Amelia sat on the bench outside the big house on the edge of the garden. Silent tears slid down her lightly freckled cheeks. She missed her mother dreadfully. She wanted nothing more than to be in her arms and to hear her voice singing all the lullabies she sang when Amelia felt sick or lonely. It had been three months exactly since her mother's death. The police wrote it off as an accident, but Amelia knew her father thought otherwise. She often caught him writing something down quickly or looking over his shoulder like something was going to get him. It scared her to see him that way. He clearly tried to hide it, but Amelia saw it most of the time.
She sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She thought about her recent birthday. She's turned 8 within the last week and it had to have been one of the worst of her life. She and Dhani's birthdays were about a month apart, and he'd turned 9 just after her mother's death. She was invited to Dhani's party, but she was too worried about her father and sad because of her mother to have as much fun as Dhani did. She was glad Dhani was having fun on his birthday, but he also seemed to have more fun on her birthday too. She tried, and her dad tried to do everything he could to keep her mind off her mum, but it didn't work too well. She got some really nice presents, most of which were things she wanted, but nothing hurt her more than seeing all the presents and then not seeing one from her mother like every other year.
A sob shook her body as she tried to stay silent. She didn't want her Father to hear her and she didn't want George or Olivia to find her either. She choked a little as she breathed a little heavier and she wiped her nose again. She gave up on trying to be quiet and let out a slightly loud cry. She took in a sharp breath and let out a few more sobs, hoping no one heard her. She was about to look around and make sure no one was around when her hair was tucked behind her ear. She started, thinking it was her father who found her. He was the only one who did that. When she looked up, she was surprised to find Dhani staring at her.
"Are you OK?" he asked with a worried tone. Amelia shook with more sobs as she shook her head. Dhani wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his shoulder as she put her arms around him, "Do you miss her?" he whispered. She nodded and cried some more.
"It hurts," she sobbed. Dhani rubbed her back and he nodded.
"I know," he said. Amelia shook her head. He didn't know. He hadn't lost his mum. He didn't know what it felt like. She knew he was only trying make her feel better, but for some reason it only made her feel worse. She tightened her grip on him, not wanting him to let go. She nuzzled into him and Dhani didn't say anything else. He held her for however long she wanted and she was more than grateful for him.
After a while of sitting there, Amelia let him go and he leaned back against the bench. Dhani put his arm around her shoulders and she sniffled and put her head on his shoulder. She wiped her face with the back of her hand she suddenly felt very ridiculous crying in front of him. She was 8 years old for crying out loud.
"I'm sorry," she said trying to laugh off her embarrassment, "I didn't mean to cry all over you." she poked the spot on his shirt she'd soaked with her tears. Dhani shook his head and he put his other arm around her.
"Don't be sorry," he said, "I want to make you feel better. If that means getting my shirt wet then I don't care." This made Amelia laugh and Dhani grinned at his slight success.
"Are you sure?" she asked sniffling and wiping her nose with her sleeve again. Dhani shrugged.
"Sure I'm sure. You're my best friend, Ami!" he said smiling at her, "So I came looking for you to see if you wanted to come with me and my Dad to see the race." Amelia smiled and she buried her face in Dhani's arm. George liked to go to the motor races, and Dhani had an interest in them too. Amelia thought they were interesting too, and the first time Dhani brought her was because her mother was sick and her father had to work and she was bored out of her mind. George insisted on her coming along. It made her happy to be included in something so special to them.
"You sure you want me along?" Amelia asked as Dhani got her to sit up. She looked at him and he surprised her by kissing her forehead.
"Sure!" he said smiling gently, "I know how much you liked going last time, and Dad says it would be alright if you came. He said he'd talk to your dad and make sure it was alright with him." Amelia grinned and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him and he hugged her back, tighter than she expected. She felt herself smile as she closed her eyes and buried herself in his shoulder.
"Thank you Dhani." she said gently. Dhani pulled back and got up. He offered her his hand and she took it before he pulled her into the big house he lived in.
Amelia was always amazed when she went inside the house. The first person they came across was Olivia and the first thing she did was hug Amelia. Amelia always loved her. She was always so nice and she was rather close to Amelia's mother. Amelia tried to smile at her, but it came out all wrong. Dhani grabbed her hand again and they walked into his dad's music room and George smiled at her.
"Ah, Ami, are you coming along then?" he asked. Amelia nodded shyly and she hid behind Dhani slightly. George always seemed so big to her. He smiled and nodded, "Good, we'll be leaving in a mo. Dhani will you get Amelia one of your old coats. It gets a bit nippy at the racetrack." Dhani nodded and ran off to do what his father said. Amelia stood there awkwardly as she and George looked at each other.
After Dhani came back with a light jacket fro Amelia, George led them out to the garage. They climbed into the car and Dhani sat in the backseat with Amelia.
"Alright," George said as he pulled out his wallet, "Five pound is in the balance here kids," he said putting the five pound note on the console. Amelia was surprised at the high amount.
When George and Dhani went to see a race they usually chose a car they wanted to win and who ever's car placed the highest got the money. The last race Amelia went to Dhani won it, but it had only been a pound then. The high amount made Amelia even more determined to win this time.
They drove to the racetrack and they found some excellent seat where no one was sitting behind them so Dhani and Amelia could stand up and see better if they needed too.
Amelia had only been to one of these races, but she still had a favorite. Number 38, Jason Marcs. That's the car she chose. Dhani chose #72. Amelia could remember the name of the driver though. George chose a random car, and both kids knew that if his car won he'd give away the money to them or use it to buy them ice cream on the way home.
