Taken by a Stranger (Meadema)

Chapter 8 - Behind the Faces 🔍

'Uhm, Viv. Are you sure you won't get in trouble if your husband finds out I'm here and you've taken a stranger into your home? I would love to get to know you better, but I don't want you to get into trouble because of me. You've sacrificed enough for me'. Viv knew that clarity would come soon enough for Beth if they really got to know each other, but thought it was more of a topic for later in the conversation, so decided not to get into it yet.

'It's fine Beth, really. I won't get into trouble if you stay here a little longer. I'll just grab a drink and something to eat for us before we start talking, since it's already 4.30pm. Uhm, what can I pour you Beth?'. Beth looked at her, again with a bit of disbelief in her eyes, but she knew she could accept the help. That Viv was offering this from her heart, even though it was the last thing Beth was used to. So she decided not to ask another question, but just to answer.

'Uhm, something like a soft drink without sugar if you have that in the house'. Viv nodded, poured something to drink and made a pregnancy-proof snack platter for her and Beth. 'Well, after having only a bowl of soup for lunch this afternoon, I have something to eat here. You can just eat everything, it's pregnancy-proof'. Beth looked at her in surprise, pregnancy-proof? She hadn't even really thought about the fact that she could and couldn't eat certain things, considering the fact that she didn't have a midwife. Of course she knew the basics, but the fact that Viv was even thinking about this now, gave her a new feeling of gratitude.

'Thank you Viv, it looks absolutely amazing'. Viv sat down next to Beth on the couch, grabbed a blanket and placed the snack board between her and Beth, next to Myle. Not even three seconds later, Myle woke up from the smells and wanted to attack right away, but to Viv's great gratitude she was just able to stop her, just to prevent her from having to clean the floor again and this time the couch as well.

'Oh, you little thief. Come here, I'll give you your sweets too'. Together with Myle she walked to the kitchen, where she put the dog on the floor, who already started barking enthusiastically. 'Yes, yes, you know exactly young lady. You have done so well today, that you deserve something extra. But you have to stay away from mommy and Beth's food, otherwise you will get sick'.

She placed the bowl of food next to Myle's basket, after which the dog lay down in her basket and enjoyed Viv's pampering. Viv walked back to the couch in the meantime, now really ready to get to know Beth. 'Now attempt two, those little animals are really faster and smarter than you think'. Beth gave her a smile, once again enjoying the bond between Viv and Myle.

'So, I would really like to get to know you better. And since you have just been brave enough to open yourself up to a stranger, shall I start now?'. Beth nodded, she was actually really curious about who was really hiding behind this sweet woman.

'Well, I'm Vivianne, but I've always preferred people to call me Viv. Officially I'm Dutch, but after high school I moved to England for football. I played football in Hoogeveen in the Netherlands but was scouted at a talent day and ended up at Arsenal. But I found it hard, something was missing, I didn't want to let my whole life depend on football, so I focused on a social career. I decided to study medicine, I did that for two years, but it wasn't really my thing'.

Beth looked at her with wide eyes. Was she actually in the house of someone who had played football professionally, who had played in the WSL? She loved the sport, but hadn't really looked into women's football, as Steve thought it was nonsense. When they watched football or went to a match, it was always men's football, so she hadn't really looked into women's football either.

'I have a great passion for babies and I felt that this didn't get enough attention in my studies. That is why I started studying midwifery. I still love it. I am sure that I found my dream job, but I didn't want to throw football away completely. So after my studies I started playing football again in London, at a lower level, but I quickly climbed up. Manchester City were interested in me and I decided to sign there. Now I play football there with great pleasure in the WSL and I have a dream job in my social career for after my professional career. I also recently started playing for the Dutch national team, so I occasionally go away to a big tournament'.