Racing For Love

Chapter Twenty Two

When I visit Joe that evening, I find him sitting staring out across the gardens. I approach cautiously because I'm not sure how he'll react today to me - this week has been better mentally, but his behaviour and memory oscillates and I'm beginning to dread visits, as much as it pains me to admit.

"Hello Joe, it's me - Annie."

"Annie. Hello. I've not seen you for a while. What happened to that locket?" he asks, immediately noticing my change of necklace. I didn't think he'd even remembered it.

"After the news of your parents. I was so lost, but she was so supportive, so helpful. We chose it together - I thought a locket would help to keep your parents close..." Joe looks wistful as he recalls this memory, but it's my turn to be confused.

"Who helped you Joe? Sorry - I took my locket off today, but it's at home." I immediately make a note to always wear it when i'm visiting Joe, not wanting to hurt him.

"Sorry, where was I. How are you Annie? What have you been doing today?" Joe asks, changing the subject, and I know not to try and push him. The memory is lost again for now, maybe it will resurface, but for now I just talk about my day and work. "And we need to plan Silverstone, Annie. I think I might need my stick this year, but i'm still going."

I had been dreading Joe mentioning this. We're a month away from the British Grand Prix, and I really want to take him but I don't know how i'm going to get Joe there, or even if he'll be well enough. Whilst he's seemed better this last week, he is still having more off days than he was. I deflect his comment by talking about the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Race time for us is 7.00pm, and I'm not sure if Joe will be able to watch it, he gets tired easily into the evenings. I make vague plans, but expect we might only manage to watch the start together.

As I leave, he calls to me as I reach the door "Don't forget about Silverstone, Annie Girl!" and I wonder if it would do him good to be there. I need to get a plan in place, but there will be complex logistics to think about, navigating dealing with Joe whilst needing to work also. I schedule a meeting with his care team, and wonder if Dave fancies attending Silverstone...

***

I'm glad that I live close to Joe's nursing home. Whilst I had planned to watch the grand prix with him, he manages up to lap 15 before needing to go to bed. I kiss him goodbye and drive home, trying to get the radio tuned in to F1 commentary before giving up and hoping nothing too drastic happens.

Bianchi looked strong at the start of the race - Lorenzo was in P2, and Jono was P5 but challenging Dion Dupont for P4. I get home and turn on the TV as soon as I walk through the door, seeing a safety car and trying to catch up on who has crashed to cause it. One of the teams from the back of the grid took out two other cars and there's debris everywhere. The safety car came at the worst time for Lorenzo as he'd just pitted - wasting his pit stop and putting him down into P4 as now all the other teams have been able to change tyres for "free" as the safety car got turned to a red flag as they try to clear the track.

Lorenzo is out of his car - standing talking to Davide Romano and his racing engineer, Stephen Buckles or "Bucky" as he's commonly known. Lorenzo looks animated, and I wonder if they're talking strategy after his pit stop, and how to get back up the ranks. Jono on the other hand stays in his car - I know that he prefers to stay "in the zone" during red flags, but I also can't help wondering what he's thinking - the car obscuring most of him from my view.

Cameras are trained on the pits, and I see Matt and James at the back of the garage. I go to wave before I realise how stupid that is, and send them a message instead. Andrea Bianchi is also in the garage, along with Isa Federici and her father - I didn't know that they were attending this weekend and wonder if the guys have been working on the Bianci-Federici sponsor videos we talked about - this would look good whilst their CEO and daughter are attending the race. I think we're still waiting on sign off on a plan to get the drivers pretending to be baristas in The Paddock - it's a shame because this would have been a great bit of promo if we could have filmed it with the Federici's watching.

The cars line up for the restart and racing begins again. Jono looses 2 positions, dropping down to P7 before he warms up and pulls an amazing manoeuvre, overtaking three cars around one corner - taking the outside line to put himself into P4 - the commentators are going wild, reminding everyone about his racing prowess and skill to execute such a bold move.

Lorenzo is pushing too, making up time following the restart. He's quickly back up to P3 with our cars looking strong. Team orders for Jono are to defend from the pack since, with 10 laps to go, Lorenzo is fighting for P2 with Dion Dupont and looking strong. The cameras suddenly focus on race leader, Pablo Hernandez' car instead as we watch it careering into the affectionately known "Wall of Champions." He finds himself the latest victim of the turn 13 corner- he's in good company along with the likes of Schumacher, Vettel and Button, who have all been caught out at the same point in previous years. He's out of the car, punching the tyre in frustration as the race finishes under another safety car - Lorenzo unable to push for the win and only able to finish in P2.

It's an unfortunate race for all of Bianchi since had the race not finished under the safety car, we could have likely achieved a solid P1 and P2. Instead it's a P2 and P3 finish for the team with both driver's frustrations clear as they conduct their post race interviews.

I send a message to Lorenzo, knowing it'll be a while before he sees it, there's still the podium celebrations to do - I want him to know i'm thinking of him though - after spending a week together, we've stayed in contact whilst he's been away, but it's not the same.

"Sorry about the race, P2 is still good though - don't be too frustrated! I think I know a way cheer you up when you get back. I miss you. x"

I watch the footage of the cool down room and see Lorenzo check his phone before smiling. Soon after, my phone pings:

"I'll take you up on that offer, Miss Annie. I miss you too. x"

Lorenzo and I make plans since he's coming back tomorrow, and I can't wait.