Chasing Daisy

and pans out of a cupboard before exiting the kitchen. I get up wearily and put my bowl in the sink before following her through to the sitting room. Old bits of rag are still stuffed in the walls from the last time I was here. I sigh, too drawn to comment.
    ‘Come,’ she says to me, indicating the sofa. I falter for a moment, remembering the sight of Will falling asleep there, but she takes my hand and pulls me down to sit beside her. I curl up and lay my head on her lap as she quietly and soothingly strokes my hair.
    The sound of a car screeching to a stop outside the house wakes me up. I look, bleary-eyed, up at Nonna.
    We both react at the same time, leaping to our feet and staring out of the window in alarm. A man climbs out of the car and holds his jacket above his head to shield himself from the pelting rain as he runs towards the door.
    ‘Who is it?’ I ask.
    ‘I don’t know,’ Nonna replies.
    We hurry through to the kitchen as the man starts pounding on the door.
    ‘Shall I open it?’ Nonna asks me, clearly not used to expecting visitors, especially this late on a Sunday night.
    ‘I’ll do it,’ I insist, going to the door.
    ‘Daisy, it’s me!’ I hear the man shout.
    Luis? I open the door in surprise and he stares out at me from underneath his drenched coat.
    ‘Can I come in?’ he asks quickly.
    I step back in shock. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘Good evening.’ He nods at Nonna, who’s watching this interaction with some interest. She takes his coat, going to the old-fashioned stove and hanging it out to dry. ‘Thank you,’ he calls. He sounds oddly formal.
    ‘Who is this?’ Nonna asks me in Italian.
    ‘Luis Castro,’ I reply. ‘He’s the other driver for the team.’
    ‘He doesn’t look much like a driver,’ she mutters.
    ‘He doesn’t usually have a beard. He was just, you know, he hasn’t been himself since. . . the accident.’
    Luis glances with confusion at each of us, but Nonna’s face softens after my last comment. ‘Come in, come in,’ she urges in English. ‘Sit down.’
    ‘Er, thank you,’ Luis replies awkwardly. He pulls out a chair at the kitchen table.
    ‘Have you had dinner?’ Nonna asks in Italian. I translate.
    ‘No, but I’m fine, thank you,’ Luis replies.
    ‘You can’t say no to my nonna’s cooking,’ I tell him.
    He gives me a look, not sure if I’m tricking him into eating or not.
    ‘In that case, yes please.’ He sounds so polite for a change. I would giggle if I weren’t so confused.
    ‘How did you find me?’ I ask while Nonna ladles some soup out of the saucepan still sitting on the stove.
    ‘I asked Holly where you’d gone, then called Ally to find out the address.’
    ‘But I don’t understand? Why did you come at all?’
    Nonna places a bowl in front of him. He looks up and says thank you, then picks up his spoon.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ I say, glancing at Nonna. ‘You can fill me in, later.’
    He starts to eat while Nonna and I sit there and watch him for a moment. I realise we’re staring.
    ‘How did the race go?’ I ask, coming to my senses.
    ‘I came third,’ he replies, taking another mouthful.
    ‘Luis, that’s brilliant!’ I exclaim.
    ‘What?’ Nonna interrupts. I quickly fill her in about Luis qualifying twelfth, but finishing on the podium. I turn back to him, feeling absolutely delighted.
    ‘Simon must’ve been thrilled!’
    He shrugs. ‘I wouldn’t know.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘I came straight here.’
    ‘What, after the press conference?’
    ‘Nope. Didn’t do it.’
    ‘But that’s immediately after the awards’ ceremony. How did you even know I’d left?’
    ‘You weren’t in the crowd. I shouted down to Holly and she told me you’d gone.’
    I’m too taken aback to comment.
    Luis puts his spoon down. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says. ‘My appetite isn’t what it was.’
    Nonna waves away his apology and clears the bowl. ‘Why don’t you go to the sitting room and I’ll bring through coffee,’ she suggests. I lead the way.
    ‘I guess I wasn’t really thinking, turning up like this.’ Luis glances around the room. ‘It’s not very good manners to land on someone’s doorstep, uninvited. I hope your grandmother doesn’t hold it against me.’
    ‘Don’t worry, she won’t.’ We sit next to each other on the sofa. ‘You still haven’t told me why you’re here?’ I prompt.
    He looks uncomfortable. ‘Spur of the moment. I didn’t want you to leave again.’
    ‘I