Chapter 26

Note: I spent a bit of time toying with how Ryan and Annie's reunion would unfold. I still err on the side of their relationship being complex as Annie is a multi-layered character. . . Let me know what you think and thanks for reading.

Annie slowly walked further into Eyal and Ranit's home. She wondered what excuse she could conjure up to leave early if they were going to try to set her up again. She could allow jetlag to suddenly hit her or say she had to get home to Noah. Oh well, she'd see how the evening played out. When she crossed the threshold into the large and airy living room she saw him standing at the other end of the room right away. Her heart sped up and her cheeks felt warm.

"Hello Annie," said Ryan with a tentative smile as he looked straight into her eyes. He immediately noticed that around her neck was that locket that was in her hotel safe in Marseille, her hand went straight to it as she nervously rubbed the heart shaped locket with her fingers.

"Oh you're a modern day Judas!" she said looking to Eyal who was sitting on the sofa closest to her with his arms spread across the seat backs.

Eyal's hands went up. "He wanted to know where you live and that I didn't tell him that. That's up to you, but here in Israel, we invite everyone to eat and drink."

Eyal stood up not sure if he should leave them alone or not. Instead he offered to get Annie a drink. "Can I get you something to drink? Ryan's trying some arak. Maybe you want some too."

Annie shook her head and continued to stare at Ryan in disbelief. She was absolutely speechless and caught off guard. Nothing came to mind other than pure amazement that he even wanted to see her again. He was so angry when they last saw each other. She swallowed, her throat dry and somehow paralyzed. She cleared her throat and said, "Um, water, I'll take some water please."

Eyal nodded, "I'll go get you a glass."

It took a few moments for Annie to find her voice. When she did all she managed was to ask, "What are you doing here?"

"Well your plan, it didn't work," he said closing some of the physical distance between them.

Annie gave him a puzzled look. He was going to have to do most of the talking here, he sensed that and continued on.

"The plan where I hate you and forget about you and everything that we shared. Don't get me wrong, I was upset and I had every right to be, but what happened doesn't nullify everything we have shared. I needed time to process everything and you know what? I am as much to blame as anyone if one is to assign blame, but that's not productive and I came for a couple of reasons but first, I just want to say, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about the baby, I'm sorry you went through that alone, I'm sorry you thought you couldn't tell me after our baby died. I so wish I was there to see her, to hold her, to kiss her and. . ."

As he spoke he watched her rub the locket between her fingers. His voice grew shaky when he saw her eyes fill with tears. He could see she was uncomfortable, but he continued.

"But Annie, mostly I want you to know I forgive you for all of that, I understand you more than you give me credit for and I know in that enigmatic head of yours, you thought you were doing me a favor, but you weren't."

Annie turned away before the tears dropped down her cheeks. She thought she was dried out, she had cried so much over the baby and Ryan. But this time, it was as if his words and her tears were washing her clean, absolving her of her deception, her self-sufficency and need to be in control. She didn't expect forgiveness, she didn't even dare to hope for it. He closed the remaining distance between them and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He could feel her body moving as she sobbed and he cried too.

The sound of Eyal clearing his throat broke their embrace. Annie sniffled and wiped away her tears.

"Ee-ma says dinner is ready and if I don't get our guests to the table, I won't hear the end of it."

Annie nodded as Ryan handed her a handkerchief from his pants pocket.

She let out a small laugh, "You're still carrying one of these around?"

He nodded with a smile. "Never know when it might come in handy."

Oh how she missed him thought Annie.

"Sounds like dinner is ready and I don't want to disappoint Mrs. Lavin, plus I can't wait to taste this cake I heard you made," said Ryan with a wink as he walked out of the living room.

Annie followed with her host. Eyal whispered to her, "You all right?"

She nodded and for the first time in months he believed her.

/

Dinner happened at a happy and leisurely pace. Everyone traded stories about their weeks and laughed. Annie told everyone about the cakes she made in class and how the one she was serving was her favorite though butter cream frosting is hard to keep solid in the climate.

To Ryan's observations, she appeared at ease and happy, Eyal's family was fun to be around. They joked and jabbed at each other and he could see that Avi was developing a similar dry sense of humor like his dad's. It seemed a million years ago that he and Annie had been in such a relaxed social environment. What happened to that part of their lives? How did things go so terribly wrong.

"Abba, tell the story about how you met Annie!" said Avi excitedly as he reached for his piece of cake.

Eyal laughed. "You know that story already,"

Avi pleaded with his hands in a prayer clasp as children are apt to do.

