herophine - Trouvaille

Chapter 30

Crosby, Liverpool - England, 2026

- I think it's better if you come for New Year's Eve, mom. - Hero says. - Mercy won't come either for Christmas Eve. This is the first time we will be with Josephine and I prefer it that way, for Sofía. 

Martha had followed Hero and Josephine's whole journey during the After franchise. And with it, she had also followed how his son slowly fell in love with that australian blonde girl. You could even say that she was the first one, more than Hero himself, who knew he loved Josephine. Mother knows best.

When Hero told Martha that Josephine was back, her first reaction was like a lion defending right away his cub. However, she understood that this was something between them. She stepped aside and let them do. A few minutes ago, when Hero called Martha, she knew that she had chosen the right option by not interfering. She will be there when he decides it is time to meet Sofía's mom, so instead of spending Christmas Eve with them, it will be on New Years's Eve when she gets to see them. During the phone call, it is not unnoticeable for Martha that his son is still in love with that girl who used to be his costar.

- Don't worry, darling. - Martha answers through the phone. - I will bring Sofía's Christmas presents the 31st then. - I love you. - She says before hanging up.

Meanwhile, Jo and Sofía doesn't share a word in the bathroom. It isn't easy with their toothbrush in their mouths either. Once they finish, Sofía sits on the toilet to watch how Josephine puts some make up on her face. Jo believes that her hand hasn't been more shaky in her life while applying rimmel. She then takes out the lip gloss and before putting it back into her bag, she offers it in silence to the six year old who hasn't stopped staring at her since they entered the bathroom. Sofía looks at the lip gloss with doubt and quickly peeps to see her dad talking on the phone, so she takes it and puts some on her small chubby lips. 

What happens next it's just another tiny detail, but another big step on their relationship: Sofía exits the bathroom skipping happily, making Jo to apply rimmel again due to the tears that dare to fall down.

Minutes later the three members jump into the car, road to the city. Hero and Sofía's another Christmas tradition is going to Merseyside Market to buy a special dinner for the 24th and a new ornament for their tree.

Both adults let Sofía walk between them. There is a rarefied atmosphere since the kiss they shared yesterday at the hotel. 

In fact, later that kiss, Josephine had her doubts about moving to the sofa that was offered to her at their house. She thought maybe it would be better to stay in the hotel room. However, Hero told her that was precisely the reason why he stopped the kiss, not because he doesn't want to, cause we already know how their bodies reacted. The problems in their relationship, whatever they are, cannot pull Josephine away from Sofía. At the end, Sofía is the main reason why Jo is in Crosby. Afterwards, Hero insisted her to stay with his room, but Josephine thought about the torture of sleeping on his bed and surrounded by his smell, so she declined the offer.

They keep walking through the different stalls, admiring the lights and trying not to lose their daughter between all the people in the street. Sofía walks a couple of metres in front of them, looking for the perfect ornament. Josephine's phone rings again. It has been ringing since this morning, and even though it is muted, they haven't stopped hearing the vibration. Jo doesn't even look at the phone, she ignores it. 

- It could be important. - Hero adds. 

He doesn't believe anymore that there is a special person in Josephine's life after the kiss. Well, he wants to believe that there isn't.

Jo huffs irritably, causing her hair to creep into her face. Hero has to contain himself from putting the strands behind her ear. 

- It isn't more important than what is here. - She affirms convinced.

Josephine needs to let Hero know that she is fully committed to being in Sofía's life. Neither the castings, nor the interviews, nor the photoshoots nor any other event that her manager has on her agenda, are more important than her daughter. Jo has no clue that Hero thinks her engagements are of another kind. Likewise, Hero doesn't know how to ask her without looking as a jealous type, it isn't his style.

- Well, they clearly insist a lot. 

His style is clearly oxidized.

- Is there something you want to ask, Hero? 

There are million of things that Hero wants to ask because, even though Josephine is staying in Crosby right now, the reality is that they are living a provisional life. Sofía has school and Hero has his soccer team, how does Jo fit in this life they have built in Crosby?

- You don't pick up the calls, you barely answer your messages... - He sighs. - I know nothing about your life, out of these past days here Josephine.

Jo frowns confused. It is hard to think that he doesn't know anything about her life, as there are many articles written about her on the Internet. She then remembers what he told her, about him banning everyone to talk about her. So, he probably also banned other ways to obtain information.

- It's Lena, the one on the phone, my manager. - She starts explaining. - She wants me to go back to Los Ángeles, cause I still have contracts with some brands. In resume, to jump into the hamster wheel again.

- And you don't want to? - Hero focuses on Jo's annoyed tone.

Josephine stares at Sofia, who has stopped at a stall and is talking smiley to the salesman. She has already missed six years of her life, if she goes back to Los Ángeles and to the life rhythm she had before Crosby, she sure will miss another six.

 - I've never been very keen on modelling. - Hero already knows that.

-But, acting goes hand in hand with it. And, you like acting. 

- I do. - She shrugs. - But, maybe... maybe it is time to stop.

It's the first time she says it outloud, though she's been thinking about it for a while. Her passion since she was a child is acting, however, in recent years she feels that she has done it in automatic mode. The workload was very large and the passion was starting to fade away. 

She told Lena some days ago to cancel everything until May, but holidays are not forever. Sooner or later, Josephine will have to choose.