You! (Lando Norris)

Twenty Seven

Lando woke the next morning, the cold kitchen tiles sending shivers down his spine. He opens his eyes wider, looking around at the bright kitchen, Lottie's letter sat on the floor. The reality hits him, he wasn't dreaming, Lottie really has gone. His eyes well up again and the pain in his chest getting deeper, he lets out a sob. 

Lottie is laid on the couch of the living room of her new house. The house on Zac's estate sat at the bottom of the garden from the main house surrounded by tree's. It was an open plan 2 bedroom house, decorated neutral. She cuddles in to the furry grey blanket, she's not been able to sleep all night. The removal men had dropped off her belongings and she looked ahead as they all sat in the living room waiting to be unpacked. A gentle knock on the door startles her out of her thoughts, she looks to the door and can see Tracey stood there.
"Come in" Lottie shouts not moving from the sofa. Tracey enters and puts down a tray on the coffee table in front of Lottie.
"I've made pancakes with bacon and there is syrup too. I thought you wouldn't be up for making anything. I hope you don't mind" She looks at Lottie.
"No Tracey, that's very kind of you. Thank you. I'm not hungry right now but I will eat them later." There is a slight pause. "I just wanted to say thank you. I can imagine me moving in was very last minute. If it's a problem I can find somewhere else" 
"Don't be silly. Me and Zac have always thought very highly of you, as did Lily. Spending that week with you when you were younger brought us so much joy. Zac wasn't lying when he said we looked for you. We wanted to bring you home, we now have you and this house is yours for as long as you need. This is your home" 
Lottie bursts out crying all the pain coming to the surface like a Tsunami, unable to control the emotion that is now taking over her. Tracey pulls Lottie in, her head resting on Tracey's lap. Tracey sat stroking Lottie's hair as Lottie just cried, a silence in the room but Lottie knew Tracey supported her. Lottie eventually cried herself to sleep. Tracey gently lifted Lottie's head placing it down on a pillow, grabbing the quilt and wrapping it around Lottie. She left quietly so she didn't wake Lottie and headed back to the main house. Zac sat in the kitchen sipping a coffee working on his laptop.
"How is she?" Zac looks at Tracey who comes in to the kitchen.
"Heartbroken. Poor girl. She cried herself to sleep" 
"Do you think we should give her Lily's letter?" 
"Not yet. I think she needs time to adjust. To cry it all out and then I think the letter might give her a boost" 
"Ok, whatever you think is best. I think Lando shouldn't find out where she is, she needs time to heal before seeing him" 

Lando had decided that morning to head to his parents house, he needed comfort and he didn't want to be in that house all alone. As he drives the two hour journey to his parents house, he decides to call Jess. She answers."
"Hi Lando" 
"Jess, where is she?" He finds it hard to hold back his emotion.
"She's safe"
"If she's in Milan I'll fly over tonight. I need to see her" 
"She's not here Lando. Trust me when I say she's safe but it's for the best you don't contact her. She needs time" 
"Jess, I need to speak to her, to explain" 
"What's there to explain Lando? That you cheated on her and broke her heart?" Jess' tone is more angry.
"I didn't cheat. I promise I didn't I wouldn't do that to Lottie. Yes I stayed at Ava's room but we were in separate beds."
"The photo Ava showed Lottie didn't make it seem like that. Neither did the talk Ava had with her, made it seem like there was more" 
"No not at all. In Ava's room there was two beds. I stayed clothed and didn't even touch Ava. I wouldn't do that to Lottie I love her too much"
"It's not just that Lando, Ava told Lottie about how much you wanted children and a family. You know full well Lottie might not be able to give you that. How do you think that made her feel?"
"What? I never said that. Yes I want a family but at the same time I cannot live a life without Lottie and if that means no children then that's fine, I'm ok with that. I just want her in my life" 
"Lando....I-I don't know what to say. It's Lottie's choice and right now she is choosing to be without you. Just give her time to realise."
There is a silence. 
"If you see her Jess, please tell her I love her and I will wait for her no matter how long it takes" 
"Bye Lando"
"Bye Jess"
Lando ends the call, tears in his eyes as he continues his journey to his parents house. After two hours he pulls in to the drive heading out and walking in to his parents house. He walks to the orangery where his parents are sat having a coffee. The memory of when he brought Lottie here and her making the dress for Flo. Lando cannot control his emotions and bursts out crying. In a panic Cisca and Adam run to him. 
"Lando, what's wrong?" Cisca looks at him.
"Lottie....Lottie has left me" Lando sniffles wiping away the tears. 
"What? What do you mean?" Adam looks at him.
"She thinks I cheated on her and she's left me. I don't know where she is and it's killing me" 
"Come sit down honey" Cisca guides Lando to the dining room table. They all sit down and look at Lando for answers. 
"I was mad at her. I thought she was cheating on me so I left and stayed elsewhere. She knows I lied about where I stayed but I promise nothing happened. She's gone, no one will tell me where she is" 
"Oh Lando. I'm so sorry." Adam says grabbing his sons eyes. 
"She will come back. I know she will. The love you have is something else. I've seen it, everyone's seen it. She just needs time" Cisca says cuddling in to him. 
"I just wish I knew where she was, to explain" Lando looks down, a rogue tear falls on to the table. 
"Just give her time. All you can do now is show her how much you need her. She will want you to focus on racing and then when she's ready she will come back" Adam lets out a small smile, seeing his son like this was painful. 
"Can I stay here this weekend? I just need to be at home"
"Of course" Cisca holds on to him tighter. 
"I'm going to head up to bed. I'm tired" Lando gets up and heads upstairs leaving the room. 

"I've never seen him like this before." Cisca looks to Adam. "I hope they can sort it. They are meant to be. I'm going to message Lottie to see if I get a response. "

Lottie

Cisca: Hi Lottie. Lando has told me everything that has happened. I promise you he didn't cheat. I understand you might need time but just know how much he needs you. I will always be here for you. Please call me if you need me. 

Lottie's phone buzzes and she notices the message from Cisca. She's not ready to respond, she turns her phone off and places it in the sideboard drawer. She notices the lights in the main house are on and heads up the garden path to the main house. She enters the patio doors and see's Zac and Tracey sat in the living room, they turn as she enters the room. 
"Hey Lottie. How did you sleep?" Zac looks to her. Lottie throws herself down in the armchair in the corner.
"Good I think. I just wanted to see how you were?" 
"We are good. Just opened a bottle of wine if you wanted a glass?" Tracey looks at her.
"If you don't mind, I'll grab a glass"
"No not at all. We are just about to watch a film. Do you want to join us?"
"Yeah sure" Lottie shouts from the kitchen as she pours a large red wine and sits back down in the chair. 

They films now finished and Lottie is about to head back to her house. 
"Thank you for tonight. It was nice to spend some time with you" Lottie says hugging both Tracey and Zac. 
"We love having you. Sleep well Lottie" Zac places a gentle kiss on her forehead and Tracey gives her a hug. 
Lottie heads down the garden path, looking at the huge moon wondering where Lando is now. 
Lando laid in bed, looking out the window at the full moon wondering if Lottie was ok. 
They may have parted ways but their souls were still intertwined.