Love Always Wins

31

Wednesday February 26th. Barcelona, Spain.

"I'm starting to think that maybe this was the wrong choice of outfit for today." Chloe looked down at her obvious bump in the tight white top she had on; paired with pale denim skinny jeans that hung below her bump with a long pale peach coat and nude suede heels, she'd been quite happy with her clothes in the hotel but now they were nearer the circuit she was having second thoughts. "I feel huge, everyone will be able to see that I've put weight on in my face, thighs and arse, I'm bloated and it's making me look bigger than I really am." She moaned. Sam glanced at her as he drove the white Alfa Romeo Stelvio, to him she looked perfect. "I look fat today, don't I? Go on, you can admit, I won't be offended." She added.

"It's not my place to say." He replied tactfully, his mind elsewhere, watching as the red Ferrari Lusso, driven by Seb, turned into the circuit's entrance ahead of him.

"Nicely swerved." She said dryly as he turned the car in through the open gates.

"So many people here." He murmured, more to himself than to Chloe. as the groups of fans swarmed around the Ferrari.

"Yeah, testing is getting more and more popular with fans now they're making it more open to people."

"Mmm." He replied, seeming disinterested.

"Are you ok?" She asked, he'd seemed a bit off all morning so far. "Are you missing home?" She was aware that he hadn't been home since the launch of the SF1000, just over two weeks ago.

He let out a sigh, obviously Seb had failed to tell his wife the news. "Sebastian has not told you?"

"Told me what?" She asked, fidgeting nervously I'm her seat.

"Fanculo." He muttered sharply in Italian under his breath while slowly following the car in front. He braked as Seb reversed into a space, luckily there was another space next to the Ferrari and he drew into it as soon as he could. Next to him, Chloe waited quietly for him to answer her but he could feel her looking at him expectantly. "We wait for Seb to go in with Heikki, his father and brother and then we go in after, ok?" He switched the engine off and silence filled the car.

"I know." She replied automatically, watching in the side mirror as her gorgeous husband got out of the car along with Norbert and Fabian. She yawned, it was just after eight am and she still felt tired. Having caught the cold Seb had had at the weekend meant that her nights had been pretty restless as she couldn't sleep while she felt so bunged up and heavy headed. Thankfully she felt like she was over the worst of it and was really hoping for a decent nights sleep tonight or even a nap in Seb's cool down room. She turned to look behind her as Seb walked away towards the paddock entrance with eager photographers snapping away at him and a few fans almost jogging along to keep up, trying to take selfies with him and asking him to sign things. As he got further away she turned her attention back to Sam who was now texting on his phone. "So what hasn't Seb told me?" She asked, making him look up at her. He looked worried and that worried her more.

"I've had a phone call from my mother's home last night. She is in hospital, in isolation. She has it, the Coronavirus." He leant forward and slumped over the steering wheel, letting out a heavy sigh.

Chloe sat there, reeling from the shock. Poor Sam, he must be terrified of losing her. His mother would have to be in her sixties and that would put at higher risk than most. She could only imagine his torment and how much he'd be wanting to go home. But if his mother had it, was he a carrier? Was it possible he could have it too? "God Sam, I'm so sorry to hear that." She wanted to reach out and touch him, to offer some comfort but she daren't. All of a sudden she felt panicky and then angry at Seb for not telling her. "I'll kill him." She muttered darkly, reaching for the door. She wanted out of this car. Now.