herophine - Trouvaille

Chapter 14

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

Since Hero told Inanna to give Josephine their address, he has been living in berserk mode. He doesn't know what he has been waiting for. Maybe he expected that Josephine immediately knocked on their house's door. Maybe he expected her to call him or something. But, the wait is driving him crazy. It's been already two weeks and nothing, not even a message.

Hero has started more than fifty times a conversation with Sofía, that way if Josephine arrives it does not catch her by surprise. But, what if she doesn't arrive? What's the point of opening Pandora's box for nothing? He needs more time and at the same time, he needs something to happen right now.

With whom he had the opportunity to clear things out, more or less, was with Miss Mary. The young teacher takes it with philosophy and if she is somewhat colder when greeting him at school in the mornings, he cannot blame her either. He realizes how a mistake would have been to start dating someone again, most of all Sofía's tutor. Fuck, he has a daughter now. And a quiet life that he doesn't know how long it will stay as quiet.

As every December from the day they moved to Crosby, Hero and Sofía start their Christmas traditions: they decorate the tree and they go to the center of Liverpool to see the city full of lights, until they reunite with the rest of the Fiennes-Tiffin family for Christmas Eve. 

These past days, following the ritual they built through the years, brings some peace to Hero. However, Josephine's presence who was hidden in some nook of his mind has came out and it makes it difficult for Hero not to think of her daily. She pops out whenever, just in the same way it did when they finished filming one of the After movies and they had to return back home for some months.

London - England, 2019

- Hey, man. Did you hear what we said? - Felix waves his hand in front of Hero's face.

No. He definitely did not. Hero lately zooms out from whatever he is doing, because a blonde girl decides to take over his mind. Damn, Mexico. 

They had talked about it during the week of rehearsals for the first After movie. Josephine and him had agreed they would always keep things professional and not uncomfortable. However, a few months ago, promo tour changed that. 

New York was a blast. Neither Jo or Hero could believe that so many people supported the film and had came just to meet them. It was such a lovely start of the tour and they were so excited for the next weeks to come by. So excited, that they decided to celebrate it and go for some wine. After some hours laughing and enjoying, Anna said her goodbyes before going back to her hotel room, and the young actors moved the celebration to Jo's room. One thing led to another, tension was in the air and much wine in their blood. They ended up making out, although Josephine stopped it before anything else happened. The next day, both of them were pretty confused. Mostly because they were aware of the sexual tension between them and there were still many days left of tour, plus maybe more movies together. The flight to Mexico was quiet and the first press wasn't a success. It was awkward and  neither knew how to behave after what happened in New York. So before entering the next interview, Hero apologized to her, not without noticing the red marks he had left on her shoulder and which Jo had to cover up with make up. They both talked for ten long minutes and decided that it was best if they tried to forget and not to repeat it, obviously.

But, it's been difficult for Hero to forget. He has daydreamed with Jo since he returned back to London after the promo tour. 

- Hey, Faulkner! Are you in? - Felix repeats again.

- Yeah, sorry. - Again, Hero was daydreaming and did not listen what his friends were telling him. - What is it?

- We're going for shots. You coming? - His friends are waiting impatiently, so Hero just nods.

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

They have already seen the big Christmas tree and lights that decorate Albert Dock. Hero has also promised Sofía they were going to go ice skating and, even though he is not a huge fan, he tries.

- Oh my gosh, daddy. - Sofía laughs. - You're so clumsy. - She says while skating next to him like she had been born to be on skates. Indeed, the five year old girl seems to have a natural facility for any sport, mostly soccer. 

Sofía has reddish cheeks and sparkling eyes of enthusiasm, so Hero smiles while trying not to break his neck and leaving his daughter orphan. 

Shit! Almost. For almost a minute he had managed to make Josephine disappear from his mind.

Later that day, when they finish ice skating and they are walking back to the car, Hero tries to approach the pending conversation with his daughter for the hundredth time.

- Sof. - The girl, who was playing to jump over the lines painted on the floor, looks at her dad for a moment. - Remember when you were little, that you asked me about your mother?

- You told me that she was not here. - She says calmly and then keeps jumping. 

Now Hero doesn't know if he did it wrong by telling her that, but of course, in that moment he didn't imagine that Josephine would like to come back to their lifes.

- Yes, because she was not here. - He wishes he had rehearsed this conversation in front of the mirror first. - Yet, what would happen if she is here? I... I mean, don't you have curiosity? - Hero is conscious that he is stuttering.

Sofía stops jumping and focuses on the conversation. Hero feels a shiver when Jo's blue eyes look up at him from his daughter's face.

- Well, no. - She shrugs her shoulders. - Can we buy lamingtons to eat them at home, daddy?

How opportune of her, wanting her favourite dessert now: lamingtons, australian sweets. Hero is not sure about what it's more difficult: finding lamingtons in the middle of Liverpool city or having the conversation about her mother. And when they finally find a bakery who sells them, he tries once more.

- Hey, baby girl. - He sighs. - Sofía, your mommy is...

The blonde little girl interrupts him again. Hero recognizes the way his daughter curves her eyebrows, because it's the same thing he does before getting angry. Though he doesn't understand why is she mad, or with who.

- Daddy, that's it. We don't need anyone else. It's you and me, and we are fine. - She states and then turns her sight back to the baker who is preparing her lamingtons.

One month ago, those words would have been satisfying for Hero. This time, they produce him pure panic. 

Fucked up is what they are.