by Patricia Mar
The two of them went into the kitchen without saying anything else. Daniel threw the package on the table and opened the refrigerator. He took out a beer, opened it and sipped it thoughtfully.
“I can see the gears turning in that head of yours…” said Elena, sitting down and looking at him expectantly. “What’s the problem?”
“My agent is trying to get me to accept a part in this film. It’s a big production, they’d pay a hell of a lot of money, it’s an incredible opportunity, etc. etc…”
“But?”
“But I’m not an actor. And I haven’t got the first idea how to be one.”
“You like challenges, Daniel. Are you sure that’s the real reason?”
“What, you mean worrying about looking like an idiot who can’t string two words together? Of course that’s the reason.”
“Well, I don’t agree. I saw that short advert you did for Cosmic. That was a mini film and you were acting there. I don’t think a producer would offer you a part if he thought you weren’t up to it.” She smiled benevolently. “So, what’s the real reason?”
“They’re shooting it abroad, and I know for sure that it’ll mean being away for months.”
“Sara…”
“Exactly, Sara. I’m sure that she would prefer to stay here.”
“And what does she say?”
“She doesn’t know yet, I had every intention of turning the part down so I didn’t think there was any point telling her, but Marc won’t let me forget about it.”
“Maybe he thinks it’s a good opportunity for you.”
“And for himself! I know, I know – he’s right, but a job like this would cost me plenty.”
“Don’t you trust Sara?” Daniel stared at her. “Or maybe she doesn’t trust you. Are you worried that you might not be faithful to her?”
Daniel slammed the bottle on the countertop violently. He instantly regretted it, but he was feeling so agitated. “Don’t joke about it, Mum. I’d never hurt Sara, and I would never do anything to damage our relationship. I really love her, and I have no intention of betraying her.”
“So what’s the problem, then? If Sara has agreed to marry you, I’m sure she’s understood that your relationship will be complicated and that you’ll spend quite a bit of time apart. She’s not stupid.”
“I would like her to give up her job and come with me.” There, he had said it, finally. And he had said it to his mum.
“Oh, what nonsense. I’ve been here for three days and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to talk to her. She’s not the kind of girl who likes having nothing to do. Having a job is as important for her as it is for you.”
“I don’t want to force her, but she needs to understand that it would be better for both of us.”
“For you, certainly,” his mother scolded him.
“Mum, whose side are you on exactly?” Daniel was annoyed now. That day had got off to a terrible start, and it looked like it was only going to get worse.
“Just because you earn a lot of money – more money than you’ll ever be able to spend in one lifetime – and she only earns a few euros, do you think you have the right to choose which one of you should stop being themselves? You love Sara for what she is. You chose her from among millions of women because she was different, because she had a normal life. That’s the way it is, and you know very well that I’m right.”
Daniel swallowed and remained silent.
“What you fell for with her is her strength, her big heart, her seriousness. You can’t force her to do things or make her feel guilty if she doesn’t want to turn her whole life upside down for you.”
“But if she doesn’t, what kind of marriage will we have? We have to make some sacrifices here and there.”
“Of course you do, but you both have to make them, and they have to be spontaneous – they have to come from the heart, on both sides. That’s the only thing that will make your marriage work.”
Daniel ran his hand over his forehead. A terrible headache had begun to hammer at his temples.
“Talk to her about this film, see how she reacts. Make your decisions together and don’t hide what you feel, but don’t give her an ultimatum either. I know from experience that if you stand someone at the edge of a cliff, there’s a good chance you’ll both end up falling off.”
Their eyes met and there was no need for any more words. It was all too clear now.
10
Mission: Lois Lane
It was now 18:40 and Sara was exhausted – a shapeless heap of thoughts, flesh and bones. Running around the city in a measly three degrees centigrade to show a group of hysterical tourists the beauties of Rome had been challenging.
