The Aislin Chronicles

Part XXXIX

A/n: Sorry it's been so long, guys. I've had some hectic weekends lately, which is mostly when I have time to write. Right now, for instance, I should be working on chemistry but choose not to. I had to take the SAT plus there was this cello recital thing I had, but I should be free for a while on my weekends.

10-22-03

7:01 PM

Mwahahaha! He cracks just like an egg under pressure. And it was so easy, too! And now that I've cracked him, we can totally crack Sydney too. In case you're clueless, journal, which you probably are because you're inanimate, I'm talking about Syd-n-Vaughn junior. Dad totally caved! Well, here's the full story.

So I started looking for that bag because I couldn't remember where I put it. Then I remembered that I wasn't the one carrying it, because I had to go to the bathroom and Dad just took it from me and paid. He carried the bag back. So, I asked him where the bag was.

"Hey, Dad?" I felt bad asking him, because he was taking a nappy, but I could not find that stupid bag anywhere.

"Hmm?"

"Where's the bag from the store earlier?"

"It's uh… Why?"

He opened his eyes then. "Because I want to wear my jersey." Just then I saw a piece of white plastic sticking out of Dad's suitcase, so I lifted the top and there was the bag. In the meantime, I had failed to notice Dad bolting upright and saying, "Wait!"

Oh my, there was something else in the bag with my shirt… When I realized what it was, I couldn't figure out why Dad didn't want me to see it. "Awwwww!" Back in the store, right after I found the shirt I wanted, I turned around and found this rack of little kid clothes. There were these little baby sized jerseys that were so adorable. I just had to show Dad. I told him my little sibling was going to be a City fan, like his/her sister. Then I added with great expression, "It's a shame you don't know the gender…" Not a moment later, I had gone to the bathroom and Dad had paid and stuff, and then we went back to walking around.

Dad must have picked one of those tiny jerseys out while I was in the bathroom, because a particularly adorable one was resting beside mine in the bag.

"Dad, you got one!"

His cheeks turned red. It was cute! "I just thought that…" he trailed off, looking at the carpet and blushing. He had no reason to be embarrassed, he's just being a new proud papa. Then he looked me in the eyes and looked serious, which threw me off a little. "Okay, I have to be honest. I'm dying to know what the baby is. Sydney keeps saying she wants to be surprised, but– is it a boy or a girl?"

And then I, the perfect and lovely and obedient daughter, smiled smugly. "Maybe I won't tell you."

"No! Come on, tell me! I'll buy you an ice-cream."

So he wanted to bribe me. I was willing to play that game. "That depends. Chocolate or strawberry?"

Ah, the difficult answer. He knows I can't resist either, it just depends on my mood. What he didn't know was that I could go for either, and I was just toying with his mind. The look on his face was so serious, like he was so deep in thought. Wow, he really did want to know really, really badly.

"Um…" he finally began, "chocolate?"

"It's a girl! I mean, it's a deal!"

Okay, maybe that wasn't so graceful, but it made Dad laugh and smile and hug me, so I guess I let it slip out all right. "It's a deal," he replied through laughter. "So, a little girl, huh?"

"Yup."

"A little girl." You couldn't get that smile off his face if you scraped it off with a scalpel. Ew. That sounds disgusting. I'm sorry I just put myself through that imagery. Yuck. Oh. Oh no. Now I'm picturing Dr. Kazsuk standing over Dad with a scalpel. Run, Dad! Run!

"So Sydney still wants to be surprised?" I asked then. I saw him blink when I said 'Sydney' instead of 'Mom.' I didn't mean to. It's just been slipping out that way lately.

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. She does." He smiled. "Maybe we can convince her otherwise." I nodded and half smiled back, but I could tell there was something else on his mind. "Are we gonna be all right when we get back home? I mean with Sydney?"

I hesitated, and that scared me. I think it scared him too. "I don't know," I admitted honestly. "I… I think so…" He nodded, a sort of saddened look on his face. "Dad, if you want to talk to Sydney on the phone… you don't have to do it when I'm sleeping."

I think telling him that eased his worries a little bit. He has to know that I don't hate her, because I don't. What she did was completely justifiable in her line of work. If only it were that easy, though. I keep putting off thinking about it. And again, now, I don't want to. So I'll just tell you about how we went to dinner shortly after that, and Dad and I talked about future Baby Girl Vaughn, seeing as they have yet to discuss names, and then we went out to ice cream. I had chocolate. Hehe.

Well, tomorrow is our last full day here, because we leave on Friday and have to be at the airport by noon. I think I just want to walk around and take pictures of things, reminisce. Yeah. That sounds perfect. Well, I'm going to watch some TV now. Adios.

10-23-03

4:46 PM

Well, today was pretty much our last day here. We leave tomorrow, but we have to be at the airport around eleven, and both of us like to sleep, so we probably won't do anything else. Today's has been a nice day, though. We bought a bouquet of flowers this morning and headed over to the cemetery by my old church. I took out the purple ones and laid them in front of Mum's headstone like I used to do when I was little, and then I set the rest of them in front of Father's. Dad asked if I wanted a moment alone, but I didn't. I wanted him to stay with me, hold my hand. I kneeled down and traced their names with my fingers. For some reason, I feel like it let them know that I'd be back. There'd be more flowers. And hopefully, the grass there won't be so brown and icky next time.

After a few minutes we went off into town, hit up a few pubs and stores, and even some touristy things. I said something to Dad this afternoon, I think when we were in this cute little bookstore, and, well, it went like this.

"Look, Dad- Harry Potter in Gaelic! How cool is that?" Dad stared blankly at me, like he knew I said something, but wasn't really sure. I was pretty sure I had his attention because the shop was real quiet. "Dad?"

