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An Eviction Notice for Auntie Le

Three weeks turns out to be enough time for Beth to stop feeling like a visitor at Arsenal, although it isn't quite enough for her to stop having the occasional moment when she walks through the training ground doors and wonders how the hell this became her job.

The uncertainty disappears faster every day because Sarina doesn't hover over her anymore and hasn't for a while, which means Beth has gradually found her own rhythm beside her. She takes portions of training herself now, helps Katie with set pieces and spends enough time with individual players that they've stopped hesitating before seeking her out when they want another opinion.

She and Sarina disagree occasionally, as they should, but Beth has quickly learned that Sarina would much rather hear why she thinks something than have an assistant who simply nods along. The players have become equally comfortable challenging Beth, though, without treating her lack of coaching experience as a reason to dismiss her.

Viv and Leah have helped by doing almost nothing at all.

At least professionally.

They listen when Beth coaches, argue when they genuinely disagree and accept it when she tells them they're doing something wrong, although that hasn't prevented Leah from referring to her as Coach Mead in the most obnoxious voice imaginable whenever they're away from the pitch.

Viv isn't much better, particularly when Beth corrects her during training and then has the audacity to look pleased with herself afterwards, but both women have made it easier for the rest of the squad to understand that Beth isn't there as Viv's girlfriend or Leah's best friend.

She's simply one of their coaches.

Theo's adjustment to Lauren has been almost embarrassingly easy by comparison, especially considering Beth had expected tears at some point or at least one morning where he wrapped himself around her leg and refused to let her leave.

Lauren seems to understand instinctively that Theo doesn't need to be separated from Beth in order for Beth to work, so whenever possible, they stay somewhere he can see the pitch. If he wants Mummy for a minute, Lauren doesn't turn it into a battle either, and sometimes he wanders over during a break for a cuddle before happily disappearing again.

On other days, Beth can go almost an entire session without him needing her because he's too busy kicking a football with Lauren, coloring or informing anyone who will listen that he's nearly four.

He still runs to Viv almost as quickly as he runs to Beth when training finishes, and he still calls her Mama as though there has never been another possibility.

For the last three weeks, because Beth and Theo's belongings have been arriving in stages and their own place hadn't been sorted yet, the three of them have also fallen into an increasingly domestic routine at Viv and Leah's apartment that nobody has really questioned.

Until today.

"I want my bed there."

Beth smiles down at Theo as they walk across the car park, his little hand wrapped tightly around two of her fingers while the other swings excitedly beside him. The keys to their new apartment are tucked safely into Beth's coat pocket alongside a copy of the lease she signed less than twenty minutes ago, and Theo hasn't stopped talking since the estate agent handed them over.

"Your bed can go there."

"By the window."

"We'll see."

"And my footballs."

"Obviously."

"And my Arsenal one."