‘Yes. I mean,sì. Please, call me Sarah.’ She stepped forward and smiled as he took her hand and gave it a polite squeeze.
‘Benvenuta, Sarah.’ Salvatore leaned further down the desk to collect some papers. ‘Ecco, check-in information and your schedule.’ He passed the navy-blue folder with gold embossed lettering to Matthew. ‘Penna?’ he offered, retrieving one from the inside pocket of his blazer.
‘No, grazie. I’ve got one.’ Matthew ushered away Salvatore’s pen. ‘Schedule? Sorry, I’m not sure what that’s about.’ Matthew didn’t know if it was the low-lighting, the glare from the marble counter-top surface or the twenty-four hours in transit catching up, but he suddenly felt foggy-headed.
‘Il programma. Your schedule, for tomorrow.’ He turned the envelope over, indicating the gold wax seal. ‘The information is all there for you. For you both.’ He nodded in Sarah’s direction.
‘Ok, great.’ Matthew rubbed his right temple and stifled a yawn. ‘Mi scusi. Sorry.’
‘Not at all.’ Holding up his index finger, Salvatore excused himself momentarily, returning with a large brass key. ‘La chiave.’ He handed it to Matthew. ‘Your usual suite on the top floor. The elevator is just behind reception, Sarah, as are the treatment spa, sauna and gymnasium.’ He gestured over his shoulder and around the corner. ‘Maurizio will bring your luggage shortly.Ci penseremo noi.’
‘Grazie. Is it possible to arrange some dinner? I don’t think we have it in us to face the city just yet.’
Sarah nodded, somewhat relieved. ‘Not until after a shower, at least.’
‘Certo.’ Salvatore pulled out a small notepad. ‘Do you have any requests?’ He looked between the two of them.
‘What are you feeling, Sarah?’
She was touched that he had asked, but didn’t want to impose with any preferences. ‘Whatever’s going.’
‘Who’s in the kitchen tonight?’ Matthew asked Salvatore.
He checked his watch. ‘Giovanni and Claudia started half an hour ago.’
‘Great. Whatever they can put together will be amazing.’
‘Fantastico.’ He scribbled a final note and tore the page dramatically from the pad. ‘I will personally deliver this to the kitchen right away.’
Matthew smiled. ‘You’re a good man, Salvatore,’ he replied over his shoulder as he and Sarah made their way towards the elevator.
Salvatore called back, ‘Welcome home . . . Matteo.’
tre
‘Fifty questions to fast-track your relationship,’ Matthew read from the small box Sarah held out for him to see. ‘Explore life, love and intimacy with your newly significant other with Dr Stefania Recca PhD, Relationship Psychologist, Sex Therapist and Bestselling Author of theFirst Date to I Doseries.’
The handmadegnudi alla Fiorentinahad been light as air, and Sarah had suddenly found her post-flight appetite, devouring each spinach and ricotta dumpling with gusto. ‘An eBay bargain.’ Sarah beamed, pushing her cutlery aside. ‘This is the English translation. There’s even a book in the series calledThe Modern Marriage 101. Can I tempt you?’ She waggled the box of cards.
‘Go on then,’ he said, taking a final mouthful of dinner.
‘We covered all the big life things on Zoom, and we have our relationship backstory straight. Let’s look at the nitty gritty details that make us,us.’
‘TherealMatthew and Sarah.’
‘Exactly!’ Sarah took a deep breath and cleared her throat as she tipped the deck of question cards into her hand. She peered into the box, retrieved the instruction sheet and read aloud. ‘Congratulations on your new relationship—’
‘Thank you!’
‘—enclosed you will find a deck of fifty question cards to help you and your newly significant other fast-track your connection and set you on the course to relationship success. The questions are divided into four categories: lifestyle, personality, objectives and intimacy. These have been devised based on decades of research within the field of relationship psychology, and from my own clinical practice. Begin by setting an intention as a couple. What you intend to achieve together from this activity, perhaps? Choose a card at random, and both partners take turns to answer them. Be honest. Be open. Listen. The most impulsive answers are often the most genuine. With each answer, be sure to offer an explanation. If you feel comfortable to do so, discuss and ask your partner questions about their responses. Be respectful and acknowledge the challenges some responses may present. Should you wish to revisit a response at a later time, use the Flag notes, also enclosed, to record them. Most importantly, have an open mind and generous heart, and be ready to let your partner in.’ Sarah lowered the paper and looked at Matthew. ‘Ready?’
‘Let me just top us up first,’ he said, refilling their glasses with a rich Sangiovese produced on one of the nearby D’Adamo properties.
‘Good call.’ She straightened in her chair and cleared some space on the table in front of them. ‘You can be the Flag boy,’ she said, handing him the pencil and notepad from the box.
Matthew took a generous mouthful of wine. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘What’s our intention?’
