Lean on Me

Part Three - Chapter Twenty: Trouble Brewing

"I'm going out tonight with the guys," Fernando said looking at Cassidy as he helped her clear off the table after dinner; the brunette paused as she looked at her husband.

This had been happening a lot lately and it was starting to grate on her nerves especially since she was now fifteen weeks pregnant and Fernando had been pulling away from her lately.

Cassidy took a deep breath knowing that stress wasn't good for the baby, she didn't know what was going on with her husband right now but he had been spending a lot of time with his team-mates lately.

"Oh I thought because Nora and Leo were here, we could do something," Cassidy said knowing how rare it was for them to have his eldest children; Olalla was being difficult right now and it was really starting to show just how petty she was.

Fernando looked at his wife, he doubted that his children would really notice that he had gone out for a few hours; he just wanted to relax without having anyone nagging him.

"Maybe tomorrow," Fernando said kissing Cassidy, he smiled as she nodded her head before she went to stick the dish washer on; the footballer watched her go knowing that the children would all be in bed soon anyway.

Cassidy closed her eyes as she listened to her husband disappeared upstairs, the last six weeks had been difficult and she couldn't help but blame Mourinho for her husband's new attitude.

Cassidy didn't know what was going on at the training sessions but she knew that Mourinho was filling her husband's head with stuff that was turning him into a new person.

Resting a hand against her small bump, Cassidy took a calming breath before she moved to check on the children; she knew it was nearly time for the twins' bed time.

***

Cassandra smiled as her older sister opened the door to her, she had come to keep her company since she had heard from David that the team were going out for the night; she was a little shocked to hear that Fernando would be joining them.

"I thought I'd keep you company," Cassandra said knowing that the children would all be asleep now and Luke was with their parents for the night; she wanted to know what was going on with her sister's marriage.

Cassidy loved her sister and the last thing that she wanted was to watch her marriage collapse, Cassidy and Fernando were soul-mates; they were meant to be together and she wasn't going to allow some Portuguese manager to tear apart her sister's marriage.

The two sister's headed into the lounge as Cassidy wondered why her sister had really come to see her; she had expressed her concern to David when she had last attended a match but everyone just talked about how wonderful Mourinho was forgetting that he had said some pretty horrible things to Cassidy.

"I heard that you and Nando were having problems," Cassandra said sitting down, her eyes looking at her older sister knowing that there was something going on; she could see the worry in Cassidy's brown eyes and she wanted to help her.

Cassidy sighed resting a hand on her bump, she didn't want to worry anyone else especially since she was sure that her husband would snap out of this soon.

"Cass you can tell me anything," Cassandra said trying to get her sister to open up, she could see that something was bothering her and she wanted to get her to open up.

"I honestly don't know what is going on with him," Cassidy said shaking her head, she couldn't help but worry about what Mourinho was doing with her husband; she liked that he had his confidence back but it was his attitude that she didn't like.

Cassandra nodded her head, she had seen it as well when the couple had announced that they were expecting a baby; he hadn't been the man that her sister had married.

"I'm really worried Andy... I can't help but think that this will break us," Cassidy said looking down at her wedding ring, she hated to think that this would mean the end for them; but he wasn't acting like her Fernando anymore.

Cassandra looked at her sister, she knew that Cassidy wouldn't divorce Fernando unless he did something that she didn't think that she could forgive however this was clearly going to be a problem.

The two sisters sat in silence as they allowed Cassidy's words to sink in, they both knew she wouldn't say them if they weren't true.

"I am really scared Andy, Mourinho's changing my husband and I don't care how great he is," Cassidy said crossing her arms, she wasn't going to allow Fernando to become some stranger but he didn't even seem interested in his children right now much less her pregnancy.

***

Fernando quietly stepped into his bedroom and smiled at the sight of Cassidy sleeping, she was wearing a grey jersey night dress and he had to admit that he loved watching her sleep.

Fernando carefully toed off his shoes as he prepared for bed, he'd had a little too much to drink and he knew that Cassidy wouldn't be impressed if she were to wake up.

Fernando chuckled softly as he peeled off his top knowing that everything was fine, he had started to come back to his old self and he was thrilled that Mourinho was the reason behind it.

Despite their shaky start, Fernando was starting to enjoy working under the Portuguese and he knew that the team would do well under him; he just hoped that he would be able to keep his place in the starting eleven.

Carefully pulling off his jeans, Fernando carefully prepared to climb into bed next to his wife; he knew that he was going to do everything in his power to keep things the way that they were.

The footballer was thrilled how well his life was going right now and he had no idea of his wife's concerns; he barely saw her and the twins lately since he was always training or with his team-mates.

Climbing into bed, Fernando made sure that the alarm clock was set for the morning knowing that if he left early enough he could get some practice before training; he wanted to best himself in every way possible.

Cassidy opened her eyes as she looked at the wall, she couldn't bring herself to speak with her husband and she was disgusted that he had come home to her drunk; she could smell the alcohol on him and that wasn't all she could smell.

Cassidy felt tears fill her eyes as she cursed her hormones for making her sense of smell better, she could smell another woman's cheap perfume on her husband and it made her feel sick.

The last thing that Cassidy ever expected her husband of only a few months was for him to cheat on her; she knew he wouldn't but it made her wonder who of his team-mates would allow him to spend time with women who just wanted to seduce him.

Cassidy held back a cry knowing that she didn't want to speak her husband right now, he clearly couldn't see that his actions were hurting his family and the brunette knew that if she ever learnt he had been with another woman then it would be over for them.

Fernando closed his eyes glad that his life had worked out so well.