‘Yes, of course. We are completely closed to guests for this entire week, and for the festival. You’re most welcome to come earlier, if you like.’
Emanuela’s brown eyes landed on Thursday’s diary entry and scribbled through her existing plans. ‘Ottimo! I will see you Thursday morning.’
Sarah and Matthew’s week was spent in a state they coined ‘Sagramode’. It involved little sleep or spending time together, but was extremely productive.
They charged ahead, and with each delivery of goods, a little of the anxiety and worry receded. Petunia and a smaller team of workers stayed on for the week, assisting in the assembly of furniture, marquees and electrical rigging once their work on the barn and building was complete.
They had done a spectacular job of clearing the barn and repurposed the foundations by erecting large garden beds in their place. They paved and redesigned the space, and pruned back all of the singed vegetation. A fresh coat of paint to La Viola’s façade did away with the smoke stains and it was bright and fresh once again. In all, a job very well done and, as always, completed to Petunia’s high standards and with incredible efficiency.
Thursday, the eve of the Sagra dell’Umbria, had proven to be the busiest day of the week. Emanuela arrived bright and early and immediately set about supporting Sarah and Matthew as best as she could. She took over the social media platforms, directed deliveries, tech crews and assisted in hanging signage.
Riccardo and Margherita also came to help in the afternoon after work and the to-do list was finally whittled down to the last few items which could only be arranged on Friday morning as the festival was set to open.
That night, Matthew and Sarah treated their supporters and workers to a casual dinner of pizza and wine on the rear courtyard. It was a token of their gratitude, and a moment to join as a collective to reflect on the week’s work.
Once the group had dispersed for the night, and Emanuela had turned in for some rest, Matthew took Sarah by the hand and led her across the property and down into the vineyard.
‘Just take a look at that,’ she said, gesturing up to the view of La Viola, glistening under a sea of fairy lights against the darkness of the night sky.
‘Satisfying, isn’t it?’ He appraised – albeit from a distance – the fruits of their tiresome and frustrating labour. ‘I can’t believe we pulled it off.’
‘Not yet. Let’s not count our chickens.’
Matthew drew Sarah close for a cuddle. ‘Thank you for your brilliant idea, and thank you for pulling all this together.’
‘It was a team effort,’ she reminded him.
‘We couldn’t have done it without you at the helm. You have been magnificent.’
‘Can I make one final suggestion?’ Sarah asked, reaching up on her toes to plant a tender kiss on his lips.
‘Anything.’
‘Let’s go get some sleep. Before anything else has a chance to go wrong.’
La fedeltà
To be able to stand beside someone through life – quite literally through sickness and health, for richer, for poorer – takes courage, focus and an empathetic heart.
Life will test you.
It will push and pull at you.
It will try to challenge your belief systems.
Life could literally be burning down around you.
How you stand together in the face of adversity, is what matters.
Sometimes you will be standing alone, at odds with your partner. At times, you will be side-by-side. Your allegiance to your spouse should drive your marriage, because as a unit you will always be stronger.
Step away from the allegiance, however, and you will find that things will unravel very quickly.
Loyalty in a marriage means so much more than being faithful, and ‘forsaking all others’. To be loyal is to defend, protect, speak for, reach for and bolster. To be loyal to each other you must often put your partner first. This is indeed challenging. But when you put your partner first, you are also putting your marriage first.
While your marriage does not define you as individuals, it does unite you as a unit. Within that entity you have a shared identity. Your unwavering commitment to that unit is what will carry your marriage into the future, beyond the early stages, and will forge an unwavering bond built on trust, duty and dedication.
trentanove
