Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

chapter thirty two : send off

"Do you really have to go?" 

"I have to mi amor."

"I don't know when I'll see you again" 

"Don't be like this K... you know I have to leave" Charles replied sadly while fixing his luggage

"I know my love... The past week you're home was perfect. We just got together and now you're leaving again. I know it's part of your job but that doesn't mean I am not sad" 

"If only I could stay here and still race, I would do it in a heart beat but we both know I can't. "

"Will you call me?" 

"Every chance I can, I'll call you. I asked you to join me but you said you're not yet ready my love" 

"I think it's too fast. I don't want you to be distracted with my presence"

"You know you can never be a distraction to me" 

"Charles, we have to go now" A loud shout coming from the first floor of the Leclerc family house caught our attention. 

"Will you come send me off?" He asked hopeful

"As much as I don't want to see you go, I can't let you leave without saying goodbye" 

He took one of my hand and squeezed it gently. 

"I love you Katrina Hale" 

"I love you too Charles Leclerc" 

The Leclercs are on full force today in sending Charles off. Lorenzo was kind enough to drive us to the airport. Arthur and I sat with Charles at the back while Pascale was in the passenger seat. No one was talking the whole ride. Despite doing this for most of the boys' life, you can still see the nervousness it brings to their mother. This wasn't my first time sending Charles to a race but it was my first time doing it as his girl friend. I was already nervous when I was just his friend and now that we have a deeper relationship with each other, everything multiplied. 

"You nervous?" Arthur asked

"I am. I can't help but feel nervous just by thinking of what could happen when he's inside the car" 

"Charles is not as crash-prone as everyone wants to think. People just like to highlight all his crashes but if you will look at the stats, he don't crash that much" Arthur explained

"I know that, I've been watching old races. It's just really hard not to overthink when I have not only Charles but all the other drivers as well that I got to know. It's hard not knowing anything when things happened." 

"My love, I promise... I'll always be safe, all of us will be safe.  There is no way of knowing what can happen in a race but we promised you that we would try our hardest to always come home unscathed." 

"And if, only if, something does happened, I would make sure to call you. I'll inform Charles' manager as well to contact you too whenever I am not in the race" Arthur added

"Thank you Arthur" I told him a little relieved. 

There was nothing at that moment that I wish more than to have time stop. I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to date Charles. I wish I can spend more time with him. 

We arrived at the airport quicker than I would like. With a heavy heart, we helped Charles with his bags. 

"I'll see you as soon as I can my love" he said hugging me tightly. I had to try my very hardest not to tear up in front of him.