How Soon Is Now

Part One - Chapter Nine: Olalla's Decision

“And they all live happily ever after,” Fernando said with a small smile, he brushed his fingers through Nora’s hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head; she had fallen to sleep while he had been reading to her.

Fernando carefully placed the book back in its place, he made sure that Nora was covered up warmly; he quietly left the bedroom and headed down stairs and into the living room.

Olalla ignored him as he stepped into the living room, she hadn’t said a word to him since she had caught him kissing Nicola; she had just been silent and it was starting to worry Fernando.

“Do you want a drink?” Fernando asked softly, he looked at Olalla hoping that she would say something; he didn’t know what to say or do and he hoped that she wouldn’t stay bad.

Fernando had no idea why he was so attached to Nicola, he felt attracted to her and he knew that he shouldn’t since he was a married man.

Olalla didn’t say anything, she didn’t even acknowledge her husband making him sigh and shake his head; she chewed on her lip as Fernando walked out of the living room and headed for the kitchen.

The last two months since they had moved to Hallows Town had been difficult on the couple and Olalla had found it difficult to settle into their new home.

Everything had been so much better when they had lived in Liverpool and Olalla didn’t know why they hadn’t been able to stay; Fernando had been a footballer before his career ending injury and she was sure his former club could have offered him a job.

Olalla sighed and shook her head, she had tried to be supportive and things hadn’t worked out; she needed to speak with Fernando and she hoped to convince him to give up on this small town life and go back to living in Liverpool where they had been happy.

***

“I want us to go back to Liverpool,” Olalla said walking into the kitchen, she watched her husband doing the dishes for a moment; she hated the town that they lived in and wanted things to go back to how they had been.

Fernando paused and looked over his shoulder at her, he swallowed knowing that this wasn’t because he had kissed Nicola; she hadn’t wanted to come here in the first place.

“This isn’t working Nando and I can’t stay here anymore,” Olalla said trying to convince Fernando that going back was the best choice, she wasn’t happy even though she knew that he was.

Olalla had loved Liverpool and it was her second home, Spain was her home and if she couldn’t go back there then Liverpool was the next best option.

“You know why I can’t go back,” Fernando said moving away from the sink, he shook his head knowing that the loss of his career had haunted him in Liverpool; he had needed a fresh start and moving to Hallows Town had given him that.

Olalla scoffed wondering why Fernando was being so stubborn, they had been happy in Liverpool and she wasn’t going to give up on that; she missed the big city and she had made up her mind.

“You could work in Liverpool… why does it have to be this town?” Olalla asked, she didn’t care want it took and how she did it, she was going back to Liverpool one way or another.

Fernando closed his eyes, being in Liverpool after his career ended had nearly killed him and Olalla had wanted him to get over it; now that he was doing better she wanted to drag him back to the place that haunted him no matter how much he tried to forget.

“I can’t do it Olalla… I’m sorry,” Fernando said shaking his head, he had moved them here so that they could be happy and Olalla hadn’t even tried to like their new home; she had been determined to hate the town no matter what.

Olalla stared at her husband as she realised what she was going to have to do, she wasn’t going to stay in Hallows Town and she had to leave for her and Nora’s sake.

“Then you stay here,” Olalla said making a decision, her marriage had collapsed a long time ago and not even a fresh start had been able to save them.

Olalla had been willing to forget that he had kissed another woman if he agreed to come back to Liverpool with her; she hated to end things like this but she had to think of herself and she wasn’t happy.

Fernando stared at his wife, a bad feeling forming in his stomach as he realised what she was saying; he didn’t want it to come to this but he knew he wouldn’t be able to change her mind.

“I don’t want to end like this Nando… but I can’t stay here, if you want to then that’s okay,” Olalla said softly, her brown eyes filling with tears knowing that this was the end; she wasn’t going to force him to make himself unhappy for her.

Fernando closed his eyes, he knew what would happen if he went back to Liverpool and it would only led him to hating Olalla; it wouldn’t be fair on Nora to drag this out.

***

Nora looked between her parents confused as her father dropped her and her mother off at the train’s station; she didn’t understand what was going on but she knew her father wasn’t coming with them.

“I’ll have the rest of your things delivered,” Fernando said quietly, he watched Olalla knowing that this was the end of their marriage; he couldn’t believe that they were ending like his but it was the only way before they both started to hate one another.

Olalla nodded her head as she kept a tight hold on her daughter’s hand, she couldn’t leave Nora with Fernando unless she wanted her own secret revealed; she had never told Fernando her family secret and now she never would.

Nora frowned, she didn’t want to leave her father behind and she wished that she could stay with him; she tugged on her mother’s arm only to be ignored.

“Where are we going?” Nora asked, she didn’t understand what was going on only that her and her mother were leaving; she didn’t know why and she hoped her parents weren’t separating.

Olalla swallowed and looked down at her daughter, she hadn’t told Nora anything about what was happening and she hoped that she would understand.

“We’re going back to Liverpool,” Olalla said softly, she brushed her fingers through Nora’s hair hoping that her daughter would escape the family curse.

Nora blinked up at her mother and looked at her father, he wasn’t coming with them and she knew that this was the end of her parent’s marriage.

“I’ll come and visit you when I get the chance,” Fernando said softly, he doubted that Olalla would allow Nora to come back to the town and he would have to see Nora in Liverpool.

Nora slowly nodded her head, the train being called making her look at her father panicked as her mother started to pull her away.

“Say goodbye Nora,” Olalla said sternly, she didn’t want to miss her train and they needed to get going since Alex Gerrard would be waiting to pick them up from Lime Street.

Nora blinked back tears as she said goodbye to her father, she didn’t want to leave and she liked Hallows Town; she didn’t understand why her mother was taking her away.

Fernando watched Olalla and Nora leave, he knew that this was for the best no matter how much it hurt right now.