The air is chilly on this pier. My hair won't stop slapping my face.
Mom's face is showing so many emotions. It's hard to read her.
"I know you have been curious about my life. There are many reasons I've kept it hidden from you, the most important one being that it could kill you."
My mouth drops open. I knew there was a reason that they never told me, but I had never thought it was for my safety.
But at last, it looks like I'm going to get some answers.
"...I realized then how much I loved and needed him in my life."
My mom has been through so much. I understand why they kept me in the dark. They were trying to protect me.
I can't imagine how hard her life was. Hiding everything from her friends and family.
Family.
What about Poppa? He lives near us. He knew Mom. I had to know if Poppa was a part of this.
"Did Poppa know?"
My question snaps mom out of her reverie. "Your Poppa did the same thing I did for 20 years. He didn't know that I had been recruited until too late. He saved my life more times than I can count."
I always thought there was something different about Poppa. He just never seemed the CIA type.
Come to think of it, Dad didn't seem the CIA type either.
"Why weren't you and Dad allowed to have a relationship?"
Mom smiles sadly. "If we were seen together in public my cover would have been blown and we both would have been killed. He didn't hide that he worked for the CIA. All it would have taken was a background check and I would have been discovered."
That answer sends my mind into a blur. A quote comes to mind.
"Your mother saved me in so many ways. She saved me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our love was fought for."
Looks like I finally got the explanation I craved for.
Mom's face is showing so many emotions. It's hard to read her.
"I know you have been curious about my life. There are many reasons I've kept it hidden from you, the most important one being that it could kill you."
My mouth drops open. I knew there was a reason that they never told me, but I had never thought it was for my safety.
But at last, it looks like I'm going to get some answers.
"...I realized then how much I loved and needed him in my life."
My mom has been through so much. I understand why they kept me in the dark. They were trying to protect me.
I can't imagine how hard her life was. Hiding everything from her friends and family.
Family.
What about Poppa? He lives near us. He knew Mom. I had to know if Poppa was a part of this.
"Did Poppa know?"
My question snaps mom out of her reverie. "Your Poppa did the same thing I did for 20 years. He didn't know that I had been recruited until too late. He saved my life more times than I can count."
I always thought there was something different about Poppa. He just never seemed the CIA type.
Come to think of it, Dad didn't seem the CIA type either.
"Why weren't you and Dad allowed to have a relationship?"
Mom smiles sadly. "If we were seen together in public my cover would have been blown and we both would have been killed. He didn't hide that he worked for the CIA. All it would have taken was a background check and I would have been discovered."
That answer sends my mind into a blur. A quote comes to mind.
"Your mother saved me in so many ways. She saved me physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our love was fought for."
Looks like I finally got the explanation I craved for.