She took off her jacket, scarf and gloves and collapsed onto the sofa, landing face down with her feet protruding out from over the armrest. Not far away, the coloured lights of a large Christmas tree flashed in all directions, creating a pleasant effect that lit up the dim room. It was December the 30th and she’d let herself be talked into accompanying that group of ‘slightly demanding’ tourists. Her boss didn’t want to turn down the work despite the holidays, and had sent her off to do the job. She was good at it, full of initiative and above all nice to tourists, so she’d ended up being the best choice. Sara realised that in no time at all, she had won the boss’s trust and esteem, and if, on the one hand, she was deeply flattered, on the other, one phrase flashed in her head more brightly than the lights on the Christmas tree: what a pain!
There was a short tour scheduled for the following day too, but at least she would have the afternoon free. She sighed and closed her eyes. Even her eyelids ached. She had tried to bring up the question of her two weeks’ vacation in February, but the most she’d managed to get was a vague “we’ll see”. That was a bad sign.
“Oh my God, this is like an episode of CSI!” exclaimed Virginia, entering the room and turning on the light. “There’s a body on my sofa!”
“On our sofa!” muttered Sara in a voice muffled by a cushion.
“Admit that you are a corpse, then.” Her sister, who was wearing shorts and an oversized shirt, went to the refrigerator and took out a Coke.
“I’d quite happily admit it if I didn’t have all these aches and pains in my bones and feet that demonstrate I’m still very much alive and feeling absolutely shitty.”
Virginia laughed and sat down on a stool near the kitchen counter. “Bad day?”
Sara raised her head slightly and gave her a knowing look.
“You haven’t forgotten that in an hour your gorgeous boyfriend is going to be here to sling your carcass over his shoulder and take you out for dinner?”
“Don’t remind me. His mother is leaving tomorrow and he wants to go to a luxurious new restaurant tonight. But just the idea of wearing high heels right now feels like torture to me.”
“Isn’t his mother staying to celebrate New Year’s Eve here?”
Sara got herself up and sat down normally on the sofa, lifting her legs and propping them on the table in front of her. “No. She says young people ought to celebrate like young people, so she wants to go back to Pienza and stay in with her friends at her house, cooking for everyone.”
“She seems like a nice person.”
“She is, I liked her right away. Direct, straight to the point, she doesn’t mince her words, she speaks her mind. She’s a strong woman despite everything she’s been through – or maybe because of that. Daniel definitely got his decisive character from her.”
“If he didn’t have a character like that, he’d have had no chance with you,” commented Virginia, looking distracted. Something was bothering her, Sara could tell from the look on her face.
“Ok, so what do you want to tell me?”
“Me?” Virginia feigned surprise, putting her hand on her chest.
“Yes, you, I know you well enough to know when you’ve got something on your mind.”
“Well… no… nothing… I was just wondering what you were doing t
omorrow night, that’s all.”
Sara smiled and for the first time since arriving home she relaxed. “Dario Gualtieri has invited us to dinner. An evening with friends, he says. I doubt it, he always does things in style, but Daniel is keen to go, they’re very close. Personally, I would have preferred a quiet evening just for us, or something with a few close friends, but I imagine that this time I’m going to have to resign myself to the idea of the kind of elegant party my boyfriend likes.”
“And is Alessandro going to be there as well?”
Sara’s smile grew even broader. “So that’s where this conversation is heading…”
“Yes. I mean, I wanted to know if you were spending New Year’s Eve with him.”
“I don’t know, Daniel didn’t tell me, but Alessandro doesn’t much like that kind of social event either, so I don’t know if he’ll be there, even though Dario is his uncle.”
“Maybe you’ve chosen the wrong boyfriend,” chuckled Virginia, raising her eyebrows.
“Daniel was made for me. It’s all the stuff that comes with him that I don’t like sometimes, but I want to adapt, for him. He loves his lifestyle and his job, and I don’t want him to change for me.”
“Very commendable – a truly altruistic gesture.”
“It’s called love, Virginia.”
“Hmm. Well, anyway, will you ask him if Alessandro is going to be there? I want to start making some altruistic gestures too.”
“And what if he is going to be there?”
“I’ll have to gate-crash the party, of course.”
