Part Eleven:
Sydney had yet again been sitting beneath a tree reading her book as she tried to ignore the chatter going on around her. When there was a sudden hush, Sydney looked up and spotted Mr Vaughn walking through the eating area. She soon made out Matty's form by his side and got an itch to run over and pick him up. 'He just looks so lost.' She thought to herself when she caught a glimpse of his chubby little face.
She silently watched as Michael paused to pick Matty up. The poor child was scared of everyone. She thought it a little odd as he'd willingly walked up to her in class last week and when Mr Vaughn had thrust him into her arms that day, he hadn't squirmed or made a fuss, he just held onto her and tucked his head into her neck.
Sydney suddenly felt nostalgic. Her fingers and arms itched to feel her daughter's warmth and small body against hers. She longed to breathe in and suddenly smell the unique scent her daughter possessed. She wanted to be home, with Abby.
Deciding that any attempts to continue reading were futile and therefore she closed her book and returned it to her book bag before leaning up against the tree facing Mr Vaughn and Matty who now sat in Mr Weiss's lap. She supposed she'd settle for this; watching a father and son interact.
Sydney felt a few tears pool on her bottom eyelashes causing her vision to become blurry. Her attempt at blinking them away only caused them to fall down her cheeks. She swiftly wiped them before anyone noticed and before any more tears threatened to fall. Sydney averted her watery gaze from the sight of Mr Vaughn playing with his son as a wave of jealousy filled her. Staring intently at the grass for a few minutes, she was startled when she heard an unusual version of her name being called out.
"Disney!" Matty called out as he ran with a waddle towards her. As he neared she outstretched her arms to catch him when he ran full-pelt into her. Instantly wrapping her arms around the little body, she squeezed him to her. Inhaling, she caught a whiff of Matty's own child-like scent and her body instantaneously relaxed.
After a few seconds Matty pulled back and noticed tears glistening in her eyes. Reaching a tiny hand up to her face he gently touched her cheek. "You cry-in?" He asked with reverence.
Sydney smiled through her tears before she nodded. She brought her left hand up to run it through his hair, fixing his part.
"Why?" He asked as he reached for the necklace that hung around her neck.
Sydney smiled down at him before replying. "I miss someone very much." She explained simply.
"Oh." Matty replied sounding his understanding.
They sat together the pair of them, Matty in her lap facing her as he continued his exploration of her necklace. Sydney's fingers weren't idle; she brushed her fingers through his hair and ran her thumbs over his exposed arms feeling the soft texture of his childish skin.
A thought suddenly struck Sydney. She eyed Matty for a few seconds catching his attention. He returned her gaze with a more quizzical one. "Are you ticklish?" She asked, a grin beginning to form on her lips, her fingers poised ready to find every ticklish spot on his body.
Matty tried unsuccessfully to hide his grin as he answered in the negative. In an instant her fingers were running up and down his body, causing him to squirm in her arms till he landed on the grass on his back as he expressed his happiness and delight through laughter.
Sydney continued to tickle Matty, her giggling joining his. "You're ticklish aren't you?" She began asking through her giggles and still she'd receive a laughing "No."
"So you'll talk to my son before you'll talk to me?" A masculine voice interrupted them.
Sydney froze.
Michael's mind was running on over-drive. He couldn't see Matty anywhere, he was on his hands and knees now looking underneath all the tables trying to see his little red sneakers and the blue denim of his overalls. But all that he could see were the legs of students and the rubbish they left behind.
Panic settled over him and just as the frustration rose and the need to hit something or someone appeared, a voice broke him.
"There." Gladys said pointing her bony finger in the direction of the grass area and the trees. Michael stood up quickly gaining his balance by grabbing the edge of the table in front of him. Michael's eyes searching rapidly around the trees trying to sort through a couple of the stragglers to find his son.
Finally, and as his heart skipped a beat out of what he believed was sheer relief, he spotted Matty.
With Sydney.
"Jesus." Michael breathed out as he let his right hand rub down his face. With a quick thanks to Gladys he slowly made his way towards the pair, his heart rate elevating with each step. He watched as she played with his son, asking him questions, having a conversation with him. And suddenly Michael faltered in his step.
She was talking!
Quickening his pace slightly he heard her giggling alongside Matty as she tickled him mercilessly.
A grin formed on his lips as he was able to approach without being seen.
"So you'll talk to my son before you'll talk to me?" He asked.
Sydney was saved from answering by the squirming boy beneath her. "Daddy!" He squealed without an attempt to move from beneath Sydney's fingers.
Crouching down to be eye level with Sydney he spoke. "I owe you another thank you." Michael said with a grin.
Sydney almost tried to hold back a smile in response. Michael suddenly felt giddy.
"Daddy." Matty started as he interrupted their staring match. "This, Disney." He explained still lying on his back in the grass. He pointed a finger in Sydney's direction and grinned up at Michael.
Michael quickly averted his attention to his son. Smiling down at him he corrected him. "That's Disney? Well, her real name is Sydney." And quickly Michael's fingers began to tickle up and down Matty's sides hitting all the right spots. Sydney quickly moved her fingers away but smiled happily as she watched Mr Vaughn play with his son.
Another pair off eyes watched on from a distance with a curious stare. He watched the three of them for a few minutes longer before heading off to class.
Mr Vaughn glanced at his watch after he pulled his fingers away from Matty. Noticing the time, he looked up at Sydney and felt guilty for what he was going to ask her.
Sydney caught the look in his eyes and she suddenly felt very apprehensive about what was about to happen.
"Syd, I'm really sorry to ask you this." Mr Vaughn started before taking a deep breath, "I checked with the front desk and they told me you didn't have a class next and I was wandering if it was at all possible that you could mind Matty for me." Before she could refuse Michael kept rambling on. "It'll only be for this next period and then you can go to Maths, you'd just have to drop him off at my door on your way and he might need to go to the toilet soon and if it'll make you say yes, I'll even pay you. I know it's a lot to ask especially with all the work you've probably got to do, but I don't trust him to be with anyone else and he seems to really like you and - "
Noticing Mr Vaughn beginning to ramble she began to tap on his shoulder to get his attention but she had no success. She was going to say yes, but if he'd just shut up then she could tell him her answer. Beginning to get frustrated, as she didn't want any money for taking care of Matty she interrupted him, this time significantly successful in her attempt.
"Yes."
There was silence for a few short seconds. "Wow." Mr Vaughn responded in awe.
A blush crept up Sydney's neck colouring her cheeks and warming her skin. "Say something else." Mr Vaughn demanded in an excited tone.
"Er – I don't want your money?" Sydney said apprehensively.
"Fantastic!" Mr Vaughn said feeling like he should jump up and down in excitement over the fact he'd gotten her talk to him.
"Mr Vaughn?" Sydney attempted at grabbing his attention again.
"Yeah?" He answered staring at her in awe.
"You're late for class." She said with a small smile. Quickly it turned into a grin as she watched him jump up off the ground and ran off yelling out a "Thanks!" and "I owe you big time!"
Sydney looked down at Matty who had now found his shoes to be interesting. "You're daddy's crazy." She said. Matty grinned up at her. "Dad crazy."
Sydney laughed.