Chapter 15 #3
“Hello everyone! I have an announcement to make. Many of you know Dr Ingrid Hansdotter from when she was working with Antoine. She has since unofficially joined the Wentworth Racing family as Erik’s partner.
What you might not know is that her grandfather was an engineer for this team many decades ago, so this has been her home for a while.
I would like to welcome her to the family officially as the Team Performance Advisor.
” He looked at Ingrid and smiled. “Her focus will be trackside, but she is here to assist with strengthening the mental performance of the team. Those who have had the privilege of being around her in the garage already in an unofficial capacity will know the magic she brings there, and I’m looking forward to her doing the same in Grove. So, welcome, Ingrid!”
There was a big round of applause from everyone below them.
“Hello everyone! I just want to thank Jonny for that warm introduction and to Elizabeth, too, for everything she’s done behind the scenes to make this happen.
I’m known in the paddock as Ingrid or Rookie, so please don’t call me Dr Hansdotter.
As Jonny said, most of my work will be trackside, but between races, I’ll occasionally be here to observe and talk to anyone who needs advice or just someone to talk to.
As Antoine or his trainer, Gaetan, will tell you, I deal with any subject matter.
Everything is confidential with me. Also, this team is very dear to my heart thanks to my grandfather.
I look forward to working with all of you. ”
Erik and Antoine led the next round of applause. Ingrid walked down the stairs, and they both hugged her. She went around greeting people whom she hadn’t met yet. A few mentioned the Mark incident and commended her on how she had handled it.
???
Ingrid spent a day getting to know some key staff members at Grove before going to stay with Oliver while Erik worked. She had avoided seeing her parents during this time, but they finally went to dinner together. It was good to be with family.
“Oh, Ingrid, sweetheart, how are you coping?” Bridget asked.
“I’m fine. Really, I am. It was difficult at first, mentally and physically. Erik’s mother has been really helpful because she had an abusive husband, so she knows what it’s like to survive an assault like this.”
“I wish you had let us come to you,” Oskar said.
“No, I didn’t want to scare or hurt you that way. Plus, I had Oli.” She squeezed his hand.
“Yes, instead she decided I had to experience it all!” He scoffed.
“Oh, come on, you enjoyed being protective for once.”
“Yes, it was quite nice getting to look after you for a change,” he said, sounding quite pleased with himself.
“I don’t like the fact that this man still hasn’t been caught,” her mother said, worried.
Oskar agreed and wanted to know what the police were doing about it.
“We don’t know. They keep saying they’ll update us as soon as they have any news. On to happier subjects, Erik and I have found a new place to move to, which is stunning, so once we’re settled, you’ll have to come visit.”
“And this new job?” Bridget asked.
Ingrid explained her new work with Wentworth.
“We’ve been very impressed with how Erik has been by your side through all of this and what he’s said about you,” her father said unexpectedly. He never liked the men she dated or commented on them.
“Thanks, Pappa, I think he would appreciate that.”
“Even if he’s Swedish and not Norwegian, I approve.”
Ingrid and Oliver looked at each other and laughed.
“Pappa, we’re only half-Norwegian!” Oliver reminded him again.
“I don’t care, you carry that surname, and I taught you Norwegian.”
Ingrid and Oliver went back to his house and had a good wine session with a proper catch-up.
“So do you think he’s going to pop the question?”
“Erik?” Ingrid exclaimed and lit her cigarette.
“No, you chop, the other guy that you’re living with.”
“Oh, don’t be foolish, Brother. We’ve only just moved in together. He’s focused on the Championship. I’ve just started new work. Plus, it’s too soon.”
“I don’t know, Sister, don’t you feel like when you know, you just know?”
“I suppose. I guess I do know with him, especially after the Mark attack.” Ingrid was thinking about how she had fought back because of Erik, and that he had helped her get through all of it. “I guess I’ve just been so career-focused that I haven’t thought about marriage since my 20s.”
“So, if he were to ask you tomorrow, would you say yes?”
“Probably.” Ingrid was surprised by this answer because it had taken her so long to trust in this relationship.
“Ha! I knew it,” Oliver said, gleefully. “The parents and I had a bet that you weren’t ready.”
“It doesn’t mean I’m ready! That was a hypothetical question. Plus, it isn’t like he’s going to ask me. He isn’t even thirty yet!”
The twins carried on chatting away through the rest of the night.
“Oh, Oli, would that tattooist friend of yours be able to squeeze Erik and me in on Friday?”
