Chapter thirty-two
February 1983
They settled into a routine: every morning Irina would drop Sydney off at school and she would be waiting for her before the bell rang at the end of the day. She was late only once – by five minutes – but it was enough to scare Sydney into thinking that she'd lost her mother again, and that night Sydney slept in her parents' bed.
Once, Sydney's class teacher had been waiting to talk to Irina. "I just wanted you to know," the young woman said, "I'm really sorry for everything you and your family have been through. Anya's a good girl; I'm sure she'll be just fine once she settles in a bit." She smiled, squinting slightly in the morning sunlight. "I'm praying for you, Mrs. Lewis."
Jack, surprisingly, had been spending most of his days learning the ins and outs of running a vineyard. Irina didn't think he'd be satisfied with that life indefinitely, but he was happy for now, and so was she.
Now that classes at the university were about to start, their routine needed to change. The night before Irina started work, she curled up in bed with Sydney and read to her. Then, as she was tucking Sydney in, said, "Sweetheart, Daddy will pick you up from school tomorrow, okay?"
Sydney sat upright. "No, Mommy!"
"Mommy has to work."
"But, Mommy—"
"What if Daddy fetches you, then brings you by the university before he brings you home?"
Sydney thought about that for a while, then nodded.
"Good girl." Irina kissed her forehead and stood up.
"Mommy, don't go."
Irina hesitated for only a second before she lay down next to Sydney. She stayed there until Sydney fell asleep, then slipped out of the room.
She found that she still enjoyed teaching. Her timetable was fairly light, and she liked the people in the English department. She still dropped Sydney at school in the mornings, and every afternoon Jack picked her up and brought her to the university so she could see her mother before going home.
One afternoon Jack and Sydney snuck into the back of the lecture hall to watch her teach. Afterwards, Sydney came skipping down the stairs. "I want to come to school here, Mommy. Then I can be in your class."
"Sweetheart, this is a school for big people."
"But I'm a big girl. Right, Daddy?" She looked up at Jack and smiled.
"You're my big girl," Jack said, then picked her up and spun her around until she squealed in delight. When Jack set her down again, he asked, "So, are both my girls ready for lunch?"
They drove to a small restaurant on the waterfront, one frequented by the university students. When the three of them entered, Irina spotted some of her students inside, and waved at them. She held back a laugh when Jack possessively slung his arm around her shoulders. He had been the same way in Los Angeles.
"They're kids, Jack."
His tone was too casual. "I know."
Irina stopped walking and kissed him soundly. She pulled back, her chin raised defiantly. Sydney was staring, eyes wide and open-mouthed, at her parents. Irina's students were sniggering. Jack looked smug.
"Umm," a hesitant waitress interrupted, "your table is this way."
When they were seated, Jack gave Irina a questioning look. She nodded, then reached for Sydney's hand. "Sweetheart, Daddy and I have a surprise for you."
Sydney's expression darkened. "Are we moving again?"
"No, no." Irina smiled. "In a few months time, you're going to have brother or sister."
"Oh." Sydney studied the table for a few minutes, then raised her head. "Can I get a puppy instead?"