Chapter 21
Erik had to stay on in Abu Dhabi for the testing, so Ingrid flew back with Freja and Jacques. She had asked Jonathan for a week off to wrap up with clients, but she actually needed to see her OB/GYN.
“Twins?”
“Yes, you’re a twin, non?” The doctor said in response.
“Yes, but I didn’t think it would necessarily happen to me, too,” she exclaimed. “Oh god, Erik is going to love this.” She uttered under her breath. He would be thrilled, and she would be waddling around.
After the appointment, she called her mother.
“Mum, how big did you get when you were pregnant with us?”
“You’re pregnant?” Bridget sounded delighted. “This is so wonderful!”
“Yes, and with twins!”
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t worry about how big you’re going to get. All women carry differently. Plus, both you and Oli are all your father in terms of body type, so I can’t guess.”
“When are you due?”
“Just before the summer break, I’m still waiting on them to confirm the new calendar.”
“Ingrid! Can you not think of anything else?”
“Well, I suppose I should be thinking about this bloody wedding too,” she responded. “Could you and Oli fly out tomorrow and help me pick a dress? The stylist has already got one for me for the championship gala next week.”
“Ingrid Hansdotter, you’re absolutely impossible! Yes, we’ll be there tomorrow.”
Ingrid waited until Erik’s session was done to speak to him. His reaction to the news about twins was just as she had expected.
“Oh, my love, I can’t wait!”
“I knew you’d react that way! You won’t have to carry them around for nine months!” She said, munching away on a bag of crisps.
“Sorry.” He laughed. “I’ll organise a small crane to carry you around the paddock. But can you imagine we get two for the price of one?”
“And how am I supposed to carry them around the garage? One was going to be easy, but two is impossible!” She said, frustrated. “Anyway, my mother and Oli are coming tomorrow to help me pick out a dress.”
“I’m glad you’re at least thinking of that too.” She could hear him smiling over the phone.
“Yes, yes, and don’t forget when you’re back here, we have that sit-down with Johannes.”
“I have an assistant to remind me about these things, my love; you just focus on what matters.”
Next, there was a call from Jonathan, which she wasn’t expecting at this hour from Bahrain.
“I’m going to send you some footage of a young driver we have in our programme. You might have heard of her, Charlotte Hawthorne. British. She’s won F1 Academy twice, and I feel like she’s languishing there.”
“As in Hawthorne of the Hawthorne championship dynasty?”
“That’s the one. Seven titles between her grandfather and her father. Erik said you might know what to do for her.”
“Why didn’t he mention this on our call earlier?”
“He was probably too excited about the twins! Sorry, I overheard him in the car. Congratulations!”
“Thanks, Jonny. I guess the secret is out then. Almost 10 weeks, it seems.”
“Well, we look forward to welcoming them to the Wentworth family!”
Jonathan sent Ingrid the footage of Charlotte Hawthorne, and she could see why he was impressed. Ingrid had seen her around the garage a few times but hadn’t really paid attention. Her mind started to work on what could be done for her next season.
???
Bridget and Oliver were looking at various dresses when Ingrid came out in a Grace Kelly-style dress.
“Too much?” She asked.
“Not at all!” Bridget said. “It’s classic and perfect for a Monaco wedding.”
“I would have it shortened, but the top is perfect on you and for this time of year,” Oli remarked.
“Well, that’s the thing, don’t you think it’s a bit of a cliché for a Monaco wedding?”
“No, Erik has basically grown up here, and your kids will too,” Oliver responded. “Plus, shortening it modernises it a bit. You’re just going to sign papers after all.”
Ingrid was looking at herself in the mirror, but when Oliver said this, she turned around to break the news to him.
“Didn’t I tell you? Between Erik and Freja, we have half of Monaco coming as well as half the Swedish Royal family, who adore Erik, by the way, and because they’re coming, we have some of the Royal family from here too.”
“What?” Bridget exclaimed. “Ingrid, that’s ridiculous!”
“Yes, so we’d better rustle up some people from our side, and quickly.”
Bridget and Oliver started getting on the phone while Ingrid spoke to the seamstress. She warned her that she might gain some weight in the next week or so due to the pregnancy, so the final fitting should take that into account. The poor woman looked horrified.
“Sister, did you at least send out a save-the-date and invitation to some people?”
“Yes, to a few like Claire, Bonbon, Hannah, obviously some of the drivers, and a few of my clients. It wasn’t supposed to be a big party!
” Ingrid had been so focused on the championship that she hadn’t really thought about the wedding.
“You two just speak to Freja and sort things out. I’m not getting involved.
As long as Erik and I are married at the end of this, I’m happy. ”
Oliver got on the phone with Freja, and Ingrid left it in his hands to organise.
