Marcella now appeared at Stella’s doorway, coffee in hand. ‘I can tell you the exact moment he orgasmed last night – I heard it all,tutto-tutto! – butthishe’s ashamed of.Santa Maria!’ she said. She handed the coffee to Stella, who was now sitting upright in bed.
‘Grazie,’ Stella said, taking in the rich aroma that wafted up from the little porcelain cup. Her eyes found some relief in the warmth of the rising steam.
Marcella made herself comfortable on the end of the bed, holding eye contact with Stella. Not blinking for what seemed an eternity, she was prepared to wait it out.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Are you going to tell me what is going on here?’
‘That’s between me, Vincent and Roma, I’m afraid,’ Stella answered, loud enough so that Vincent could hear.
‘Madonna!Dai, Stella! Nothing like this ever happens to you. Tell me, please!’
The sound of the shower running signalled an opportunity to chat unheard.
‘Quick, we don’t have long!’ said Stella, who bounced out of bed and sat at her desk opposite Marcella. ‘He’ll be out of that shower in no time.’
‘Dio, tell me everything!’ Marcella whispered.
‘About last night, or . . .’
‘What? There has been more?’
Stella giggled. ‘You’ve been busy.Last night,’ she pressed clearly, ‘started with a heated discussion, actually. About me working at Bar Luna e Lupa, about Marco. He thinks I’m being taken advantage of.’
‘This is Italia, we are the experts. Corruption. Deception. Indigestion.’ Marcella waved her hand passionately.
‘Anyways, we chatted and then we just kind of decided to come together, I guess. And . . .’
‘E?E . . .?’
‘And that’sallyou need to know.’
‘Porca miseria, Stella! You know about everything I do!’
‘That’s not my choice, I’ll have you know.’
‘How was it? Tell me.’ Her eyes were bright and her nostrils flared. She was ravenous for salacious gossip.
Stella paused for a moment, choosing her words wisely. ‘It was fine.’
‘Fine?Ma che“fine”?!’
‘It did the job. It was . . . fine.’ Stella got up, ready to tidy the room, but Marcella grabbed her arm and pushed her back into the chair.
‘Aspetta, Stella. Fine is not ok. Fine is day-old bread.’
‘Marcella, leave it. He is wonderful. The sex was fine. We’ll get there. Not everything’s about sex.’
Staring at her cock-eyed, Marcella erupted. ‘You faked it! I can see it in your eyes!’
‘Marcella . . .’
Feverishly making the sign of the cross, she panted, ‘There’s no greater sin.Dio Santo.’ Through a winced-eyed grimace, she bit down on her balled fist. ‘Tesoro mio, sex tells you everything you need to know about a partner. About a relationship.’
‘I’m in no way worried. Everything will work itself out.’
Marcella shook her head. ‘This is Italia. Monogamy is never the default.’
