The next days were quite calm as Pedri was told to rest for two weeks before starting recovery. In the meantime, I had hired him a chef that would cook breakfast and dinner for him and now that he wasn't with the squad, also lunch. He'd usually have that at the training centre, but now that he had to rest, I had arranged for the chef to also be there at lunchtime. Pedri seemed happy about it, which relieved me as that meant one less discussion with him. He was also well-entertained, his brother visiting more often than usual and on days he didn't, teammates would come over to play video games or watch some Netflix.
My job was also slower due to his injury and the fact that he was ordered not to move too much, which meant he couldn't do many appearances. My daughters appreciated the time I was able to spend with them and I even picked them up from nursery these weeks and spent the afternoon at home with them, working remotely.
When he started recovery, it was my job to bring and pick him up for the next two weeks, until he could drive again on his own. One afternoon, I arrived a bit too soon, and walked to the receptionist to ask her a favour. "Hi, sorry to disturb you" I started friendly and the woman looked up and sent me a smile. "Mrs Vasquez, what can I do for you? Or Pedri?" she asked, as she knew me a bit now. "For me. I've got some flyers here as I'm currently looking for a babysitter and I'm afraid to search for one on the internet, who knows who shows up. But maybe here there's some staff member who has a daughter or sister or whatever that wants to earn some extra money...?" I asked. "Oh, sure! That's a great idea! I know some spots where to hang them up, maybe also in the La Masía building, some academy players have really nice sisters! I'll take them for you" she replied friendly and I was very relieved. "Wow, thank you so much" I said and gave her the papers before going to the waiting area where I could wait for Pedri.
He appeared shortly after and we made our way to my car so I could get him home. "You haven't accepted my request on Instagram yet" he said as we were driving though Barcelona. "Because it's about my private life and we have a work relationship" I simply replied. "Come on, Isa, it's not like we're strangers! You know everything about me and you won't even tell me basic things about your life! For example, why don't you wear a wedding ring? Are you allergic?" he asked and sounded sincerely interested, but I just couldn't open up. Not to him. "Ok, the silent treatment, wow..." he mumbled disappointedly and looked outside the window. When I stopped in his driveway he got out without a word and I also drove away as soon as he had closed the door behind him.
My mood was also down the drain as the next day was what would have been Rodrigo's birthday. I didn't sleep all night and early in the morning, I uploaded a picture on Instagram, I didn't want people to forget him and if they saw him on a picture, they'd at least think a few seconds about him.
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📍 Madrid, Spain isa.vasquez Happy heavenly birthday, Rodri! We love and miss you so much ❤️ Picture taken on our Madrid trip in 12/2021, I was pregnant with Blanca ☺️
carmen_vsqz You are so missed, Rodri 🕊️ carlos_rgt I remember that trip ❤️🩹 lauraigle 🥺❤️
When I picked up Pedri in the morning, the mood was still icy and due to the circumstances of the day, I also didn't feel like extending an olive branch. After dropping him off, I drove to the office to get some paperwork done and at lunchtime, I got into my car to go pick up my girls and drop them off at my parents'. While I was driving, my phone rang and I saw that it was Pedri, so I picked it up. "Hello?" I asked. "Hi Isa. I just spilled coffee over my t-shirt, can you pick me up so I can change before the Adidas shoot?" he asked, sounding a bit annoyed. I looked at the time - he usually finished at 3 and now it was only shortly before 1. "Yeah, I just have to pick up my girls from kindergarten then I can get you" I replied. "Can you come now? I don't want to run around with a stained t-shirt" he scoffed. "I can be there in 30-45 minutes, just put on a hoodie" I replied, trying to remain nice and calm. "Ugh, can't someone else pick them up?" he groaned. "Pedri, I told them I would come today and it's just a matter of minutes, I'm almost there!" I said agitatedly. "Can't your husband pick them up?" he asked and I grabbed my steering wheel a bit harder. "No he can't-" I replied but he cut me off. "Come on, he surely has a lunch break, why can't he-" he started, but I cut him off. "BECAUSE HE'S DEAD" I shouted. An eerie silence was now in my car and on the other side of the phone. "I'll be there asap" I said before hanging up.
I picked up the girls and drove them to my parents' before making my way to the Ciutat Esportiva. Pedri was already waiting on a bench in the parking lot and walked to my car with a gloomy face, sitting down in the passenger seat. "Isa, I-" he started, but I cut him off once again. "Save it. I don't want your pity or anything. Don't talk to me unless it's work-related" I snarled and he just nodded, turning his head to look outside the window. I let him out at home and he changed, reappearing after 15 minutes or so. We drove to the Adidas shooting location in utter silence. It was a remote piece of the beach and a female football player from Barca was also there as second testimonial. Pedri was changed and prepped for the shoot (see, it was completely unnecessary to make such a scene because of a stained t-shirt as he would have gotten new clothes now anyways) before they did a million takes of him and the woman presenting a football shoe.
When he finished, I drove him home, again in utter silence. The next two days went on like this, us talking about the bare necessities, but not more. I wanted to try and break the icy mood at some point, but didn't know where to start and before saying something wrong, I preferred to say nothing. Thankfully, our car-pooling came to an end when he was given the green light to drive on his own again, relieving me from the awkward twenty minute drive from his home to the Ciutat Esportiva.