“I’m sure he can. Getting matching tattoos now?”
“No, not that pathetic. Just feel like I want to commemorate getting through this time with something.”
The tattoo artist was available. It helped that he was an F1 fan, so he made himself available. When Erik came to pick up Ingrid, she told him they would take a little detour for an hour or so and that Oliver would be coming with them.
“Ok, should I be worried, Oli?” He asked.
“Listen, I don’t know what my sister is up to, but judging by your body, I think you’ll be able to handle it.”
Ingrid had sent the designs ahead of time. They would be simple enough to do, and she knew Erik would love it.
“This is a tattoo parlour? Have I got the right place?”
“Yes.” She smiled at him. “Come along, they’re expecting us.”
“Oli…” Erik said, looking at him.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there to document it all in case you want to sue them or her.” He laughed.
Oliver’s friend, Li, welcomed them and showed them the design he had worked up based on what Ingrid had sent him. It was better than the internet image she had imagined.
“Rookie, that’s Odin and Frigg?” Erik said, confused.
“Yes, I thought we could get them on our arms. Odin on yours, obviously.” He pulled her close and kissed her on the top of the head. “Just something to commemorate what we’ve been through together recently with a touch of your Norse mythology.”
“I love you,” he said, looking down at her.
“Good, otherwise this would have been slightly awkward.” She laughed.
Oliver, forever their social media manager, filmed it for them and took photos.
“Happy?” Ingrid asked.
“Ja.” And he kissed her again.
After dropping Oliver off at his house, they went to the airport, then headed home for the weekend before flying off to Azerbaijan.
???
It was the first race weekend that Ingrid was working again. She felt that thrill return. Erik loved seeing her in the modern Wentworth team kit of the darker blue and grey. She didn’t have to wear it as an advisor, but she wanted to. Erik’s 4 am alarm was now her alarm too.
“Oh my god, you are an annoying team getting here so early! You still have to do your media stuff, Erik, I don’t care. Ingrid, I might have a few requests for you this week, too,” Julia said.
It wasn’t long before Ingrid had her first approach by a team member for advice, and it was the one she had been expecting, Hannah.
“Ingrid, do you have a moment?”
“Of course!”
They sat down at one of the tables in the hospitality area.
“I thought you’d find your way to me. What can I help you with?”
“How did you know?”
“Just knew.” Ingrid smiled at her. “And if it’s about Erik, don’t worry about that.”
“No, not at all. I just still feel so lost!”
Hannah poured out her story of feeling like she had been promoted to race engineer before she was ready and lacking confidence.
She felt Erik was on the verge of winning his first championship, and she wasn’t the right person to be on the other side of the radio.
Ingrid saw before her a young woman with a bright future that just needed some guidance.
“Do you know where Bonnie is, by any chance?”
“I think she’s in the garage having coffee.”
Ingrid told her she’d be back and went in search of Bonnie. She explained the situation along the way back to where Hannah was waiting for her.
“Bonnie is going to join us for a bit, if you don’t mind?”
Hannah agreed.
“Listen, I don’t know what it’s like to be there on the pit wall, but Bonbon here does.
I know you each have your own driver to look after, but I think it would be useful to chat once or twice a week, especially during race weekends, to check in on each other's confidence levels? Or just to have a chat. Bonnie has also been doing this longer than you have, Hannah, so she could give you advice on handling tough decisions and calls. How does that sound to you?”
“Of course, Ingie! I’d be happy to do it. Remember, I’m also new to this team, Hannah, so I could do with a friendly face besides Antoine’s!”
With that, Ingrid left the two race engineers chatting away. She felt like her job for the day was done. It wasn’t. Julia came rushing over to her in a huff.
“Bloody Netflix has just thought it would be a great idea to follow the couple working together in F1. Erik says he’ll do it if you’ll do it.
I think he’s hoping you’ll say no, but Ingrid, I’m begging you.
We had such a stuff-up with the weekend that they were supposed to be following the team, and this would make up for it,” Julia pleaded.
Julia didn’t know Ingrid well enough to see the flames in her eyes light up at Erik’s comment.
“Of course, we’ll do it. Tell Erik that I think it’s a marvellous idea and please use those exact words.” Ingrid grinned.
When Julia went back to Erik, all he could say was “V?lva”.
“What does that mean?” Julia asked.
“Sorceress,” Erik responded. “You know she said yes deliberately because it would annoy me?”
“I should have guessed. Are you guys fighting?”
“No, she just likes to remind me who’s boss sometimes.”