ventidue
The warm night air rustled through the olive grove, bringing with it the scent of the impending summer. The star-speckled sky blanketed the undulating valley below, casting dark shadows across its curves.
Sat on the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the lukewarm water, arms resting propped up behind her, Sarah closed her eyes and took another deep breath. Tranquillity at last, after months of labour and hard work, as well as fatigue from the cooking, last-minute cleaning, bed-making and the delivery of Beatrice’s kids. She enjoyed how the water felt on her tired feet, welcoming the relief for her aching calves.
Sarah stared into the glistening blue of the pool, watching as the water rippled around her ankles with every eggbeater motion.
‘There you are,’ Matthew said, approaching her from behind.
‘Just escaped to unwind.’
‘Here. This will help.’ He handed her a generously poured glass of red wine, which she gladly accepted. ‘Mind if I join you?’
‘Not at all.’
He kicked off his shoes and eased himself down beside her, taking a sip from his own glass. Slipping his feet into the water, he was surprised to find it warmer than expected. ‘That feels great.’
‘The soles of my feet were throbbing. I could actually feel my pulse in my heels.’
‘I’m so sorry. You didn’t sign—’
‘I signed up for an adventure, and an adventure is what I’m having.’
‘You’ve been amazing, Sarah. Honestly. Not just today. This whole time. From the very start. Nothing has ever been a drama, or too difficult. You just get on with it and give it your all. I’m so very grateful. I seriously don’t know what I did to get so lucky.’
She cast her gaze across the courtyard, down the valley over the olive grove and back up to take in the splendour of La Viola, gently illuminated by the newly installed garden spotlights. ‘I think I’m the lucky one. You could’ve done this on your own. I’ve just been able to join you on the journey.’
‘This isourjourney. Believe it or not, tomorrow is only just the beginning.’
‘We’ll be fine. The hard work’s done. We just need to sit back, relax, bask in the fabulousness of this amazing place, and make sure our guests leave feeling the same way.’
‘I’ll drink to that.’ They clinked glasses.
‘I could getsoused to this.’
‘Throbbing feet?’
She laughed. ‘No,thatI could live without.’ Sarah set her wine down on the pool deck and threw her head back to gaze at the night sky. ‘Living like this. Minus the back-breaking labour, of course.’
‘It’s very tempting, isn’t it?’ He exhaled a meaningful sigh.
‘Life is just so much richer here. But it’s simpler. Everything just feels more grounded.’
‘The balance is right.’
Sarah eased herself all the way down to lie flat on the deck, while her legs continued to move gently through the water. ‘There are more stars in the sky tonight than I think I’ve ever seen in my life. And this is coming from someone who grew up in the country.’
Matthew lay back beside her. ‘Perhaps we never had the time to notice them before.’
‘Very likely.’ Sarah let her hands rest across her middle.
A moment of contemplative silence settled between them. Both succumbed to the calming sensation of the water dancing between their toes, and the warm gentle breeze of the approaching June.
‘Can I ask you something?’ Matthew turned to face her.
‘Sure.’
‘Do you regret anything? Aboutthis, I mean.’
