Valerie

Part 18

DANIEL

I pull into the driveway of the Wolff home and quickly jump out of the car. I grab the bottle of wine and the Hot Wheels set off of the front seat. I straight out my shirt and then head to the door, I'm just about to ring the bell when the door opens to reveal Toto standing on the other side.

He smiles warmly. "Daniel. I thought I heard car doors."

"Hey, Toto." I smile awkwardly.

He steps aside. "Come in."

I step into the house and he closes the door behind me. I turn to say something to him but he calls up the stairs before I say anything.

"Valerie! Jack! Daniel's here!"

"Coming!" I hear Valerie call back in a sing-song voice.

"How is she?" I ask quietly.

Toto looks me up and down and smiles. "She's good." he looks up the stairs behind me. "There she is."

I turn and smile widely at Valerie who has Jack on her hip, and walking slowly down the stairs.

When Jack sees me he dips his head into the crook of Valerie's neck.

"Hey, it's ok, buddy. It's just Daniel." she soothes, smiling at me. "Hi."

I step towards her when he reaches the bottom step and puts Jack down, he runs straight to Toto. "Hi, gorgeous." She steps into my open arms and wraps her arms around my waist, I place a quick kiss on her cheek before she steps back.

"Jack-Jack, come say hi to Danny." she holds her hand out to Jack who steps towards her hesitantly.

I drop down to Jack's level. "Hey, buddy. How are you?"

"Fine," he mumbles.

"Look what I found at the store today, do you like Hot Wheels?" I hold up the set and watch as his face lights up.

"Yes. They're my favourite," he speaks more clearly now, taking a step closer to me.

"Mine too." I smile. "Which one is your favourite?"

He analyzes the box I'm holding and then points to a blue car in the box.
"Good choice, buddy. Hey, how's about you take this and keep it safe, and then after dinner, if your dad says it's ok, you show me your track and we can race the cars." I look between Toto and Valerie and then back to Jack.

"Papa, kann ich?" Jack asks excitedly. (Dad, can I?)

"Of course, you can," Toto says with a smile. "But after dinner. Why don't you go find your mom and tell her Daniel is here."

"Okay!" Jack takes the box from me and then disappears into another room.

I straighten up and turn to Toto. "I got a bottle of wine as well, you know, for the older kids."

He chuckles, taking the bottle from me. "I'll go find Susie and then we can crack this open."

Valerie and I watch as he walks away and when I turn to her, she's watching me with a smile on her face.

"Hi honey," I say quietly, stepping towards her.

She blushes lightly, pulling me closer to her. She stands on her toes and gives me a quick kiss.

"I missed you," I whisper, taking her hand in mine.

"I missed you too." She squeezes my hand. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the house."

"So how are things going at McLaren?" Susie asks before taking a sip of her wine.

I nod. "Yeah, all good. It's been quite the adjustment. But everyone has been very welcoming."