‘Matteo?’
‘It is fine,’ said Renata. ‘He is a good boy. He will take care of her.’
‘But Toni is a bit fragile at the moment,’ Lou had said worriedly.
‘I will find him,’ Renata had said.
She snapped her fingers and one of the younger guests came over. After a moment of talking, the guest went off and then returned to report back.
‘They are sitting on the back terrace. They are good,’ said Renata. ‘He will take care of her. I sent the message that Angelo will kill him if he hurts her.’
Lou had laughed. ‘Thank you for looking after Trinity,’ she added.
‘She has come to some decision, I think,’ Renata said. ‘This makes sense to you?’
‘Yes and no,’ said Lou. ‘I don’t know what is worrying her, but I will find out.’
Renata patted Lou on her soft cheek. ‘You are very maternal, my dear. What a beautiful way to be. It is a gift. And you have given me a gift – you have made my Angelo very happy.’
Now, Lou reached for her phone, but its tiny percentage of battery had died during the night, so she got up, showered and found that someone had left out toiletries and some clothes, if Lou wanted to change into them.
She left the bedroom and found Renata sitting on the balcony with Angelo having breakfast. Angelo was drinking coffee. He gave her a smile but didn’t try to fuss over her.
‘Good morning,’ said Lou. ‘Have either of you seen Toni?’
A smile played at the corner of Angelo’s mouth as he shook his head.
‘Men,’ said Renata, shrugging. ‘You did not tell me about your man. Your daughter, yes, but not your husband.’
‘Ned,’ said Lou.
‘He did not want to come on this trip?’
Renata looked so knowing as she said this that Lou wondered if she had a crystal ball and could see into people’s souls.
‘He might have, but we left without him. He forgot to buy me anything for my birthday,’ she added, thinking that as she explained it, the whole thing sounded very childlike.
‘That’s not all—’ she began.
‘Of course it is not all,’ said Renata with gravity. ‘It is a symbol of other things. Those symbols are important because they show respect for you as a person. Otherwise, you are merely furniture. In the house to be ignored until one is needed. Marriage must have respect. No contempt, no lack of respect. He is a good man or no?’
‘A good man,’ said Lou without hesitation.
‘Then it is simple. Explain that you want respect. If he does not understand, he is either too stupid to be married to you or too cruel.’
Lou laughed.
‘Renata is very firm on what matters in life,’ said Angelo.
‘But I am right,’ his wife reminded him.
‘You are,’ agreed Lou.
‘You will explain this to him?’
Lou nodded. ‘I will.’
Toni moved in the bed. It was really incredibly comfortable and she stretched out luxuriantly. She felt quite wonderful. Sometimes when she woke, her lower back ached, but this morning it felt so limber, as if she’d had a full body massage. She had, she realised, remembering warm, firm hands massaging her, of Matteo telling her he’d thought of studying physiotherapy and of how working with clay gave one very strong hands.
