Chapter Three - Miguel Henrique

I was trying at all costs to get closer to my children, I was trying to give them presents, take them on outings and do their bidding but it was getting harder and harder to have a parental relationship with them.

Heitor was much more complicated than Lavinia. Maybe he had picked up my difficult temper and also thanks to Olga's witch the boy didn't respect me anymore. Lavinia was sweeter and less complicated to deal with, she reminded me a lot of her mother.

- Hello children, I brought something for you - I showed the transparent wrapping - For Hector a remote control cart and a Barbie for you Lavinia! Did you like it?

- Dad? - Heitor looked at me with contempt - I'm not a little kid anymore, ok? Remote control cart? Yikes!

- At your age I loved to get one of these! - I frowned - And you daughter?

- Look, I'd rather get an iPhone - I looked startled at my daughter! What do you mean? - But that's ok dad, I'm glad you thought of us.

I tried to talk, asking about school, friends and other subjects to know more about them. I wanted at all costs to get closer to my children.

- Son? - Mom took me out of my thoughts - I have two pieces of news. 1 good and the other and the other bad!

- First the bad one - I drank my vodka, I had had a hectic day and drinking was all I had left.

- Well, the bad one is that Olga has filed for custody of the children - I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard that damn name - And that from now on you have to walk the line, any slip up is fatal. Any time now we are going to receive a visit from a social worker.

Damn it! My cursed ex-mother-in-law would do anything to take my children away from me and all for money and not because she loved her grandchildren.

Part of the anger that Hector had with me was her fault, she turned my children against me.

But of one thing I was sure, I was going to move heaven and earth so that she would not get custody of my children.

- I knew she wouldn't give up, Mom! Have you already started our lawyers? - I huffed nervously - And the good news? If there is anything good after that!

- Yes, your father has chosen the best in town! Well, the good news is, I have already found someone to be the children's companion. Tomorrow she starts - She was very excited - Her name is Olivia. A perfect girl with a good heart.

- Didn't you have a woman with another name? - I thought out loud. - What a chase!

- As a son?

- Nothing, Mom! - I forced a laugh. - Well, it's good that you finally found someone. I'm going to bed because tomorrow I'm picking up Camila and Dad at the airport after training. Good night!

I said goodbye to my mother with a kiss on the forehead.

- Everything will be fine! - I heard her say, and silently agreed. It had to be okay.

I went to my room. For a few days now I had been trying to be a better father, no longer leaving the house for orgies and parties. I was really starting to live up to my name and become a respected player and a serious father out of the spotlight.

The day dawned clear, and the first rays of sun invaded my room.

I got up early, one of the things that had changed in my vacation routine, and went for a cold shower.

Already dressed in jeans and a green polo shirt, I went downstairs to have breakfast with my kids. Something that I had also stopped doing after Giselle's death.

As soon as I finished breakfast I went to take the children to school and then my intention was to go to the club center and later to the airport to pick up my father and sister.

- Here we are children! - I looked at the empty school door and found it strange - Well, I guess we are early, how about a juice before class?

- Dad? We're not early - I frowned while Lavinia spoke - We're on vacation and you had to take us to Grandma Olga's house.

- Damn it! - I hit the steering wheel in anger, I had failed - I'm sorry kids, Daddy's trying, okay?

- It's no use trying! - Heitor grumbled - He'll always be a lousy father.

It hurt me to hear Hector talking like that. Wasn't it possible that I couldn't get one right?

I started the car and drove to Olaria, where Olga's witch lived. All the way there we were silent.

As soon as I arrived at the gate I got out of the car and opened the door for them and there was Olga.

- I'll pick them up before 6:00 PM - I made sure not to be polite - See you kids later. Daddy will pick you up ok?

- I want to sleep here! - Heitor didn't help.

- No son, grandpa is coming today with Aunt Camila - I tried to stay calm.

- What a drag! - he grumbled.

- Son, you see? Your father keeps me away from you - Olga was poisonous - Go inside, Grandma's coming!

- You bastard! - I hissed after they walked away - This is foul play, okay? You're not going to keep me away from them, Olga. You're not going to keep me away from them, Olga.

- I've already pitted Hector against you," the old woman smiled, "All that's left is Lavinia. It'll be easy, Miguel Henrique, and you'll never see your children again. And you will still support me... money is not the problem for you.

I took a deep breath not to be affected by her words. I got into my car and drove to the club. I wanted to come back next season on a high.

Later I went to the airport to pick up my father and Camila.

The flight had been delayed and I had been waiting for them for hours and this made me hand out a lot of autographs and photos with fans of my work. It was always normal that someone would always tease me and I liked that. When you are a public figure and even more so in the world of sports you know very well that you will be known on the street.

Finally Dad and Camila disembarked.

- missy you brother! - I hugged my little sister - What's up? How are things? And the kids?

- Good! They are fine! They are with Olga. - I smiled and shook my father's hand.

- Well son and missing your mother terribly - I smiled - Shall we go?

We left the airport amid laughter and quite an animated conversation. My sister was always a great person and had a very strong genius like our mother.

Camila had white skin, was tall and had reddish hair. She was the new version of Mom.

My father was different, calm and serene. He had gray hair, was tall, and had brown eyes. He and my mother were crazy about each other.

We arrived home and soon after parking my car I asked one of my employees to help me with the bags. I took everything out of the car.

Then I looked to the side and noticed an old Palio parked half-broken, not half, 90% broken. Right away I remembered that I had seen that car somewhere but I didn't know where exactly.

- José? Do you know whose old tin can this is? - I asked my gardener, "If you touch it, you could get tetanus. Be careful!

- Ah yes, it belongs to the lady who is going to work with your children, sir.

- Ah! Of course.

After I finished unpacking my bags and took them home, I went to meet the company or whatever my mother had hired to take care of my children.

I arrived in the living room and saw a beautiful guitar body on my back that immediately made my body perk up.

She was in a conversation with my mother and Camila.

It was a perfect body, with a spectacular ass. The curly hair left even more to my imagination.

But I had already seen that body...I knew it very well!

- My son? - Mom woke me up - Come, I want you to meet Olivia Cavalcante - she turned to me, for fuck's sake! It was her. My ex.

- Hi Olivia - I smiled at her - How are you? What a small world, isn't it?

- Hello Miguel Henrique! - She smiled forcedly.

- Son, she told me that you already knew each other and that you were friends as teenagers, I am happy about that! - Mom smiled - This will be easier!

- It's Mum who knows! - I smiled. It wasn't going to be easy. She was going to make my life hell. That was a fact.

Was that it? Just when I thought my streak of bad luck was about to end, God went and put my ex to work in my house and with my children? What else could I expect? What else was going to happen? Could it be that the penalties of life I would no longer be able to hold?