The Surrogate

Meeting His Family

Friday September 17th.

Her nerves are in shreds and flying out of the open window in to the air as they drive down the road, destination Heppenheim. Even the fact the she's in Sebastian Vettel's customised, black Ferrari Pista is having no effect on her.

If she didn't spend a fortune every two weeks having her nails done then they'd be bitten down to the quick, instead she keeps bending her fingers back and then twiddling her thumbs. If she's not doing that then she's fidgeting in her seat or twirling a lock of her hair around her fingers. She feels as though she's about to meet with the mother-in-law from hell and she's not even Seb's girlfriend or wife.

Seb's hand suddenly grasps her own to stop her and she looks to her left to see him giving her a shake of his head followed by a softly scolding, "stop that."

She wishes that they could have stayed at his place, ten miles away from his old home town, sun bathing in the garden in between swimming in the pool and mucking around in the water, trying to see who could splash each other the most. Parts of Germany are currently experiencing an early autumn hot spell, like a final dash of summer before the colder months begin and so herself and Seb have spent the past couple of days making the most of it.

Instead they're going to his parents' house where his mother, Heike, is cooking them a homemade lasagne for what Holly feels could be a rather awkward and possibly tense lunch.

"I'm nervous too," Seb admits, his hand still keeping a firm grip of hers. And he really is nervous, he's not just saying it to make Holly feel better. He passed his fertility check with flying colours and now it's full steam ahead towards the next stage. He really wants his parents to warm to Holly, to see how much this means to him and to back his decision. He wants them to accept Holly as if she's one of the family and to look forward to welcoming another grandchild (their first of his) in to their lives. Today has got to go well although if it doesn't then it just means that he'll go through the process without their support. What it could mean for his relationship with his parents going forward if things don't work out though, is worrying him a little. It could put a huge strain on family relationships.

"I just want them to come round to the idea for you and the baby, I don't want your experience to be ruined because you've fallen out with them."

He lets go of her hand and then taps on the steering wheel, "let's think positive. They've had plenty of time to think about it, I'm sure that once we have a little one on the way everything will be fine."

Once WE have a little one on the way? He makes it sound like we're together. She keeps the thought to herself, they're a team throughout all of this so she figures that he means it in that sense and not as if they're a couple.

"I'm on winning streak," he says buoyantly, "it'll be fine."

He's right there, not only has he won in Belgium but he's also sealed wins in The Netherlands and in Italy and now has gained a lead of 18 points over his closest on track rival, Lewis Hamilton.

"What time are your brother and sisters getting there?" She asks, feeling like it'll be easier to meet them, especially Stefanie who's agreed to help him with childcare at next year's races.

"They'll get there at about four, I thought it might be a bit overwhelming for you to meet everyone all at the same time so I asked Fabian, Stefanie and Melanie to come a bit later on."

"That's good, thank you. I just want to try and clear this hurdle first before we get together with everyone."

They're almost there and he slows to a stop at the top of the road that leads to his childhood home. He puts his hand on her thigh, she looks as worried as he feels but he knows he won't make her stay there if things go really wrong, "if things don't go as we hoped and you feel uncomfortable then we'll leave, ok?"