloved wife of eight years walk out on him with Avi waving goodbye to him. That was fifteen years ago and Eyal could still feel the agony. There was nothing anyone could have said to him to ease the pain and now he was at a loss for words to give to Avi.

Heading back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee, he heard David cry. Up the steps to find his second son burning up with fever and in a cold sweat. Picking the baby up in his arms and going to the bathroom to get a cold wet wash cloth they meet Annie coming out of the bedroom.

"What's wrong Eyal?"

"David has a fever doesn't want me to touch his side." Eyal trying to bring down the fever with wet towels as Annie raising a wash cloth for his head.

"You think we should take him to the emergency room?" Annie now holding David and his crying has also awakened Betsy.

Taking the baby from Annie, Betsy turned to Eyal, "You two go get dressed he needs to go to the ER. David was fussy at dinner, didn't want to eat."

"Hospital is our next stop." Eyal pushing his wife out of the bathroom to get dress. Both his sons were hurting but in very different ways but for the moment, the youngest need his attention.

In a curtained off cubby-hole in the ER, Annie set beside the crib with her arm trough the slats holding the tiny hand of her son. They had given David something for the pain and a sedative to calm him down and now he was sleeping. Eyal in a chair on the other side of the crib, waiting for the doctor to tell them what the X-rays had shown.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lavin?" A young doctor in green scrubs pull back the side of the curtain.

Eyal standing, "Yes."

"Your little man has an obstruction in his upper intestines. A growth of some type. I have called in Dr. Samuel Nesbit, a pediatric surgeon to have a look at David. He should be here within the hour."

"He'll have to have surgery?" Annie's face showed worry; her little boy was in serious trouble.

"I'm sure he will Mrs. Lavin but I rather Dr. Nesbit have a look first." The ER doctor smiled, "This is not unusual for children under five. There is no need for alarm." Shaking Eyal's hand the good doctor left.

Eyal moved to stand by Annie, putting his arm around her shoulders, "Our David will be fine - remember he is a tough little Lavin."

"I know Eyal but he is still so tiny."

"He's not tiny for his age sweetheart which is now a blessing." Eyal kissing his wife on the top of her head.

"What happen to our blissful parenthood where the only things we had to deal with were a few scrapes and minor cuts?" Annie rubbing her head against Eyal's arm for reassurance.

"Luck - that is all it has been, pure luck Neshema." They sat there watching their son sleep and waiting for Dr. Nesbit.

A man in his sixties, round face and thick gray hair came in thirty minutes later. "Good morning, I'm Dr. Nesbit." He went to the side of David's crib and felt the child's side - which awaken him and crying out in pain. Turning the child on his side and gently patting his little bottom, David was soon back to sleep.

"Keeping him on his side keeps the pressure off his obstruction." Pulling out the X-rays and holding them one at a time up to the light, "As you can see, there is a growing part of his intestines that got missed directed and didn't attached properly to the main intestines. What should be done is to surgically remove the growth, shorten that part of the intestines by an inch so no further problems will occur. I can have him in the OR within twenty minutes if that is acceptable."

Eyal answered for both, "It has to be done, please go ahead."

"Good, I have the nurses come get David and also show you to the waiting room. It will be a good two hours or more before I'll speak with you again."

"Thank you Dr. Nesbit." Annie brushing David's head and holding tight Eyal's arm.

Waiting for Dr. Nesbit to come with news about David, Eyal decided it was now the best time to tell Annie about Avi. Taking her hand and holding it in his lap. "I have some more bad news for you."

"News from Tel Aviv?" Annie first thought was her mother-in-law, the women she had come to love.

"No, it's from Avi."

"Oh my god he's not hurt."

"That is a matter of definition. Joyce broke off the relationship. You remember the hurt from your failed love affairs."

"All too well. I'm sorry he is half-way around the world and can't come home." Annie with her puppy dog wrinkled up forehead she would get when worried. "I'm not sure what we can do the ease the misery."

"I'm not sure either, we've both been there and this is a first for me. What to you tell a child with a broken heart? That everything is going be alright - it is all bullshit at this point in time." Eyal looking at the ceiling remember how brave Avi had been with the death of his mother, Haya.

"Something simple and understanding... Like, 'We know how the pain hurts now. We love you and will be here when you need us,'

"Okay my dear, you have just been chosen to send Avi that message." Squeezing her hand, Eyal loved how Annie could relate to people, she had that gift. Eyal brushing Annie's hair away from her face as she text Avi the message.

The double doors open and Dr. Nesbit came into the waiting room. "David came thru with flying colors and is now in recovery. The operation went as planned; he is a tough little tiger. You will be able to see him in thirty minutes when he is taken to his room."

Eyal hugging Annie around the shoulders, "Give Betsy a call and tell her the good news."