Mom is still smiling at me. She must know that I understand.
She just pulled her cell phone out of her purse and is dialing a number.
"Who are you calling?"
"My friends. Its time that you meet them."
Her friends. People from her past. People who knew what she was like before her new life.
She's talking in a French accent. I don't know if it's for safety reasons or if she just feels like teasing.
"Bonjour. Is Will there? Yes? May I speak to him? Hello, Will? This is Veronica, an old friend. I haven't talked to you in nearly 16 years."
She pauses and then continues.
"I would love to have lunch with you. You and your friend... what is her name? Francie? Actually I would like to meet with the both of you first. At the oil field. You know where...yes that one. Adieu."
She explains the accent as we get into the car.
"He knew it was me. I had to assume that accent so I wouldn't set off any bells if his line were tapped. I think his daughter answered the phone."
She smiles at the thought and we drive for a while, finally pulling above the city into a deserted oil field.
We wait for perhaps 20 minutes until a green jeep Cherokee pulls into the lot. Mom motions for me to stay in the car until I get her signal.
As she steps out of the car, I pull myself into her seat so I can get a better look. The windows are tinted. They won't be able to see me. I hear yelling and watch as Mom embraces a man and woman roughly her age.
Will and Francie. I assume that I'm named after her. I always hated the name Francine, but now I l begin to like it. I was named after someone close to Mom. I have a part of her past close to me.
I listen closely as mom begins to talk.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to call everyday. I wanted to write everyday. I missed you both so much."
Francie interrupts her. "Syd, Will told me everything you had to go through. I'm just glad you're alive. And you look happier than you ever did while you were here. Tell us what you've been through since you left."
Mom clears her throat, which means she's about to tell a long story. "I have been happier since I left. The only thing that has kept me from being completely happy is missing you two. If you were in my life, I would have been in Heaven."
"We moved to a small town in Canada. I became a high school teacher, teaching languages. I love my job."
Will, looking curious, asks, "We?"
Mom smiles. "Yes, we. I believe you have met my husband, Michael Vaughn. He came with me to complete my alias. The Alliance was looking for a single woman. I went to Canada a married woman."
"The alias is the smallest part of why he came with me. We were in love long before SD-6 crumbled. I think I fell in love with him three months after I met Michael."
Francie is looking excited. "Did you have any kids?"
Mom smiles again. "Yes. Emily Francine Vaughn. The other love of my life." She taps on the window. My signal.
I emerge from the car.
"Hi."
Francie rushes over to give me a hug. I love her already.
She gushes, "Oh! You are so beautiful! You look just like your mom, only with gorgeous green eyes! How old are you?"
I answer shyly. "I turned 16 two months ago."
Will looks at mom like she is a different person. I can see him whispering to her out of the corner of my eye. One of my other talents is lip reading.
He whispers, "Does she know anything?"
I answer for her. " I just found out about my parents past life today. I thought they were relatively normal people, besides the fact that my mom speaks six different languages and can kick anyone's ass."
With that comment, Francie and Will snort back laughter.
Mom explains my talents to them. "She can speak every language that I can and can kick anyone's ass. She is also extremely talented in lip reading and predicting the outcome of any situation. "
I smile, embarrassed. "I was taught everything by my parents and Poppa."
Will and Francie look confused.
"Poppa...um... Mom's dad... Jack Bristow"
Will looks amused. "I can't believe he would let anyone call him Poppa, even his own granddaughter.
Mom speaks on Poppa's behalf. "Dad has changed a lot since you've last seen him. Emily has softened his heart. He's taught her everything about assessing a situation."
Francie has a question about Dad. " Where is... Michael? Shouldn't he be here?"
I answer Mom's question again. "Dad is taking care of business. Besides, Mom just explained everything to me half an hour ago."
"Michael is talking to the CIA director. I also wanted you to meet Emily first. I hoped that we could meet him for lunch at your restaurant, Francie."
As everything is settled I notice a look of jealousy permanently fixed in Will's eyes. I think he loves Mom more than a friend. He almost jumped when she announced that Michael Vaughn was my father.
Francie seems to be the better friend. I can't help dislike Will for being jealous of Dad.
I know mom is dying to ask them about their lives. I'm going to ask first.
"Francie, do you have any kids? Anyone my age?"
She smiles, answering with hopefulness in her voice. "Yes, actually I have a son who is 17. I married his dad when he was one. He never knew his biological mother, so we don't acknowledge a difference. His name is Jonathon."
I want to meet Jonathon. He has to be a good person if he's anything like Francie.
I wonder what Will's reaction will be when he sees how strong my parent's love is. I can't help feeling cold to him.
After all the explanations have been dealt out, are we going to live the same life? Will everything change? Will we move here? As much as I like it here, I would miss my home. Canada is so beautiful. And clean. The air is pure and the trees are a brilliant shade of red and orange.
I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.
*** Authors Note: The next chapter will be Will POV. If you read my bio, you will notice that I have a deep dislike for Will. Expect angst. (I feel that I need to explain the person answering the phone)
If you wonder why I don't like him, you will notice that I am a Vaughn fan. A big fan. Will is too damn annoying. He will suffer.
I'm debating future chapters. Should there be action or should this stay a thoughtful story? Please send me your advice!
