Feeling good this week, so thought I'd treat you guys to an extra update. Enjoy and as always love the feedback 😊
Keira's POV:
After the Norway game, we knew we had secured a spot in the quarter finals, but that didn't change anything. We still trained hard and put in the effort for the Northern Ireland game. At base camp we had created our own bubble. Most of us stayed off of social media, some even went as far as to delete it. Sarina had created an environment that maintained our focus but was also calm and enjoyable. We didn't have much contact with the outside world except for games, and our families. Over the last few days Lucy had kept me updated on her position regarding her club career, we were just waiting for the finalised decision. But what was more or less certain was that Lucy was going to Barca. Me and Lucy had kept our conversations between the two of us, not wanting to tell anyone until it was certain, but I could tell Charlie knew something was going on. We're going to tell her when we're certain it's happening.
With today being match day -1, we did some light training and then we had the evening free. Sarina had unfortunately tested positive for Covid 19, so she wasn't there but we had Arjan and all the other staff, and Sarina was there through FaceTimes. Once we were finished training I headed over to the sidelines. I gently checked the stroller to see Elleã fast asleep. I started to push the stroller back to the hotel, and Charlie dribbled a football beside me. "Kei ?", she piped up, glancing over at me before focusing back on the ball. "Yeah", I replied. "You know how Alexia Putellas did her ACL before the Euros started", Charlie stated saying "uh huh ?", I replied, wondering where this was going. "Well, Mum asked me before the tournament started who's jerseys I'd want if I could have them and I said hers, but seen as she's not playing I want Maria Leon's, do you think you or Mum could get it for me ?", Charlie asked picking up the football and wrapping an arm around my arm, looking up at me with puppy eyes. I chuckled and then replied "it's not even certain if we're playing Spain yet", "yeah but if we do", Charlie immediately answered. I shook my head chuckling, as we continued to walk back to the hotel. "We'll see", is all I replied with. Charlie then said "I bet she'd happily give it to me, with Mum joining", I looked over and then said "what do you mean ?", "I know that mum is talking to her agent about moving to Barca, I accidentally overheard her on the phone", Charlie replied, letting go of my arm and walking beside me. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to me, still walking. "What would you think if she did go to Barca ?", I gently asked. "I think it would be good, but it would be even better if all of us went and not just Mum", Charlie replied kind of gloomily. I sighed, because I agreed with her. "Let's just wait and see", I replied giving her a quick squeeze before I opened the door and let her in, and pushed the stroller in behind her.
We headed to the dining hall for lunch. Most of the team had caught up with us, so when I parked the stroller next to a table, Leah sat down next to it with her lunch. I headed over to grab my lunch and then sat down on the other side of the stroller, occasionally glancing in at Elleã who was still fast asleep. During lunch , Lucy's phone rang and she got up and headed outside of the room to take it. She came back a few minutes later and stopped at my chair before sitting down again. She leaned down and whispered in my ear "it's done". I looked up at her and asked "when are they announcing it ?", Lucy whispered back "tomorrow". I smiled up at her and she quickly leaned down again to give me a very quick kiss. She went to her seat and I turned back to my lunch.
