Journey

43

Jucinara's POV

"Why are you two here?" Audrey Solo says as she walks into the Atlético Los Angeles training center cafeteria.

"Who?" Christen asks as I eat my breakfast.

We're back from SheBelieves now.

"You two." Audrey says as she points at my wife and I. "Did you not read my text?"

"What text?" Christen says then Audrey pulls out her phone.

"Dammit I didn't send it." Audrey says then she locks her phone and sits down with us.

"I'm confused." Christen says.

Same.

"First off." Audrey says then she looks at me. "How are you?"

I give Audrey the so-so hand sign.

"Understandable." Audrey says. "I know Christen mentioned you wanted to go to Carnival in Rio."

I nod my head yes.

"Well there's a couple days until Carnival begins." Audrey says then she looks at Christen. "So why don't you two take the week off and go."

"We have a game this weekend though." I blurt out.

"I think the team can be without you two for one or two games." Audrey says.

I take a minute to wrap my head around then I look at my wife.

"What'd you wanna do Nara?" Christen asks.

"Well." I say. "A break does sound nice."

"Then it's settled." Christen says.

"You're mom is expecting your call." Audrey says.

"She is?" I ask.

"I talked to her and your sisters about doing this after I heard what happened in New York." Audrey says.

"Oh." I say and shyly smile. "What about my sisters?"

"Your sisters decided that next year Alana, Pernille, and Magda will go to Carnival, in 2024 Isabel and Tierna will go, then in 2025 Adriana and Jackie will go." Audrey says.

"Oh." I say. "Imma finish my breakfast now."

Audrey and Christen chuckle then they chat while I eat my breakfast.

Once I finish my breakfast, Christen and I throw away our trash, say bye to our teammates, grab our stuff from the locker room, then we head out to our car.

When we get to our car, I open the back door and help Nalu into the car while Christen puts our bags in the trunk of our car then my wife and I get in our car.

After we get into the car, I grab my phone, call my mom, and put it on speaker while Christen backs out and drives out of the Atlético Los Angeles training center.

"Olá?"

"Olá, Mãe." I say.

"Olá, Princesa." My Mom says. "What's up?"

"Well..." I say then I explain everything that just happened.

"Well our school just had someone drop out because they broke a leg." My Mom says.

Ever since my siblings and I have left our parents home, my Mom and Dad have been going to Carnival in Rio every year.

"So why don't you and Christen come over so I can measure you while your wifey talks to your dad about what they'll do while we're in the parade."