Fabio leaves on Monday for Andorra. We talked to the doctor and he told us, I could fly on Wednesday. If everything goes according to the plan. We also talked to my parents. They wanted me to stay here till Silverstone. They weren't a big fan of the flying and wanted me as close as possible. Also my dad is a little reserved when it comes to Fabio. He didn't say it, but I could see it. Eventually they told me it would be my own choice. And it is.
Fabio arranged a private jet for Wednesday and even arranged for Yara to come along. Yara is the sweetest nurse I ever met, she really helped me. She is flying along so she can keep an eye on me. Than she helps me get settled in at Fabio's home before going back the next day. She is two years older and like an older sister to me. I think it's really the sweetest thing that she's coming with me.
I want to invite her to Silverstone, but need to ask Fabio first.
She told me she's single and I want to make it up to her for going through all this trouble. Maybe she meets a single rider in the process.
On the short flight we talk about her work. Her passion for oncology, just like mine. And the MotoGP. She tells me she never been, but watched the Sachsenring after we met that first time.
She asks me how I met Fabio and I tell her about that night, about Tom and about how sweet and caring Fabio was back then.
He still is very sweet and caring. But I mean because of the circumstances.
I ask her about her love life, I know she's single now. She tells me she had a long relationship before. They met at school when she was fifteen. But when she was 23, he died from cancer. That's how she ended up as a oncology nurse. I feel for her. She didn't start a new relationship. She tried dating, but it didn't feel right.
We arrive and there's a car ready to take us to Fabio's home.
"Is it always this luxurious?", Yara asks surprised.
"Ah no, it's only the second time I flew with a private jet. Fabio is going to a lot of races by car. But when he flies it's mostly business class or private", we get into the car, "but Fabio likes the luxury, when he can. He has multiple expensive sports cars, the most ugly expensive clothes. But on race weekends he's always staying in his motorhome, instead of some big hotel"
"Ugly expensive clothes?", she asks smiling.
I show her some pictures of his colourful dolce&gabbana clothes and she laughs. "Yeah, I get what you mean"
The drive to his home is short and I use my key to get in. I take the alarm code off and sit down on a chair. The taxi driver brings our luggage inside before leaving. Yara closes the door and sits next to me.
"You okay? No blurry vision, dubble vision or heart palpitations?", she asks, looking observing.
I shake my head. "Really tired and a small headache"
"Let's get you to bed. Where to?", she takes my luggage and waits for my instructions.
"Upstairs, first door on your right is Fabio's room. First door on the left is a guestroom, I think it's yours. If Tony isn't sleeping there"
I follow her up the stairs slowly. She sets my luggage in Fabio's room and opens the guestroom. Well.. what was a guestroom. It's now a whole walk in closet. It has a huge mirror on the side with racks to fill with clothes everywhere. My shoes are all already packed on one side and same goes for my beautiful bags. In the middle there's this round couch sitting thing, like you see in those expensive shops. This is truly beautiful.
"This was a guestroom. Can you maybe put my luggage in here? I'll go check on which room is yours", I softly tell her. I walk down the hall to the two other rooms on this floor. One is for Tony, the other for Yara.
The room on the left is open and I see a very messy room, clothes everywhere. This must be Tony's room. The room on the right is all clean, the bed is made.
"Yara", I call her, "this is your room. The bathroom is in between the walk in closet and Tony's room. You are sharing it with him, so I would shower before he gets back. He is a mess", I point at his room. She laughs softly.
"Let's get you in bed first", she says, walking me back to Fabio's room. She helps me with my clothes and in bed.
"I know I can't ask you for anything more, but would you help me with washing my hair later? With my curls and the wound..", I trail off.
"Of course. After your nap, I'll help you shower", she walks out and closes the door. I haven't showered in the hospital, so I'm glad she's helping me.
There's a note on my bedside table, well.. not really mine, but yeah.
It's from Fabio. I recognise the handwriting.
Ma Chérie,
Welcome home. I hope you're feeling okay. I want you to know that this is your home now too, this is your side of the bed and across the hall is the walk in closet with your clothes in it. My mom helped me with that.
Go rest and I'll see you for dinner
xx Fabio
It's so sweet. I lay it back on the table and close my eyes.
"Ma Chérie", I feel someone shaking me softly, "wake up"
I groan a little before opening my eyes.
"Hey beautiful. I'm glad you're home"
"Hey! Well beautiful.. I can't wait to shower"
He smiles softly, "my mom put a shower stool in the bathroom for you. Do I need to help you?"
"A shower stool.. now I feel really sexy", I sarcastically say. "But thanks, I think I need it. I asked Yara to help me. The wound and shaven part on my head need to be cleaned. And my hair is all tangled and dirty"
"You are still very sexy", he winks. "I'll get her for you. Tony and I will make dinner"
"Then I hope Tony can cook", I grin, he gives me a dirty look before walking out.
Yara helps me shower and I finally feel fresh again. My hair is back in its natural curls and I don't smell like hospital anymore.
When we walk into the kitchen, Fabio is cooking, while Tony is sleeping on the couch.
"What happened to him?", I ask, leaning against the counter next to Fabio.
"Didn't keep up with my training", Fabio grins. He's cooking vegetables, has pasta, some pasta sauce and little pieces of steak.
"And you did all this?", I ask surprised. "It smells delicious"
"You smell better", he says. I used his body wash, because I couldn't find my own.