After lunch we had most of the evening off, except for a team meeting with Sarina. I walked with the stroller back to our room and Charlie and Lucy followed behind. Once in the room, I lifted Elleã out of the stroller and held her against my chest, as I carefully sat down on the bed. Lucy came to sit next to me, while Charlie went into the bathroom. I turned to Lucy who was already looking at me and I leaned in to press another kiss to her lips, a longer one than downstairs. "Congratulations", I mumbled against her lips. She smiled into another kiss, before we pulled away and she said "I'm gonna tell Charlie now, I can't wait any longer, and I don't want her to find out through everyone else tomorrow", I nodded my head agreeing with her. It was better for Charlie to hear the news from Lucy rather than everyone else. We sat on the bed waiting for Charlie to come out of the bathroom. "Mum !!", Charlie shouted from the bathroom. Lucy scrambled off the bed and hurried over to the bathroom door. She opened it and slipped inside "what's wrong ?", she asked worriedly. I listened from my place on the bed. "There's blood", Charlie whimpered. Lucy sighed and then opened the door and said to me "Charlie's got her period", I smiled knowing it was ok. Lucy closed the door to the bathroom seemingly to explain everything to Charlie and to assure her that everything was ok. About 10 minutes later they both came out of the bathroom, Charlie shuffling behind Lucy. I patted the space on the bed beside me, indicating for Charlie to join me. She hopped up beside me and cuddled into me. "How ya feeling ?", I gently asked her. She replied "it feels weird". Lucy perked up from the end of the bed as she sorted out something in her suitcase "it will for a while but you get used to it". I looked down when I felt Elleã begin to move and then she opened her eyes and looked up at me. "Hello", I said smiling down at her. She smiled and cuddled into me again and muttered "mama". I looked over to see that Lucy had moved and was sat more in the middle of the bed and was looking at me with the look in her eyes telling me it was time to tell Charlie the news. I turned to Charlie who was pretending to eat Elleã's fingers, causing Elleã to giggle and try to pull away from Charlie. "Charlie, me and Kei have something to tell you", Lucy spoke up, looking over at Charlie. Charlie stopped playing with Elleã and looked over worriedly at Lucy. Lucy didnt beat about the bush, she got straight to the point "I've signed for Barca", Charlie just sat there for a second, before leaping across the bed and giving Lucy a massive hug. "Yesssss", we both heard her say. After a few minutes, Charlie turned to look in between me and Lucy and asked "how is that gonna work though ?". We both looked at each other. Lucy spoke up and said "we don't 100% know yet how it's gonna work, but we're going to make it work, just like we did when you and I went to Lyon, it's a bit harder now because you're more grown up and there's Ellie too, but I promise you we'll make it work". Charlie nodded her head and then scrambled over to me and Ellie, and tried to explain to Ellie what was happening. Ellie of course did not understand but she just clapped her hands and giggled. "Go give mummy a hug", Charlie told her. Ellie scrambled off my lap and crawled over to Lucy, who picked her up and blew raspberries on her stomach. Ellie's giggles brought big smiles from everyone and I pulled Charlie into a big hug.
It was soon time to head downstairs for the team meeting. I walked with Charlie beside me talking to me again about the jersey. "But don't you think now, you or mum can really get her jersey ?", I chuckled at her persistence and replied "what if I want someone else's jersey ?", Charlie looked over at me and then said "who ?", i thought about it and then said "Bonmatí's". Charlie sighed and said "maybe mum will get María's for me". I chuckled and then brought up another topic as we followed Lucy down to the team meeting with Ellie running in front of her.
During the team meeting, I saw Lucy let Ellie down onto the floor and I watched as she roamed around saying hi to everyone before stopping at Leah and trying to climb onto her lap. Leah picked her up and let her sit on her lap. Charlie stayed beside me, playing a game on my phone with earphones in. At what everyone thought was the end of the meeting, Lucy suddenly stood up and went to the front of the meeting room. "I have an announcement" she called out making everyone stop and turn around to face her. She turned to me and gave me the look again, and then I knew she was going to tell them. "As you all know, my contract with City has needed, but I am delighted to announce that I have signed with a new club", everyone waited for Lucy to continue "who ?", Keets called out. "Barcelona FC", Lucy called out. Everyone cheered and stood up to congratulate Lucy. Leah came over to me with Ellie and sat down beside me "I'm happy for Lucy", she said before asking me "what do you think of it ?", I smiled over at Lucy as our teammates surrounded her. "I'm proud of her, she's always wanted to play for them, and we're going to make it work between us, we've done it before when she was at Lyon", Leah smiled and replied "well if you ever need anything, you know where to find me", I pulled her in for a quick hug, before someone announced it was dinner time, and off we all headed.
