“I know. Kurt Jenkins told me.” Her eyes glanced back at the soldier and then settled on Jake. She started to say something, but stopped. As if the words were stuck in her throat.
“Are you all right?” Jake asked.
“No, I’m not.”
“Of course not.”
She hesitated, tears streaking her face. For a brief moment she looked like Toni. “Did you love her?”
“Yes. But with our jobs, we just couldn’t be together.”
“I know. That’s what she told me also.” She took both of Jake’s hands in hers. “I need you to meet someone.”
“Is this your son? I didn’t know you had a son.”
The soldier came to them and nearly stood at attention.
“This is Toni’s son, Karl.”
Confused, Jake shook the young man’s hand.
“Nice to meet you, sir,” the soldier said.
Jake looked at Francesca for help. “I didn’t know Toni had a son.”
Francesca nearly broke down, but pulled herself together and gathered strength. “I know. She let me raise Karl. She couldn’t give up her work with the Agency.”
Feeling completely confused, Jake finally glanced at the young man’s black nametag on his uniform. It read, ADAMS.
Francesca nodded her head and smiled. “Toni told me to tell you she was sorry. And to only tell you the truth upon her death. She almost told you last year after some incident in Europe, which she couldn’t tell me about. Please forgive her.”
Jake felt like he had been punched in the gut. But he also felt elated somewhat. He had a son he never knew about — a strong, handsome, accomplished son. And he would never know those things that normal fathers knew about their sons. The first steps. Sports accomplishments. Academic achievements. The first date.
Turning to the Army officer, his son, Jake said, “I’m sorry…Karl. I never knew.”
The lieutenant nodded and said, “I just found out this morning.”
Now, for the first time, Jake embraced his son.