DISCLAIMER: The AGENCY and all the usual suspects of it and of the King-Stetson family aren't mine; I borrowed them with love from Warner Brothers and from Shoot the Moon and thank them kindly for the years of enjoyment I've received from them. Everything else is a product of my overactive imagination; please don't use the ideas or characters without asking me first.
ARCHIVING INFORMATION: fanfiction.net; others please ask.
Author's note: Thanks to ptamom on the Pax-TV SMK forum for part of the tag idea. And thank you to all the readers who have been so gracious with their support and encouragement. I hope I have not disappointed!
Chapter 12 * Somewhere in Rural Lebanon * 12:20 p.m. (GMT+2)
Ninety minutes before, Billy Melrose and his people, along with a 12-man team from Israeli Special Forces, stood on the tarmac at David Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv. This was the final briefing before they boarded their troop transport helicopter for Lebanon.
Okay, people, you know this is a quick and dirty in and out mission. Ideally, we get the kidnappers alive, but I'm not particularly picky about that and neither is the President nor the Prime Minister. Dr. Forest is along in case they decide to meet us with any nastiness of the chemical or biological kind, and that is all he is here for He stays in the helicopter unless we need him. Colonel Marlowe, Francine, you're primary. Lee and I will be secondary, and Amanda, you're the communications lead. We want them back in friendly territory by 2 p.m., Billy instructed.
Morning shows, Ian whispered to Andy. Done it before.
Let's move. The Agency section chief's tone brooked no disagreement, and the agents and their support team climbed into the chopper without further conversation.
Awaiting the rescue force at their staging area had been two nondescript, battered vans bearing the familiar logo of the Lebanese Travel Society, the only remaining tour company in the strife-ridden, embattled country. The presence of the vans would raise little suspicion, but only one van would enter the village at first.
Ian and Francine, posing most adequately as newlyweds on their honey moon, approached the home of the village leader to ask permission to take pictures. Much to everyone's surprise, Jikar Qitani/Birol himself answered the door.
May I help you? the number 4 terrorist on Interpol's Most Wanted List asked pleasantly in heavily accented English.
The voice in Francine's ear said, It's a match, guys. I'm sure it's the same voice as on the tapes. Keep him talking.
Ian began as they had rehearsed. I understand that we must ask permission of you to take pictures in your village.
Yes, that is true. You would like this permission?
Francine nodded and tried her best imitation of an Amandaramble. Oh, yes, we would, you see, we're on out honeymoon and we both studied Anthropology in college and this is fascinating for the cultural knowledge and experience we can take back to our students in the high school and oh, please, you just have to let us do this!
In the second van, Amanda rolled her eyes at Andy and mouthed, Oh, please.
Andy just laughed.
I think that I could allow you to do this. Are you the only ones in your party?
Amanda's oscilloscope flashed its matched sequence lights at her. That's it, it's him.
No, we aren't, Francine answered Quitani. There are four others. These were part of the Israeli squad.
Then the fee will be $300 American. In cash.
Does that include a tour of the inside of a home, say your beautiful house? Ian asked innocently.
Quitani appeared to mull that over. For an extra $100 American.
Francine and Ian beamed at him. Well, that's just splendid, she said happily, taking out her traveler's wallet to pay the innocuous looking man in the doorway.
Qitani took the proffered bills with a smug Thank you, then led the couple back to the tour company van. He told the men in the van where they could take pictures and promised the whole group a tour of his house in 10 minutes – I need to make sure my family is, how do you say it? - Spic and Span for the occasion.
The promised 10 minutes was more like 25, but during the wait, Francine, Ian, and the Israelis wandered the village, talking loudly in hopes of alerting Joanna and Jamie to their presence – if, indeed, Joanna, Jamie, and Marlena were in the village.
Ian, this reminds me of the hills outside Santa Fe! Francine shouted from an area close to the back of Quitani's house.
Ian grimaced, knowing that it was all part of the game but thinking that Lebanon looked nothing like any part of New Mexico he had ever seen. I think you're right, honey! he shouted in response. Make sure you get lots of pictures for Gina Carvel! Gina Carvel had been a classmate of Ian and Joanna's in high school.
And Harry Whitman will love the architecture! Francine played the game with a name from their training class. Don't forget that Allen Harbinson wants pictures of the animals for his biology classification project files. Allen the Amazing of magic show fame.
