On and Off the Track

F I F T Y S I X.

Wednesday passed in a blur of meetings for me. From early morning discussions about upcoming campaigns to afternoon calls with designers, my day was packed from start to finish. Though my schedule was tight, the anticipation of Thursday—when I would finally meet Charles' family—loomed at the back of my mind. By the time I wrapped up the last call of the day, I was exhausted, but the thought of what lay ahead made it hard for me to relax.

As Thursday morning arrived, a mixture of excitement and nerves hit me with full force. I woke early, my mind racing with every possible scenario. I stood in front of my wardrobe, anxiously sorting through clothes, trying to figure out the perfect outfit to meet his family in.
"What do you even wear for something like this?" I muttered to herself, holding up a light sundress, then quickly discarding it. Charles appeared in the doorway, his arms crossed and a knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Relax, you're going to look great no matter what you wear." I shot him a playful glare, my nerves still bubbling beneath the surface.
"Easy for you to say. You've known them your whole life! I'm walking into this cold." He chuckled, walking over and gently tugging the sundress from my hand.
"It's a boat day, Bronte. Casual, fun... not a fashion show. Just wear what you feel comfortable in." I sighed, glancing at him.
"Comfortable? I don't know if that's possible. I mean, what if they don't like me?' Charles tilted his head, stepping closer, his hands resting lightly on my shoulders.
"They're going to love you. Trust me. Besides, you're overthinking it. They're laid back, and they already know how much you mean to me." My heart skipped a beat at his words, but my nerves still lingered.
"Yeah, but what if I say something stupid or—"
"Bronte," he cut me off smoothly, leaning in closer, "you're not going to say anything stupid. You're just going to be yourself. That's more than enough." I exhaled, giving him a small smile as his calm energy worked to settle my nerves, even just a little.
"Okay, fine. I'll try not to overthink it."
"Good," he said with a wink, before leaning down to kiss my forehead. "Now, let's get ready. We've got a boat to catch."

After some deliberation, I finally settled on a simple but elegant white sundress, paired with sandals and minimal jewellery. I hoped it struck the right balance of casual and chic. As I put on the finishing touches, Charles kept the mood light, joking with me and making sure I wasn't spiralling into another wave of nerves. By the time we were ready to leave, I had managed to calm myself—at least, outwardly. But as we made our way to the dock, where his family would be waiting, I could feel my pulse quicken. Charles, ever attuned to me, reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
"You've got this," he said softly, his eyes warm and sincere. I nodded, trying to summon all the confidence I could muster.
"I hope you're right."

As we approached the boat, the sounds of laughter and voices carried across the marina. I spotted Charles' family, already gathered, greeting each other with hugs and wide smiles. My heart raced again, but I forced a smile, reminding myself of Charles' words. This was it. Time to meet the family. As we stepped onto the boat, my heart pounded in her chest, but I kept her nerves hidden behind a composed smile. The sun was shining brightly over the marina, casting a warm glow across the water. I quickly scanned the group, recognizing two familiar faces I had seen at the race track before: Charles' older brother Lorenzo and his younger brother Arthur. I had never had the chance to say hello to them at the races, and now, being face to face, it felt much more personal. Pascale, Charles' mother, was the first to approach, a warm smile spreading across her face. She was a petite woman with a natural elegance that reminded me a little of my own mother. Pascale embraced me with an ease that immediately made me feel welcome, the kind of embrace that melts away tension.
"Bronte, it's so lovely to finally meet you," She said, her voice soft but kind. "Charles has told us so much about you." I smiled, feeling the weight of her nerves lift just slightly.
"It's so nice to meet you too, Pascale. Charles speaks so highly of you all, I've been really looking forward to this." Lorenzo stepped forward next. He gave me a friendly nod, his girlfriend Charlotte standing by his side.
"Hey, Bronte, good to finally meet you. We've crossed paths a few times, but I guess we've never properly said hello." I shook his hand, feeling more at ease as I exchanged pleasantries with Lorenzo and Charlotte, who had an easy, relaxed vibe about her. Charlotte greeted me with a quick hug and a smile, adding,
"I've heard so much about you! You're just as lovely as I imagined."
"Thanks, it's really great to meet you all properly," I replied, feeling the warmth of their welcome. Arthur, the youngest of the family, followed suit. He had an air of youthful energy, his mischievous grin reminding me of Charles in his more playful moments.
"I've seen you at the track, but we've never had the chance to meet," he said, extending his hand. I shook it, smiling.
"Yeah, I've seen you too. Good to finally say hello."