Speaking with her head buried in the cushion, her voice was muffled. ‘I took Marco to the Giardino degli Aranci tonight. I suddenly felt cold. Alone. Lonely. There were all these people there with their families and partners. Some with kids . . .’ She came up for air, revealing a snotty blotched face. ‘It just made me question . . .’ She suddenly checked herself. Did she want to allow her thoughts to exist beyond her mind and heart? Then, there was no suppressing them. ‘All I wanted,’ she sniffed into her sleeve, ‘was to be held. To have someone . . . special.’
‘What about Marco?’ Marcella asked.
She blew her nose into a tissue Marcella withdrew from between her breasts. ‘WhataboutMarco?’
‘Well, did you think about him?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What ifMarcowere that special person?’ Marcella raised her eyebrows, matter of fact. ‘Hmm? He’s very cute, you know. He won’t be single forever.’
‘Marco’s my friend, Marcella. Ineedhim as a friend.’
‘The thought hasn’t even entered your mind?Un pochino?’
‘Marcella. Stop.’ Stella sat upright.
‘No, Stella. You complain, but here is this perfect man, and you won’t even consider—’
‘You think I haven’t thought about it? Entertained the idea? It terrifies me, Marcella.’
‘What does?’
‘The thought of losing him.’
‘How will you lose him?’
‘If I keep him at arm’s reach . . . if I hold him back . . . he can’t hurt me. Ican’tlose Marco, Marcella. Everything needs to stay as is.’
‘Stella, Marcoè diverso dagli altri.’
‘I know he’s different. All the more reason to protect what we have.’ Stella stood up and began pacing the living room. ‘I don’t want to lose him. He’s the . . . Well, he’s theonlyman in my life. He’s too precious to me.’
‘Scusami, cara, but I think you’re wrong.’
‘Apart from you, Marcella, Marco is the only steadfast thing in my life right now. I’m done thinking about it. Aboutmen. Let me just enjoy Marco for what he is.’
Marcella’s silence was deafening. Withdrawing a cigarette and lighter from her bra, she lit up. It would help her think more clearly.
‘What else have you got stashed in there?’ Stella pointed to Marcella’s enviable cleavage.
‘If I told you, I would have to kill you.’ They both shared a giggle, a wry smile returning to Stella’s face. ‘All I will say,’ she took a long drag and exhaled the smoke over her left shoulder away from Stella, ‘is that you shouldn’t write off Marco. Not yet. He might just be the one you’ve been waiting for. Yourdestino.’
trentadue
‘All you need to do is add a little black to the base colour you’re mixing, see?’ Stella used the end of her brush to scoop a tiny drop of ebony paint, dotting it on the corner of her mixing palette. She did the same with a patch of grey she had been working with. ‘Now, take this.’ She secured the palette in the young boy’s hand. ‘With the tip of these bristles here,’ she gestured with her free hand, ‘gently mix them together.’
Delight raced across the boy’s face. ‘I did it! I did it!’
‘See! Told ya you could be a painter.’
‘Can I have a turn?’ asked his keen little sister.
‘Of course! But how about I get you your own mixing palettes? I kind of need this one back.’
‘Yeah! Yeah!’ they cried with joy.
Stella disappeared behind the service counter, returning with two white plates and a roll of cling film. Wrapping each of the plates carefully in the plastic, she handed one to each of the children, along with a clean brush. Giving each plate a little squirt of green, yellow and red paint – colours she could spare – Stella invited the pair to practise mixing colours on the edges of their plates, then design a pretty picture in the centre circle.