They moved around the little village, commenting about this friend and that friend, sometimes interrupted by the soldiers with false leads, just in case anyone had suspicions. Finally, Qitani came out to the lane and invited them into his home.
I have modernized greatly, he said proudly, showing off his very American bathrooms and the kitchen straight out of Better Homes and Gardens. The whole village enjoys these facilities on special occasions. I made sure I bought a high capacity hot water heater just for that purpose, he added with a benevolent laugh. I also have a mushroom garden in the basement, but it is flooded right now.
BASEMENT!
We heard, Francine, Amanda's voice whispered in her ear.
* * * * *
In that basement, where the dirt floor was dusty dry, Joanna and Jamie looked at each other with wide eyes and closed mouths. Jamie's hand was over Marlena's mouth, lest she scream out as she had once already for Even instructions to be quiet had not kept the three-year old from continuing to talk, and under the circumstances, Joanna felt it wiser to prevent her from talking altogether.
We have to be ready, the adult whispered to the teen. I don't know what their plan is and I don't know how many armed guards there may be. But you remember what I said earlier – if you get the chance, take Marlena and get to safety.
I remember. But you be careful, too.
I will.
The resumed their silent vigil, trying to keep up hope as the familiar voices of Ian and Francine faded and the footsteps receded and finally stopped.
* * * * *
Qitani led the tour group of six to their van and watched them drive off over the hill toward Beirut. He was now $400 richer, which was a small drop in the bucket compared to the money he earned from his less legal activities, but it would go toward the village communal fund, helping to tide the residents over a while longer during this interminable non-war that left the entire country bereft of most tourism and all international aid.
He went back into the house and tramped down the stairs to the basement. His captives were restless, as he expected. It would be time to begin the true torture soon, broadcast to the world via the marvels of satellite technology.
* * * * *
Ian, Francine, and the 4 other donned their camouflage assault gear as they briefed the others back at the second van. The assault gear and all the equipment bore Syrian Army markings. The plan, as concrete as it could be under the circumstances, was to get the civilians corralled away from Qitani's house under the guise of a search for illegal communications, then to storm the house in search of the captives. No one was thrilled with it, but it was the best they could do; knowing that, the short return drive to the village was quiet.
Amanda and Francine held back with Billy and Lee as the 12 Israelis and Ian, whose darker complexion allowed him to blend in, walked through the hamlet, gathering its citizens in its second largest home – really, an enlarged hovel – and assured their silence with the promise of money and assistance from the military to build better homes. Only when the entire population of the village, minus Qitani's staff and presumed family, were safely ensconced inside did the Agency team exit the van, moving quickly across the middle of the village to Qitani's home.
Billy, Amanda, and Ian covered the front door with six of the Israelis while Francine and Lee covered the back exits with the others. At precisely 12:20, all three doors flew down with Arabic shouts to and THROW DOWN YOUR WEAPONS.
Of course, neither happened. Automatic gunfire spat from the hallways and from behind half-open doors as the assault teams moved in. One soldier with Lee went down with a leg wound, but he rolled behind a low sofa in the parlor and laid covering fire for his team members. Francine pulled the pin on a smoke grenade and tossed it toward the basement stairs, hoping the door was closed so none of the noxious stuff would hurt the captives.
Billy came face to face with a snarling man wielding a long, sharp knife; only the quickest twist and dive to the floor kept the American from a fatal wound to the chest or abdomen. Ian dropped the man with a swift disabling kick to the mid-section, followed by a hard chop to the neck that left him insensate.
Tie him up, Amanda, Billy ordered. I'll cover.
Yes, sir! The former housewife now top agent dropped to her knees and made fast work of the job, not even realizing that she now tied the Killick Hitch without a second thought. He's secured, sir!! She picked up her pistol and beckoned to her boss.
They made their way into the kitchen, where they met Lee and Francine.
Billy asked.
Don't know, Francine growled. My guess is downstairs, which puts us at a significant disadvantage.
Yes. Ideas?
Ian spoke up. I think we should send a team back outside. Qitani strikes me as the type who might have a secret exit from the basement just in case. And I think we should put the chopper in the air for recon, too – he might have back up.
