Still in shock and unsure what my next move should be, I ask Alex if he has any contact details for Sara. "Have you spoken with her before? Does she know about me?" I ask.
It's all a little surreal and I'm still so confused about why my Dad would never have told me about her - clearly we knew about each other as children or he wouldn't have had the photo, but why all the secrecy since?
"I have spoken with her on one occasion, I can't answer anything more than that I'm afraid, I have no idea if she knows of your existence - but I can provide you with contact details to reach out."
I almost don't want the details, I want to find out who she is and why she was hidden, I'd love to understand my Dads reasoning behind making that decision. But the thought of having someone else, someone who was family - is terrifying.
It's always been just me and my dad, for as long as I could remember, and Charles and his family. I don't know if I can deal with anything else being thrown in my life right now.
"I'm going to have to leave Miss Walker, please reach out if you need anything else from me - here's the contact details for Sara Walker." He says, handing me a card with a number on it, using one finger to push his glasses back towards his face before walking away.
*Charles' calling
"Hey baby where are you? I'm home from training now what's your good news?""Please can you come and pick me up? I'm at Cassa del caffe, I'll explain when I see you."
"Of course, I'll be ten minutes."
Sipping away at my coffee thinking about what it is I was going to do, I already know what car it is before it comes into view - just from the sound. Of course Lando was going to be here driving past, he's everywhere. Or he's everywhere I seem to be.
He spots me sitting alone, a small white table outside the caffe entrance - looking off into the distance as I drink my coffee. I'm glad he didn't get out the car and walk over, Charles is on his way to pick me up and it would just look like I've met up with Lando for lunch allover again. He just waves out the window at me as he passes by. Phew.
The next the next thing I know, Charles' car comes flying round the corner, the growl of the Ferrari engine vibrating the floor. I just can't wait to tell him the news about my potential F2 seat and the meeting that's going ahead this week!
As I run towards his car, a grin covering my whole face - I notice he looks less than impressed. Before I get in the passenger door Charles snaps at me - "What were you doing with him again? We just got back on track and you're sneaking around with him?"
He must have seen Lando's car and assumed he was leaving the cafe.
"I wasn't with him at all Charles, I've just watched his car go past here myself. I wouldn't do that to you come on. And don't just accuse me, just ask please." I say sternly.
"Ok amour, it just didn't look great."
I agreed with him in a way, it must have looked like I'd completely betrayed him again, but I hadn't at all.
"I was actually just meeting my dads solicitor at this cafe to find out about who Sara Walker is, I was going to tell you about a photo I found last night but knew you needed to get to sleep for training today." I say.
"Oh god, what happened? Is this the good news?" He asks.
Not exactly.
"No that's not the good news, the good news is that I might be able to get back on the grid Charles, I might be able to race again next season!" I almost scream at him.
"He looks shocked, nervous, a little scared but then a smile grows across his face.
"That's amazing amour how is this happening so soon? I hadn't spoke to any of the guys yet - who did you reach out to?" He wraps his arms around me hugging me in excitement.
The excitement is soon going to drain from him once I explain the reason behind me potentially getting into F2 2021 season is all because of Lando. He's going to hate it. But I haven't done anything wrong, I didn't ask him to do this, and regardless of how I got the opportunity - the fact is, I've got it and that's what's important.
"Trevor Carlin reached out to me, I'm meeting with him and a race engineer for a discussion and some sim testing in 2 days, I want this so bad Charles - I can't wait to be behind the wheel on track again." I say.
I see the cogs in his head turning as he begins to work out the link of how I've been given this opportunity. "Carlin reached out? So Lando's old team? This is an amazing opportunity baby and you're definitely going to get that seat, just please keep clear of Lando from now on." He asks.
"I'm nervous Charles but I feel ready." I ignore his request of staying clear of Lando, well I just don't directly respond to it. I understand him asking me to stay away because even if I just wanted to speak to him as a friend, I guess we crossed a line and Charles would always worry about that with me and Lando and that's not fair to him. At the same time I'm thinking, I should be able to be friends with him without their being any issues. He needs to trust me.
All I really care about right now is making sure I'm prepared for this meeting, I need this to go well. The hope of me having a future in racing again all depends on it."
"Oh and Sara Walker is my sister apparently."
"What?!" Charles nearly swerves the car off the road as I tell him. I suppose I was a little too casual with the delivery.
"Yup, I have her contact details but I don't really know what to do Charles, and she must live in Austin so I'm not going to call now, it will be the middle of the night over there."
"Are you sure? Why would James not tell you this? It doesn't seem like him at all?" He asks.
That's the question on my mind too, and one I currently don't have the answer to.
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The next 3 chapters are already written - I'll post soon.Please vote on the chapters you like or leave comments - it's hard to know if anyone is enjoying the story so far so I'd appreciate any engagement ❤️
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DNS
FanfictionThey were drivers, they were best friends. No one was expecting lockdown to happen in 2020, and Lilly and Charles certainly weren't expecting for their story to turn out like this.