On and Off the Track

F I F T Y S E V E N.

That evening, after spending the day on the water, we found ourselves seated at a charming waterfront restaurant, the golden lights of Monaco reflecting off the calm sea. The restaurant had a cosy, intimate vibe, with rustic wooden tables set up along the deck, overlooking the twinkling city skyline. As the night sky darkened, laughter and conversation filled the air, mixing with the soft sounds of waves lapping against the shore. I sat next to Charles, feeling the warmth of the day's sun still lingering in my skin. Across from me were Pascale, Arthur, and Lorenzo, while Charlotte sat beside Lorenzo, her hand gently resting in his. The evening breeze was refreshing, making everything feel even more relaxed and easygoing.

As the waiters brought out bottles of wine and a variety of dishes—fresh seafood, grilled vegetables, and handmade pasta—the conversation naturally turned to stories from the Leclerc brothers' childhood. Lorenzo, always the instigator, was the first to dive in, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So, Arthur," he said with a grin, leaning back in his chair, "why don't you tell Bronte about that time you tried to race a bicycle down the stairs?"
Arthur groaned, rolling his eyes, though he couldn't hide the smile that spread across his face.
"Are we really doing this now? Fine, fine—so I was like, eight or nine, right? Charles and Lorenzo had been teasing me about not being fast enough. So naturally, I thought, 'Hey, if I can't beat them on foot, maybe I can on a bike.'" I stifled a laugh, already sensing where this was going. Arthur continued, "So I grabbed my little bike and decided that the stairs in front of our house were as good a track as any. I made it down three steps before I went flying over the handlebars and straight into the bushes. I think I broke the handlebars, but I walked away with nothing but a few scratches—and a lot of embarrassment." Everyone at the table burst into laughter, with Charles shaking his head.
"Yeah, but you forgot the part where Mum lost her mind when she saw what was left of the bike." Pascale, who had been sipping her wine, chimed in with a chuckle,
"Oh, I remember. I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I found that bike. I thought, 'What on earth possessed him to try that?' But you boys were always trying to outdo each other." I smiled, my heart warming at the thought of the Leclerc brothers as kids, constantly pushing each other to their limits, even if it sometimes ended in disaster. It was so obvious how close they all were Lorenzo leaned forward, his eyes gleaming as he addressed Charles this time.
"And what about you, Charles? Should we tell Bronte about the time you tried to drive Dad's car when you were, what, ten?" my eyes widened with amusement, and I turned to Charles, who was shaking his head, already laughing at the memory.
"Not much to tell," Charles said, trying to downplay it, though the grin on his face betrayed him. "I thought I was being smart. I'd watched Dad drive a million times, so I figured it couldn't be that hard. Of course, I barely managed to start the engine before Mum came running out of the house, shouting at me to get out of the car." Pascale covered her face with her hand, laughing.
"I swear, with all of you, I never had a moment of peace. You were always getting into trouble."

The table erupted in laughter again, and I couldn't help but feel completely absorbed in the joy of it all. I felt like I was getting a glimpse into the heart of Charles' life—the side of him that wasn't just about racing, but about family, and the years of shared experiences that had shaped him into the person he was.

As the food arrived, the stories kept flowing. Lorenzo and Arthur took turns teasing each other, swapping stories about sibling rivalries, pranks they pulled on each other, and moments when Charles, even as a child, had shown the focus and determination that eventually led him to be who he was today. Pascale shared memories of family vacations, where the boys would end up competing in everything from swimming races to who could skip rocks the farthest. I found myself laughing along, feeling more and more connected to these people who had known Charles his entire life. There was a certain warmth in the way they included me in their conversations, even teasing me lightly when Charlotte brought up a funny story she had heard about my latest modelling shoot.