One week later
The week without Viv feels longer than Beth expected.
Usually life is loud enough to cover absence. Josh fills every room with questions and stories, Myle charges through the house like she owns it, football keeps Beth busy, and the ordinary mess of family life rarely leaves space for loneliness. But with Viv away on international camp, the quiet keeps slipping through the cracks anyway.
Her side of the bed stays cold. Her coffee mug remains untouched in the cupboard. Every evening Beth catches herself listening for keys at the door before remembering there are still a few more days to wait.
Only now the waiting holds something sweeter too.
They are having a baby.
Some moments the truth feels soft and glowing, something Beth can hold close to her chest in private. Other moments it hits so suddenly she has to brace herself against the kitchen counter and breathe through the rush of happiness. She keeps the positive test tucked safely in the bedside drawer, checking on it once each morning like it might vanish if she looks away too long.
Josh, meanwhile, is handling the secret terribly.
He kisses Beth’s stomach before school. He whispers updates to the baby at bedtime. He asks if babies need shin pads and whether they can come to Mini Gooners straight away. Twice during video calls with Viv he starts with, “Mama guess what” before Beth cuts in so quickly Viv becomes suspicious.
By the time Sunday arrives, Josh is practically vibrating.
“She comes home today,” he announces at breakfast, climbing onto the stool beside Beth while she pours cereal.
“She does,” Beth says, smiling into her coffee.
“Today today.”
“Yes darling, today today.”
He thinks for a moment, spoon halfway to his mouth. “We need to tell her special.”
Beth glances at him over the rim of her mug, throat tightening. “I think so too.”
After breakfast she tells him to come upstairs. He follows instantly, nearly tripping over Myle in his rush. In their bedroom Beth kneels by the wardrobe and pulls out a large gift bag hidden behind Viv’s hoodies.
Josh’s eyes widen. “Presents?”
“Sort of,” Beth says softly. “Announcement clothes.”
She empties the bag onto the bed one shirt at a time.
The first is a tiny white dog shirt. Across the back in bold black letters
BIG SISTER OF TWO 26
Josh gasps. “That’s Myle!”
“It is.”
The second is a child sized Arsenal red shirt. He grabs for it before Beth can even fully unfold it. On the back, where a player name would usually sit
BIG BROTHER TO BE
26
Josh goes completely still.
Then he lets out a squeal so loud Myle starts barking downstairs.
“That’s me!”
Beth laughs through the sting behind her eyes. “That’s you.”
Next she lifts her own shirt. Another Arsenal top, oversized enough to fit comfortably over leggings. On the back
MUMMY OF TWO
26
Josh places both hands over his mouth in delight.
“And Mama?” he asks quickly.
YOU ARE READING
A good destiny is when two people find each other without even looking
FanfictionBeth and Viv have been teammates at Arsenal for a few years, the pair hadn't really interacted much nor took much interest in each other's personal lives outside of football or made any attempts to hang out. Not until Viv encounters a break up with...