The race started and Dhani and Amelia talked as they watched the cars go around the track. The race wasn't all that interesting, it never was till closer to the end. About halfway through the race George bought them popcorn and they shared a soda while they watched some more.
It got closer to the end of the race, when things got exciting and thrilling, and both Amelia and Dhani stood up to see better. Amelia was delighted to see her car was in 3rd place. The only problem with it was that Dhani's car was in 2nd place.
She watched as her car pulled up next to Dhani's 72 car. She stood up on her toes to try and see better as the cars rode around the far corner. She got up on top of her seat with Dhani as they cheered their selected cars on. As the cars raced by them, they entered into their last lap. Amelia was suddenly grateful for the jacket she was given as the wind once again whipped her hair around her face.
The racers went around the first corner of the track, over taking the 1st place car. On the next corner Dhani's car overtook Amelia's. Her heart pounded in her chest at the entered the third turn. Jason's car met with Dhani's car again as they entered the last turn. As they raced for the finish line, Amelia was sure her choice of car was going to lose! Dhani's car seemed so much faster than hers. Then, at the very last possible second, Amelia's #38 car pulled past Dhani's #72 and crossed the finish line.
Amelia screamed and cheered loudly as Dhani groaned with ultimate defeat. George laughed at Amelia as ehs cheered Jason Marcs on as he did his victory lap around the track.
Soon everything was quiet for the most part and George got the kids to settle down in their seats again.
"Jason won!" Amelia exclaimed excited that she'd won the whole Five pounds. George giggled and Dhani high fived her.
"Do you want to meet Jason?" George said suddenly having an idea. Amelia's mouth dropped open.
"You know Jason Marcs!?" She asked in amazement. George bit his lip and shook his head.
"Well no, but what's the point of being an Ex-Beatle if it can't get you into to meet people?" He asked with a light laugh. Neither of the kids knew what he meant, but they went along with him down toward the track.
George talked to a security guard for a minute and Dhani poked at Amelia and she picked back at him like they usually did. Then, almost randomly, George lifted up Amelia and he set her on his shoulders. She laughed happily as George took Dhani's hand and they walked into a garage where all the racers and cars were.
Amelia gasped and her mouth hung open when she saw Jason Marcs standing by his car talking to someone. George chuckled at her as they approached. Jason looked at them and smiled. He seemed to recognized George and his mouth hung open, much like Amelia's was.
"Hey, you're George Harrison!" He said offering his hand to George. George laughed and shook his hand carefully, so not to drop Amelia. Jason had an American accent and Amelia liked it alot.
"I am," George said, "But I'm here because I happen to have a big fan." George took Amelia off his shoulders and she shyly stood next to George.
"Oh?" Jason said crouching down in front of her, "And what's your name?"
"Ami," was all she was able to get out. Jason smiled at her.
"Well I'm Jason." He held out his hand and she took it gingerly. She couldn't believe she was actually meeting her favorite racer, "Did you enjoy the race?" Amelia nodded and giggled.
"I knew you were going to win!" she said, making him laugh. George talked to Jason for a second before Dhani came into the conversation and AMelia just looked at Jason in awe.
When they were about to leave Jason gave them each a photo that he signed. It was a picture of Jason and his car. Amelia grinned and gave him a hug, making Jason laugh a little.
After they left, Amelia was the happiest person in the world! As she and Dhani climbed into the back seat of the car, She was jabbering on and on about Jason Marcs. Once she was all buckled up George handed her the five pounds he owed her and she put it safely in pocket.
Amelia fell asleep on the way home and George looked back to see her head on Dhani's shoulder. He smirked as Dhani made a face and tried to put his arm around her.
George's smile was wiped off his face as he pulled up to the driveway to Friar Park. There were police cars and an ambulance outside of the little house Amelia and her father lived at. All the people were gathered around where the lake was and George spotted Olivia as he parked the car.
"Dad what's going on?" Dhani asked looking out the window. George shrugged.
"I don't know, son, stay here with Ami." George got out of the car and Dhani watched him as he walked to Olivia and she explained what happened. Amelia woke up from all the flashing lights and the loud sirens. She looked out the window and gasped.
"No, no, no!" she said scrambling out of the car. She ran toward George, but Dhani caught her.
"Dad said to stay in the car!" he said holding tight to her wrist. That didn't stop her. When she was standing close enough to here Olivia talk she felt her heart rate pick up.
"He fell George," She said, "Someone came looking for him when he didn't show up for shift change and they found him drowned in the lake." George shook his head and he ran his fingers through his hair.
"What about Amelia?" he asked. Olivia shook her head, looking like she might cry at any second.
"I don't know." Olivia said before she saw Amelia standing behind George, looking like she was about to pass out.
George whipped around and he looked at Dhani and Amelia, "Dhani I told you to keep her in the car." Dhani tried to to explain, but Amelia cut him off.
"Mr. George, what's happened?" she asked, "Who's drowned?" George gave her a sympathetic look as he knelt down in front of her.
"I'm so sorry, love," he said pushing her hair back, "It was your dad." Amelia instantly erupted into tears. George pulled her to him and she sobbed into his chest. He looked at Olivia who had her mouth covered and her eyes closed as she silently cried. Dhani ran to her and she held her arms around him. George tried his hardest to comfort Amelia, but she was crying too much to hear him. He finally lifted her up and started to walk up to the house. Dhani stayed behind with his mum.
By the time George got into the house, Amelia had stopped crying and she was just staring off into space. George took her into Dhani's room and he helped her into some of Dhani's pajamas before he put her in Dhani's bed. He covered her up and he found she was already mostly asleep. He took a deep breath and he kissed her forehead before he left the room.
How could this have happened? George had a lot of thinking to do within the next 24 hours.
