Life As We Know It

Chapter Thirty-One: Back Home

Lionel grinned to himself as he carried the baby car seat towards Olivia’s hospital room, she was finally coming home with Leona and he was relieved.

It had been a long few days and Lionel had barely left his wife and daughter alone unless he had to return home to check on the dogs and make sure that the house was prepared for them to come home.

It seemed unreal to him every time that he saw his wife and little girl, they were safe and the nightmare of the last week had been all but forgotten.

Lionel stepped into the hospital room and smiled at the sight of his wife, she was wearing a pastel pink batwing sleeve crop top and super stretch skinny jeans paired with pastel pink snake effect ballet pumps.

“How is she?” Lionel asked as Olivia turned to face him, she had Leona in her arms and the footballer smiled as he set the baby car seat down; he was still in awe at how perfect Leona was.

Olivia smiled as she fixed Leona’s navy cat print top and pink leggings set, she was glad to be going home and she couldn’t wait; she was tired of hospitals and she just wanted to relax.

The police had taken her statement about what had happened and they had asked if she wanted to press charges against her father; something that Olivia hadn’t wanted to do, she wasn’t sure she would ever forgive Phillip for what he had done.

“Leona is fine,” Olivia reassured Lionel, she knew how worried he was and she didn’t blame him; paparazzi were all clambering for pictures of the newborn with her parents.

Her birth had been a huge announcement especially after Olivia’s abduction, it wasn’t going to die down anytime soon either because Leona was the daughter of Lionel Messi and Olivia Pavon.

***

“Home at last,” Olivia said with a smile as she stepped into their home, she held Leona close as she peeked around; she had been a little nervous about coming home but now she felt nothing more than relief.

Olivia had spoken with a therapist while she had been in hospital at the advice of a doctor, they didn’t want her having any complications when she took Leona home.

Lionel grinned as he set down the red shopper bag, he was glad that they were home and he would finally get a good night’s sleep; the last two weeks had been the worst of his life.

“Your madre mentioned about coming round later,” Lionel murmured as they moved into the living room, he hoped that Nina wouldn’t be bringing Phillip with her; he could never forgive his father-in-law for what he had done.

Olivia wouldn’t have been abducted if Phillip hadn’t kept pushing for Gavin to be with her; it would have all ended differently and Olivia wouldn’t have been put in danger.

Lionel still had nightmares about how badly this could have ended, that this could all be a horrible dream and he had really lost his wife and daughter.

“Leo?” Olivia called softly as she sat down on the couch, she settled Leona on her lap as she looked curiously at her husband; she knew the club were forcing him to get help like she had.

Lionel was just as traumatised as Olivia had been and it was taking time for them both to recover from what had happened; it was going to take some time for them both to recover.

“I’m just happy you are both home,” Lionel said as he sat down next to Olivia, she smiled before carefully handing Leona to him; they were going to be okay and that was all that mattered right now.

Gavin could no longer hurt them and as sad as it was, he could never hurt anyone ever again; he had taken his own life out of desperation and Olivia would never be able to forget what he had done.

“I was thinking that we could order take-out for dinner… to celebrate,” Lionel said as he cuddled Leona, he wasn’t in the mood to cook and he doubted that Olivia was either.

They’d had a big day and with Leona now in the picture, they were going to have to make sure that their marriage was okay; it had been shaken by what had happened.

“I’d like that,” Olivia said as she kissed Lionel, he was taking a couple more days off from playing before he returned; it had been rough for him and the club wanted him back at his best.

Lionel smiled as he looked at his wife, everything seemed so unsure for them and he didn’t know what he would have done if he had lost her and Leona.

The two were everything to him and Lionel was all too aware how close he had come to really losing them; it made him thank God that he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to cope if he had.

***

“When will the christening be?” Nina asked as she sipped on her drink, she smiled as she looked at her daughter pleased that everything had worked out.

Olivia deserved to be happy and after all that had happened, it seemed only fair that she had everything that she wanted.

“We were thinking in December,” Lionel said as he sat down next to his wife, he smiled as he watched his mother-in-law as Olivia took his hand; he was relieved that she hadn’t brought Phillip with her.

Nina had allowed her estranged husband to move back into the family home, however things didn’t look good for their marriage; Phillip was hoping that his family would forgive him for what he had done.

“That’ll be nice… just before Christmas,” Nina said as she set down her drink and peeked over at a snoozing Leona, it seemed like a wonderful idea and gave the couple three months to plan.

Olivia nodded her head as she looked at Leona, she loved her daughter more than anything and she was so happy that this was how everything had worked out.

“How are both of you?” Nina asked as she turned her attention back to the couple, they had been through something so traumatic that she wasn’t sure what to think anymore.

Olivia peeked at Lionel, they were okay but she knew that they were going to have to take things easy and not rush their relationship.

“We’re doing better,” Lionel said as he smiled at Olivia, he was willing to work on things and it would take time for them both to fully recover from what had happened; however he was sure that they could do this.

Olivia nodded her head as she squeezed his hand, it had been a rough time and she was happy that she still had Lionel; they were seeking the help that they needed and they weren’t rushing anything.

“I’m happy for you both,” Nina said as she watched them, she had feared for their relationship especially after all that had happened; it wasn’t easy to come back from an abduction like that and they were going to have to be careful.

The last thing that Nina wanted to see happen was for Olivia or Lionel to break, their marriage was special and they had to work on it especially now that Leona had been born.

“So are we,” Olivia said as she smiled at Lionel, she loved him more than anything and she was glad that he was here; Lionel was the father of her daughter of the love of her life.

Lionel smiled as he kissed his wife, they were going to be okay and he was sure about it, they had something special and he was sure that everything would work out for them.

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Author's Note:

There is only one more chapter left x