"I know"
Yara is sitting at the table, yawning. I take a better look at her and she looks really exhausted.
"Yara, you okay?", I sit down next to her.
"Yeah, I should help Fabio with dinner and setting the table and stuff", she wants to stand, but I put my hand on her arm. "You should relax. I'm very grateful that you came with me and you helping me. But you don't have to do all that. Fabio can manage and Tony can help", I say softly.
"Tony! Get your lazy ass off that couch", I yell at him. He groans, standing up.
"I'm happy to see you too, sweetie", he squeezes my shoulder while going to Fabio.
"Have you had a break the last year and a half?", I ask her quietly. She shakes her head.
"Maybe you should take a little time off and relax", I suggest.
"When I'm not working I'm alone and I can't be alone. It's too quiet", she sighs.
"Do you have to work this week?"
She shakes her head, "I have my next shift on Monday, but I wanted to call and ask if they needed a hand on another ward"
"Why don't you stay here?", I ask, "just relax a bit and take it easy"
"No. No I couldn't. I don't want to be a burden. I'm just going back tomorrow", she looks down at her hands again.
"Fabio? Can you still cancel the plane for tomorrow?", I turn around to look at him. "Yeah, why?", he looks up surprised.
"Look, you don't have to stay. You can leave tomorrow if you want. But this is a chance to stay. You wouldn't be alone. I'm here and these crazy men are around too.
And if you don't want to be stuck with me, we can figure something out to do. But please think about this", I try to convince her.
"But you two need some privacy. You've told me all about your relationship and you don't need more people around", she looks at Fabio.
"Maybe. But Tony is staying till Sunday. So if you stay or not, we wouldn't be alone. So you better stay"
"You can send us both home. You have every right. You had surgery. You need peace and quiet", she's just as stubborn as I am.
I laugh at her words, "that's very sweet. But you think that man", I point at Fabio, "can do peace and quiet? If you two leave, there will be other friends coming over, or he will visit them"
"Really?", she asks quietly. "I'll stay"
I nod, smiling. That's amazing. Tony is setting the table and Fabio walks over with the food. Everything is separated. The pasta, the sauce, the meat and the vegetables. Lots of vegetables. "Enjoy ladies"
I don't really have an appetite, but there are three pairs of eyes on me.
"Fabio, will you reschedule the plane to Sunday?", I am really glad that Yara is staying. It will do her good.
"Are you staying here?", his question is directed to Yara, but I already nod smiling. Yara nods as well.
"Oh I didn't tell you yet. But Tony is leaving early on Friday and I told Martin he could stay here till Sunday. He needed a place here for some event"
"Hotel Fabio, open for business", I mumble looking at my plate. This is exactly what I mean. When one leaves, another one is staying. We won't be alone for a day.
"You are having a summer break right now?", Yara asks Fabio and Tony.
"Yes, till August. I'm going home to my family for a bit", Tony tells her.
"What about your plans, Fabio? Or both your plans?", she looks briefly at me.
"I'm having a short boat trip with my family Wednesday to Friday and then I'll be in Sicilia before going on holiday with friends, Tony will be one of them", I knew parts of this, but not all.
"And you will be joining?", Yara asks me. I just shrug. We haven't talked about it. But I don't think I will. I don't know if I'm even invited.
"I don't know. Maybe I'm going back to the Netherlands or to my family for a while. I don't know when I have my next doctors appointment, to be honest", I tell her smiling.
Do you need more appointments? Fabio said you're okay", Tony asks. He doesn't know what happened. And maybe that's for the best.
"Just check ups. I'm fine", I see Yara frowning in the corner of my eye.
"So.. Who's staying here Monday to Wednesday?", I look at Fabio. Knowing him he invited more people. "No one yet"
I nod, "just tell me when that changes", I smile.
I take my plate to the kitchen, my throat hurts and I can't eat more.
"You ate enough?", Fabio still has his plate full with vegetables and a little meat.
"Yeah. I'll be upstairs, okay?", I softly rub my hand on his shoulder before going up the stairs.
I sit in the walk in closet for quite a while, before Yara steps in.
"What're you doing?", she asks, looking around.
"I don't know. Just thinking"
"About?", she leans with her elbows on her legs. I stay quiet.
"You were right. About people visiting", she starts. "Why don't you two go away for a few days together? Why don't you set something up?"
"Because he already planned his whole summer break. I can plan something, but it will interfere with his plans and I can cancel. Or go alone", I sigh, "maybe it's a good thing. The days we are alone, we fight. Maybe we shouldn't be alone together for more than 24 hours"
"I don't believe that. You are so good together", she tells me.
"Yeah well, after the Le Mans race we were alone two days and ended up fighting. Before Sachsenring we were together for two days and after we fought and now we're here", I take a few deep breathes. I get worked up and I'm not allowed.
"I think Fabio is scared to be alone with me", I put my head in my hands, it starts to ache. "I mean, I've been raped. Every man would be scared to do or say anything. And I've had or still have cancer, what if he falls too deep and I die. I'm fragile, I get it", Yara starts to cry. And what I don't know is that Fabio's blinking away his tears in the hallway.
"That's bullshit", she says eventually. "He's already in too deep. He loves you. Everyone can see that. And I've been there, if you don't spend time together, you will both regret that"
Her voice is hard and tears are still streaming down.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't say this stuff to you", I say softly. She wipes her eyes and walks out. I screwed up. I hurt her feelings.