Annie and Hena walked through the meadow for about 10 minutes in comfortable silence.
Annie knew Hena had to be the one to start. She had wanted this conversation so she was going to be the one to lead it.
Annie was just curious as to why Hena had gone from cursing at her to inviting her into her home and then asking her out on a walk. There had to be a reason for her actions Annie thought.
Hena wanted to get a safe distance from the house before she started in with Annie. She didn't want to risk Eyal being anywhere within hearing range. She knew she needed to explain some things but was pondering how to begin.
Hena stopped and turned to Annie. "I need to explain."
Annie paused beside Hena and looked at her waiting for her to continue.
"First I need to apologize to you. I made assumptions and I shouldn't have. You need to understand that I haven't seen Eyal since the day he walked out. We have spoken on the phone over the years but it's been 12 years since I saw him in person."
Annie looked at Hena confused "I thought Avi was 10?"
Hena laughed "No, Avi is 12, 13 next month. Eyal just has been saying he's 10 for years, since he was 8 or 9. He loves the boy and Avi is definitely Eyal's."
The smile dropped from Hena's face upon seeing Annie's solemn expression. "Anyway as I was saying, I made assumptions."
Annie was confused. Hena needed to clarify. What exactly had she made assumptions about?
"Eyal…well Eyal…and his job…this is hard for me to say. I couldn't handle it when he started working for Mossad. I couldn't understand what would motivate him to do it. And then I found out he slept with women for information, and that was the final straw…so when I saw you walk up I just assumed…I'm sorry…I thought…" Hena looked down.
"You thought I was one of the women Eyal had slept with for information." Annie finished.
"Yes, and I'm sorry." Hena met Annie's gaze.
"Well I would just let to set the record straight and although we did meet on the job I have not slept with Eyal." Annie replied.
"Really?" Hena asked taken aback "And how long have you known him?"
Annie laughed. "I've actually known him almost four years."
"Wow. I've known Eyal for my entire life and he has always been a flirt. So when he was allowed to use those skills to his advantage, play them up even, I thought he would have every chance he got. I'm surprised…well anyway when he joined Mossad it changed him. It hardened his heart. I thought he would never come back, never let it crack." Hena glanced away.
"I understand." Annie laid a hand on Hena's arm, not sure if it would be wanted but Hena looked down at it and placed her hand over it.
Hena turned to Annie. "Do you Annie? Understand? Eyal put up walls to guard his heart. When he left us, his family, he slept with more women than I'm sure he could even count. Everyone thought he was a player but what he really was was a broken man. He did that to hide his true feelings. He wanted to make everyone believe that he didn't really care."
"I know." Annie squeezed Hena's hand.
"Please explain how you think you know him." Hena asked.
"When I first met Eyal he was cocky and arrogant and, quite frankly, a real ass. I couldn't stand him, but over the years he grew on me. He pursued me, just as I'm sure he would any woman, but I wouldn't give in to his charms and we became friends, and trust each other with our very lives. Along the way we fell in love. So when you say he put walls up, I know, trust me, but he has started to break them down." Annie went to remove her hand but Hena surprised her by taking it in her grasp so they were holding hands.
"Yes, he has. I can see it. He hasn't been this man since before Avi was born. Thank you for bringing him back to us. I know I am not the woman he loves anymore. I have known that for years but if he can be in our lives, mine and Avi's in any capacity, I am thankful." Hena squeezed Annie's hand this time.
"I don't think I was the one responsible for changing him." Annie spoke.
"I do. I know it was, you were the difference, you are the difference Annie. I can see it in the way he looks at you. I don't think you realize. I haven't seen Eyal like this since before we were married and you are certainly the ONLY woman he has ever brought home to Israel. Like I said, I've known Eyal since we were children in school." Hena gazed into the distance as if remembering those times long ago.
"You must have some fond memories" said Annie smiling sadly.
"Yes and no, but those are stories for a different time. Right now I must also thank you for saving my son's life." Hena looked back at Annie changing topics.
"Well..I…" Annie started.
"Avi told me. He said you're CIA, you're American, and you saved him, not Eyal. He also mentioned something about you being Eyal's Neshama but that is something for later." Hena let out a short laugh.
"Eyal just came and asked for my help. He is a friend." Annie said, getting embarrassed.
"But you had never met my son and I can count on my fingers the number my people who know that he is Eyal's son. How did you know what he looked like? Who you were looking for? What you would be saving?" Hena puzzled.
Annie looked down. She knew Eyal had told very few people that Avi was his son but she didn't know how few. She knew how much Eyal trusted her, but this put it in a whole new perspective. "I knew who Avi was and what he looked like." Annie whispered.
Hena jerked her eyes up shocked. "You knew? How!"
"Eyal showed me." Annie whispered again.
"What do you mean he showed you?" asked Hena slightly appalled. She was starting to realize how very much Eyal trusted Annie. If he had shown her, an American, their son, the most precious thing in his world, than she was certainly special.
"Two years ago he brought me to one of Avi's soccer games. We watched from a distance. I knew than how much trust he was placing in my hands, or I thought I did." Annie looked down.
"You must be very special. I don't know what you have done to earn that kind of trust but with Eyal is must have been something spectacular." Hena smiled at her curiously.
"I'm sure it was something else." Annie wasn't enjoying the praise Hena was showering on her. Annie assumed she was trying to make up for her earlier comments but Hena truly meant them. She was beginning to understand Annie.
Hena looked at Annie; she knew she was embarrassed and trying to be modest. "You saved him, in more ways than one, didn't you?" Hena smiled.
"We saved each other." Annie responded. Hena looked at Annie and for the first time didn't see the headstrong woman with the good heart that Annie strived to be all the time, at least outwardly. Hena saw the broken woman that Annie was, the one that Eyal had obviously fallen in love with and why. They were kindred spirits, both broken people that were whole only together. Annie was right, they had saved each other. She was Eyal's neshama.
"Well said." Hena looked down.
The pair stared into the distance at the setting sun.
"Well I have many things that I wish to discuss with you but we don't need to do them all tonight. You will be around won't you?" Hena looked at Annie.
"I guess" said Annie frowning into the sun. What Hena had just told her left her a lot to ponder.
"I hope that this can be the part we take away from tonight, that you can forgive my original outburst and that we can move on from this point." Hena requested almost shyly.
"I would like that." Annie turned to walk back to the house forgetting they were still holding hands.
Hena smiled and they began walking hand in hand back through the meadow.
"Thank you Annie. For everything you have done to the parts of my life. For bringing my son home and out of harm's way. For bringing Eyal back into my life, not just as he was, but a better man. For bringing some perspective and most of all for bring yourself. I want you in my life too. I can see why Eyal likes you" Hena says nudging Annie's shoulder "people are just drawn to you."'
Annie looked over at Hena completely amazed. Hena had surely done a 180. "I don't know what to say Hena…other than thank you, for allowing me to be a part of your lives. I hope this is a relationship that lasts." Annie looked at Hena. "Not many in my life have, sadly."
"It will, because I won't let either or you go now that you're in mine and Avi's lives, Annie. I keep friends close and family closer." Hena replied, smiling.
Annie and Hena finished their walk back to the house in companionable silence. They each had learned a great deal about the other and come to respect the other in many ways.
Eyal watched out the back window as Hena and Annie emerged from the meadow hand in hand. He smiled, although he knew that it probably wasn't a good thing for him. However, he was happy to see them getting along.
When they got to the back door they finally unlinked their hands as Hena opened the door. They spotted Eyal in the kitchen.
Hena turned to Annie, "What it said in Israel…"
Annie laughed finishing the expression, "Stays in Israel."