Burning Heart // CL16

Fifty Eight

All purple!

LET'S GO!

Charles crosses the line -0.142 faster than Max in P2 and -0.374 faster than Lewis causing the entire garage to jump simultaneously embracing one another. My arms wrap around Arthur who was standing next to me as we screamed in happy surprise and joy at his brother's achievement. It was a nice surprise and I do mean surprise, Charles and the car hadn't looked quite this good at all and I know it wasn't sandbagging as he'd come back frustrated by the free practice sessions yesterday.

"Oh my God!" I yell excitedly when we pull away and I see similarly Arthur is enthused and excited as we turn to his mum who is similarly happy but not jumping around like crazy people as she is still holding Ruby but her smile is bright and proud as we both move to hug and congratulate her. I make light work of bringing Ruby out her arms so that she can hug Arthur and I smother a confused Ruby in kisses. "That's your papa Bee, that's your dad," I whisper proudly, knowing she can't hear me as I bounce her in my arms, a wide smile on my face as I look at the TV, enjoying the complete electricity around me as I stay in the garage - urging Charles' mum and Arthur to leave us in the garage and for them to follow the stream of red outside.

I was happy and I was proud but I was not taking our daughter into a crowd as mental as a group of Ferrari engineers after they get the first pole position of the season. I'd seen this for the last two years both in person and on TV, I knew full well what was going to happen next. Then I saw my own flushed, smiling face being projected on the TVs around the garage and  realised that not only was I not going out to the celebrations but I needed to leave the garage too as I stay smiling but turn away, covering Ruby with my body a little also. So I did, turning around on my heel, letting out a sigh of relief as I grin with Isa as she helps guide me through the slightly changed garage towards the section I was looking for.

Some peace, some quiet... his driver room.

"That was exciting!" Isa grins as she shakes my shoulders lightly and I giggle in agreement as I slip my headset off both mine and Ruby's ears, relieved that by some miracle she isn't overstimulated and crying her head off.

"That was amazing," I confess, beyond pleased and proud of him as I stroke Ruby's hair from her eyes, noticing her eyes start to water, cursing myself for thinking too soon. "No baby, no, papa won! Papa did so good, please don't cry," I beg her, pausing in the hallway, relieved when her blubbering lessens slightly. "Papa did good, you'll see papa soon and you just need to not cry... please," I continue, eyes glancing towards Isa who is patiently smiling as she just waits for me to get back in control of Ruby's emotions and it's only then that I notice she has the baby bag. Thank god we are in the hallway and not in the garage with the cameras. "Oooh - can you get the red blanket in the second pocket?" I ask and my smile widens when a couple of seconds later it's in Ruby's hands, her little fingers gripping it tightly before she just screws her eyes shut and covers her face with it.

"Ah, she's so tired," Isa pouts and I chuckle as I agree, motioning for her to continue as I follow her lightly, readjusting Ruby so that she sits a little higher on my hip and I feel myself instantly relax when her arms wrap around my neck and she rests her head on my shoulder. Without looking I know that she is going to be asleep within minutes, the emotions she wasn't aware she had experienced were hitting home.

"She's not the only one," I admit as I step in through a doorway behind Isa into what I assume is Carlos's room because she opened it before collapsing on the sofa and closing my eyes, resting my head on the top cushion of the red sofa that is always here. "I am freaking exhausted," I continue when I sit up, watching as she puts the baby bag down by my feet and pulls the chair away from the desk, nodding.