Note: With Annie now in Turkey for an extended stay, we shall turn our attention to her partner. Eyal Lavin is the master of deception, a man that can kill without any remorse and yet has shown a tender side, one of caring and gentleness. We know he can be quick tempered and ruthless as well as gracious and charming. With a charismatic personality that ladies adore, he would have no trouble finding companionship. Eyal is a very complex individual with depth of character and in this chapter we will take a look at the man behind that gorgeous smile and tantalizing eyes - not the elite spy that men respect but a family man and maybe see the genuine Eyal Lavin.
Eyal was spreading cream cheese on his morning bagels, cooking eggs, getting together a bowl of fresh fruit and coffee ready to sit down for his breakfast and checking flights to Tel Aviv. He was going to go visit his son and spent time with his mother. Good, an available flight late that afternoon, he could sleep in route; he went ahead and booked, first class. There were three e-mails waiting for him to read.
First one from Auggie:
We are set on message board with Lost Pet about the same code as we did before. Collie, Annie. Pit Bull, Romanoff, spade - unhurt, neutered - hurt, and locations as street names. Brown collar is well guarded or danger and blue collar is in the clear. At the vet - you have her. The burn phone number is only good when I'm not at work but texting is a full time go, I have a voice translator. I going to destroy this hard drive, you might say I don't trust the CIA so no more e-mails. It is pure hell working this way. Good luck, Auggie
Second one from Avi:
Hello Abba, I'm at school pricting my English with you. Hope I spell each word correct. This is fun learn to read and write a new language. Second year but professor saids I am good but have trouble with verbs. I have a big football match next week with Maccabi Hifa youth club. Baby Bee my little sister is cuting teeth and crys all night. She is cute trys to sit up and falls over much. Mother sold our television and is make me read and I like to read. Got to sign out next class about to start. Write soon. Your son Avi
Eyal hit the reply to button"
Hello Son, your English is very good and one of the most difficult languages to master. I am very proud of you. I will be in Tel Aviv later this week and will come for a visit. If your mother will say it is all right we can go out to the cinema and stop for Shnitzel and Ice Cream. I hope I can stay long enough to come to your football game, it will depend on my job. Give your baby sister a kiss from me. Hope to meet her soon and tell your mother hello. Keep up the good work, you are a smart boy. Abba
The third e-mail was from Annie:
Arrived safely to a disastrous bombed out front entrance to the embassy, a racial suicide bomber. Very tight security around here now and tension is high. My new co-worker is shy but nice, may take awhile to get to know her. We have four different languages in common. She speaks Greek, maybe I can get her to help me with that, one of the languages I need to learn. I have a room off the embassy campus, within walking distance. It is okay but small, in my free time I plan to visit some of the old historical sites here, I have bunch of travel brochures. Already missing you will write later, Annie.
Another reply, this time to Annie:
My dear Neshema, thinking about you, please stay out of trouble and enjoy your time in Turkey. I going to Tel Aviv to visit my family, spend some time with Avi and my mother. Right now, I am just hanging in limbo not much to do in the way of work. I did have that conversation with our mutual friend, it will have to wait until we are face to face but I can tell you this - you do have good friend. Not much more to tell you except I miss you and might take a quick side trip to visit - have to let you know. Please stay safe my pretty one, E.
Eyal closed his laptop, and was thankful for all the e-mails he had received, each with varying degrees of good news. He was worried for Annie, and knew he needed to find out more about Ivan Romanoff and that connection, seldom was Eyal ever wrong about his hunches and this time he was wishing he was wrong, very, very wrong. Next stop, Tel Aviv.
It was a pleasant day in Tel Aviv when Eyal's brother Aaron meets him at the airport. "Nice surprise brother you coming to Tel Aviv," Aaron hugs Eyal. They had always been close, only two years difference between them. Aaron was the older brother and Eyal had wanted to be like him growing up. "Imah is already planning a family dinner for you."
"So she has told me, look I could use something to eat, got time for a sandwich?"
"Sure, and hey I like what you ordered for the boat, it should be ready for us by summer break, know my kids are looking forward to some sailing." Aaron was putting Eyal bag in the car.
The two brothers stoped at small cafe near Eyal's apartment that he keeps in Tel Aviv. They talked for several hours when finally Eyal said. "I'm going to give up my apartment here in Tel Aviv, may buy a seaside home in Greece for holidays. I've decided to put down my roots in the states, starting over and see what happens."
