How Soon Is Now

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Nine: Nora Comes to Stay

“I can’t believe that I get another grandbaby,” Flori Torres gushed looking at Nicola, she was so happy with the news that the couple had shared and she couldn’t wait to have another one to spoil.

Fernando smiled moving to hug his mother, Nicola was now fifteen weeks pregnant and they had started to tell people that in November they were going to be welcoming a new addition to their family.

Flori and José had come across to see their family in Hallows Town, they missed them and after everything that had happened they didn’t want to miss anything happening in Fernando or Nicola’s lives.

“Do you know what you’re having?” José asked sipping on his coffee, he was happy for Fernando and he wanted nothing more than to be there when the baby was born.

Fernando looked so happy and it was all down to the blonde that was sat at his side, Nicola was perfect for his youngest son and José hoped that things would be okay.

“Not yet,” Nicola replied resting a hand on her bump, she still couldn’t believe that she had a baby inside of her even if she was worried about her vision.

Fernando took Nicola’s hand, he wasn’t going to let anyone get close enough to steal their baby; he would take on the world if it meant keeping his family safe from harm.

The sound of the doorbell ringing made the four pause, they weren’t expecting any visitors and the coven knew that Nicola was busy for the day and would have to handle things on their own for a couple of hours.

Fernando kissed Nicola before he got to his feet and walked away to answer the door, he wondered who it would be since everyone else was meant to be busy.

Nicola watched him go before she turned her attention back to her in-laws, they didn’t know that she was a witch and she hoped to keep it that way since she doubted they would be accepting.

“I’m so happy that my Nando found someone like you,” Flori gushed knowing that her son had found something good in his life, she had never seen him like this not even when he had been with Olalla.

Nicola smiled politely, it was still odd for her to think that she had a family now especially since she had been on her own with only the coven since she was eleven years old.

“I’m happy too,” Nicola replied making the older woman smile at her, things were so different now and there was nothing in the world that Nicola would trade for what she had now.

The three looked up as Nora skipped into the living room, it was clear who had turned up and it surprised them since Olalla had been difficult since it had come out that Fernando wasn’t dead.

“Abuela,” Nora squealed excitedly before Olalla and Fernando entered the living room after their daughter; it was clear that neither where happy about this.

Olalla looked annoyed as she spotted Nicola, she had forgotten that Fernando had remarried but it didn’t deter her from what she was about to do with her daughter.

Flori quickly moved to fuss over her granddaughter leading her into the kitchen for a snack while Fernando approached Nicola and wrapped his arms around her; he had no interest in what else his ex-wife had to say.

“She’ll be staying here… I can’t cope anymore,” Olalla stated bored, she had left Nora’s things in the hallway and had already told Fernando in the hall that she was leaving him full custody of their daughter.

Fernando didn’t pay much attention to his ex-wife’s ramblings about Nora being incontrollable, he didn’t believe it for a moment since she was his little girl and always would be no matter what.

Olalla and her boyfriend were leaving England to start a new life together in America, she didn’t want her little girl slowing them down since strange things happened to her boyfriend when around her.

José glared at Olalla, he couldn’t believe that she was just dumping Nora here without a second thought; it would be best for Nora to live with her father and stepmother instead of her mother.

“Have fun while you can,” Olalla muttered shaking her head, she had to get going or she would miss her flight; she peeked at Fernando a little annoyed with how happy he looked.

Nicola stiffen and Fernando glare at Olalla, they couldn’t believe that Olalla was saying it was like she was leaving and not coming back; Nora was a wonderful little girl and nothing would change that.

Olalla stared down at her red painted nails, she had grieved for Fernando when she had thought that he was dead; it hurt even more now that she knew that he hadn’t come to her  when he had come back.

Fernando got to his feet and led his ex-wife from his home, he was just glad that his mother had taken Nora to the kitchen so that she didn’t hear what Olalla had said.

“What the hell Olalla?” Fernando hissed wondering why she was acting like this, this wasn’t the woman that had left Hallows Town months ago; it was clear that her new boyfriend was a bad influence on him.

Fernando didn’t care what happened in the past, Nora didn’t deserve to be treated like she was trouble; she wasn’t even three years old yet and she couldn’t cause that much trouble.

“She’s weird Fernando… I don’t know what it is,” Olalla said shrugging her shoulders, she didn’t see why he cared when he hadn’t seen Nora in months instead allowing the little girl to think that her father was dead.

Fernando gritted his teeth before he pulled open the front door, he truly hoped that this was the last time that he saw Olalla; she was nothing to him now that she was abandoning their daughter like this.

***

Flori took a deep breath approaching her son once Nora had been settled down, she wanted to speak to him alone and she knew that Nicola had no idea just who her son really was.

“When are you going to tell her?” Flori asked gently not wanting to push her youngest son away, she was relieved that Nicola was taking a bath and couldn’t hear them while they were downstairs.

Fernando paused and closed his eyes, he had been putting dishes away after dinner and he knew that this wasn’t going to be easy; he had never told Nicola about his past and he was focused on his job as a gym trainer and a whitelighter.

“Madre,” Fernando warned turning to look at Flori, he knew that she was only worried about him keeping secrets but it didn’t matter anymore; his football career was over and there was no going back for him.

Flori sighed crossing her arms, she didn’t want Fernando to lose the best thing that had ever happened to him; Nicola was an amazing woman but it was clear that small town life left her a little unprepared.

“She deserves to know,” Flori murmured not wanting to upset Fernando, she hated to think what would happen if paparazzi showed up again in his life; it would certainly be a nasty shock for Nicola who was a small town girl.

“That life is over now,” Fernando replied bitterly, his career had ended because of his knee and he doubted that even his revival could have fixed that; even if it did he didn’t know if he could go back after everything that had happened.

“You are Fernando Torres… it will never be over,” Flori whispered shaking her head, she watched her son for a moment before she walked away leaving him alone to think about what she had said.