"Imah you're going to like her, she is very personable." Eyal was dressing Rebekah while his mother was fussing around the living room getting ready for Annie's arrival.
"Grandmamma, she is a neat lady" Avi join in to back up his father.
"Just want everything right; I never dreamed my son would get married again. Imagined he would forever be a confirmed bachelor. Praise be to God you going to settle down." Johyna Grünberg patting her 6'2" tall son on the cheek and returned to fluffing pillows and straighten magazines.
"Don't work yourself into a tizzy Johyna, everything will be fine." The voice of wisdom, Kaleb - Johyna husband.
It had been three weeks since Haya had passed away and this Shabbat was Avi's Bar Mitzvah service. A promise he had made to his mother and he was going to keep it. Annie was arriving that Friday afternoon and staying for the weekend.
Handing Rebekah to his mom, Eyal tapped Avi on the shoulder, "Time to go pickup Annie. Oh yeah Imah, she speaks Hebrew so don't say anything you don't want her to know."
Eyal and Avi were on their way to pickup Annie. It had been a month since Eyal had see her and he was anxious to spend some alone time with Annie but Avi also need to be part of this reunion. The airport was a mad house of rushing travelers as they waited at the customs exit for a glimpse of Annie.
Avi was the first to see her, "There she is."
Annie saw Avi waving and she smile, wave than blew them a couple kisses. Eyal look so handsome to her standing there with his son, resting his hand on Avi shoulder. Annie had been thinking and rethinking this meeting with Eyal's family for the past three weeks. As Eyal would have told her to stop over thinking and just relax, let the current take care you. With the death of Haya, she wasn't sure what should be said to Avi, she was a bit worried.
As she came thru customs, Eyal was there taking her in his arms with a long and passionate kiss. Holding her close, "I've miss you Neshema."
"Hey folks what about me." Avi was teasing.
Annie let go of Eyal and hug Avi tight and kissing him on the cheek. "You are looking might fine Avi." Was Annie's greeting.
"You ready to meet Grandmamma? She has been in a real tizzy about meeting you, cleaning house and cooking. We are going to eat like kings this weekend." Avi had taken Annie's luggage and was leading the way to Eyal's car.
"Where is the baby?" Annie asked Eyal.
"Mom has her at home, we are easing you on meeting the family, today just Rebekah, Mom and Kaleb" Eyal was holding Annie hand as they walked along.
"Yeah, tomorrow it's the whole gang, they going to love you Annie." Avi was giving his reassurances. He was so mature for just turning thirteen.
"I've got my apartment up for sale here in Tel Aviv but we will be staying there this weekend. Tomorrow there is a reception after the service for Avi and tomorrow night a family reunion type dinner it will be a busy day." Eyal was filling Annie on the upcoming events. "Sunday will be just for us before you have to go back to Washington."
"Your family coming in from Athens?" Annie was asking.
"Just Sebastian, his family and his mother. My father's sister will also be there and of course my brother Aaron and his troop. You already know Sebastian and Daria so you are a little ahead of the game."
When they pulled up to Eyal's mother home, she was waiting for them in the doorway. Eyal got out the car and Avi slipped out the back, holding the door open for Annie. It was time to meet his mother and she had a wonderful smile on her face much like the warm smile of Eyal's. Annie felt more at ease.
"Oh my dear, Eyal didn't tell me how pretty you are. Welcome my dear." Giving Annie a big hug.
"I told you she was a hugger." Eyal was patting his mother on the back as he walked pass them and into the house.
"Avi has told me so much about you and Eyal has said very little. Come inside Annie." Johyna was holding her hand toward the entrance. "Kaleb come meet our new daughter-in-law to be. Annie this is my husband Kaleb Grünberg, the art dealer."
He stood, smile gracious and said. "Welcome to Tel Aviv."
"I'm so happy to meet both of you, Eyal has told be a lot about you, he is proud of his mother." Annie was feeling more at home.
