Just as the flight landed Annie woke Avi up. He had slept the entire flight. Annie and Eyal had been content to sit in silence. After Eyal's thank you they had simply held hands and spent the time switching off taking naps. They both knew they needed to have a serious talk but that it couldn't occur on the plane with all the ears nearby, no matter what language they spoke in.
They exited the plane and walked through the airport. Eyal stopped to buy two burner phones. Annie had left her phone in her car back in Pennsylvania and he had left his on his boat in Greece shortly after he had gotten the call about Avi. It was harder to be tracked that way.
Eyal punched in his ex-wife's number. Annie had explained how Auggie had sent a text looking like it was from Eyal's phone saying "Avi is safe. Will call when on the ground in Israel." She picked up quickly.
Annie could tell this was going to be a brief conversation but laid her hand on Eyal's arm and made a motion to show they were going to get something to drink; after all it had been a long flight. She wanted to give him a little privacy.
Eyal knew Annie was just trying to be considerate but he wished she had just waited. This was going to be a short conversation. They arranged for Eyal to bring Avi home in half an hour. Hena was waiting; she really wanted to set eyes on Avi as soon as possible.
Eyal walked over to Annie and Avi. "Ready to go?" he asks upbeat. "Yes, is mom waiting?" Avi asks. "Yep and she has already prepared dinner for you, she is fussing."
Avi rolled his eyes. "Of course she is. Is Annie coming too?" Avi looked up expectantly, still clutching her hand as he seemed to do all the time now.
Eyal thought about that for a minute. It hadn't actually occurred to him that she wasn't, it was just that he hadn't told Hena that he had someone with him. "Where else would she be going?" Eyal replied.
Annie noticed the tension in Eyal's smile. She figured he had probably not mentioned to his ex-wife that there were three people coming to her home rather than two. Well this should be interesting she thought, but didn't say anything to Eyal. It would be his choice whether to say anything or let it play out, she decided.
Avi began to tug Annie towards the front doors of the airport. When he got there he just took in the sight of his beautiful country. He loved it so much.
Eyal looked at Avi and the sheer joy on this face of looking at the Tel Aviv skyline. "Israel is pretty isn't it?"
Avi looked up at him. "America was nice, but everything is more beautiful in Israel." Eyal's face was suddenly very surprised and Annie started laughing. Avi was confused. "What's so funny?" he questioned looking from one to the other.
"Nothing of consequence Avi, it's just that I do believe you stole your father's line. He has been saying that to me for years." Annie answered looking at Avi. "I have heard that many times in many languages."
Avi realized it must be weird for Annie to only hear Hebrew around her rather than English. He was just so accustomed to it that he didn't notice. "Really? That's funny. Is it weird for you to only hear Hebrew?"
Annie was semi-surprised by the question. "No I'm used to changing languages often but I love Hebrew, it is a beautiful language, and one that some of the important people in my life seem to speak." She squeezed his hand and looked at Eyal.
Eyal listened to the exchange between Annie and Avi. To his knowledge the only people she knew that spoke Hebrew were himself and Avi. It warmed his heart to hear that Avi mattered in her life too. She amazed him more and more every day.
"Alright, let's change the topic before Avi starts saying other things of mine." Eyal laughed.
The three slide into the backseat of a cab and headed for Eyal's apartment so they could pick up his car to drive to Hena's.
The ride was short, about 5 minutes, when they pulled up at a nice apartment complex. "This is where you live?" Avi asked appalled.
"Yes. Is there a problem somewhere in that question?" Eyal glanced at Avi as he paid the cabbie and the trio walked over to a parking garage.
"No. It's just that I pass this building on the way to school every day. I just never knew." He looked at Eyal sadly. "You were so close. I just thought you weren't around. Mom never told me that you still lived in Israel."
Eyal had pulled a set of keys from a loose brick in the foundation just inside the entryway and they were sliding into a black sedan, Eyal in the driver's seat, Annie in the passenger's and Avi in the back.
"I never left you." Eyal whispered quietly. "I have been to your soccer games and your school on occasion you've just never seen me. Your mother knows, it was for your own protection." Eyal whispered putting the car in reverse.
Annie could see the pain written across Eyal's face. She decided to intervene. "Avi." He met her eyes as she turned to face the back seat.
