Journey

53

Jucinara's POV

"Juice?" My little boy says as he comes down the stairs of our home in LA.

"Yes João?" I say then I squat down to my 4 year old sons height.

"I need help." João says. "I can't find my shirt."

João and Zoi had no living relatives so Christen and I adopted them

My wife and I were in Portugal for the whole of July trying to get the adoption of João  and Zoi over the line. 

On August 1st the adoption was approved by all the necessary Portuguese authorities and my wife and I got to bring João and Zoi home to LA.

"Well." I say as I hold my hand out. "Let's go find your shirt."

João smiles at me and grabs my hand then we walk upstairs to his bedroom.

Once in João's bedroom, he leads me over to his closet.

"What shirt are you looking for?" I ask.

"Panda shirt." João says.

"You mean this one?" I ask and hold up the panda shirt on João's bed.

"Oops." João says as he cheeks get all red.

"It's fine bubba." I say then I help my son put on his shirt. "Are you ready for the party?"

Tonight Christen and I are hosting the national team for a dinner and pool party since it's the August/September friendlies time.

"Yay." João says. "Nice friends?"

"Most of them are nice." I say. "Some not so much."

There's a couple national team ladies that I'm not gonna let be near my kids without Christen or myself being with them.

"Friends sleepover?"

"Emma will, Talia and her twins will, and Moe and Sarah will." I say.

The national team is still staying at people's home and Airbnb's instead of at hotels

"Okay." João says.

"Now should we go see where Chrissy and Zoi are?" I ask.

João nods with a smile then we walk out of his room and try to find my wife and daughter.

After searching for a few minutes, João and I find Christen and Zoi in the kitchen.

"And what are you two doing?" I ask with a smile as I watch my wife and daughter snack on the desserts I made for the party.

"Uh oh." Christen says.

"Uh oh is right." I say with a smirk.

"Zoi we're busted." Christen says.

"João?" I say.

"Yeah?" My son says.

"Get 'em." I say then my son and I chase Christen and Zoi.

João and I chase Christen and Zoi around the second floor of our house for a few minutes then, when we make it back to the living room, João and I tackle the two ladies onto the couch then we tickle them.

"You two are some troublemakers." I say.

"We cute doe." Zoi says.

"And you're lucky you are." I say then someone buzzes from the front gate

"Friends?" Zoi says.

"Mhmm." Christen says so the four of us get off the couch and head to the intercom system that connects to the front gate then I press the speak button.