Billy considered the Marine's ideas; receiving a confirming nod from the commanding Israeli, he sent a protesting Amanda back to the communications van with the wounded man, two live prisoners, and three other soldiers. The others he split into two teams, keeping Lee with him and sending Francine with Ian and four men to cover the outside again.
Billy led the way down the basement stairs, his hope being that his dark skin would remain unnoticed longer that the lighter tones of his team members. The basement was dimly lit, the only source of light a crevice of light that went nearly ceiling to floor at the far end. When the team was all at the bottom, Billy nudged Lee to have him turn on his halogen light, shining it away from the team into the deep gray of the dusty space.
No one responded to the sudden light, and a moment later, when eyes had adapted to the brightness, the team found that the room was empty. Billy informed Ian and Francine via radio; Lee and two soldiers crept carefully toward the crack of light at the end. In silent coordination, one soldier pulled the door open as Lee dropped low and the other soldier stood high, pointing their assault rifles into an empty, dimly lit tunnel.
He's out! Billy shouted into his radio. He had a bolt hole here in the basement!
Copy that! Amanda and Francine answered simultaneously.
Amanda continued, the chopper pilot says he has a biege van moving out across the pasture land just west of the village. He's headed for what looks like an old barn about four miles south west of here.
Tell him to stay with it. Ian, get your team to the communications van and get as many as you can into it. The rest of us are on the way.
Six pumped men scrambled up the stairs and out of Qitani's house, tumbling into the second van only a couple of moments after the first van roared away toward the barn. Amanda relayed the choper pilot's directions to Lee as the two vans bounced across recently cropped pastureland.
Billy and Lee heard the distinctive sounds of an Uzi as they lost sight of the communications van behind a rise. No one on their side carried an Uzi.
Lee asked incredulously.
Or he wasn't alone, Billy replied ominously.
Billy proved right; they passed the still twitching body of a well-armed, traditionally dressed man at the bottom of the hill. This is such an ugly business, one of the soldiers muttered, prefacing his short prayer with a truth unchanged since time began.
The chopper pilot informed the them that the barn was over the next rise; Ian stopped the lead van to allow the rest of the team to catch up. Rifle fire sounded as someone on the other side of the hill shot at the helicopter, but that didn't stop the team from huddling for a very brief strategy session.
We still don't know if he really has the hostages, Billy reminded them. But we have to go in assuming that he does. I want a cordon of six around the chopper – including our casualty and you and Amanda, Lee. Lee has command of that team. Ian will lead the frontal assault group of five – Francine and four of you all, he said, nodding toward the Israeli commander. I will lead the rear assault group. Get the hostages to the chopper as fast as you can and get the chopper off the ground if needed. He turned to Amanda. See what he knows about positions.
Amanda raised the pilot, who reported that Qitani's barn was defended by about 8 armed men and a large caliber machine gun pit hidden in a grove of trees. he said, it looks like there may be just enough ground cleared for a very small plane – one that would seat 4 uncomfortably.
We take out the plane if he has one, too. We go in three, so move out.
Qitani may have had men defending his barn, but they were not professionals. Only the occasional shot at the helicopter broke the silence as the teams moved into place; just as they reached position, Ian spotted an unmistakable flash of cinnamon-colored hair and reported back to Amanda and Billy. They're here – or at least Jo is. I haven't seen Jamie or Marlena yet.
Copy that, Billy and Amanda said, one after the other.
Five, four, three, two, one, go! Amanda counted down.
The chopper landed two hundred yards from the barn out of range of the machine gun. Lee led his crew to a defensive perimeter around the big machine as all hell broke lose on the grounds of the barn. Billy's team immediately engaged three armed defenders in a heavy fire fight as the professionals moved forward. Ian split his team into two smaller forces and sent one after the killer gun at the edge of the dirt yard. The other he led toward the knot of shooters surrounding Qitani, toward the place he saw Jo's hair.
One by one, the defenders dropped, allowing the rescuer to approach each other. Billy saw Jamie from behind just as the boy hefted something – or someone, Billy realized – to his shoulder and took off for the helicopter. Billy's team automatically turned and harassed the men most endangering the escapees with their rifle fire as Billy notified Amanda. He watched with mingled fear and pride as Lee ran out into the potential field of fire to gather both Jamie and Marlena into his arms and scuttled back to the helicopter. He smiled as Andy Forest leapt out and swept Marlena out of Lee's arms, holding her fiercely and allowing the tears to fall freely as the little girl covered his face with kisses.