"I don't have children but I do have two nieces, my sister's daughters, and I don't get to see them anymore. Ever since I joined the CIA they have moved and been kept away from me for their protection. Your father did the same for you. It pains us to have to do that but we will go to extremes to keep those we love safe. Do you understand? Can you forgive your father?"
Eyal looked over at Annie. She had just told his son about a very personal aspect of her life, something that she hadn't shared with him until now. She was trusting him as he had trusted her. They now seemed to have balanced the equation. Each knew the other's weak points. He now realized that her feelings for him might run as deep as his for her.
Avi looked at Annie. Of course he forgave his father. He now understood the sacrifices that he had made, that both he and Annie had made. But now they had each other and they seemed to be the perfect pair. "Yes. I forgive both of you."
Annie and Eyal both looked at Avi. "Both of us?" they questioned in unison. "Yes, because I know if your nieces knew what you were doing for them they would say them same" Avi told Annie.
Annie was dumbfounded. Avi was wise beyond his years in many ways. She looked to Eyal and saw a single tear roll down his cheek. He reached over and grasped her hand. "He's right. Thank you for being a part of my life."
Eyal looked at Avi in the rearview mirror. "Thank you my son, but I never will be able to get back what we would have had together had I been around, and that I will always regret. I am not a whole man, nor will I ever be. You deserve a father better than I."
"Father I do not resent you. I understand you now. There is no better role-model than you. You are a great father. You have just been not physically here. You were here in spirit. I just want you to be a part of my life now and as for not being whole I think you'll get there. Your neshama will help you" he said smiling at Annie.
Annie and Eyal exchanged a look as they continued to hold hands in the front seat.
"Dad what do you think Mom is making for dinner?" Avi asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
Eyal smiled, back to the normal worries of boyhood. "I don't know, I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
Avi thought the rest of the way there; it was only about a 15 minute drive. Obviously he wanted his father to be a part of his life but he wanted Annie to be in it too. After all, she was the reason he was around to live it. He decided it must have been kismet that Annie and had met Eyal and he wanted to make sure she was around for the long run.
"Hey so what do I call you anyway?" Avi asked of Annie.
Annie was surprised she hadn't thought about it, but noticed that he had actually addressed her since they had met. "Annie's fine with me. That okay Eyal?"
Eyal realized he had never brought a woman home ever. His parents had met Hena long before they were married simply because they had grown up together so introductions were not necessary. "Fine with me if it is with you." He looked at Annie. "I hadn't thought about it" he whispered in English.
"Me either" Annie also replied in English "but there has to be a reason that he asked."
Back in Hebrew. "Is there a reason you asked Avi?" Annie questioned.
"Just wanted to know who else I can add to my list of family to pray for tonight." Avi replied waiting for Annie's reaction.
"That's sweet Avi, thank you" Annie smiled at him.
Eyal looked back, this kid was smart. He hadn't said the real reason he was asking. Annie knew that too, he really was quite like him, he had to admit. This time though he decided he was going to call him on it.
"It's not because you want to see if she's going to be around for a while?" Eyal asked as Avi's face turned a nice shade of pink.
"Well, ah, yes" Avi answered.
"I can assure you my son, if I can help it, Annie will be around for the rest of my life." Eyal looked at Avi seriously as they pulled into a driveway in the countryside surrounding Tel Aviv.
"I just want to know who to ask about on the phone to make sure you don't push her away. I love her too Dad." Avi finished softly.
Eyal smiled. "No worries Avi, Annie knows that and she won't let me." He glanced at her.
"That's right Avi, I will be around." She looked at Eyal. She was glad to know he wanted her around for the long haul because she had been serious when she had told him if she got on the plane it was the real deal.
"Good." Avi smiled as the car came to a stop. He jumped out of the car and grabbed Annie's hand, tugging her towards the house. This was going to be fun, introducing Dad's soul mate to Mom.
Annie was surprised that Avi was so okay with everything. He had just met his father for the first time but wasn't just trying to make sure Eyal stuck around, he expected Annie to be a part of his life too. She wondered why that was.
Eyal jogged to catch up and met Annie and Avi at the door. He hadn't been expecting Avi to make him declare his intent in the car, that had not been how he planned to tell Annie, but he realized it needed to be said before she met Hena. He laughed at that thought.
Eyal realized this was going to be interesting. He knocked. Here went nothing…