"Hey Annie, this is Rebekah my baby sister, I call her Bee." Avi was holding Rebekah by the hand as the baby was taking tiny steps toward Annie.
Annie stooped down and held out her arms to baby Bee. The little girl laughing tried running to the out stretched arms as Annie caught her. Picking the child up in her arms, Rebekah reached for her hair as Annie nestled her face in her chubby neck and kissed her. The baby giggled with joy.
"She likes to play 'Patty Cake' and 'Itsy-Bitsy Spider', she be a year old next week." Avi was bringing Annie up to speed about his sister.
The rest of the afternoon and evening went extremely well. Annie showed off her engagement ring, that she had not made any plans for the wedding because she and Eyal hadn't had time to talk about it. The wedding was as much his wishes as hers.
"Are you having a Christian or Jewish wedding?" This was the only awkward question ask by Eyal's mother the whole evening.
"Maybe a civil ceremony." was Annie's quick to answer catching a nod of approval from Eyal.
It was around nine when Annie and Eyal left for his apartment. On the way to the apartment Eyal took Annie's hand, "The evening went very well as I knew it would."
"I think so too, your mother is a lovely person and Kaleb is so reserve."
"He makes mom a good husband - which is all that matters."
Opening the door for Annie, "It's not as nice as our apartment in Washington, I have considered the DC place my home for a long time, and this has been just a place to hang my hat - so to speak."
The apartment was functional one bedroom type with a kitchenette. Few furnishings in the living room, there was a sofa, coffee table, reclining chair with an end table - lamp, remote control to a large screen television. Beside the front door stood a tall bookcase with Eyal's books and in the bedroom not much more - a king size bed, dresser and another smaller TV. No pictures or any type of decorations, a far cry from his Washington's cozy place.
"The times when I'm here in Tel Aviv, I spend with my mom or over my brothers. I may have grown up here, but there is also a lot of hurt here." He taking Annie in his arms, slowing kissing her neck, "You make this place come alive. I hate these times we are apart Neshema." He kisses her, slowing backing her toward the bed. Not much else was said, they were renewing their devotion and love for each other.
The next day was the big day. Avi had prepared a speech to give at his Bar Mitzvah and the entire family was there. After the service, there was a reception held and Annie meeting so many friends of the Lavin family, all talking about how cute Eyal was as a child and how much Avi takes after him. After the reception, Cilia (Sebastian mother and Johyna's sister) took all the children with them leaving Sebastian, Daria, Eyal and Annie to ride together. They decided to do some site seeing and later to stop for ice cream before going on to the family reunion.
"Avi's Bar Mitzvah couldn't have gone better for him, and he looked so proud to have his father there." Daria was saying between bits of her cookie and ice cream.
"Major family type reunion, with Dad's sister there also with Aaron and his family. Annie we dumped you into the deep end about meeting the family." Eyal leaned over to give her a quick kiss on the side of her head.
"I think Avi's reaction was the best for me." talking to Eyal, "When you walk away from me and Avi at the reception to get us something to drink, one of the Rabbis can over to where we were standing, Avi held my hand and introduced me as his American step-mother from Washington." Annie was feeling the happiness of being accepted. All of her worries, fears and over thinking was for nothing.
"That's how he feels about you Annie, you are part of the family." Eyal was smiling.
"So when is the big day?" Daria was asking.
"We haven't talked about any of that yet; Eyal needs to be as much about planning as me."
"Oh sure, the groom always has so much input in a wedding." Eyal was ribbing Annie.
"Just show up on time and bring the ring." Sebastian was adding to the man's point of view. They laughed and continued to enjoy their short break before heading to the celebration dinner Johyna and Cilia were fixing.
Annie had gotten Avi a book 'The Gettysburg Campaign: A Study in Command'. Avi had expressed an interest in the War Between the States and want to visit the battlefields on his next trip to the US. He was becoming an American history buff and both Annie and Eyal were encouraging his interest. Eyal was also learning along with his son.