"I didn't understand a single word you just said."

So of course, I burst out laughing. It was just like a few nights ago when he couldn't understand the waiter, he had the same look on his face. "I said it's Harry Potter in Gaelic. Look." I pointed.

"Are you sure you didn't tell me that in Gaelic?"

More laughter. He says my accent is stronger. And l guess when I talk fast… I sound foreign. Haha. I said something back to him an American accent, and then he replied in a Southern accent, and then the guy at the register looked at us funny because we were being loud and laughing and stuff, so then we just left.

Man, I hope my thick accent sticks with me with I get home, I want to call Jess and flip out about something and have her go, "Wha…?"

We're gonna go get supper in a little while, but for now I'm packing and Dad's packing. I saw him looking at the little football jersey and smiling, don't tell anyone. It was so cute. He didn't think I was looking, but oh man, I'm so glad I was.

10-24-03

Well, I don't really know what time it is, because we're somewhere over the Atlantic. Anyway, Dad's asleep right now. The seats are different than the plane we took to get to Ireland, so Dad and I are alone in our row. No creepy Thomas, though that was pretty hilarious. Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas… Haha.

Dad and I played Uno for awhile, and yeah, he kicked my butt. I told him it was mean to beat little girls. I was expecting a sly retort, but instead I got him all smiley and thinking about a certain Baby Girl Vaughn that's on her way. Aww. I can't wait to see Dad holding this little baby. Isn't that picture so adorable? Aww.

And now he's sleeping, so I decided to whip out the ol' journal. This morning I was kind of sad to leave, I mean, it feels like we just got here. I can still smell Cork on my coat. Yes, Ireland has its own smell, and I can smell it. And I can still hear a good accent chattering about the plane. And once we get out of the airport, all of that will go away. The weirdest part is… I'm okay with that. I just want to go and sleep in my own bed, be in my house. I love Ireland, I will always love Ireland. It's a part of me nobody can take away, and I will always be able to go back. After this week, when I'm home I will be able to think about Father as a happy memory. I think that's the best part of all.

I'm trying not to think about Sydney. I've been trying this whole morning. I really don't know how I'm going to act or what I'm going to do. I don't want to do anything horrible, I mean, I couldn't possibly, so I might have to give her the cold shoulder until I can. Maybe it won't even be like that. I just don't know. I don't want to think about it. The more I think about it the more confused I get, and the more my brain hurts. So I'm just not going to.

9:15 PM

Ah do you know how good it feels to be back in your own bed? Well, since you're a journal you probably don't, so I'll tell you. It feels amazing. Wonderful. Sweet, comfy bed. With my fleecy blanket and big fluffy pillows. How I missed you.

I'm really tired yet somehow I don't want to sleep. So I'm going to write. And I'm finally going to approach a major subject that I've been avoiding…

When the plane landed I was kind of tired and out of it, so was Dad. We moseyed down the gate, and when we stepped out the door Sydney was waiting for us. The first thing I noticed was that she looked bigger. I know it has only been a week, but that kid must be growing.

Dad got to her first, and he dropped his bags at her feet before they embraced. One of her hands pressed into his back, the other met the hairline on the back of his neck. They looked lovingly into each other's eyes and gave each other a small smile. They looked so right together. Like something just… connected properly with them. I didn't want to ruin it.

I approached with caution and watched meekly as they pulled away. My eyes were tired and could barely focus straight, but I kept watching them. And then suddenly my eyes met Sydney's. And even though everything else was kind of blurred, I could see things real clearly. I could see how utterly terrified she really was, though she tried to keep it well hidden. It was me she was terrified of. That was silly. I don't even remember thinking that thought, I just knew it. In that instant I also realized that no matter what, she is the only woman I have ever known to be my mother; no matter what, she loves me; no matter what, I love her.

I couldn't say anything, but my feet edged forward. Then I opened my arms and wrapped them around her bulging stomach and hugged her. I hugged Mom. She didn't say anything either, probably too relieved for words.

After that, we slipped away from our weirdness and started to act relatively normal. Well, as normal as can be with the state of drowsiness Dad and I were in. We went to get our bags and then we came home. Donovan was so excited to see us. I have the wet, sloppy, dog drool on my face to prove it.

You know what? I'm kind of tired right now. I think I'll go to sleep.

10-25-03

10:11 AM

Hm. Had this crazy dream last night. We were all at Disney World together (me, Dad, Mom, Jack, Weiss, Francie, and Will), and how I know it was Disney World and not Disney Land I am unsure, but somehow I knew it was World. Not that I'd know because I've never been to either. Anyway, I'm rambling. So we all got in line for some ride, but I didn't know which one it was, so I asked aloud to no one in particular, and Jack responded, "Here we go loop-de-loop." Somehow I interpreted that as some sort of spinning ride. But really now. Let's just stop for a moment and ponder Jack's response. Odd? Yes. Very odd.

Time for breakfast indeed.

10:45 AM

Dad's apparently afraid of telling Mom that he knows about the baby. And this I find extremely humorous. Oooooh the fun I shall have! Oh, don't let me forget, I need to call Jess and tell her about everything. I suspect she's still sleeping though, so I'll have to wait awhile.

In the mean time, I have some mad catching up to do with a certain canine. Oh how I've missed my Donny. I must go get slobbered on now. But wait, wait. "Here we go loop-de-loop." Oh my gosh, seriously think about Jack the Brick Wall Slash Master Sauce Maker Bristow saying that. Hahaha. Good times, good times.

A/n: I hope the bag thing wasn't disappointing, because I thought it was really cute. Anyway, hopefully I'll post again sometime soon. Please review!