Connected (F1 Story)

Chapter Seven: Future References

"Are you sure that we have everything?" I asked Daniel, bundling the whole of Mothercare out of our Range Rover. We'd just done a trip to the South of the river in order to pick little Wilfred up for the afternoon on the way back from HQ. Natalie and Owain were heading out together for some rare time they had alone before coming back to mine.

"Yup. I checked for bottles...they're there. All good." Daniel smiled and lifted the baby out of its seat. It was blowing bubbles with its spit. "And there's this guy!" He then showed Wilf the little fluffy rabbit and it quickly got taken from Dan's hand. Wilf's face had lit up as he clasped the toy and Dan became satisfied.

"That is good. I'm not sitting in rush hour traffic...or getting the tube with this thing," I warned, staring at Ricciardo in his suit. There had been a series of corporate meetings that day so the smartest of attire had been an imperative.

"Thing? That is why I'm Wilf's godparent, not you." Daniel laughed and grabbed the travel carrier, swinging it over his left shoulder. So much stuff was needed for merely five hours.

"Are you really wanting to do this on your birthday?"

"Yes!" the Australian answered immediately, more than certain. "We've got people coming over later so I can chill properly then. Besides, I love kids..."

I know, Daniel, I know.

I unlocked the front door and walked into the communal area. Doris, the lady who lived upstairs, practically had a heart attack as she carried her pint of milk and bag of potatoes. The suit jacket and trousers had that exact effect on me too...

"You really have been busy..." She chuckled, standing on the stairs for a breather. The pram was giving me arm ache.

"Not ours," I replied, "just looking after it."

"You mean Wilfred," Daniel coughed and waved to eighty-one year old Doris. She, in all fairness, made the best Christmas cake. Which was partly why Dan was a fan of her.

"Hope he doesn't steal all the attention at your party, Daniel...you'll have to come up for a cup of tea...I made some scones," Doris continued, hanging onto the banister. She seemed glad to see some company. "He's gorgeous though...how old?"

"Five months, three and a half weeks." Dan beamed and headed towards the stairs. "Coming, Sas?"

"Where?"

"To Doris'..." I glared and he got the message. "...Can we make it some other time? Wilf needs his mid afternoon feed."

"Of course!" Doris chirped, a tad dejected. "Make the most of his time with him. They're magical at that age...it won't be long before you have one of your own..."

"Come on down to mine," I said hastily, feeling guilty- Daniel just as much too. "Give us ten minutes and then I'll put the kettle on."

"I don't want to interfere, Saskia..."

"No way, Doris!" Daniel cried and made Wilfred wave to her. She waved back and said she'd be down in a few moments.

"You really want a scone, don't you," I tutted, unlocking the door to my ground floor flat.

"It's my birthday," he said, and then patted Wilfred's head, grinning. "Isn't it, Wilf!"

---

Doris had been and gone, Wilfred had been changed and fed, I'd managed to get a couple hours of work done, and the place had been cleaned spotless ready for a dozen friends. All that was left to do now was to take Wilf for a walk around the nearby park. Daniel could have done with a walk too. There was only so long he could sit still for.