"I understand, hey you still have a home in Tel Aviv with me and Mom, of course our boat and holiday time on the water. Speaking of holiday time, Haya took Avi and her new baby by to visit Mom. And of course Mom was as happy as a cat that just eaten a parakeet." Aaron was telling Eyal.
"I'm going to call Haya and see if I can stop by to see Avi, still not real sure about that yet." Eyal took a slip of his drink.
"Go ahead, what do you have to lose. Besides, I think Haya wants Avi to be a part of our family, he is a Lavin."
Eyal smiled "Thanks brother for picking me up, want to drop me by your house and pick up my car."
The two were off the collect Eyal's car that he let his brother keep for him and headed to his apartment. The apartment was a small, studio type on the fourth floor, not much furniture, not half as nice as the one he had in Washington. Tel Aviv was a source of happiness and heartbreak, maybe more heartbreak. After taking a quick shower, Eyal pick up his phone and dialed Haya.
"Hello" her voice came over the phone so sweetly.
"Haya, it is Eyal."
"Eyal I'm glad you called, the extra support payment was received yesterday and bless you, thank you... You don't know how much we needed that money... bless you again." Haya was in good spirits.
"If you need more..."
"No. No. what you send was fine."
"Haya the reason I'm calling is I'm in Tel Aviv for a few days and would like to visit Avi." Eyal was holding his breath for the answer.
"Eyal that is wonderful, please come for dinner tonight, nothing fancy, I know Avi would be thrilled, he is looking forward to seeing you." She had a tilt of joyfulness in her voice.
"Love to Haya, can I bring anything." was Eyal answer.
"Just you, say around six."
"See you at six"
He got dress, dark slacks with a soft gray shirt, open neck, he was clean shaven and the sleeves of his shirt were roll two folds up on his arms. He looked at himself in the mirror and was remembering all those times he got dress for a date with Haya, oh so many years ago.
Eyal knock on the door to Haya's flat just before six. Avi swung open the door "Abba" hugging Eyal and being hug back by his father. "Come in Abba, Mom is in the kitchen and I want you to meet my baby sister, Rebekah, I call her Bee." The baby girl was lying on a quilt on the floor, cooing and kicking her legs and holding a small toy in one hand.
"Boy Avi, you have a pretty sister, you know what that means being a big brother, watching out for her." Eyal reached down and picked up baby Bee and giving her kisses on her chubby neck. The baby laugh, cooed, smiles and reached for his nose and he kissed her again.
"Hello Eyal, good to see you." Haya had come from the kitchen.
She still had the long flowing black hair falling gently on her shoulders, framing her face and that delightful smile and warm dancing brown eyes. Their eyes held on each other for a minute before Eyal could speak.
"Haya hello, I know where this little one gets her good-looks, you look lovely." was Eyal greeting.
She smiles at him, "Flattery will get you a free meal. Avi, go get the wine glasses from the cabinet." Turning back to Eyal, "You look so natural holding Rebekah."
"Remember my mom was a teacher and ran an after school program for the little kids when I was growing up, I was free labor for her." bouncing Rebekah and looking at her, "Avi says that she is call Bee."
"He calls her Bee, like a little bumble bee," laughed Haya "Make yourself at home, wine." she was holding up an unopened bottle.
"Yes please, here Avi take your sister while I do some man's work." Eyal giving the baby to Avi.
"What kind of man's work" Avi taking baby Bee.
"Opening a bottle of wine, you know there is a special learned skill to the technique of wine opening, let me show you." Eyal with the two children demonstrated the wine opening process.
The evening passed quickly, they laughed, played games and chatted about many things, Eyal even did diaper duty while Haya and Avi clean up the dinner dishes. Later that evening, Haya put Rebekah to bed while Eyal and his son were deep into a mad game of cards. She came back into the room and watched the two play, somewhere deep in her heart, she knew this was right to bring Eyal back into Avi's life. She poured the last of the wine for Eyal and her and a soft drink for Avi; she set with her legs folded up under her on the sofa. Soon it was time for Avi to turn into bed. He kissed Haya on the cheek, said goodnight to Eyal and went to bed. After he left the room, Eyal got up to also say good night.
"I must be going Haya; this was a wonderful evening, thank you." He was looking down at her.
"I must say I haven't had this much fun in a long time Eyal, I am so glad you came. Your mother called me just before you arrived and invited us to dinner tomorrow night." She was looking into his eyes, remember how expressive they were.
"Please let me pick you and the kids up to go to Mom's." Eyal smiled at her.
"I would like that, yes." She said softly.
