How Did It End? - Lando Norris

Part 29 - We were doing this together

"Nothin' happened in the way I wanted
Every corner of this house is haunted"

Lily Lawton's POV:

It's strange how much things have changed, how the sharp edges between me and Lando have softened over time. Not because the past has been erased—far from it—but because something in him has shifted, and I can't ignore it. When he visits now, it's not like before. He's not coming to disrupt, to stir things up, or to press about us. He's just... there for Audrey.

The visits aren't as frequent as they once were, but when he comes, it's clear he's put thought into them. They're organized, deliberate. He spends time with Audrey, and he's present in a way he never was when we were together. It's almost like he's figured out how to be the dad she deserves. And maybe, in a way, he's finally learning how to be the person he needed to be from the start.

I notice how he's careful around me and Elliot now. He's no longer hovering or giving those looks that used to make everything so tense. There's a kind of quiet acceptance in his eyes, like he's come to terms with what he can't change. It's different from the desperate man who used to turn up at my doorstep, trying to claw back something that was long gone. This version of Lando is... respectful, even if that feels strange to admit.

One afternoon, after he and Audrey have had their time at the park, he asks me if we can talk. We're standing outside, the sun dipping low and casting a warm glow over the street. Audrey is napping inside, exhausted from running around all morning. I nod, expecting maybe another attempt at apologies or reflections, but Lando surprises me.

He shoves his hands into his pockets, looking more serious than I've seen him in a while. "I've been thinking," he starts, his voice steady. "About Conrad. About how he doesn't know his sister... and how Audrey doesn't know she has a brother."

I cross my arms, not sure where this is going. "Okay," I say slowly, trying to read his expression.

Lando takes a deep breath. "I was wondering... what you'd think about letting Audrey meet him. I mean, I know it's not simple. I wouldn't just spring it on you. I'd bring Lu and Conrad out with me during one of my visits, and we'd keep things easy. No pressure. Just... a chance for them to know each other."

For a moment, I don't know what to say. The idea of bringing Lu and Conrad into this space, into the life I've built with Audrey and now, slowly, with Elliot—it feels loaded. But there's something in Lando's expression, a kind of sincerity that wasn't there before. And it's clear he's thought this through, that he's not asking for something casual.

"I don't know, Lando," I say honestly, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. "It's a big step. And it's not just about me... it's about what's best for Audrey. And Conrad, too."

"I know," he replies quietly. "I get that. But I just... I want them to have a chance, you know? To know each other. I've missed out on so much, Lily. I'm trying to do better, but this... this isn't about me. It's about them. And I'll understand if you say no."

There's a vulnerability in his voice, one I haven't heard in a long time. He's not asking for anything for himself—just for his children, for a connection that he missed out on. And as I look at him, I realize that maybe this is a sign of the change I've been seeing in him. He's not trying to use Audrey to hold onto me anymore. He's trying to build something real, something for their future.

"I'll think about it, Lando," I finally say, softer than before. "Let me talk to Elliot. Let me... figure out what's best for Audrey. And for all of us."

He nods, a small, grateful smile crossing his face. "That's all I'm asking, Lily. Thank you."

As I watch him walk away, back towards the car that will take him to the airport, I can't help but feel a small shift in my chest—a sense that maybe, despite all the mess and pain, there's a chance for something new. Not for us, but for our kids. And maybe, just maybe, that's enough.