The Look of Love & Smell of Lust - Chapter 30 - FINAL
She stepped off the plane, the sun blazing down on her as she descended the staircase before she reached the tarmac. Her custom Luis Vuitton changer bag over her shoulder, her shades protecting her eyes and her daughter sitting on her hip.
As they made their way through the terminal building and out into a waiting car, she carefully sat herself in the back sitting her daughter on her knee. She was staring up at her holding onto a fist-full of her hair, her short dark her clipped to the side with a pink clip, her mothers blue eyes searching her surroundings with her fathers smile and dimples etched on her face. Each time she looked at her daughter she managed to take her breath away somehow.
She stared out of the window thoughts of the past year and a half flooded her mind, how far she had come, how different her life now was, how different she was now. She hadn’t particularly changed for a guy, more like, he had succeeded in changing her, in showing her a different view on life and he had persevered with her at a time when no one else would’ve even entertained the notion. Now, she couldn’t even begin to imagine her life without him, the humble, often shy, unbelievably talented, funny, caring man, known the world over, had managed to somehow humble a notoriously feisty, bitchy model from London with nothing more than a smile, a listening ear and a caring touch.
In all this time, he hadn’t changed one ounce. He had remained his perfect little self, only became, by his own admittance, a little stronger for having her next too him, but this was all. She had always known how unbelievably amazing he was with children, lighting up when he was surrounded by them, coming into his own, a little like he would come into his own on a football field. She had seen it often when he would be surrounded by his nieces and nephews, spending hours with them, playing, talking, entertaining them, he would be in his element. Now, with his own daughter, he was besotted. The first few days he wouldn’t stop staring at her, the first few weeks, he wouldn’t put her down and now, he hated being away from her. He often would thank Ruby for blessing him with her, she would simply smile and return the thanks.
Now, no matter what happened between them in life, in their relationship, whatever way it turned, they would forever be bonded, be grateful to each other for their daughter, born out of love and surrounded by it in her life and her family.
This, the setting of the start of their relationship, where she was now to attend an international match to watch him play with Nura dressed in her Argentina kit cheering him on with her. She beamed down at her sitting in her lap and leaned forward kissing her all over her face, causing her to giggle loudly. The car rolled to a gentle stop,
“Nura” she said in her high pitched voice gaining her daughters attention instantly, “ready to see Papi” she nodded smiling just as the little girls face lit up. Her eyes widened as she turned her head from left to right before looking at her again, “yes, Papi, come on” she grabbed hold of her tightly, wrapping her arms around her waist as the car door was opened for them both. She made the sort distance to the entrance swiftly, avoiding eye contact with the press.
Once inside she let out a lung full of air as she cupped her daughters head bringing her closer to her, and kissing it softly. She was guided through corridors until finally she reached the stand and shown her seat with the other wives and girlfriends. This had now become a major part of her life, not that she complained. Attending football matches, wanting their daughter to understand as much as she could what it was her father did and why he was away so often, and as she grew she wanted her to realise just how good he was at what he did for a living. Today, however, seemed like it was not going to be that for after ten minutes of the game kicking off she was fast asleep in her mothers arms, the travelling clearly taking it out of her.
The match was over, they had won 4-2, meaning they were heading to the world cup on the back of an incredible winning streak. She was relieved, she was pleased, and she was nervous, but she would always be supporting him. The home crowds were ecstatic at the win, chanting his name as he left the field applauding the supporters, before thumping his hand onto the crest, making a cross with his fingers from his forehead, his stomach and his shoulders, kissing it and pointing to the heavens before he disappeared away down the tunnel.
She stood from her seat and made her way inside and taking Nura’s lunch from the bag, she made a guess she would have 20-30 minutes before he would be up here and joining them. It always made her nervous, for some reason, first seeing him straight after a game. Losses, or bad performance days were the worst. She would chew her thumb until she saw him enter, often he would have his head slightly bowed and upon seeing her, a small smile would appear on his face as she would hug him tightly. After wins, yes, he would of course be in much better spirits seeing them both, but it still made her nervous to see him, nervously excited because it was after all; him.
She bounced her restless daughter up and down on her hip, finally succeeding in causing her to giggle just as the doors opened. She shot her head up as she watched some of his teammates enter in their suits, when finally he appeared over the threshold of the door. She beamed at the sight of him just as he saw her standing at the side of the room and smiled right back at her, making his way over immediately.
“Look Nura, here’s Papi” she whispered, as the little girls eyes grew wide, she cranked her neck around and seeing him approach she let out a loud giggle, she turned herself around as much as she could and reached out her arms for him. He dropped his bag too the floor and held out his hands taking her immediately,
“Papi” she said burying her face in his neck,
he stared at Ruby who stared right back at him locked in a wide eyed look for a moment before they started to chuckle in delight, her first word had been spoken, finally after weeks. He turned his head sideways to his daughters face resting on his shoulder, her long eyelashes fluttering up at him, momentarily taking his breath away,
“Papi” he nodded smiling, she lifted her head up quickly and faced him, she reached one of her small hands out and rested it on his lips, two of her fingers inside his mouth,
“Papi” she repeated smiling at him, he chuckled before pressing his lips against the two fingers inside his mouth, as though eating them. She squealed in excitement, “Papiiiii” she wailed.
Ruby stood watching them, the palms of her hands together in front of her mouth, her eyes moist, a smile on her lips. Of course she loved her daughter, she felt an incredible bond with her, having her inside of her for 9 months were the most precious months of her life. Through the entire time after they found out she was carrying her, she made certain to include Leo in everything. Everynight before they would sleep he would read his favourite story to the bump, then he would read an English story too. Even though she felt all of this for her, the thing that got her the most, that stared a huge ball of emotion in her chest, a lump in her throat, tears in her eyes, was the relationship he had with her, Nura; their relationship.
The first time he held her in the hospital, her falling asleep on his chest after every afternoon feeding, him giving her raspberries on her stomach whenever she was sad causing her to laugh, and moments like now, where they just bonded together, it overwhelmed her enormously.
He pulled his attention from Nura up to Ruby before frowning a little, knowing what his look meant, she shuck her head and lowered her hands smiling at him. He stepped forward and kissed her on her lips before pulling away a little, their noses touching, he smiled at her, before looking at Nura,
“Come on, lets get out of here, shall we?” he asked excitedly raising his eyebrows causing her to clap her hands. He laughed and held Ruby’s hand before walking with them out of the room his life and future held in both of his hands.
