Page 49 of Dylan
“Let’s see if we can spark something else,” he says, pointing to the album.
I clear my throat and begin to turn through it. Tears come to my eyes as I find a picture of the little boy and girl from my memories. I run my fingers over the face I’ve drawn so many times, not knowing it was him. A tear spills free and falls onto the page.
“I don’t think I ever truly forgot you. I’ve been drawing this face for years. I just didn’t know who he was. I would dream of your face and wake to draw it, over and over again,” I say just above a whisper.
“Nothing could keep us apart forever. You’re here now, you’re safe and where you belong.”
I begin to turn the pages once again. I freeze as I get to a few pictures of a man holding us both in his arms. One on each side.
In one photo, he’s looking up at me with a huge smile on his face. I know right away that’s my dad. Tears really start to fall as I get choked up.
Nope, I’m not falling. I think I’m officially in love with Dylan. My heart aches as I continue to go through photos of me, my old friend, his family, and my parents. Warmth fills me and I know for a fact I’m safe here with him.
I get to a page with an autographed photograph of my dad in the ring. He has on gloves, and his hands are thrown in the air. I smile as a memory of Dad pops into my head.
“Ye two might be small, but ya have skills. Remember that next time they pick on ya. Dylan, ya keep their focus on ya.
“Ciara, ya hit the hell out of them. Then ye both pounce. The way ye two have each other’s backs will always work in yer favor. Ye have more of something none of them have.”
“What’s that, Da?” I asked.
“Heart, love. Ye both have tons of heart. That’s something no one can take from ya. They’ll try, but I know it in me gut. They’ll never take that away. Dylan, ya asked how ya can protect her?”
He paused to pat Dylan on his little scrawny chest. “Use what’s in here. Ya will always have the heart to win when it comes to protecting our girl. Ya use that and ya will never fail.”
My lips tremble as I swipe at my tears. Suddenly, I remember that day so clearly. Dylan and I were being picked on in school. One of the kids pushed me to the ground and Dylan got into a fight with them.
When we got home, my da was furious. He made us train for hours before he sat us down for that talk. Then he took us out to ride our bikes to get ice cream.
I go to ask Dylan if he remembers that day, but the picture on the next page catches my attention. It’s of my dad surrounded by three other men. I lean in closer and gasp.
“I know him, not from my memories, but from Seattle. He used to come around the gym,” I say as I point to the man.
Dylan reaches for the album and pulls it into his lap. He then pulls back the protective film and lifts the picture out. He squints at the picture then points to the man I mentioned.
“Him?”
“Yeah.” I lick my lips. “Do you know who he is?”
“I believe his name was Laki. He was a part of your da’s corner crew. I remember them being close; his whole team was. He’s like Polynesian or something; he would carve us these little figurines. I think I still have a few back at my parents’ place.”
“But why did he never say anything? I mean, he was always there in the shadows. When I would fight in those underground fights for Theo, he was there.
“He’s a big guy, like you. He would cling to the back of the crowd, but I always spotted him. He seemed harmless, like he was only watching, not a threat.”
“I doubt he would have threatened you. Your da’s entire team was protective of you. They treated you like their own daughter. Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you remember or know anything about what happened to your father?”
“No. To be honest, I didn’t know I had a dad before I decided to run and found his name on my birth certificate. Theo wouldn’t talk to me much about my mom. I’m positive he wouldn’t have given me much information about my dad.”
A pensive look comes to his face. “Do you mind if I try to find him? Laki, I mean. My family happens to be in the business of tracking people. I want to see if we can find him and maybe get some answers.”
“No. I don’t mind. I now have more questions I want answered.”
“Cool. Don’t worry about it. I’ll have my cousin look into him and we’ll see if we can get you those answers. If he can’t get us answers … I’ll go to one of my uncles. He’ll definitely be able to track him.”
