Tell Tale Heart [Pierre Gasly]

Chapter Sixty-Seven

"You sure?" Chiara asks me as we walk through the paddock and I nod as I fiddle with the plain white envelope in my hand and nod as I loop my arm around her waist and rest my head on her shoulder, letting out a content sigh.

"No doubts...maybe I shouldn't but I know I'd want to do this for me regardless...he's just giving me the excuse or strength to do so...that's enough," I tell her solemnly and she nods as she pouts and looks down at me, giving me a reassuring squeeze as I make my way to Tracy's office while she heads into the garage. It's the famous Grand Prix weekend and I'd been considering this all week, having decided after that day with Pierre that I was definitely going to leave Alpha Tauri. I'd procrastinated so far this weekend from actually handing in my resignation letter but decided that today was the day I needed to do it. One year...not long but for a photographer but some people only stay in jobs for a lot shorter of a tenure and so it's a pretty decent effort for me, especially in such a fast environment like F1. I'm used to a lot of change, I'm a photographer so I like it! "Hey, Tracy...I-er, grand-mére?" I pause as I see the other person in the den and stop in my place as I look at my grandmother talking to my boss, totally baffled by the sight

"Jamie!" My gran greets me as she wraps her arms around me and I'm shocked as I do the same, looking surprised at her before I pull away and check over her, checking she is okay. I quickly see the lanyards around her neck showing paddock access and a grin comes over my face as I begin to realise that this is real.

"What are you doing here?!" I ask her excitedly in French, totally forgetting the reason for my being in the office in the first place as she shrugs.

"In the paddock? I was invited! I'm in here because I missed you!" She responds quickly, still in her native language and I just smile at her amazed as I take my hands out of hers to inspect the lanyards closer and my heart swells as I realise what has happened.

She's not here with Alpha Tauri, she's here with Alpine. The little tag underneath her photo clearly says 'Guest of P. Gasly. Full weekend pass'. "Pierre invited you?" I ask her unsurely as my voice waivers slightly and I get really emotional and she nods. "When?"

"Months ago... he got in touch after your grandfather... apologised for not being there and told me if there was anything I wanted or needed, to not hesitate to ask. I knew something had gone wrong with you two and so I never did ask...but a couple of weeks later, there he was, on my front step. With food and flowers...he seemed nervous but stayed for the day..." she tells me quickly, a smile on her face at the memory and my breathing stops as I take a seat, totally surprised at the revelations and story and falling that much more in love with Pierre. "He came back, visited every other week when he was back in France and on the second visit, he asked if I would still like to go to the Monaco Grand Prix like how he had spoken with us at the wedding...he said he'd already reserved the tickets for both me and your grandfather and so they were still mine if I wanted. I know you aren't together but this was your grandfather's dream and so, I'm sorry but I said yes," she says softly towards the end and my eyes widen as I look at her and shake my head.

"Non, we are...back together," I tell her with a smile and her eyes brighten even more at the news I was planning on telling her when I saw her after the weekend. I had to because I was headed back to the UK after this race because Lisa due to give birth in a week and so I had taken some leave to go and help her and Toby wherever possible. "I'm so happy you're here! I can't believe this!" I exclaim elatedly and she smiles at me as we continue talking before I remember that we aren't alone and look at Tracy apologetically who waves me off, clearly also moved by the moment as well. My grandmother senses my hesitancy and bids us farewell, letting me know that my dad is with her in the Alpine garage and just to give them a call when I'm free. I quickly nod as I give her another hug before turning back around to Tracy who smiles knowingly at me.