Eyal looking over her head around the living room, "No television, you don't believe in Sesame Street".
"I had to sell it to pay the rent last month." she looked embarrassed.
Holding her face in his hands, "Haya please promise me that you will never do that again, I want to help and it will not put a hardship on me, you have two beautiful children, I want them to have what they need. I noticed Rebekah does not have a crib or dresser, I'll pick you up in the morning and we will go shopping."
"Eyal, I can't let you do that, she is not your child." Haya had a tear in the corner of her eye.
"She is Avi's baby sister and I want him to be proud of her." Eyal found the right words, "Besides, the next time I have to do diaper duty, I don't want to get on my knees to change a diaper."
A sweet smile came across her face as she shook you head yes.
"And a big screen television, call it educational, help with Avi learning English." He touching her arm, said good night.
Eyal was ready to take Haya and the baby shopping, but when he got to her flat, Haya answered the door, still in her robe holding a crying baby.
"Eyal I can't go today, Rebekah is running a fever and teething, I've been up half the night with her." Haya sounded like she was at her wits end.
Eyal taking Rebekah from Haya arms and walking into the kitchen saying over his shoulder, "Go ahead and get dress, I have Rebekah now, she will be okay." He found a clean linen kitchen towel, took some ice for the refrigerator crushed into tiny pieces and wrapped in the towel. He then held it to Rebekah mouth, the child started to settle down, sucking on the cold against her painful gums.
He walk back into the living room gently swaying Rebekah, humming in his low voice and holding the cold, wet towel to her mouth. He looks at Haya and smiled then nodded for her to go get dress.
Shortly, Haya returned, dressed in dark green jeans, a white blouse and sandals, she had also put on some make up. "Eyal, is she asleep?"
Eyal was now sitting on the sofa with Rebekah asleep on his chest. He kissed the top of her head and said, "I called in reinforcements, Mom should be here any minute to stay with Rebekah while we go shopping."
"Oh Eyal, you shouldn't, I don't want to be a burden."
"Remember, my mother is only happy when fussing over a kid, believe me, she will enjoy this time with your little one." Eyal smile, looking at the sleeping baby on his chest.
Johyna Grünberg, Eyal's mother was an average size lady in her late 60's, with silver almost white curly hair cut short, she had a smile that would brighten up any room, wise deep set brown eyes. Haya open the door for her, and she entered carrying a large tote. She quickly gave Haya a hug, which caught Haya a little off guard, but hug back.
"Now that's a perfect son, playing bed for a sick child." Johyna said with a cheerful note. Putting the tote down, and walking over to Eyal, slowly lifting the sleeping child from his chest and holding the baby close to her, "Now you two run along and take of your business. Rebekah and I will be fine, I can find my way around here, now scoot."
Eyal, "You got my number if you need us. We should be back right after lunch, love you Imah." he leaning over to kiss his mother on the cheek.
"Thank you Mrs. Grünberg, please make yourself at home." Haya pick up her clutch and left with Eyal.
As they walked to the street and Eyal's car, he asked, "What did you once call her when we were together, somehow Mrs. Grünberg sounds too formal."
"I called her Imah which is a little strange for me now; after all we are not married anymore."
Eyal open the door for her, not saying anything because whatever he would say more than likely come out all wrong.
Their shopping spree went amazingly well, baby crib, dresser, playpen, high chair, pink sheets and quilts. A small locking chest for Avi, boys need a secret place for their things - away from a baby sister, Eyal remembering his early teens and his younger sister Sarah. A 54" flat screen television with DVD player and recorder was also purchased. Down another isle in the electrics department, Eyal found a nice laptop for Avi and an iPhone. A quick trip through the toy department, two Fisher Price toys and a stuff doll for Rebekah and for Avi, 5 Second Rule game and Play Station 3 with a game. Eyal was almost like a little kid in the candy store - well he was a big kid in the toy department, he was having a blast. Their last stop, to buy some clothes for the children. Eyal picked up a cute pale yellow dress with a tiny bumble bee and pink flowers on the skirt.
"Here Haya," holding the little dress up, "Please dress both children up and have a professional picture taken, one for me, you and my mother, deal." He had the broadest smile on his face.
She was laughing at him, "Deal."
They stoped for lunch at a cafe they use to eat at when they were dating.
"Remember when we first met." Haya was taking a slip of her drink.
"My friend's wedding, the guy you were with had partied a little too much; I drove you and your girl friend home from the reception. You were very cold and aloof, I tried flirting with you but you turned an ice cold shoulder."
