Part Sixteen

It is Thursday afternoon before Sydney picks up the phone to tell her father they will be in town for the weekend. They have already made arrangements for where they will be staying (a hotel-- Marguerite moved out of Michael's childhood home and into a very nice but small apartment years ago, so she doesn't have room to put them up, and staying with any of their friends seems like asking for trouble) and how they will be spending the majority of their time (lunch with Will and Francie on Saturday, dinner with Kerri and Ben, and Sunday afternoon at Marguerite's), but she thinks she should at least let him know she'll be around.

"Jack Bristow," he says when he picks up his phone.

"Hi, Dad." Irrationally, she feels like she should add it's Sydney, even though she's her father's only child, and what parent can't tell their childrens' voices apart, anyway?

"Sydney," her father says, surprise in his voice. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Dad," Sydney says, finding it sad that her father immediately assumes something must be wrong if she's calling. "I just wanted to tell you that Michael and the children and I will be in town for the weekend. Michael is planning to stop by his old law firm tomorrow afternoon for a visit, so I thought that might be a good time to bring the kids by for a visit."

"I--" Her father seems rather taken aback by the suggestion. "This is a surprise, Sydney. Was the trip a last minute decision?"

"Sort of," Sydney hedges, not wanting to tell him that they've been planning it for almost a week. "I mentioned to Michael that I wanted to fly back for a visit before I was too far along with my pregnancy, and it turned out his schedule for this weekend was pretty free, so we're coming."

"Oh. And you wanted to visit tomorrow?"

"If you're free." Sydney hates that she feels so nervous doing such a small thing as asking her father if he has time for a visit, but she does.

The long pause that follows her words doesn't make her feel any better. "Well, you know I normally work on Fridays, Sydney--"

"If you don't have time, it's fine--"

"But I think they can spare me for an afternoon," he finishes. "Do you want to stop by the house?"

Sydney smiles slightly. "Sure, Dad."

"Maybe Mike can stop by after he's done at the firm," her father adds in a rush, as if he's nervous to get the words out. "I could make dinner, or we could order in. If you don't already have plans, I mean."

"That-- that sounds nice," Sydney says, fairly shocked by the offer. "So-- our flight gets into LA at ten a.m., I think, and we'll want some time to go to the hotel to rest and freshen up, but would it be okay if I brought the kids over around two?"

"Sure, Sydney. I'll see you then."

He hangs up, and Sydney stares at the phone until a beeping sound reminds her that she needs to hang up, too.

"What's wrong, Mommy?" Emily asks, wandering into the kitchen. She's rubbing her eyes sleepily; Sydney had been planning to wake her after the phone call so they could go pick up Jack from school.

"Nothing's-- nothing's wrong, sweetheart," Sydney manages. "We're going to see your grandpa tomorrow."

"Yaay! "

Sydney wishes she felt as excited.