"I must say, Carlos, Kitty and I were so happy you reached out." Sitting across from us, my parents share a sappy smile. "We've missed our little Marbella so much, Chelsea just isn't the same without her."
Their sappy smile leads to a light handhold on top of the table and I eye the fork set out in front of me. If I move fast enough, I think I could get both of them in one fell swoop.
"Truly, darling, this is such a wonderful gift. Our sweet girl is just so busy, we hardly ever hear from her." My mother's yet to look at me. I'd blame the botox but I have a feeling it's because of the man seated beside me.
Carlos has got a hand on my thigh under the table, pushing on it lightly whenever it starts to bounce. He thinks it's because I'm nervous he's meeting my parents...which I am, but not for the reason he's got in his head.
With his other free hand, he's holding it palm up on the table, pretending to try and catch Elsie's hand every time she pats it in an attempt to distract her.
She's been a quiet, nervous bundle of energy since we sat down and this isn't the place I'd like to see her have a tantrum. They've been happening less frequently this weekend, the excitement of the trip keeping her distracted, but down time and meals have proved to be a struggle.
"Thank you," Carlos has a bit of a media personality going on right now, his posture strong and more tense than usual. "I'm glad this timing worked out for everyone."
Behind my back, Carlos pulled my father's phone number from my phone (something I didn't know I still had) and called to arrange a happy little reunion.
Apparently, the original plan was to surprise me with them at Silverstone, but my father had other plans.
Those other plans were boozing with his fellow rich assholes, at Silverstone, away from all the common folk.
Not that Carlos needed to know.
"Goodness, Marbella, you've lost so much weight since I saw you last." I grit my teeth at my mother's comment, eyeing the fork once more.
"Yes, well, I guess I finally got rid of that stubborn baby weight." If there's one thing my mother loves to point out, it's my weight.
Carlos gives me a shake of his head, leaning over to press a kiss in my hair as soon as he hears the comment leave my lips. He squeezes my thigh at the same time, "Come on now."
"Sweet Pea, you know your mother means well. Carlos, have you seen photos of Marbella when she was young? Before our granddaughter? She had quite the figure."
He hesitates, looking to me for approval before continuing. I shrug, knowing they'll find out eventually and we may as well do it now. At least here, they can't call me a slag without getting looks from those seated around us.
"Mara and I met in 2017, when she was living in Madrid."
It takes my parents a few blinks, quick inhales, and a shared look of confusion before they figure it out.
Capri, despite staring at Carlos's lips, hasn't heard a thing.
"Mummy, ¿me lavo las manos?" Elsie pushed up onto her knees in her seat, bouncing up and down.
Carlos is quick to catch her, sliding his chair back just enough to slot the excited toddler between himself and the table, "I can take her." He pushes out of his seat, easily shifting his hold on Elsie to situate her on his hip.
Just as she usually does with me, Elsie tucks her face into the crook of Carlos's neck, hiding herself from everyone around.
Once they've walked a far enough distance from the table, I momentarily slouch in my seat. "Sweet Pea, darling, truly," I croon mockingly, smirking at the falter of their masks. "Dial it back, yeah? You're posh but you're not the Queen."
YOU ARE READING
solo / carlos sainz
Fanfiction'you're allowed to be more than just a mummy' above all else, mara walsh is a mother. for as long as her daughter's been in her life, she's raised her all on her own and done a damn good job of it. so what happens when carlos sainz comes into her li...
