Peyton Ackley - The Beginning of Change

Chapter 16 - My Son

Gabe isn't your typical five-year-old. He has ADHD which I choose not to think about but it makes his life so much harder. He constantly wants to move, can never sit still and really struggles at school but I choose not to let it hinder him, and I don't let it become a feature of his personality. He is such a light in my life and I can't let things like his ADHD eclipse the bubbly boy he truly is.

We had been back in London for a couple of weeks now and it was amazing getting to see him explore the city and adjust to his new school. The other day he came bouncing up to the car to tell me about his new friend Liam, and how he has so many LEGO sets at his house and he wants to go for a playdate.

When he told me about Liam I was so happy that he was making friends, but then I realised that this would mean he was adjusting to London. He was getting ready to say goodbye to Australia, to Byron, and somehow he was doing it faster than I was. I still missed the sandy floors that ran through the house as each person would truck a new load of sand through the living room. I missed waking up to the waves on my doorstep and hearing the seagulls call out in the early hours of the morning.

I'd decided that it was finally time to introduce Gabe to the rest of the team. I had been sneaking out of work early to go pick him up nearly every day, and people were finally starting to notice my absences. I did, of course, ask Gabe what he thought and he said he wanted to see Beth again so I took that as a yes.

Pulling up to the training centre felt unusual with a squirming five-year-old in the backseat, but nonetheless, I pulled into my usual car park and began walking into the weekend training. The main reason I was even able to introduce Gabe to the team was that they had weekend training, and I didn't have anyone to care for him, so he was coming to work.

I'd arranged with Jonas ahead of time telling him I was bringing someone with me, to which he didn't mind, but I don't think he thought it would be a child. 

"Are you ready?" I asked him. Gabe simply nodded taking my hand as we walked into the centre. 

I was relieved when I didn't see any of the players at first meaning I could take Gabe straight through to my office. Opening the door I expected the room to be empty, but I was met with a familiar face.

"Leah, what are you doing in here?" I asked her. She was sat up on the physio bed looking at the young boy clinging to my side.

"I wanted to say hi before training, didn't know you would have company. Sorry... I can go," she went to leave but I stopped her.

"Leah, this is Gabe. Gabe, this is Leah," I said introducing the pair. 

"Hey buddy," she said kneeling down to speak to him at eye-level.

"Hi," he replied in an almost whisper.

"Your mum is pretty cool working for Arsenal, don't you think?" she asked him to which he nodded. "I'm going to go join the team, but maybe go and introduce Gabe to Jonas first?" Leah suggested as she left.

Jonas' office was only up the hall which made it easy to sneak between rooms. I wasn't ashamed of Gabe by any means, I just simply didn't know what to say to people when introducing him to them. Leah already knew I had a son, so she could simply connect the dots between a young boy and a mysterious son.

I was so close to making it to Jonas when a short blonde stepped around the corner.  "Beth!" called out Gabe running towards her. Maybe she had more of an impression on him than I first thought. She scooped the bundle of joy into her arms giving him a tight hug.

"Hi Gabe," she said trying to silence the young boy right outside of the manager's office.

Before anything else could be done Jonas' door opened with the tall Swede standing in the doorframe. "When you said you were bringing a guest I didn't expect a child," he said glancing at Gabe still in Beth's arms.