They're safe, sir! Amanda shouted through the radio. I can see Joanna. Ian, she's fifty yards to your right between Qitani and another man.
Roger that, Amanda! Ian motioned his team to spread out as they moved forward, carefully avoiding the three people Amanda mentioned as they returned fire to the few remaining defenders. The last one, save Qitani, Jo, and the unknown third man, fell, wounded in one leg and both arms.
Qitani yelled, brandishing his Uzi around the field. I will not be taken alive, and you will not get this one back.
The other man stepped out into full view. Beside Ian, Francine inhaled sharply. That's the Iraqi! The one who worked with the German-Iranian, she whispered excitedly.
Great. We've almost got a full circle. Meanwhile, what do we do about –
Joanna answered the question for them. In one smooth, swift motion, she spun around on one foot, planting the other squarely in the Iraqi's groin. Her hands were tied together in front of her, but she made effective use of the extra power by bringing her hands up under the man's chin, sending him flying onto his back with a satisfying THUD that alerted Qitani to his danger.
He turned, moving his Uzi into firing position just as Joanna's legs came scissoring at him in a beautifully executed one-two move. Her right foot cut him across the cheek; her left snapped his head back, dropping him unconscious to the ground. But as he fell, his fingers brushed the hair-trigger of the machine gun, sending a spray of bullets into the still moving body of his former captive. Joanna's body crumpled to the ground on top of her captor.
A tiny voice cried in the bright sunlight.
En Route to Washington, D.C. * January 29, 1989 * 5:00 p.m. (GMT)
Ian sat beside Andy Forest in the Concorde's first section, knowing that the man's thoughts were not with the conversation flowing around them but with the comatose woman riding in the back of the plane. Joanna was receiving as close to Intensive Care quality attention as one could while traversing the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Only one of the thirteen bullets Qitani's Uzi pumped into her remained, that one lodged so close to her spine that that the choices were stark. She could have the necessary surgery in Israel, but even their best surgeons could give her only a 75% chance of survival. Or, given that a good portion of the CBW team was headed back to the United States on the Concorde, if her condition stabilized and if the family agreed, the doctors would send her back to the States – and they gave her a 75% chance of surviving that journey. Ian and her parents talked at length by phone and graciously allowed Andy to participate in the discussions, as well, each of them understanding that he was very much in love with Joanna and she with him. The four decided unanimously that the odds were worth the journey. If she survived the trip, the best surgeons in the world could give her a 30% chance of walking again using an experimental technique only allowed at Johns Hopkins University.
Jamie and Marlena had been inseparable after the first few hours of freedom. When Lee, Ian, and Andy expressed initial concerns about the clinging, Amanda reassured them. They have a relationship that was forged in fire; Jamie helped Marlena get through it and now her mother isn't here to give her another anchor. Just let them be – and help Jamie out if he wants to be alone or to talk without Marlena at any point. Only Jamie had been able to get the girl to eat or to sleep for the first day; Ian had been successful this morning only after he reluctantly obeyed her imperious order to take her to see her mommy in the back of the plane. The teen and the toddler now sat together between Lee and Amanda, both sleeping quietly.
Billy slept in the row ahead of Ian and Andy; Francine sat in the back with Joanna. The other members of the CBW team slept or read, relieved to be resting after 4 days of intense work. The total casualty count had been 66 killed, including 29 Palestinians unfortunate enough to inhale the land-killing chemicals dropped over the West Bank village, and over 460 injured, about a third of whom would suffer long-term health problems. An area of about 10 square miles around that village would be uninhabitable for at least a generation. The saving grace was that the tanks at the Holy Land Hotel had not been properly temperature controlled; the Botulinum A had been dead when it was sprayed over the food and thus caused no problems for anyone.
Perhaps, Ian mused, Uncle Smyth had known what he was talking about when he christened this Operation Haman. The bad guys got their share. But something niggled at the Marine; after a half an hour of frustrated thought, he reached into his carry-on and pulled out his well-thumbed Bible. Opening to the Book of Esther, he found the passage that had troubled him. By these letters, the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and defend their lives... The king had not been able to stop the armies of Haman, but had allowed the Jews to defend themselves. It gave Ian a little comfort to know that they, too, had been able to defend, at least a little bit, and that the Pur – the lot – that had been cast by the terrorists had been recast in favor of the State of Israel and of justice.
