‘Sorry. But that was just too easy. And look.’ He held out his phone so she could see the newly illuminated screen. ‘The power’s working.’
‘Thank God for that.’
Matthew backed up against the wall and stretched his legs out. He patted the floor beside him, coaxing her to his side. Sarah eyed Matthew sternly before joining him, giving him a playful shoulder shove as she made herself comfortable. With his phone in hand, he opened a new note. ‘Ok. Let’s go. What do we need to get ASAP in order to survive the night here? Or at least the next few days.’
Sarah cocked her head to the side and her teeth found her lower lip. Closing her eyes, she did a mental stocktake of what they had found in the many rooms, the bathrooms and the kitchen. The answer, frustratingly, was very little that would be of use. They were yet to find anything that resembled a laundry, but they could certainly make-do for a while.
Thinking back to the welcome hamper and fresh linen left by Alberto, she began. ‘Toilet paper. Soap. Some basic cleaning supplies. Plastic bags. Gloves. A broom. And a mop.’ She clapped her hands together to free them of the dust they had gathered.
Matthew’s fingers furiously added her suggestions to the growing list. ‘And the kitchen? Plates. Cutlery. Glasses.’
‘Maybe a few tea towels?’ she added. ‘Olive oil. Salt. A pan. A pot. Some utensils.’ She sighed. ‘Chocolate.’
‘Done.’ He smiled. ‘Any preference?’
‘Anything in a substantial quantity.’
‘I’m sure we can manage.’ His gaze met the vast empty wall to their right. ‘That’s going to be a great spot for the bed. It will leave all this space open. We could set up a little loungeroom-esque space here, maybe pop a desk there by that window.’
‘Sounds cosy.’ Sarah’s eyes settled on the detailed fresco painted overhead. A collection of cherubs and a woman dressed in blue, whom she assumed was the Virgin Mary, looked down upon them. ‘We can do this, Matthew,’ she said. ‘We just need to settle in and find our feet.’
Matthew’s eyes met hers and he leaned against her shoulder. ‘I can’t thank you enough, Sarah. Honestly. This has all just . . . I can’t . . .’
‘If we’re going to get through this and come out the other end victorious, you need to let go of this apology cycle. It’s ok. I’m fine. We need to think of this as an adventure.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Stop. No more apologising.’
He ran his hands through his hair and said, ‘God. See? I’m programmed for it.’
‘We’ll get there. Once we’re settled, you’ll feel like we’ve got more control over the situation. Things will work out however the universe wants them to. The joy will come.’ She smiled, and he was thankful for her company and kindness.
‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
Turning his attention once again to their list, he said, ‘I’d suggest we head into town for a walk around and to collect supplies, but I don’t think that’s the smartest move.’ Plugging their location into Google Maps, he said, ‘We’re three kilometres from Fiorellino. A lovely walk under any other circumstances, but—’
‘Not at all ideal when we need to stock-up on supplies.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Shall we take the Ferrari?’ Sarah’s brown eyes glistened.
Matthew threw his head back and laughed, inadvertently smashing it against the plaster wall behind them. ‘Jesus!’ He winced, turning to assess the wall, assuming he’d smashed a hole through it with the sheer force of his laughter.
She grinned. ‘One word: karma.’
sette
With every step, their legs seemed to grow heavier.
Sarah turned to look back over her shoulder, noting how their car seemed a mere speck among the rest parked by the side of the road before the dead end. Through her laboured breathing, she managed to pant, ‘At least the view’s worth it.’
The valley below undulated and rippled to the horizon, marked by rows of vines and crops intersecting at different angles across the tapestry of the countryside.
Matthew was quietly relieved that the uncomfortably steep staircase was coming to an end. Over the top of the final step, their destination suddenly came into view; a small horseshoe-shaped piazza paved in red sandstone and dotted with shops and businesses spilling chairs, tables and wares into the square.
