Sydney
15 minutes to go. Sydney reached over to the intercom and switched it back on. "Mom, Dad, if you're done *talking*, we have 15 minutes until we're there." Really, she thought to herself, this was worse than being a 3rd wheel on one of Francie's dates.
5 minutes later, her father came into the cab. He had changed but still sported a 3 day stubble and a multi-colored array of bruises on his face. Sydney looked closer, and giggled. Jack looked at her, curiously. "Dad, was there a mirror in the back?" she asked. He shook his head, mystified. Sydney pulled out a handkerchief, wet it with her tongue, and rubbed it vigorously on his face and neck. Holding it up for inspection she said, "Lipstick?"
Jack smiled sheepishly. Sydney was surprised at how much younger it made him look.
Jack took a deep breath. "Sydney, we need to talk about your mother. While we were in Voronezh she hared much more of her history, things of which I was never aware. Things which dramatically change the interpretation of her actions towards you and me. I have reason to believe her. She will, I am sure, tell you herself in her own time, and you will need to make your own decision."
He shifted uncomfortably. "Sydney, I was deeply in love with your mother before she left us. I am likely to be deeply in love with her again. She is still a guest of the US government. I am still an agent for the CIA. I -," he paused, considering, "I've never asked for your help on anything. I might need your help for a while, trying to get this right." He looked down at his hands.
Sydney, touched, took one of her hands in his. Had he ever shared his feelings with her before? "Dad, don't worry. I'll be there for you." She reached over and gave him a hug. He looked up, slightly surprised, then smiled gratefully and hugged her back.
15 minutes to go. Sydney reached over to the intercom and switched it back on. "Mom, Dad, if you're done *talking*, we have 15 minutes until we're there." Really, she thought to herself, this was worse than being a 3rd wheel on one of Francie's dates.
5 minutes later, her father came into the cab. He had changed but still sported a 3 day stubble and a multi-colored array of bruises on his face. Sydney looked closer, and giggled. Jack looked at her, curiously. "Dad, was there a mirror in the back?" she asked. He shook his head, mystified. Sydney pulled out a handkerchief, wet it with her tongue, and rubbed it vigorously on his face and neck. Holding it up for inspection she said, "Lipstick?"
Jack smiled sheepishly. Sydney was surprised at how much younger it made him look.
Jack took a deep breath. "Sydney, we need to talk about your mother. While we were in Voronezh she hared much more of her history, things of which I was never aware. Things which dramatically change the interpretation of her actions towards you and me. I have reason to believe her. She will, I am sure, tell you herself in her own time, and you will need to make your own decision."
He shifted uncomfortably. "Sydney, I was deeply in love with your mother before she left us. I am likely to be deeply in love with her again. She is still a guest of the US government. I am still an agent for the CIA. I -," he paused, considering, "I've never asked for your help on anything. I might need your help for a while, trying to get this right." He looked down at his hands.
Sydney, touched, took one of her hands in his. Had he ever shared his feelings with her before? "Dad, don't worry. I'll be there for you." She reached over and gave him a hug. He looked up, slightly surprised, then smiled gratefully and hugged her back.