The White House Situation Room * February 3, 1989 * 12:30 p.m. EST (GMT-2)
So, Austin, I hear that you've been convinced to change the official name of Operation Haman' to Operation Esther'.
Yes, sir, Mr. President.
Austin Smyth smiled around his new cigarette holder. Well, sir, my nephew can be very persuasive.
How did he do that?
Ian pointed out that most of the breakthroughs came from women, specifically Mrs. Stetson and Ms. Desmond – who, by the way, will probably be my niece by marriage at some point in the future. He also pointed out that Haman was the bad guy and noted that Esther didn't stop the killing forces. She just enabled the targets to defend themselves.
The President chuckled. Austin, I'm surprised at you. You didn't know Haman was the bad guy?
I do now. He joined the leader of the free world in laughter.
Frankfurt, West Germany * February 10, 1989 * 3:00 p.m. (GMT+1)
Gerhardt Volkmann, you are under arrest for trafficking in illegal arms, for sponsoring state terrorism in a foreign country, and for the murder of 66 men, women, and children. The State of Israel has requested extradition on these charges. How do you plead? the magistrate intoned sonorously from the high bench in his courtroom.
Not guilty, the man sneered, his swarthy face clenched in anger and hatred. It is not murder to kill Je –
Silence him, the judge ordered. I hereby grant the writ of extradition for Gerhardt Volkmann and remand him to the custody of the Army of the State of Israel for prosecution on the outlined charges. Dismissed.
Tag * Walter Reed Army Hospital * February 13, 1989 * 11:45 a.m. EST (GMT-5)
Andy Forest paced the hall outside Joanna's private room nervously, waiting for the doctor to come out. She was awake! Finally, 12 days after the fifteen hour surgery, she had come out of the coma. Now, two hours later, he could hear the doctor giving her instructions in a very happy voice. He needed to know – would she walk again? Hold her daughter in her arms, cuddle with him as he hoped she wanted to?
The doctor came out an interminable while later and pumped Andy's hand. I don't know how or why, the man said with a huge grin, but it all worked. She's got full feeling and control of her lower limbs, and although there are naturally some gaps in her memory, her mental faculties seem to be otherwise in tact. She's resting now. You can see her briefly – and if she's up to it later, you can spend a longer time with her.
Andy bolted away from the surgeon with barely a word of dismissal. He stopped himself from throwing open the door to the room, instead gently pushing it away in front of himself as he walked through. Good morning, beautiful, he said softly, brushing a tear away from his eye.
Good morning yourself, handsome, she replied just as quietly, reaching out her hands weakly to him.
He took her hands, marvelled at them for a moment. I can't stay long. But I can come back later if I'm a good boy.
He was rewarded with her brilliant smile, although the effort cost her and it faded quickly. I hope you've been good.
Not really, he shrugged sheepishly. Amanda has kept me out of a lot of trouble. But I'll tell you all about that later. Right now, I need to tell you one very important thing.
What's that? Her emerald eyes lit up.
I love you, he said, and leaned in to touch his lips briefly to hers. He was surprised that there was a little life in her return kiss, but again exercised enough control to stop himself from doing what he really wanted to do. I'll be back later. You sleep now – all afternoon. I'll probably have several people with me.
7:05 p.m. EST (GMT-5)
Andy had not been kidding. He actually brought an army with him.
Ian and Francine came, enjoying their last few days together on vacation before he went back to his assigned post in California. They both glowed, happy in love and content to let their relationship mature over time. Both were proud of themselves that, although sorely tempted, they had managed to keep their relationship from sliding into the purely physical; it was unexplored territory for each of them and to be travelling through it together made their blossoming emotional ties that much stronger.
Billy and Jeannie stopped in briefly, bearing an enormous bouquet for Marlena's Mother from the entire weekend watch staff of the Agency. The head of the SPSA was with them; he stayed just long enough to apologize to Andy for the subterfuge and to remind Joanna that she still had a job to do whenever she was ready to come back.
When the King-Stetson clan came in, the room suddenly seemed far too small. Joe and Carrie came in to say Thank you to everyone for rescuing Jamie, but especially to Joanna, about whom Jamie had said incredible things in the course of his debrief and counseling. Dottie West said simply that Joanna, Marlena, and Andy should consider themselves adopted before she led a dumbstruck Philip back to the waiting area.
