Francesco gave a nod of support, and Stefano said, ‘I’m sorry, Lucia, but I will soon be handing in my notice. I’ve accepted a lectureship in Bologna. I begin after the summer, in the new academic year.’
The way his shoulders dropped saddened Lucia. Had everyone grown so guilty about leaving her to fend for herself? She didn’t want anyone to feel compelled to stick around merely out of loyalty; she didn’t want anyone to feel tied down or held back by her or La Scuola Rosa. Perhaps now, knowing that the school had been secured, life could go on with some sense of normalcy once again?
Lucia stood and walked over to Stefano. She bundled his hands between hers and said, ‘Grazie, Stefano. For all your support and time, and for all the care you have shown our students. You have stepped in at the shortest of notice and just been the most brilliant addition to our family. Of course we will miss you, but I know that wonderful things await you and your career in Bologna. I’m so proud of you.’ Stefano stood and the two embraced. Over Stefano’s shoulder Lucia caught Francesco’s eye. She could read his worry and concern about their separation and distance. For good measure, she added, ‘And thank you for making this guy so happy. Because he deserves it, and so much more.’
‘Speaking of,’ Francesco started. ‘What’s happening with Alex?’
Lucia’s eyes flicked back to the window. ‘We are just spending time together. We are going slow.’
‘Says the woman who slept with him twice in a week . . .’
Mariella, upon hearing this, threw her hands over her ears. ‘Enough of that talk, please!’
Lucia gave Francesco a playful sisterly shoulder shove.
‘Ma che dici? It’s true!’ he retorted.
‘I am just enjoying his company for now. If anything eventuates between us, I think it will happen slowly. We both have deep scars and plenty of emotional bruises to work around.’
Walking back to the window she looked across at La Commedia. What she wanted to say was that it had been a few days since she and Alex had spoken properly. It had been quick exchanges in thecalleand smiles through the windows. She didn’t want to admit that she had felt him pull away a little. And it was beginning to feel familiar. As if he were distancing himself from her again.
She couldn’t be sure, so she shelved the worry for another day. For today, all she wanted to focus on was Jacopo’s share of the school, and her victory in securing the funds from La Copertina.
Even if she’d had to sell her face for it.
quarantaquattro
Almost two weeks had passed since Lucia had signed Benedetta’s contract. She’d decided to wait and return it after her meeting with Edoardo, to be sure of the final figure. She was thankful for the cooling-off period embedded in the contract, as this little step helped Lucia hang on to some control.
She had called Edoardo to ask if the meeting could be brought forward, but Edoardo refused point blank, insisting that the ninety days had to be waited out, per their contract. So, Lucia’s days dragged by, weighed down by the ticking clock. In the meantime, her heart had found a new and nervous rhythm for another reason.
That reason was Alex.
He had been just as polite and sweet in their interactions, no matter how brief they had been. In fact, he had dropped by somecornetti, left Lucia some flowers and stopped in for a quick morning coffee with La Scuola Rosa’s team, but Lucia couldn’t help but notice that something was missing. A spark, an energy; or perhaps the chemical connection that had recently bonded them. It seemed to have shifted, and not in a good way.
There had been no kissing, let alone sex.
Their relationship suddenly felt a little platonic.
Lucia wondered if perhaps he’d had second thoughts on pursuing her beyond friendship, and that suspicion deflated her spirits considerably. Despite this, a part of her also worriedforAlex. Had he dredged up the past with her too quickly? Was he now feeling that trauma all over again? Reliving it? Her mind swirled with confusion and fear for him.
As far as she could tell, through her window at least, he had been keeping his new sleeping schedule. So what was it that had made him withdraw from her?
She vowed to speak to him properly, in the spirit of their previous sharing and honesty, but only once she had dealt with Edoardo. He and the school deserved her full attention, without emotional distraction.
For now, Lucia had to come first.
Edoardo’s bulbous nose was redder than ever, and judging from the line of perspiration gathered across his brow, Lucia could tell that he was just as wound up about the meeting as she was.
It had been twenty-four hours since Lucia had been able to stomach any food. Sips of water were all that she could manage with her low-grade nausea and unsettling anxiety. Light-headed and pale, she sat across from the lawyer at the dining table. Despite the positive outcome she was now confident of, the stress of the past three months had finally truly caught up with her. She refused to let herself relax and soak up the moment until she had signed the contract of sale.
And now wasfinallythe moment.
‘I did it,’ Lucia started directly. ‘I have secured enough funds to purchase Jacopo’s share. It’s still messy and money is coming from a few different avenues, but it’s done. I have paperwork here to verify all this.’ She produced her bank statements, the terms of her loan and Benedetta’s contract and passed them across her dining table.
In that moment, two things suddenly occurred to her: the way Edoardo was unable to meet her eye, andhislack of paperwork. Where were the contracts? What would she be signing? Perhaps sensing her growing awareness, Edoardo’s shoulders curled downwards as far as his belly would allow.
Her stomach plummeted, and she couldn’t help but blurt, ‘Oddio. . . It’s not happening, is it?’
