Miles from Normal - Lando Norris

37. Emilia

"Daddy! Daddy!" 

Alice was checking her schedule on her laptop and jumped quickly when she heard Emilia talking. She walked around the music instruments still scattered all over the floor. Her agent, Thea, was holding the child while they were watching TV, in an upmarket bar lounge. 

"What is it, sweetheart?" Alice asked stroking Emilia's dark hair. 

"Daddy!" She exclaimed once again and pointed at the TV. Alice looked up and she felt her heart skipping a beat for a moment. 

"That's not your daddy, Millie." Thea said with a soft voice. She knew that the little girl had never met her father. 

Alice swallowed hard as she watched the news in silence. She had managed to pretty much avoid all Formula 1 related news for the past 4 years. As it turns out, it was something easy to do when you were no longer on any social media platforms or busy raising a child. 

They watched as the news anchor mentioned the huge accident current WDC Lando Norris had during qualifying the day before. Alice placed her hand on her chest, close to her heart. Was he safe? She also felt proud that he had achieved what he always dreamt of. 

"Is daddy hurt?" Emilia asked as she jumped on her mother's lap. Alice held her close to her body. 

"Shhh baby... mommy wants to listen." 

"Millie, sweetie, that's not your daddy. That's a famous racing driver." Thea insisted. 

"Yes, it is!" The young girl pouted and went to get her wallet from her tiny pink glittery purse. She quickly removed a folded photo of Lando and showed it to Thea. Alice had forgotten that she had given a photo of Lando to Emilia to settle her down when she kept asking who her father was. She never thought that the little girl would actually be able to recognize him on TV or that she would show it around to other people. 

"Oh, they do look alike!" Thea said looking at the photo and then at Alice. 

"They do, but honey that's not her daddy on TV, trust me..." 

"Well duh... you obviously wouldn't be living in rural New Zealand if he were!" 

"Exactly!" 

Alice let out a sigh of relief when the news showed Lando getting out of the car engulfed in flames and walking away. 

"I'm helping the guys clear up the stage. Can you stay with Millie for a little longer?" 

Thea nodded and Alice turned around. There hadn't been a single day where she didn't wonder what her life would have been with Lando, but seeing him for the first time in years made those feelings even more real. She was happy that he was alive and doing well for himself, but sad at the same time because she wasn't there to celebrate the world champion title with him. She discreetly wiped a stubborn tear.

She saw Andrew coming in, taking Emilia in his arms and hug her tightly. His long hair was up in a bun as he had just finished his shift. Andrew worked as a chef at the place she had been performing. Alice couldn't help but smile. She had found a good man who accepted her daughter as his own. She waved at him and continued clearing the stage. 

***** (4 years ago) *****

Alice arrived in New Zealand heavily pregnant. She had spent months trying to figure out a place to live. After months of pleading not to be sent home by the authorities of Indonesia, she was allowed to leave the country and travel to New Zealand where she was granted a visa on humanitarian grounds. She also legally changed her last name so that her previous life wouldn't come up should anyone decide to do a search.