Page 38 of Wick
"No problem. I can work with that. I know exactly what to do," Piper says with excitement.
"Look, brother. You handle your business there, and when you get back, you'll have what you need. We got your back."
"Thanks, Riggs. We'll probably head out first thing in the mornin'."
"Alright, brother. If you need anything else, give me a holler."
After hanging up with Riggs, I sit in the truck a few minutes to reflect on the random twist of events that have suddenly rained down havoc on mine and Vayda's lives. No matter how out of my element I am or how fucking clueless I am when it comes to raising a kid, I make the silent vow, right here and now, to make Damien proud. I'll look after and protect his daughter just as he would if he were still alive to do it himself.
* * *
The next morning,we are on the road and headed back to New Orleans. We've been driving for a couple of hours. Sydney has been mostly quiet. When she does speak, it's only to answer a question from myself or Vayda. Her responses are laced with attitude. Vayda is not deterred by Sydney's less than stellar welcoming. Who can blame the kid? She's lashing out because she's hurting. Sydney being standoffish is her way of coping. She's putting up a wall to protect herself. Here she is, an eleven-year-old girl who has been dumped off on strangers by her sick mother. Sydney has no reason to trust Vayda or me and, as a child, she doesn't know any other way to deal with how lost she's feeling at the moment.
Passing the sign for a local diner I eat at every time I drive through Texas, I glance at the time on the dashboard to see it's nearly noon. I turn to Vayda who is sitting in the passenger seat. "How about we stop for lunch and fuel up?"
Vayda nods then turns slightly in the seat to face Sydney, who has been sitting silently in the back seat since we left. "We're going to stop for lunch. You hungry?"
Sydney shrugs her shoulders but remains quiet. Her rebuff does nothing to faze Vayda, though. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm starving. I could go for a big cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake." Vayda continues to look at Sydney as she talks. The little girl doesn't say anything, but when I look into the rearview mirror, I don't miss the slight smile she quickly tries to hide by turning her head. When Vayda twists back in her seat and looks at me, her smile says she didn't miss it either.
Stopping at the diner turned out to be a good idea. Sydney scarfed down a swiss and bacon cheeseburger, which also happens to be Vayda's favorite, along with fries and she opted for a strawberry milkshake. I continue to eat my meal as Vayda makes another attempt at small talk.
"So, Sydney. What grade are you in at school?"
Sydney pops a fry in her mouth as she goes about studying Vayda. She surprises us both when she finally answers. "I'm in the sixth grade."
"Do you like school?" Vayda continues.
"Yes. I really like History."
I grin and cut my eyes to Vayda to see her face break out in the biggest smile. "Your dad loved History."
Sydney cracks a smile. "Mom says that too."
Vayda doesn't ask any more questions. She's probably looking at the few sentences she got out of her niece just now as a victory and has decided not to push. Once we have finished our lunch and stopped by the gas station to fuel up, we get back on the road. Before leaving the diner, I sent off a quick text to Riggs letting him know to expect us in a couple more hours.
"She's passed out," Vayda hooks her thumb over her shoulder to Sydney, who has indeed fallen asleep.
"Kid had a long couple of days," I grunt.
"Have you told the guys about her?"
"Talked to Prez yesterday after I visited my parents. The guys are at the house now gettin' it ready."
"Getting it ready?"
"Yeah, baby. I am getting it ready. You know I don't have shit in my house. Told them to buy some furniture, stock the kitchen. Piper was all over the idea of decoratin' Sydney's room."
Vayda looks at me, stunned. "You had them do all that for Sydney?"
"I didn't do it just for Sydney. I did it for you too, Vayda. I want my house to be a home for both of you. I'm all in, Vayda. This thing with Sydney; we're in it together."
Vayda reaches across the armrest and takes hold of my hand. "I don't know what I'd do without you; without the club. You're like home to me, Malik, and the club is like a second family."
Lifting our joined hands to my lips, I kiss the inside of Vayda's wrist.
The sun is just beginning to set by the time I pull into the driveway of my house. Sydney curiously perks up from the back seat and takes in her surroundings. "You live here?" she asks in awe.
"Yes. And now it's your home too."
