How Soon Is Now

Part One - Chapter Thirty: Old Friends

Fernando watched his wife as she padded around the kitchen making some lunch, he had just finished work for the day and he was glad to be home; he leant against the door frame while Nora played in the living room.

Nicola didn’t look at Fernando, she had been forced to cut back on her hours at the café and she was worried about how they would cope for money when the baby was born.

“It’s be fine,” Fernando reassured wanting to ease her mind, she would never have to work a day in her life if he had his way; he wanted Nicola to relax while she was pregnant and when the baby came.

Nicola shook her head and looked at him, she knew that Fernando didn’t get paid much at the gym where he worked as a personal trainer; she didn’t want them to struggle after the baby was born.

Fernando sighed, he still hadn’t told Nicola that he had once been a footballer and had most of his $60 million fortune saved up; Olalla hadn’t wanted much when they had divorced and had still gotten a nice settlement.

“Nicola… we will be fine for money,” Fernando tried to reassure Nicola, he didn’t want to tell her how much he had saved up and he hoped that he wouldn’t have to tell her yet.

Fernando didn’t want Nicola to be upset with him for never telling her what he used to do, he was so focused on his life in Hallows Town with Nicola and the children; that was all that mattered to him right now.

“I have savings… you don’t need to rush back to work,” Fernando said wrapping his arms around Nicola, he kissed her softly wanting her to enjoy the time that she had off.

It wasn’t like the pay that she got from the café was decent, Nicola’s wages were low and Fernando wanted better for her and their children.

The sound of the doorbell ringing made the couple pull apart, they weren’t expecting anyone since most people were away on holiday; Fernando sighed giving Nicola a kiss before he pulled away from her and headed for the door.

Nicola watched him go, she took a deep breath knowing that this talk was far from over before she headed into the living room to sit with Nora.

Fernando ran his fingers through his hair moving to answer the door, he was going to have to tell Nicola later about his little nest-egg; he would have a lot of explaining to do.

“Nando… it’s been so long,” Steven Gerrard greeted with a smile, he hadn’t seen Fernando since his friend had left Liverpool behind; he had missed him and hadn’t been able to resist coming to visit.

Fernando stared at the two men that were outside of his home, he had never thought that he would see his former team-mates again after what had happened.

“What are you doing here?” Fernando asked making the two men chuckle as he allowed them into their home; it had been over a year since his career had ended and he was a little embarrassed that he hadn’t called anyone from his past.

Fernando’s life had been crazy since he had moved to Hallows Town, he had gotten divorced and remarried so quickly and had become a whitelighter; things had changed and he hadn’t found the time to focus on anything else.

“Thought we’d come see you,” Pepe Reina teased looking around the house, he was a little disappointed that Fernando hadn’t called but he had heard things about his friend.

Pepe was sure they wouldn’t be the last to visit, there were so many people who were worried about Fernando especially after his little disappearing act.

They had been thrilled to hear that Fernando had remarried and was expecting a baby with his new wife; he looked a lot happier than the last time that they had seen him.

Fernando blinked wondering what to say, he knew that Nicola would come to see who was at the door soon and he didn’t want to worry his twenty-five week pregnant wife; it would only make things worse.

“So Nando… what’s this we hear about a new wife?” Steven asked looking around the very welcoming hallway, he wanted to meet the woman that had very clearly stolen his best friend’s heart.

Steven had been stunned to hear how fast things seemed to have happened for the couple, they had been together for nine months yet already they were married and had a baby on the way.

Pepe smiled watching Fernando light up at the thought of the woman that had clearly stolen his heart, he lead them into the lounge before offering to get them a drink.

“Don’t disappear on us Niño,” Steven teased taking a seat, he knew that they hadn’t been set in the living room for a reason and he guessed that the new Mrs Torres was in there.

Fernando rolled his eyes at his former nickname before he headed out of the lounge and for the kitchen so that he could make the drinks; his mind trying to work out what he was going to tell Nicola to explain all of this.

“Nando?” Nicola asked confused following him, she peeked towards the lounge a little concerned; she didn’t recognise the voices and it made her wonder how they knew her husband.

Nicola wasn’t stupid, she knew that Fernando had a past before he had meet her but it was one that he rarely shared with her and it worried her what he was hiding.

Fernando slowly approached her after he had put the kettle on, he smiled gently knowing that he had to tell her the truth; he just hoped that she wouldn’t be upset with him.

“I used to be a professional footballer… I played for Atlético Madrid before I moved to Liverpool,” Fernando revealed carefully, he didn’t want them to fight not when he had let that part of his life go.

Nicola stared at him, her lips quirked in amusement as she watched her husband who looked like he was waiting for some sort of explosion; she wondered how he would react if she told him that she already knew.

Fernando moved to get some cups, he had never thought that he would have to tell her like this and he wanted to do it when things weren’t so tense between them.

“Nando… I know,” Nicola teased gently, she walked forward and wrapped her arms around him as best she could; she was always amused when people thought that because it was a small town that they didn’t get any big news or anything.

“We might be a small town but we do get matches here,” Nicola whispered looking at her husband, she had always known that he was someone important and she was a little embarrassed to admit that she had looked him up when they had first started dating.

Fernando stared down at his wife a little surprised, she had never let on that she knew that he had been a footballer; it felt weird to know that she hadn’t cared when Olalla had always made a big deal about it no matter what happened.

“I don’t regret what happened…” Fernando murmured smiling, he did sometimes miss the roar of the crowds but he was happy with the quiet life that he had now with Nicola.

In a couple of months they would have a baby to take care of and Nora had recently turned three, it was going to keep the couple busy and Fernando couldn’t help but hope that the supernatural world wouldn’t cause them much trouble when the baby was born.

Nicola looked at Fernando, she sensed that he wasn’t entirely being honest and she knew that he had given up a lot to be with her; she wanted him to be happy and it was something that he wasn’t just being a personal trainer.

Nicola smiled at him softly while she hugged him and pressed a kiss to his lips; she would do anything for Fernando and she wanted him to be happy.