Her legs went hollow. She wanted him to take her then and there. Her hands made their way down the front of his trousers and she could feel his reaction to her body. ‘What do we do?’ she whispered, registering the laughter and conversation coming from the hall.
He exhaled, pressing himself harder against her. ‘We can’t even go to our room. What I’m picturing in my mind . . . they’ll hear it all.’
‘That sounds promising.’ With her heart beating so fast it threatened to escape her chest, she had a thought. ‘Just wait here a sec. I’ve got an idea.’ Sarah took a moment to straighten her hair and top, and steeled herself before exiting the pantry. Matthew heard her greet their guests in the hall, though it was somewhat muffled by the walls and doors. A moment later, she was speaking to them from the kitchen door, ‘. . . and we’ll be right back. Once you’re done, just leave the dishes there, and keep whatever you’d like for morning tea. Should something take your fancy, of course. We’ll serve drinks and nibbles around eleven if anyone would like to join us. Please excuse us, we’ll be back soon.’ This was met with the screech of the heavy wooden chairs on the brick pavers, the shuffling of feet and the sounds of their guests getting on with their day.
Sarah burst back into the pantry.
‘What did you tell them?’ he asked, catching her upon re-entry.
‘That we are off to tend to the chickens and goats, and we’ll be back in half an hour if anyone needs us.’
‘Good one. Where can we go?’
‘The only place we can go: the stables.’
‘You weren’t joking.’
‘Do you want to do this or not,Matteo?’
He growled at her playfully. ‘Hurry up, before I undress you right here, right now.’
L’amore
Love. It’s incredibly simple, yet somehow easily overcomplicated.
In the world of marriage, love exists in two forms: the emotional response to your spouse and the unconditional acceptance you have of them through marriage.
Let us consider the former, as it is likely the most easily recognisable. Love as an emotional response manifests as desire, yearning, sexual attraction, care and connection. These are triggered by our subconscious need for human connection and recognition. Love need not necessarily be driven by sexual attraction and desire, but it is a large part of what connects married couples. When the attraction wanes, or the ‘spark’ diminishes, over time, we call upon the latter meaning of love to enable the relationship to continue to flourish.
Acceptance. When you tell someone you love them, ultimately, you are communicating an unconditional acceptance for who they are, in all physical, emotional, intellectual, social and psychological forms. Your profession of love is a reminder of that commitment and should not be taken lightly.
In this instance, the unconditionality of the acceptance is key. Understanding that no one person is perfect, and that we are all inherently flawed in some way, love – and being accepted by one’s spouse – is the answer to personal and collective growth.
One of the most powerful ways for you to reconnect with your spouse is to remind them of your love. Show them, tell them and share in unconditional love.
Use your voice, use your body. But tell them.
Before one day it may be too late.
ventisette
The heat was unfortunate, but the collective spirit of those assembled in the Chiesa dei Fiori couldn’t be extinguished. It was Margherita and Riccardo’s day, and nothing – and no one – was going to get in their way.
The congregation was indeed small. Saverio had neglected to respond to the wedding invitation Riccardo had sent him, which left the total number at eleven. It was a perfect number, as all their nearest and dearest were there.
Matthew and Sarah sat on the right-hand side of the church in the third pew. As they waited for Margherita’s entrance, Matthew turned to Sarah and asked, ‘How many of these have you sat through for work?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Too many. I had a thing with a colleague called the Five-Star Marriage Rating System.’
He grinned. ‘Do tell.’
‘Whenever we styled an A-lister wedding, by the close of the ceremony, we had to give a rating out of five as to when we thought the marriage would end. A one-star rating meant one year, and so on. It was always within the first five years, without fail. With all those celebrities and millionaires in the media, it was easy to keep tabs.’
‘You guessed it every time?’
‘Every. Single. Time.’ She gave him a look which radiated superiority. ‘Sadly.’
‘And how do you place these two?’ He nodded towards Riccardo who was stood by the altar.
