One Day // Daniel Ricciardo

CHAPTER 9

The following race weekends were like a blur, I took them as an opportunity to show up and leave without getting myself involved in anything.

Danny did exactly what I told him to do. I don't know if it was a phase of rebellion or a coping mechanism but every weekend he would go out, find a new girl in the race city and give her paddock passes for the weekend. This continued for a few weeks but eventually the same girl would show up each week. She would fly out on a Saturday, dine with him that evening then attend the race on a Sunday and go back to his hotel after.

He laughed when he was with her, joked with her, made sure to always give her attention if he was passing in the paddock. Her hair was long, highlighted with almost a white blonde colour throughout. She always dressed to impress, a lot of the time wearing white whether it was white jeans, white dresses, white playsuits, it was a little bit strange how plain she kept it but somehow almost gave her a model like elegant look.

I can't say she whether she was with him or not for legit reasons but he seemed content enough. Whatever they were doing worked for them. Her name was Clarissa, French I think, and spent a lot of time with Luisa in the paddock during the weekend. I asked Luisa not to tell me anything, not that I wasn't interested but because as soon as I knew it would mean I was already more involved than I wanted to be.

I didn't like it, I was once the only girl he would give attention to in the paddock, the first one that would greet him after his races and would be with the whole day when he wasn't racing. That was my thing, our thing. I didn't like it but I accepted it. Once or twice, I would find myself glaring from across the room, once or twice I also found her looking in my direction too. She would flash a small smile; it wasn't vindictive or nasty but it also didn't scream 'let's be best friends' so I never took any more from it.

Danny avoided me like the plague after our conversation, I actually found someone else to provide his briefs and debriefs so we would have 0 communication. It also worked but it was sad that it had to come to that.

Finally, it was the last race of the season. It was nice that I could have him around even if it was from a distance, I didn't talk to him but I could still see him. I could still see that he was okay because even if I didn't act like it, I definitely still cared. The winter break was going to be long; I had a lot planed at home and from what I heard he was planning on spending the whole time in Australia.

The final race in Abu Dhabi was over as quick as it started for us, the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes had come to an end with a lot of fire so we were quick to leave, celebrations were left to the top teams and we were happy to scatter and enjoy our last night away from home.

I on the other hand had been roped in to a dinner with Danny's Mum. She had attended the final race and found me in the paddock, we always got on well so when she confronted me with such sweetness and sympathy, I couldn't say no. Especially when she insisted on it being just her, Hallie and myself.

I met her in the restaurant of the hotel sitting at a nice table located near the air conditioning. She wasn't like the other Mum's which I had a lot of respect for, she was entirely normal. A lot of others were also wives of ex racers, had a lot of money, could be quite pretentious, but Grace was from her own working class and didn't see extreme value in materialistic things. I think that's why we got on so well.

She gushed over Hallie, taking her from me and sitting her on her knee to talk to and cuddle. I was so grateful she was such a happy baby, loved being passed about anyone who would give her attention.

"I have the court hearing over winter break for her adoption." I told her, "They're pressing charges against my sister which is the best thing they can do to be honest."