Continue the legacy
Masterlist
2032
The skies were gray as the rain fell from it. Everywhere you looked were puddles forming from the rain and people hurried to take cover. In the midst of this chaos, a small but determined figure stood out - Sofie, who was refusing to let the rain ruin her karting practice.
"Sofie, let go inside. We don't want you to get sick." Max tried to convince his daughter to follow him inside, but the girl was to suborn to listen
"No, papa. We still have to practice," she replied, her voice firm and resolute. She walked back to her kart, but before she managed to sit inside it, her father lifted her off the ground and into his arm. The girl tried to escape from her father's grasp, but she was just squirming like a fish on the dry.
"It is not fair," she pouted. "If I can't practice, I'll never be as good as you." Max's heart melted at his daughter's words. He knew that he had been pushing her too hard, but he wanted to help her as much as she could. Formula 1 wasn't easy to get into and for a woman the chances were almost zero, but Max wouldn't do anything to make her dream come true. Just like his own father had pushed him when he was younger.
"Don't say that," Max replied, trying to reassure her. "We can practice when the sky is cleared. I promised, lieverd." He kissed her head and carried her inside to sit with the rest of the people who were taking cover from the rain.
As they reached an empty table, Max put Sofie back down on the ground and had to take her arm to stop her from running back out into the rain.
The rain reminded him of his own karting days - only his dad had always forced him to be outside, not caring what the weather was. If it was raining, Max was in his kart. If it was snowing and everyone was inside drinking hot beverages, Max was in his kart. Jos would stop him from going inside, instead of stopping him from going out to race in these weather conditions. Max knew that what his father had done was to train him, and it had worked - he had become a five-time world champion with his help. He wanted to help Sofie, like his father had helped him - only he wasn't planning on giving her any traumas in the process.
Max smiled as Sofie went to sit on the chair with a frown on her face. She tried to look angry, but it was a sweet sight. "Can I have some hot chocolate?" she asked, her voice a little more subdued now that she was no longer thinking about karting practice.
"Of course, lieverd, I" Max replied, getting up from his seat to fetch a cup of hot chocolate for his daughter. "If you promise to not run away." Sofie put out her pinky to promise that she would stay put here and not try to run back outside into the rain. Max just hoped he didn't have to sprint after her back into the rain - that had already happened on multiple occasions today alone.
When Max reached the cafe he heard the ring on the bell, knowing someone walked inside. Just like every other curious person, he turned around to look and saw the Leclerc family walk in. Charles was walking hand in hand with his wife and Jules was attached to his hip. Alexandra carried the youngest member, Eloise, in her arm. Eloise had been born almost two years after Sofie, at the end of 2029.
Max waved as Charles looked into his way and a smile formed on the Monegasque man. "Good afternoon, Max. Having the same idea as us?" he asked, his deep voice carrying across the room. Max greeted Charles with a nod and a smile before turning to greet the rest of the family.
The families had been growing closer. Both of them lived in Monaco and Charles and Max have known each other since they were children. It also happened that their children wanted to do karting, so sometimes they went together. Charles, Max, Jules and Sofie.
"yeah, Sofie wanted to go karting so who am I to say no.
"Where is she?" Alexandra asked as she looked around where they stood. Max pointed his fingers to the table and the two Adults followed with their eyes. Sofie was still a bit sulking, but at least she was doing it on the dry. "She looks sad, what happend?"
"I am a bad father for not letting her kart in this weather." Max answered. He heard his name call, mentioning he could order. "Do you guys want anything?" he already ordered the hot chocolate for Sofie and him, as Charles asked Jules if he wanted anything.
"Can I have one too?" Jules asked excitedly, fidgeting with his clothes as he looked up at his father. Charles smiled and nodded his head.
"Of course." max said as he orders one for the boy and two tea for his parents. "You can sit with Sofie if you want" Jules looked at his dad as if he asked for promission and Charles just smiled and nodded his head. Jules walked away, his mother and sister following, leaving the two men to themselves. Sofie wanted to walk away when she heard people sitting, but when she saw who it were she giggled and smiled.
"How is retirement treating you?" Max asked Charles. Monegasque had retired at the end of the 2031 season after some tough seasons with Ferrari, where he struggled to find his rhythm and pace. Oscar Piastri had won both the 2031 and 2030 season in the Red Bull team, being almost as dominant as Max had been in 2023.
Charles shrugged his shoulders, "It's nice, really. I love that I'm able to spend time with my family whenever I want. It's great to support Jules in his dream to become a racing driver and I love karting with him. I get to relive those childhood memories with my son, and it's amazing to see him grow into his own passion for racing. And, of course, I'm grateful for the quality time with my wife and daughter. We can plan vacations whenever we want, and not have to worry about scheduling around race weekends." He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It is great to have this sense of freedom and flexibility, but I do miss it."
"Understandable. I still miss it. Of course I still do sim racing, but it is different. I love when Sofie asked to go karting, because sometimes I can do it too." Max replied, nodding sympathetically. "She's getting older now, and it's special to share those moments with her. Before you know it they don't want to do it together anymore."
Charles agreed with him, "We should grab our cars and go racing against each other on the Nürburgring, just like the old times." His eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect.
Max grinned, "We should." He picked up the drinks they had been waiting for and together they walked towards the table.
Alexandra thanked him as Max gave her, her tea. "What are two grinning about?"
"Just making plans for racing."
Sofie looked excited, "Can I come?"
Max smiled at her beaming face, "I am sorry lieverd. You have to wait till you are older."
"You are letting me do nothing." She crossed her arms and let out a sigh.
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