Holding Her, Loving You

Chapter Nine: Back to School

“Alex it’s time to get up,” Belina said as she walked into her son’s bedroom, she smiled softly as she moved to open his blinds to wake him up; it was the first day back at school and he needed to get ready.

Alejandro groaned as he buried his head into his pillow and pulled his cover over his head; he glared at his mother as she pulled the cover from his body and looked at him.

“I’m making pancakes for breakfast,” Belina said as she set the cover back on the bed, Alejandro rolled out of bed and padded over his wardrobe to pick out some clothes for his first day; Belina smiled to herself as she left the room and headed downstairs so that she could prepare breakfast.

The brunette sighed as she walked towards her kitchen, she knew that Cesc wanted to be there when Alejandro started school; he wanted the world to know that the little boy was his son before someone else revealed it to the world.

“Mama is Cesc coming with us to school?” the six year old asked as he sat at the kitchen table, Belina paused for a moment as she looked back at her son; she knew that Cesc wanted to come but she wasn’t sure what he was going to do.

Apart from the occasional talk about Alejandro, Belina didn’t really speak with her ex-boyfriend; she knew that since they had arranged things through their lawyers that she had no real reason to speak with him.

“I don’t know,” the brunette said softly as she served Alejandro his breakfast, she smiled at her son knowing that while he was still unsure about Cesc as his father; there would be a time that Alejandro would have a close relationship with the footballer.

***

Cesc glanced at Joseph as he climbed out of his Audi A3, he knew the boy wasn’t happy about them stopping at Alejandro’s house so that Cesc could take him to his first day of school.

“Are you going to stay in the car?” Cesc asked as he looked at the ten year old, he had offered to take Joseph to school since he had been enrolled in the same primary school as Alejandro and Daniella had to take Maria to her own school that morning as well looking after Lia for the day.

Joseph ignored Cesc making the footballer sigh as he shook his head before he headed for the front door; he knew that Joseph and Maria weren’t happy about his son coming into their lives.

Knocking on the front door, Cesc nibbled on his lip wondering what he could do to make all of this easier on everyone; he loved spending time with his son and he would do anything for him, just as he would do anything for Lia.

“Buenos días,” Belina greeted as she opened the front door, she smiled at Cesc who stared at her taken back; the brunette was wearing a khaki peplum bandage dress with fishtail hem paired with black satin court shoes.

The footballer swallowed as he watched her, he was a little surprised to see her in a dress and he knew that she was dressed for work.

“Buenos días… is Alex ready?” Cesc asked making the brunette nod her head as she stepped back into her home, the footballer followed after her and smiled as he spotted Alejandro sat in the living room while Belina moved to collect her stone winged satchel bag for work.

“Hola buddy are you ready for school?” Cesc asked as he glanced at Belina, he was a little nervous about taking the little boy to school even if he was going with the brunette; he just hoped that he was prepared to see the life that he had missed out on while he had been living the life that he wanted.

Alejandro nodded his head as Belina collected her car keys, she cleared her throat knowing that this was awkward enough for them all without having to worry about bring late.

“Time to go,” Belina said making her son nod his head before he moved to collect his school bag, he glanced between his parents as he waited by the front door; Belina checked that she had everything as they headed out of the front door.

***

Belina smiled as she watched Alejandro hurry away so that he could play with his friends before school, she knew that he was doing well since Cesc had come back into his life and she was happy for him.

“He looks happy,” her ex-boyfriend mused as he stood next to her, his brown eyes focused on his son as he wondered what the little boy’s life would have been like if he would have been involved.

He hadn’t been able to stop himself lately from comparing the life that Lia would have, the life that Alejandro had been deprived of because he had been stupid and had turned his back on him.

“Did you get Joseph enrolled?” Belina asked as she glanced over at Daniella’s son, she knew that the first day at a new school would be hard for anyone especially if they were starting over in a new country.

Cesc nodded his head, he looked at his ex-girlfriend knowing that he had a lot to make up for especially with how things had ended between them; he just hoped that they could go back to being friends like before they had dated.

“I was wondering if you and Alex wanted to come to this weekend’s match, Gerard and Lionel want to see you again,” Cesc asked as he looked at the brunette, she nibbled on her lip as she looked at her ex-boyfriend; she wasn’t sure that she was ready to go back to the life that she had left behind.

The footballer sighed as he looked over at Alejandro, he knew it wasn’t going to be simple but he hoped that the two of them would be able to work on a friendship so it wouldn’t be awkward anymore.

“We’d like that,” Belina said knowing she had to put an effort in, she knew that she had to do this for Alejandro’s sake and she hoped that it meant that she could work on her friendships with the other footballers.

“Great,” Cesc said smiling as the school bell rang,  he looked over at Joseph who disappeared inside without a word while Alejandro waved to his parents before he went into the school; Belina smiled knowing that he was going to have a good school year this year.

The former couple walked out of the school grounds and headed for their cars, Cesc had offered to drive Alejandro to school a couple of times a week so that he could be a part of the little boy’s life.

“So I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days,” Belina said as she looked at him, she stopped walking and smiled at the footballer; who nodded his head, he knew that he had to get to training or he would face a fine for being late.

Cesc ran a hand through his hair as Belina started to walk towards her car, he swallowed as he watched her go; he knew that he had to make a better effort to make things right between them.

“I was wondering what you were doing on Thursday? I’m having this get together and I would like it if you came,” Cesc said as he looked at her, the brunette paused for a moment curious about what he was doing; she doubted that his girlfriend would be happy if she went. Belina shook her head as she offered Cesc a small smile.

“I can’t sorry,” she said knowing that she didn’t have anyone to watch over Alejandro if she agreed to go; the brunette watched as Cesc looked at her disappointed that she had wouldn’t be going.