This Isn't My Idea of Love

Chapter Thirty-One: Thinking About the Future

Viola yawned as she climbed out of bed, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she looked back at Lionel; it had been a week since they had brought Thiago home and they had fallen into a small routine with their son.

“What time is it?” Lionel murmured as he watched his wife climb out of bed, she wrapped her robe around her mint stripe set; she glanced at the clock and almost groaned at the time.

“Four o’clock,” Viola murmured making Lionel frown as he pushed himself to sit up as the brunette moved over to the crib where Thiago was sleeping; she picked him up as Lionel climbed out of bed exhausted before he padded over to his wife.

“Leo, you don’t have to,” Viola said knowing what her husband was going to do, Lionel shook his head as he moved to collect Thiago; he wanted to do his share of feeding and looking after their son.

“I don’t mind… you have him all day and it’s the least that I can do,” Lionel said making Viola nod at him, she knew that he was preparing to fly out for the pre-season friendlies that were due to take place and he worried that he might miss spending time with Thiago.

The brunette removed her robe and climbed back into bed as Lionel took their son down to the kitchen so that he could feed him.

“Shh,” Lionel murmured as he tried to calm his son’s whimpering, the footballer was a little worried about losing time with his son before he was dragged away from a couple of matches.

Lionel padded into the kitchen as he walked into the kitchen, he held his son close as he walked over to his fridge; he carefully placed Thiago into his rocker.

As soon as Lionel did, Thiago once again began to cry; he curled his tiny fists and began to thrash his arms, which was accompanied by the kicking of his little legs. Lionel groaned softly as he moved to pick his son back up.

“What’s wrong?” he murmured as he held Thiago close to him causing the little boy to cuddle into his father’s warm body.

Lionel sighed as he shook his head with a small smile on his face as he moved towards the fridge.

“I hope you’re not going to be one of those people that can live with very little sleep, I don’t think your Madre and I can do that,” Lionel mused as he collected the bottle of breast milk that Viola had stored in the fridge for him to use if he was feeding Thiago of a night.

Lionel moved slowly over to the baby bottle warmer, he bounced his son in his arms as he waited for the milk to warm.

***

Viola rolled her eyes as she watched Thiago sleep in his rocker in the shade while they enjoyed the summer sun; the two of them were alone since Lionel was at training and he had some sort of meeting to attend to.

“He’s adorable,” Chris cooed as he looked down at the little boy, the brunette nodded her head as she watched her son for a moment; she couldn't believe that she was a mother.

Blaine nodded his head as he looked at the little boy who was snoring in the shade.

“He looks so much like Messi,” Blaine mused as he turned back to Viola; since it was the end of July everyone was enjoying what they could of the warm summer heat.

Chris glanced at Blaine before they both looked at Viola, she had asked them to keep an ear out for any news about Antonella; since Chris was a journalist he had contacts that he could use to help the brunette.

“I’ve heard some news about Antonella,” Chris said making Viola pause as she looked at her best friend; she knew that it must be important if he was choosing to tell her now.

Chris licked his lips as he settled down next to Viola; he didn't know how to break the news to her about what he had learned.

“She’s had the baby, named her Estella,” Chris told Viola making the brunette close her eyes; she knew that this moment was coming but she hadn't expected to hear that the baby had been born so soon.

“I think Antonella will wait a while before she comes back to Barcelona, but she’s up to something Lala and I’m worried what she might do to you and Thiago,” Chris said as he looked at the little boy.

His friends in Argentina hadn't been able to tell him the health of the child but it was clear that she had been born before Thiago and Antonella hadn't bothered to inform Lionel of this.

“Viola, you need to think about you and Thiago… I don’t know what Antonella is planning but I have a feeling that it wouldn’t be good and she might turn Lionel against you,” Chris said softly making Viola look at him.

She didn't have the heart to disagree with him, the brunette knew deep down that her friend was right that Antonella would do anything even if it meant lying.

“Listen, we were going to give you this for a wedding present incase anything happened but we didn't get a chance,” Chris said as Blaine gave Viola a white envelope; she stared at her two friends wondering what they had given her before she opened it.

The brunette looked at her two friends wondering how they had been able to do this for her.

“That envelope includes everything that you will need if anything happens to your marriage; the details of an apartment for you and Thiago, contacts so that you can start your life over back in New York,” Chris explained softly.

***

Viola smiled as she watched Thiago take his nap, she leant against the wall watching him before she looked down at the envelope that Chris and Blaine had given her.

“Hola how was your day?” Lionel asked as he walked into the bedroom, Viola looked at him over her shoulder as she hid the envelope from his sight; she didn't want to tell him about what she had learned or what she had been given.

“It was good; Chris and Blaine came to see Thiago,” Viola said as she moved to hide the envelope in one of the draws so that Lionel wouldn’t find them.

The brunette sat down on the bed while Lionel was in the shower, her thoughts on the future that was approaching quickly and what could happen when Antonella returned.

“So when is Antonella due back?” Viola asked curiously as she leant against the headboard; Lionel looked at her as he stepped out of the bathroom, he didn't know what it was but he had a feeling that something had happened while he had been at training.

“Sometime at the end of August,” Lionel murmured making the brunette nod her head, she didn't know why Antonella was waiting that long but she had a feeling that she would soon find out.

Lionel looked at his wife as she messed with her wedding ring; he paused after he pulled on his boxers and stared at her.

“Lala, is everything okay?” Lionel asked as he walked towards his wife, she looked at him as he sat down next to her; he didn't know what her friends had said but it was clear that something was bothering her.

“I’m fine just something that Chris said has got me thinking,” Viola said as she kissed his lips, she climbed off the bed and walked out of the bedroom after collecting the baby monitor.

Lionel watched her leave as an unsettling feeling settled in his chest.