Meanwhile, Erik was on his way home, thinking about all the things he had to do over the next week: a championship gala, a wedding, Christmas with his growing family. He called Ingrid.
“Darling, the mothers are driving me mad!”
He laughed, “What’s going on?”
“We were supposed to have a small wedding, and now it has turned into this big event!”
“Just leave it to them to fuss over,” he said, looking at his watch. “I should be home in about three hours.”
“Yes, I know. I’m tracking your flight.”
“Are you that bored and lonely without me?”
“No! I’m counting down the hours until you can come speak to Mamma.”
All Ingrid got out of him was another laugh. She decided to go for a walk with the dogs to let go of some of her annoyance. A car pulled up next to her, and she could hear the unmistakable voice of Claire.
“Coucou Ingrid!”
“Salut Claire! I didn’t think you would be here for the winter?”
“And miss this grand wedding of yours?” She giggled.
“Don’t even speak to me about it. I’m so annoyed that we have half of Monaco coming!”
“Oh, don’t worry about it, my darling, you’ll be beautiful, and you’re marrying that gorgeous man of yours. Let’s have coffee this weekend?”
“Yes, please! Oh damn, we’re up in London this weekend for the gala. But next week, before the wedding?”
“Perfect, cherie. Look at how my French A-levels are coming into practice now. Although Carlos speaks Spanish when we’re at the Madrid house, I can’t understand a word of it!” She laughed and drove off.
It seemed Ingrid couldn’t even take the dogs for a stroll anymore without being recognised.
Erik had his fans, but Ingrid had hers, too.
She was always happy to stop for the kids, especially for the little girls who said they wanted to do what she did.
Perhaps some of her maternal instincts were coming out, as she was more willing to stop and chat with the children.
By the time she got home, she was starving and messaged Erik to ask if she should invite the group over for dinner.
Erik had been thinking about Nico and thought it would be good for him to spend some time with all of them. He was taking the split from Carla badly. He put a message on the group chat, and everyone agreed.
“Thanks for inviting me. The apartment feels so empty without Carla,” Nico said.
“Oh, you’re always welcome!” Ingrid hugged him.
“Plus, we’re going to need a babysitter occasionally, Uncle Nico,” Erik said.
“Oh no, not you two as well!” He exclaimed.
“Twins.” Erik grinned.
“Yes, he’s very happy about twins, but who has to carry two babies? Me!”
“Of course, Uncle Nico will help! I’m so happy for you!” Nico hugged Ingrid and then Erik. “Except this child- sorry, I mean these children are going to learn Italian!”
Nico seemed in better spirits, which relaxed Erik’s thoughts. Antoine and Daniela arrived, and it turned into a nice little gathering. Erik showed everyone around the new place while Ingrid cooked.
“Do we really have to go to this gala? I just want a break,” Nico moaned.
“You don’t want to go because you lost, mon pote!” Antoine jibed.
“Not true! You forget I’ve already got one of these.” He grinned. “We have to dress up and listen to stupid speeches…”
“And go through every series in motorsport!” Erik added.
“Oh, will that Charlotte Hawthorne be there?” Ingrid asked, her interest piqued.
“Probably, she won F1 Academy again this year, didn’t she?” Nico responded.
“Oh, fantastic, I have an opportunity to introduce myself properly.”
“What are you up to with her, Ingie? I can see that look in your eyes,” Antoine said.
“Oh, nothing yet.” She smiled. Ingrid kept her thoughts to herself.
Once everyone left, Erik finally had Ingrid to himself after days apart. He wrapped his arms around her while she was at the door.
“You keep moaning about carrying two babies, but I don’t feel any bump yet.”
“Oh, just you wait until I’m a big round ball!” Ingrid turned around and kissed him.
“It was sweet of you to invite our friends over, but now I want you all to myself,” he said.
“Good, I’ve missed this. We haven’t been apart for so long in ages,” Ingrid said.
“Knew you were bored and lonely without me.”
“I wasn’t quite bored and lonely, but definitely horny. Now take me to bed, champ,” Ingrid said, then Erik carried her off to spend time with his bride-to-be.
???
It was yet another hotel suite in London for the gala. Both Erik and Ingrid were getting sick of living out of suitcases. Oliver came to visit for tea ahead of the evening’s event.
“Sister, at least you have the pregnancy glow,” Oliver said.
“Why, thank you, Brother,” she responded. “Also, I can fit into the dress for this evening!”
“I’m more concerned about the dress for next week!”
“Oh, I’m sure that will be fine.” She brushed it off.
“She could wear a sack to our wedding, and I wouldn’t care,” Erik said, looking up from his phone at this point.