"Fine fine fine," relented Eyal.

"When I heard the door open to the apartment where I was hiding out in Zurich, I was on guard right away. I wasn't expecting anyone, but I was ready and in position with my piano wire."

"The one you keep hidden in your belt," said Avi finishing up.

Annie puts her hand over her eyes laughing. "You told him this story?"

"We're not like the CIA, we're allowed to share mission details," winked Eyal to Ranit who had a look of disapproval on her face.

"Keep going, I want to hear this," said Ranit.

"In walks Annie with the briefcase that we were supposed to exchange at the airport and I had the advantage so I surprised her. I wrapped the wire around her neck tightening it with all my strength," said Eyal.

"But she was much stronger than she looked," finished Avi.

"Yes, she was saying something, I trusted my gut and let go of her, she said she was my contact," said Eyal.

"And you believed her, but Annie didn't trust you," said Avi.

"I could see she was a jobnik, fresh meat as you Americans say," said Eyal. "Too naïve and green to pull a double cross," said Eyal needling Annie.

"But she surprised you when she understood German and Hebrew, and then you realized you underestimated her," said Annie throwing her napkin at Eyal.

"Get to the part where you had to crash the wedding," said Avi.

"Your father could not charm the bride off her seat so that we could retrieve the briefcase so I had to flirt with the groom to piss off the bride!"

"Oh my, that must have gone over well," said Ranit.

"It worked like a charm, she got that bride nice and jealous and she got up with that boot on her leg and chewed the poor man out!"

"Then you were able to get the briefcase, but Annie thought you tricked her," said Avi.

"Ah, but your father is not a dishonorable man and . . ."

"Everything turned out well in the end."

"What about the stitches, gunshots and explosions and . . ."

"Let's skip the violent version, your grandmother's listening," said Eyal.

Ryan loved watching her so at ease and hearing about a side to her he never knew.

"The cake is delicious," said Ranit.

"Thank you for a delicious dinner, let me help with the dishes before I go," said Annie rising.

"My least favorite chore, so by all means," said Eyal. Ranit jabbed Eyal for complaining about housework.

Ryan rose along with Annie and started bringing dishes to the sink with everyone.

He smiled as he and Annie worked on loading the dishwasher. It felt right to him that they were there together. Annie had butterflies in her stomach as she brushed up against him since they were standing side to side.

"Do you think I could go home with you?" asked Ryan.

Annie looked at him, he was always ballsy.

"And accomplish what Ryan? A 6000 mile booty call?" said Annie shaking her head and laughing at the absurdity.

"I traveled a long way and I have more to say, it's not just about us," whispered Ryan. Annie didn't quite understand what he was getting at, but Ryan couldn't speak more about it in Eyal's home.

"I don't think we can go back, you can't possibly want to," said Annie, "too much has happened,"

"There you go again, will you stop telling me what I want? I am not interested in going back, just forward."

Annie nodded, conceding, he deserved to have his say.

"Let's talk after we get out of here okay?" said Ryan.

They finished up the dishes and said their good-byes to the Lavins in the foyer.

"Annie, if there's a chance you can find happiness again with Ryan, don't give up, look at us, the second time around is better, we are both more mature and accepting of each other's flaws," said Ranit.

Annie hugged her tightly, "Thank you for everything."

"You're family now. You've been the reason he's come back in one piece and I love you for that, we all do," said Ranit looking at Eyal, Avi and Ee-ma who were saying good-bye to Ryan.

/

"Where are you staying?" asked Annie.

"I don't want to go to my hotel, you promised that we'd talk," said Ryan.

"You have a car here?" asked Annie.

Ryan nodded.

"I'll follow you to your hotel, you can check out and get your stuff and then follow me home," said Annie.

"Oh," smiled Ryan. "So I'm staying with you?"

"I love about an hour away, more with traffic, so it's best that you come with me. I have an extra bedroom so don't get excited," said Annie.

"Where are we going?"

"Tel Aviv," said Annie.

"Of course, the ocean, I should have known you'd settle near the water," said Ryan.

"I'll wait here," said Annie after Ryan parked and went to her car.

He hesitated. "Why don't you come up with me?"

"I'll be here, don't worry," said Annie anticipating his thoughts.

About ten minutes later he came down. He was relieved that she was still here. It was going to take time for him to trust her again. Seeing that she was waiting for him was a good start.

"Why don't I return my rental? Are you good with being my driver?" asked Ryan.

Annie nodded. "I'm a much better driver than you anyway," said Annie with a smile.