Racing For Love

Chapter Thirty Seven

My free time throughout the week is spent finalising Uncle Joe's trip to the racetrack on Sunday which currently resembles a military operation. I managed to negotiate him down from being there the whole weekend to just race day and I'm still hopeful he'll get there but his health has been so mixed lately, and he's still recovering from the fracture on his leg - struggling to weight bear for long periods. We've convinced him to take a wheelchair which makes things easier, and things are finally slotting into place.

Dave, Joe's main carer is going with him to the race and so is Susan. I've seen her visiting Joe several times since I first knew about her visits and we spoke about whether she was willing to go with him. He feels relaxed in her presence and so I know she's the right person to accompany him when I'm busy with work. Kate's also attending the race and my tasks on the day will be reduced so that I can spend time with Joe. I'm so grateful for her support - I think she knows how much this means to us both.

We've factored Joe into some content too - Kate was thrilled when I suggested it, as she'd not wanted to ask incase he wouldn't be up for it. We won't be filming him speaking to the camera incase he gets flustered by it, but he's going to visit the garage in the morning of the race and Davide Romano has offered for him to be included in the morning briefing - there's still so many of the team in place from when he was at Bianchi and I know everyone will be happy to see him.

We've been working hard on content surrounding "the home race for Jono" and the video driving to the track that I filmed the other day is scheduled for quali day. We've weaved in the historic wins content Joe and I planned together and it's been great to have some more freedom back after what we had to do in Spielberg. It's beyond deflating when Kate calls us in to say that we need to publish some more about Lorenzo and Isa. Apparently, Andrea Bianchi was not happy that we've been focused on Jono - I thought we'd been evenly covering both drivers evenly in our content publishing, but not according to him. It's back to being tabloid journalists, rather than being able to post about Formula One, and none of us are feeling inspired.

As I'm working on editing another video of the proposal, I hear my phone ring and pick it up without looking, thinking it's probably James or Matt checking in from the racetrack. "Hey, how's it going down there? I'm still editing this stupid proposal video - fuck my life!"

"If anyone can make it look good, it's you." I hear the familiar voice, and chuckle of Jono and my face flushes - I haven't seen him since he left the other day, and I've been keeping busy so I don't have to think about him. "How are you doing anyway Annie? I just wanted to check in because it's Charlotte's launch this evening, and Andrea has asked me to send some pictures through for the socials?"

This is news to me and my brain spins as I work out where we're going to fit this into our schedule. "Oh, thanks for the heads up - I didn't know that was the plan, but we'll get it in. Are you going to be ok though - it's quali tomorrow - shouldn't you be having an early night?"

"Yeah, today's gone well and the car's looking decent ahead of tomorrow so I don't have much extra work to do tonight. Sorry, Annie - I've got to go for the debrief, but I'll see you soon, yeah? Are you here tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'm at the track for Quali. I'll see you then. Bye, Jono. Have a good night."

As I hang up, I feel a deep ache which I try to ignore - we're friends, but I'm not sure if that's going to be enough for me anymore. Jono being back with Charlotte means that whatever I thought we might have had is gone.

***

I'm at home, scheduling the posts for tomorrow - Jono sent me a picture of him and Charlotte arriving at her event tonight - he has his arm around her waist and she's smiling up at him. The fact that I care for Jono more than just as a friend apparent in the pain I feel when I see him with Charlotte. I need to get over this, so I shut off my laptop and prepare myself a snack tray - ready to settle down and watch some shitty TV and probably have a little cry.