Foolish one

Chapter 70

The next day, we dropped Martina off with Eli. I was going to go to training for an hour before picking her up and then picking Alexia up. It would be the first time I left Martina with someone who wasn't Alexia and it worried me terribly.

However, I wanted to get back to football and my life, doing it with a baby in my hands was not possible. So, I had to do this for myself. It didn't mean it hurt any less. It would still be incredibly hard to do it.

I cried as I left Martina with Eli. Alexia held my hand on the ride to training. She knew how hard this was for me, it was just as hard for her. But this was the first time I left Martina, and she had left her so many times before. I didn't blame her, I envied her for doing it.

A hand made its way to my face, wiping away the tears before kissing the remainder of them away. "Are you ready?" Alexia asked when all my tears were gone. I nodded and kissed her softly.

Alexia's hand found its way into mine as we walked towards training. She was carrying both our bags, and I was just carrying her hand, but she was keeping it up herself. Alexia was keen about taking care of me, and that was sweet.

"No little one today?" Mapí asked as we walked into the changing room. I shook my head and sat down next to her. "Then I get you all to myself" Mapí continued and swung her arm around my shoulders. She pulled me closer to her. "You know I love you, right?" I told her. "I love you too" Mapí answered with a smile.

We were both changed quickly and made our way to the pitch with confident steps. I joined in with the warm-up and the first few exercises. I was supposed to make a slow return, so nothing too exerting was on the sheet for me.

It was still fun, passing the ball with a coach before taking part of a rondo with the girls. I managed to nutmeg Alexia three times during the ten minutes I was playing. She wasn't too happy about that, but the rest of the girls thought it was terribly funny.

After that I was in the gym for half an hour, running and working on my strength. A physio was with me, and then I left to pick Martina up.

"How was she?" I asked Eli. "She was great. Ate twice and slept a lot. You know I can take her more times, right? I love my granddaughter" Eli answered. She spent the next five minutes explaining every move Martina made. I thanked her for that, it made the pain of being away from my daughter hurt a little less. I knew what had been going on, and she was totally fine, my little girl.

I left soon after that to pick Alexia up from training. I was sweaty and disgusting, but so was she. Training wasn't finished when I arrived, so Martina and I watched the last few minutes of a 5v5. Aitana managed to fall over three times and Alexia found herself scoring two goals as I watched. It was interesting to say the least.

Fridolina was the first to reach me once it was over. "How was training?" she asked. "It went fine, I'm slowly coming back" I answered with a smile. Alexia was the second one who reached me, and I handed her Martina. "It must be hard to be a professional footballer with a baby" Fridolina said while Alexia left. Everyone wanted to see Martina, so I could sit alone with Fridolina for a while and just talk to her. "It is, football has to come second now. I wouldn't want to have it any other way. Martina is my number one priority, so returning to football is hard" I confessed to her.

"That is true. If it is worth anything I think you are doing an amazing job. She looks happy with you both, comfortable even though everyone is swooning over her" Fridolina said with a smile on her face. "Thank you" I answered. Tears were threatening to fall from my eyes at her simple statement. I moved closer and hugged her tight. I let the tears fall. I felt like a bad mother when I had left Martina alone earlier, but her words were reassuring.