"My girl friend was coming on to you like a cat in heat, besides you were much older than me, more like a big brother type." Haya said chuckling.
"How old were you, 18, 19, you really caught my attention." Eyal answered
"I had just turned 19 and you were 29, dashing, tall, dark and truly handsome, more than likely with a dozen girls falling at your door step." She smiled at Eyal.
"There were a few, but you were something special. I don't know how many times I call for a date before you would go out with me." Eyal said looking down at his food.
"You were a man of the world in med school and I was just a lowly freshman at the university, I didn't think we would have anything in common. I didn't want to be just another notch on your belt."
Eyal smiling at her, "Well you did finally agree to let take you to the cinema, and we had a good time if I remember right."
"I was surprised that you were such a gentleman, didn't even try to hold my hand, I think that is what changed my mind."
"Haya I'm sorry our marriage did work out, it was mostly my fault, and I adore our son, but never put us first."
Haya "Eyal it was also me; I could not understand your need to be with Mossad. What is past is past, we can only move forward and thanks for including Rebekah, it means a lot to me and also Avi, he loves that little girl." She took a bit of her food, look away than back at Eyal.
He smile, "I know my family will include Rebekah as being part of the Lavin family, besides her name is already Lavin, no need to ask how I know, I check birth records."
"Why would you do that?"
"I know her father doesn't want to have anything to do with that precious little girl, I just wanted to know who the SOB was. Father was listed as unreported, I'm not going to ask why - that is your concern. Haya, if I'm out of line, tell me."
"He had a mistress when I was carrying the baby, it was an easy divorce and I took your name back because of Avi. Are you good with that?"
"Yes, I'm fine with that besides how long were you a Lavin anyway - eleven, twelve years."
They finished lunch and returned to her apartment to find Rebekah's fever had broken and sleeping peacefully on a quilt on the floor. Johyna was making some pudding that Rebekah could eat later and not upset her stomach which happens so often with a teething baby.
"Get all you business take care of?" Johyna ask as the two came into the apartment.
"Yeah Imah, how is the baby?" Eyal asked winking at his mother.
"Good, very good, she can come tonight to dinner. I'll just finish this pudding and then be on my way."
Eyal, "I need to get going also," looking at Haya, I pick you guys up at 5:30 okay, see to later tonight Imah." and he was out the door, leaving the two women alone.
Starting his car, Eyal starting to think about what he had thrown away years ago, a family and that little brown eye baby could have been his second child. Well the only thing he could now do is make sure Avi had a father. That evening's dinner with the family was very pleasant, taking Haya and the two kids home later he was hoping she would invite him in for a night cap. Well his wish didn't come true, they said good night at her apartment door and he walked down to his car.
A week later, Eyal was sitting at his mother's kitchen table while she was busy making breakfast for her son, Avi and Kaleb, her husband. "Here son, you can feed Rebekah." Johyna hand Eyal a bowl of food for the baby. Eyal had picked up Rebekah and Avi the day before and brought the two children to his mother's for the night - family bonding.
"She is such an adorable baby, she could be your daughter." Johyna giving Rebekah a sweet pinch on the cheek.
"I have a child, my son." Eyal holding a spoon of food for Rebekah to take.
"Yes, your son's baby sister who does not have a father. No child should grow up without a father."
"Look Imah, I'm holding Rebekah, feeding her and also do diaper duty."
"I have also seen you play kissy face with her, you know she has a piece of your heart."
"I'm a single man - trying to be a good father to one I don't need two."
"I was so blessed, I had four."
"And two broke you heart when they died."
"Yes, but your heart can only be broken if you have experienced the joy of their love and time with them. Those memories will never die."
"You have four grandchildren to continue with your joy of their love."
"No, I have five grandchildren, four by blood and one by love. I love that that precious baby you are holding as much as I love your Avi. Son, Haya has no family but for us. Losing her parents in the terrorist bombing was demoralizing for her and without any brothers or sisters."
"I know Imah." about that time Avi walked into the kitchen, kiss his grandmamma and tickled his baby sister Bee. "Hi son, we were talking about heading to the beach or park for the day, have a picnic. We can call Aaron and make it a family day. How does that sound?" Eyal was finishing feeding the baby and Avi had his English grammar book with him for Eyal to help with homework.
Johyna, "The park would be more fun for Avi and Aaron's kids. I make a lunch." she was watching Eyal and Avi studying English together all the while Eyal was still holding baby Bee in his lap, he was such a natural at being a father.