The reunion dinner was great, the food was out of the world; everyone enjoyed themselves and all were so kind to Annie. She was delighted with the way she was being accepted into a Jewish family without reservations. Yes, Annie Walker was happy.
Sunday was the last day Annie would be in Israel and it was just for her and Eyal. Her flight was leaving mid afternoon giving them only a few together hours.
"Where would you like to go?" Eyal ask Annie as they lay in bed that morning.
"How about a walk along the beach and lunch at that place you took me before."
"Okay my love but first..." He reaching over and pulling her close to him. Once more they made adoring love before going out for breakfast.
The day was a perfect finish to a wonderful weekend with Eyal and his family. Saying goodbye to Eyal at the airport was the hardest thing she had to do in a long time, she wanted to stay, remain with this kind and amazing man she had fallen in love with.
"I'll be home in a couple more weeks Neshema. I have some business to finish up here." Holding her close, "You are so beautiful and I love you with all my heart. Stay safe my love. You know I'm not good with goodbyes, so I'll see you in Washington." He kisses her and stood there, watching Annie leave thru the gate and board her plane for Washington.
The following two weeks passed quickly, Annie was busy with debriefing on the Bolivia mission and readjusting to Overseas Operations (IOO). Intel gathering and classification was the main thrust of her division, if a situation calls for heavy intervention, than the mission would be assigned to Special Activities Division (SAD) or Special Operations Group (SOG).
Reviewing a report of terrorist movements in Sudan, her diamond ring caught her attention. Thinking about what Michael Natalia had said back in Bolivia, "... someone that understands that maybe sleeping with other women is part of the job." The seductive game they played was exciting to her, she enjoyed the thrill and it was Michael that drew the lines, not her. She starting to think - was she the type of person that would get caught up in the moment and not be able to pull away, could she be trusted herself. The question was not could Eyal be okay with it but could she be okay with it, the guilt that would surely follow or would there be guilt. Okay Annie stop - she thought to herself, you are over thinking something that has not happened but could happen. Pushing those thoughts aside, she return to her duties at hand, taking another look at her ring, Eyal should be on his way home.
Eyal had picked up a 'Real Estate Guide to Alexandria' on his way home from the Dulles and entering his apartment, he laid the book on the kitchen counter; pull off his shirt and headed for a hot shower. All the years he had spend with Mossad, he had stayed emotional unattached to any and everything, but the past month had been an emotional nightmare for him, he had not felt that severe heartbreaking pain since the death of his sister Sarah. He was not romantically in love with Haya but he did love her, she was family and both he and Avi suffered thru her passing together. Now he had the enormous task of raising a daughter, he had more fear about that tiny little brown eye girl than finishing raising Avi. All of that responsibility coupled with being a newlywed, time he and Annie needed to grow together as husband and wife would have a twist, two children and Annie being an instant step-mother. He didn't know how that was going work, was she prepared for that new change in her life. Something else for him to worry about, the well being of Annie.
The hot shower relaxed Eyal and putting on clean jeans and a T-shirt; he realized just how drained and exhausted he was, plopped down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
A little past seven o'clock when Annie reached the apartment and saw Eyal silver gray Ford parked behind the building. She was looking forward to having a fantastic meal that she was sure he had fixed and being with her Israeli lover. She was surprised to find the apartment dark and no smell of food cooking. Turning on the hallway light she saw his travel bag was resting behind the sofa and his shirt across the back. Walking into the kitchen, Annie found the real estate guide he had left of the counter, picking it up wondering why he would be reading a real estate guide.
"Eyal are you asleep?" Annie finding him lying on the bed. There was no answer. She would let him sleep, the man must in need of undisturbed slumber if her voice didn't wake him - Eyal was usually a light sleeper.
She took a shower, slipped on her PJs - made a sandwich, poured a glass of wine and laid on the sofa to watch the classic movie channel on TV.