*Duck
"Who are you calling?"
"My friends. Its time that you meet them."
Her friends. People from her past. People who knew what she was like before her new life.
She's talking in a French accent. I don't know if it's for safety reasons or if she just feels like teasing.
"Bonjour. Is Will there? Yes? May I speak to him? Hello, Will? This is Veronica, an old friend. I haven't talked to you in nearly 16 years."
She pauses and then continues.
"I would love to have lunch with you. You and your friend... what is her name? Francie? Actually I would like to meet with the both of you first. At the oil field. You know where...yes that one. Adieu."
She explains the accent as we get into the car.
"He knew it was me. I had to assume that accent so I wouldn't set off any bells if his line were tapped. I think his daughter answered the phone."
She smiles at the thought and we drive for a while, finally pulling above the city into a deserted oil field.
We wait for perhaps 20 minutes until a green jeep Cherokee pulls into the lot. Mom motions for me to stay in the car until I get her signal.
As she steps out of the car, I pull myself into her seat so I can get a better look. The windows are tinted. They won't be able to see me. I hear yelling and watch as Mom embraces a man and woman roughly her age.
Will and Francie. I assume that I'm named after her. I always hated the name Francine, but now I l begin to like it. I was named after someone close to Mom. I have a part of her past close to me.
I listen closely as mom begins to talk.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to call everyday. I wanted to write everyday. I missed you both so much."
Francie interrupts her. "Syd, Will told me everything you had to go through. I'm just glad you're alive. And you look happier than you ever did while you were here. Tell us what you've been through since you left."
Mom clears her throat, which means she's about to tell a long story. "I have been happier since I left. The only thing that has kept me from being completely happy is missing you two. If you were in my life, I would have been in Heaven."
"We moved to a small town in Canada. I became a high school teacher, teaching languages. I love my job."
Will, looking curious, asks, "We?"
Mom smiles. "Yes, we. I believe you have met my husband, Michael Vaughn. He came with me to complete my alias. The Alliance was looking for a single woman. I went to Canada a married woman."
"The alias is the smallest part of why he came with me. We were in love long before SD-6 crumbled. I think I fell in love with him three months after I met Michael."
Francie is looking excited. "Did you have any kids?"
Mom smiles again. "Yes. Emily Francine Vaughn. The other love of my life." She taps on the window. My signal.
I emerge from the car.
"Hi."
Francie rushes over to give me a hug. I love her already.
She gushes, "Oh! You are so beautiful! You look just like your mom, only with gorgeous green eyes! How old are you?"
I answer shyly. "I turned 16 two months ago."
Will looks at mom like she is a different person. I can see him whispering to her out of the corner of my eye. One of my other talents is lip reading.
He whispers, "Does she know anything?"
I answer for her. " I just found out about my parents past life today. I thought they were relatively normal people, besides the fact that my mom speaks six different languages and can kick anyone's ass."
With that comment, Francie and Will snort back laughter.
Mom explains my talents to them. "She can speak every language that I can and can kick anyone's ass. She is also extremely talented in lip reading and predicting the outcome of any situation. "
I smile, embarrassed. "I was taught everything by my parents and Poppa."
Will and Francie look confused.
"Poppa...um... Mom's dad... Jack Bristow"
Will looks amused. "I can't believe he would let anyone call him Poppa, even his own granddaughter.
Mom speaks on Poppa's behalf. "Dad has changed a lot since you've last seen him. Emily has softened his heart. He's taught her everything about assessing a situation."
Francie has a question about Dad. " Where is... Michael? Shouldn't he be here?"
I answer Mom's question again. "Dad is taking care of business. Besides, Mom just explained everything to me half an hour ago."
"Michael is talking to the CIA director. I also wanted you to meet Emily first. I hoped that we could meet him for lunch at your restaurant, Francie."
As everything is settled I notice a look of jealousy permanently fixed in Will's eyes. I think he loves Mom more than a friend. He almost jumped when she announced that Michael Vaughn was my father.
Francie seems to be the better friend. I can't help dislike Will for being jealous of Dad.
I know mom is dying to ask them about their lives. I'm going to ask first.
"Francie, do you have any kids? Anyone my age?"
She smiles, answering with hopefulness in her voice. "Yes, actually I have a son who is 17. I married his dad when he was one. He never knew his biological mother, so we don't acknowledge a difference. His name is Jonathon."
I want to meet Jonathon. He has to be a good person if he's anything like Francie.
I wonder what Will's reaction will be when he sees how strong my parent's love is. I can't help feeling cold to him.
After all the explanations have been dealt out, are we going to live the same life? Will everything change? Will we move here? As much as I like it here, I would miss my home. Canada is so beautiful. And clean. The air is pure and the trees are a brilliant shade of red and orange.
I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.
*** Authors Note: The next chapter will be Will POV. If you read my bio, you will notice that I have a deep dislike for Will. Expect angst. (I feel that I need to explain the person answering the phone)
If you wonder why I don't like him, you will notice that I am a Vaughn fan. A big fan. Will is too damn annoying. He will suffer.
I'm debating future chapters. Should there be action or should this stay a thoughtful story? Please send me your advice!
*Duck