‘Yes. I know, the timing isn’t ideal leading up to our first Christmas and all. I’m sorry, but I really need to take this job.’
‘You should. We can celebrate when you get back. We will have an unforgettable New Year.’
‘Thanks for understanding. So, when are you and Marcella back?’
‘Monday, early afternoon,’ Stella answered. ‘I won’t be at the market and Marcella’s not needed at work until the evening, so we will make the most of the morning here.’
‘That only gives us a few hours to say goodbye, doesn’t it?’ he said with libido-laced intonation.
Stella made a vomiting gesture. ‘Actually, I got my period yesterday.’
Marcella and Carlotta mimed cheering from their seats.
His voice deflated. ‘That’s a shame. Well, I’m holding a seat on a flight leaving at five o’clock. I’ll need to leave the apartment around two.’
‘Give yourself enough time to get to Fiumicino. You know what traffic can be like.’
‘You’re right. I’ll leave by one thirty then. I’ll see you Monday, ok?’
‘Yup, see you then.’ Stella ended the call. Exasperated, she let out a loud sigh of relief. ‘Holy shit. I’ve never thought so fast on my feet.’
‘Brava,Stellina, you did great.’ Marcella hugged her.
‘It seems you can end it all on Monday if you want. No revenge attack, just a clean slate. Send him away and out of your life.’ Carlotta was topping up their glasses with sparkling water. ‘This is a good thing, isn’t it?’
Disappointed, Stella wasn’t happy with that outcome. ‘No. I want to take back control. I want to have a say inhowandwhenthis ends. He completely disempowered me and has been lying to my face for months. I’m calling the shots here. I want him to suffer some of the embarrassment I’m feeling right now. He will go down onmyterms.’ Stella was resolute. ‘And I think I have the perfect idea how to get him out of my life and out of our apartment for good.’ A wicked smile formed on her face. ‘Will you help me?’
‘Assolutamente!’ Marcella clapped gleefully.
Carlotta was about to join in celebrating when the arrival of a text message distracted her. ‘Ma, no! Look!’ She held out her phone so that the others could see the message sitting on the screen:Elisabetta, forgive me for being so direct last night. Let me make it up to you with a candlelit dinner at my place tonight. V. She shook her head. ‘Non ci credo.’
‘I want to smash his face.’ Marcella stabbed a chunk of steak with her fork, sending a loud metallic clunk ringing around the restaurant.
‘You’re going down, Vincent,’ Stella said through slitted eyes. ‘Onmyterms this time.’
ventotto
Despite being in Florence, Stella was determined to get her usual Sunday morning run in. The air was crisp and the sun was only just starting to rise, casting an eerie glow over the city.
Heading north-east, Stella made her way up Via del Moro. Intersecting with Via Panzani, she turned right, towards the direction of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Approaching Piazza del Duomo, she decided to loop around the back of the enormous cathedral, enjoying how quiet sleepy Florence was. Looping around Via Roma, Stella started to cross paths with a few locals who were up and about.
She wanted to run along the Arno river, traversing it at its most famous crossing: the Ponte Vecchio. Approaching the bridge, she sighed through her hastened breath at its simplicity. It wasn’t one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, but it was close to being one of the most unique. Stella stopped to catch her breath at the midpoint, where three arches framed the views north-west and south-east of the water.
Turning to face the other side of the river, Stella gasped at the sight of the full moon. It lay low on the horizon, ready to bid Florence and its peoplearrivedercibefore being chased away by the rising sun. The perfect pearlescent tranquillity of the moon suddenly reminded her of Marco.
Dropping her head into her hands the realisation hit her: she would have to tell him about what happened with Vincent. As a now important person in her Roman life, Marco’s approval meant a lot to her. Part of her felt foolish for falling for Vincent’s lies and betrayal, and she wondered if Marco – given his sensitive nature – may have sensed something was amiss all along. She scowled, hoping he wouldn’t think less of her.
Pushing the thought to the back of her mind, Stella found extra juice in her legs and decided to carry on rather than turn back. Heading south-east, she basked in the morning sun, which gently warmed her face.
Despite the hideousness of the previous day, she felt energised and recharged by the dewy rays. It was a small moment of relief before the sun finally succumbed to a blanket of cloud cover.
After a lazy day spent with Marcella between galleries, night eventually descended upon Florence, wishing its peoplesogni d’oro.
Lying side by side on the sofa bed, Stella held onto Marcella’s hand. It was familiar and comforting, and Stella was happy to have her by her side. ‘I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for that mean comment I made yesterday. The one about Federico cheating on you. I know you don’t think everyone is possible of doing the same. I . . . I was just really upset, and I’m sorry,’ Stella said, truthfully ashamed.
‘That’s ok. There may have been some truth to it. I’m not sure. I talk the talk, but really, something inside me is also . . .’ Her hands met mid-air and she mimed snapping something in half. ‘You know?’
