The Price We've Paid

Do You Want Some Bacon?

The next morning, before you had even opened your eyes, your body became acutely aware that you were not alone in your bed. At first, it startled you...it had been so long since you'd shared a bed; but as you opened your eyes and saw your wife nestled under the comforter next to you, you relaxed.

Andy's hair was wild on the pillow and her soft breaths were like music to your ears. You wanted to reach out, to brush her hair from her face and kiss her cheek. To show her just how much you'd missed her...but a daunting feeling began settling in your stomach the longer you looked at her.

Was she still mad at you for leaving?

Would she ever forgive the choices you'd made?

You had found answers; but would they be enough?

A nervous energy began to grow within you. At any minute, Andy could open her eyes, look at you in the daylight and rain hell upon you. Your world could come crashing down and everything you'd worked for these last few years could prove pointless. The prospect of this unhappy reunion terrified you...

What if she didn't love you anymore?

Unable to handle the anxious thoughts coursing through your brain, you carefully slipped out of bed. Andy was a fairly sound sleeper when she felt safe. So it didn't surprise you when you didn't budge as you crept your way out of the room.

You shuffled downstairs toward the kitchen, careful to slide the barn door to the living room closed, so Nile could continue to sleep. Then you stalked toward the large open counter and began brewing a pot of coffee and cooking breakfast.

After a few minutes, Joe came into the kitchen, stretching and yawning. "Buongiorno mia cara," he hummed as he approached you.

You turned away from the bacon you had crackling on the stove, setting down the spatula before moving to hug him and kiss his cheek. "Dormi bene?" You asked, as he shuffled around the counter to sit in one of the high top stools.

He nodded. "That was one of the best sleeps I've gotten in years!"

You chuckled. "Well good, I'm glad." After a moment, you sidestepped to pull a coffee mug from one of the cabinets to your left. "Coffee?" You asked him.

"Si, grazie," he mumbled as you poured him a cup.

When you slid it across the counter, you smiled. "It's one the Colombian blends you used to love."

"Ah, mia amata. Mi illumini sempre la giornata!" He exclaimed, as he inhaled the scent of the coffee.

Your smile grew as you returned to the bacon. "Oh, how I've missed you."

He sipped the coffee slowly. "We've missed you too Zo. A lot has happened since you left."

You flipped the bacon in the pan. "I know," you said plainly. "I've seen."

Joe tilted his head. "I should've known you'd be watching out for us."

You smirked. "You're my family. Just because I left, that didn't change." You turned back to face him. "I will always watch out for you. All of you."

Joe smiled and nodded. There was a sense of understanding between you. Though you hadn't expressed anything aloud, you could tell that Joe knew what you meant. Just because you'd left doesn't mean you'd really left. You were just...separate; so you could find answers without putting them in jeopardy...to save them from potentially paying for your mistakes.

"So..." you said, changing the subject slightly. "What led you all here?"

Joe sighed. "About 6 months ago, we started working with an informant...ex CIA."