Belonging to the Iceman

Warrawee House

Paris, France, a week before testing in Abu Dhabi

Nicolas drove Delphine to the hospital. She was due for her twenty-week ultrasound.

"I don't see why we can't marry again, Nico, my sweet. I mean, I'm pregnant with your firstborn!" She said from the passenger side as she gazed out at the buildings and trees whizzing past her.

Nicolas gripped the steering wheel of his brand-new Aston Martin as tightly as he could, trying to stay calm.

Since Shantelle had gone back home to Australia, they had stopped all forms of contact and communication and it was driving him mental.

She had unfriended him on Facebook, unfollowed him on Twitter, ignored him on Instagram, and wouldn't answer his calls, messages, and even his letters.

She had distanced herself from him, and he had all but lost hope and started spending time with Delphine.

"Nico, baby!" She whined, bringing him back to the real world. "You missed the entrance to the car park!"

He did the block and soon parked the expensive car. "Come on," He said, his hand on her back as he led her to the lifts.

As they were waiting for Delphine's doctor to call them into his office, Nicolas had an idea.

He wasn't proud of it, but he was getting desperate."Nico, who are you texting? That Australian?" Delphine asked, unimpressed. Then she rolled her eyes and said, "I don't know what you and Alain see in her! She's not that good-looking or anything special, and let's not forget, your Father had an affair in 1995! And a 17-year-old daughter to prove it!"

Nicolas closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, trying to keep his temper at bay. "Delphine...please! Leave Shantelle out of this and leave her alone!"

"So, is she with that Finnish driver, Kimi Räikkönen?" She asked, ignoring Nicolas' plead.

"Delphine!" He growled, trying not to let the tears stream down his cheeks.

She smiled sweetly as her doctor called out her name "at least you and I are having a baby together!"

"et c'est exactement ce que j'ai vraiment besoin ... dieu m'aider!" He muttered under his breath as he followed her into the office.

Brisbane, Australia

Just after dawn had risen, Shantelle and her St Bernard, Pharaoh, strolled through the beautiful Toowong Cemetery, taking in the calmness yet chilliness of the monuments and graves around them.

Her favourite place to escape her troubles and worries was the old and majestic cemetery.

"Mornin' Miss Shantelle!" Old Bill Mallory said as he, too, was on his morning walk.

"Morning Bill, how's the knee?" She asked, straining to keep Pharaoh from dragging her away from her neighbour.

"Oh, still sore, but I love my morning walk. How's your love life going? Been swept off your feet for good by that handsome Frenchman yet?" He said
"Elsa and I watch the news. You were all over it before Christmas, and what are you doing back here?! Isn't Paris good enough for you?"

She smiled weakly at him, trying not to break down.

He noticed immediately and felt for her. "Oh, I'm sorry, love; sometimes I just never know when to shut up! Tell you what, Elsa will make up a batch of her mini cheesecakes, and we'll pop by this afternoon!"

That was the last thing Shantelle wanted, people in her home. She wanted to be left alone. "Bill, as flattering as your kindness is, I have work to do this afternoon. I've got a new monument to carve!"