‘We’re not paying you enough, Stella.’ He returned the brush to the palette on her workstation. ‘No. Please. Let us pay you more.’
‘Marco—’
‘Stella, stop. You spend so much time here; the work is more complicated than I had imagined.’
‘But you feed me every day! And keep me watered. I’m the ultimate house plant.’
‘No. I won’t be able to sleep tonight.’ He made his way to the till and scribbled a note and left it for Giuseppe to find the next morning. ‘We are going to pay you the same again.’
Stella’s heart seemed to fill with cement. It pressed against her lungs and dropped to her stomach. Even with this generous offer and the leeway the extra money would provide, she was still set on a full-time job for a steadfast future. Andthis, despite how much joy it brought her, wasn’t what would save her. She hadn’t yet told Marco about her plans for April second. She had hoped not to have to tell him on account of some magical twist of fate. But standing there by the wall, a symbol so full of hope, she suddenly realised it was time.
‘Marco, my time in Roma has an expiration date. I know it’s a few months away yet, but I wanted you to know that I will be leaving April second.’
Marco’s expression dissolved to neutral. ‘What?’
‘I am desperately looking for work in my field, and I have given myself that deadline to do so. If I can’t find anything, I will go home.’
‘To Australia?’
With a defeated nod, she meekly replied, ‘I’m afraid so.’
Marco’s eyes scanned Stella’s suddenly troubled face. ‘But, you can work here. I will employ—’
Stella held out her hand. ‘Thank you. But I need to build my professional career now. I could work in hospitality forever, and it would do an adequate job of paying my bills, but that’s it. Waiting on tables and changing hotel linen isn’t what my heart and hands are craving.’
Marco returned to the table and sat with a confounded air. ‘I am really sorry to hear this, Stella.’
Stella gave his shoulder a kind caress. ‘It’s looking more and more likely that I will leave in April. The workforce here is oversaturated. Dripping, in fact. And nepotism, personal favours and fancy degrees always seem to win over real-life experience and enthusiasm. No noble and worthy causes considered. Like this house plant.’ She pointed to herself with stained hands.
Marco’s dark eyes seemed to hollow. ‘I understand.’
‘I promise I will finish your wall, though.’
He managed a wry smile. ‘I don’t need you anymore. I can finish it myself.’ He held up his right hand, showing off his coloured fingers. ‘Vedi? I am just like you now.’
She gave him a playful side shove, and they stared at the unfinished wall. ‘At this point, I think I need a miracle.’ Stella lamented.
Just as she began packing away her things, Stella suddenly remembered something. ‘I have a gift for you. I almost forgot. Wait here a sec.’ She ducked off behind the counter to wash her hands, and returned to her satchel. ‘Now, please close your eyes.’
Marco pulled his top lip behind his lower teeth, trying to stifle a smile. Through one squinted eye, he said, ‘Stella, you don’t need—’
‘Actually, I do need,’ she said, prodding him with a silencing finger. ‘Keep them closed.’ Withdrawing a maroon red and golden yellow striped scarf from her satchel, she wound it loosely around his neck. ‘Apri!’
Taking one of the tails into his hand, he smiled. ‘You’re making it official now?’
‘As official as can be! I baptise you into the AS Roma family. In the name of Francesco Totti, and ofGiallorossiand of theStadio Olimpico. Amen.’ She genuflected reverently at his feet.
He threw his head back and gave a hearty laugh. ‘Stella, this is wonderful.Grazie.’ Taking the second tail in his hand, he traced the outline of the team’s emblem – a she-wolf. ‘Like ourlupa romana.’ His eyes locked with Stella’s.
‘Exactly. Just like the bar.Destino.’
‘Allora, do I put this—’
‘In the window. For all to see.’
‘I can sayarrivedercito our Lazio supporting regulars,’ he said, winding the scarf around the coffee machine for now.
‘A small price to pay to bask in the glow of theGiallorossi.’