Marlena and Jamie had finally managed, after much counseling and love from the adults in their lives, to separate somewhat. Tonight, though, Marlena seemed perfectly content to ride piggyback on the teen until Uncle Ian pointed out that maybe Mommy needed a very careful hug. Jamie set her down on Joanna's bed; several people wiped away tears as the mother and daughter hugged for the first time since that awful day in Lebanon.
I hope you don't mind, Miss Marley, Jamie began, but can I give you a hug, too? He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose; the optometrist had ordered him to wear his contacts only in school for the time being after the multi-day beating his eyes had taken in Lebanon.
Of course you can, Jamie. She let him lean over her, then pulled him close with a weak squeeze and kissed his cheek. I hear my girl is gonna be okay because of you.
He stood up straight and shrugged, looking away from her toward his mother. I guess.
Joanna smiled and tugged at his hand until he looked back at her. Thank you.
Jamie King flushed and fled, overwhelmed by something. Amanda knew; he would go through much of what she had after Adi Birol captured her before he would be again. As hard as it was, she stayed where she was, knowing that Jamie would go where he needed to, either to Dottie or to Joe, or perhaps to be by himself for a little while.
So, somebody tell me what's happened, Joanna demanded of the five adults remaining.
They took turns telling her about the developments in the case, until it was left to Amanda to tell her the last bit of news. Andy took great pleasure in telling Aran Birol that your husband had killed his son Caliph. Aran had a heart attack later that night and died in an Israeli hospital yesterday.
Joanna looked at Andy, startled at the fact that he now knew. I guess we have a lot to talk about.
Yes, Doctor, we do.
Someone had spilled that, too.
The door opened slowly.
All heads turned at the unmistakable voice of Austin Smyth. It's okay, Uncle Austin. Come on in, Ian said.
That startled Joanna even more. To her unspoken question, Dr. Smyth announced, It occurred to me that perhaps I had better start making up with my family before any more of them go off and get themselves kidnapped and nearly killed, he said with forced jocularity as he entered the room, each arm bearing a picnic basket. Although if you want to know the truth, I just wanted to do something that I knew would make you happy. His face softened into a smile, one noticeably absent the cigarette holder.
What's in the baskets, Dr. Smyth? Lee asked, his curiosity piqued.
Why, goodies, of course. It's tradition to end Purim with gifts, so I thought we should celebrate the happy ending to Operation Esther the same way.
Knowing better than to question their good fortune, the group made room for one more person around Joanna's bed as Dr. Smyth kissed first his grand-niece, then, with real feeling and a softly spoken apology, his niece.
Ten minutes later, the doctor came by and kicked everyone out, warning them that if his patient suffered a relapse, he would bar visitors altogether. The party broke up as Dr. Smyth handed out the contents of the baskets – cookies, cakes, and pies – to the couples in the room, promising to see the rest of Lee and Amanda's family on the way out.
Ian kissed Joanna briefly on the lips as he and Francine said their good-byes. Thank you, he said under his breath.
For what?
For her, he replied, pointing with his chin toward Francine.
You're welcome, Jo replied with a grin.
Marlena asked Uncle Ian to take her out with him, so he lifted the light body and carried her out under one arm, loving the delighted giggle that no one had heard since the day of her party three weeks ago.
He amazes me, Amanda said while Lee helped her with her coat.
Andy asked from beside Joanna's bed.
Dr. Smyth. Now I'm going to have to see him as a human being.
Joanna said with a dim twinkle, I've started to think of him as the model for Commander Data.
Lee laughed; he and the boys watched Star Trek: The Next Generation every week, but Amanda had not gotten into it with them. I'll explain it on the way home, honey. Good night, you two. We love you.
It's mutual, Joanna assured him as he kissed her cheek. Thanks for taking care of my baby.
It was our pleasure, Amanda assured her. Like Mother said, consider yourselves family.
Alone with Andy, Joanna dozed for a few minutes. When she woke, she looked up at him with a smile. I know that the Purim tradition of Mishloach manot is about food, she said, but I think love was the real gift this year.
I think Ian and I can agree with you on that, Andy Forest answered, and leaned in to kiss the woman he loved.
The End