“But…”
Virginia put her drink down on the counter and ran over to sit down next to her sister. She was in a state of extreme excitement. “I can cancel the commitment I had. It was just a party with people from the university, nothing special. I could come with you if Alessandro is going to be there.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so obsessed with him – you’ve spoken to him a couple of times on the phone and you’ve seen one photo of him, that’s it.”
“Don’t ask me why – I don’t know and I don’t want to know, but there’s this feeling, I can sense it. He’s the one.”
“Just because you had a laugh fooling around on the phone?”
“That’s how the best love stories always start. I’m his Lois Lane, it’s just that my Clark has yet to realise it – and he even wears glasses. It’s a sign.”
Sara shook her head. “Okay, I’ll talk to Daniel tonight and do some investigating.”
“Don’t forget, please… Now, come on, get up…” Virginia stood up and pulled her reluctant sister to her feet. “It’s time for you to get ready, you have to go on a mission for me.”
Sara stumbled to the bedroom and wondered if she would manage to get through the evening without ending up face down, unconscious in a plate of pasta.
*
Sara couldn’t help looking around her. More than once she had been on the verge of pulling a face, but she’d stopped herself in time. First of all because the place was very refined with a select clientele, and also rather quiet. Secondly because Daniel was obviously so happy to take her there. That’s why Sara tried to avoid looking at Elena, who obviously felt the same way. She didn’t like that place one little bit. The furnishings were cold, everything was black and white and so modern looking that in comparison, the interiors of the Enterprise looked retro. There was dim lighting and no Christmas decorations to make it feel more welcoming and festive, apart from an all white tree with black stars made of fabric in the corner of the large hall. And that new age music, which her mother loved, made her ears burn. She found it annoying, to put it mildly. And the menu was on a kind of tablet or something similar. She hated all this modernity.
Daniel didn’t seem bothered by the aseptic environment – on the contrary he seemed rather intrigued by it. But it was obvious that he was used to so encountering so many different environments and places that everything ended up being a new experience to be lived to the full – a new adventure to be enjoyed. It made her envy him – he was so much more open than she was. Sara only felt safe and at ease among the things that she knew.
She picked up the menu tablet and began to look at the list of dishes. A good old steak would be nice, right? It must have been her weariness that lowered her threshold of enthusiasm, but all the dishes seemed to come surrounded by mysterious objects and served with obscure ingredients.
“You’re all aglow tonight,” commented Daniel, who was wearing a smoke coloured suit with a tie that matched the colour of his eyes. Impeccable. How did he do it? Sara didn’t feel aglow at all, she felt like a bald headed mop. She smiled indecisively as he studied the dress she was wearing. A simple little black dress. Her hair gathered up in a bun completed the outfit.
“You’re looking at me through the eyes of love, sweetheart – I’m a complete mess.”
Elena raised her eyebrows. “Well, I wouldn’t say you’re a mess, but you do look a bit tired.”
“See, your mother noticed.”
“I’m sorry, maybe you’d rather have stayed at home,” said Daniel, suddenly feeling annoyed with himself for only just realising that, after a hard day at work, Sara might not have felt like having dinner in a restaurant.
She put her hand on his arm and gave him a very tender look. “I’m really happy to be here with you.” She was being honest, she really was. “I’m just a bit tired. I’ve spent the whole day on my feet, I’ve walked for miles and I’ve talked non-stop, so I’m afraid I might not be very good company. But there is something I want to say.” She wrinkled her nose and pulled a face. “This place makes me feel uncomfortable,” she continued cautiously. “It’s as aseptic as an operating theatre in a hospital. A bit of colour would have been nice, don’t you think?”
Elena laughed. “If you hadn’t said it, I would have.”
Daniel looked at them, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips. The complicity between the most important women in his life made him feel great. Even if they had both just written off the restaurant he’d chosen.
“So, do you think that the food will materialise directly on the dish by teleportation?” Sara asked him very seriously.
“I reckon that if we concentrate hard enough, we can order through the power of our minds,” added Elena, joining in with the game.
“Very funny, both of you. A photographer friend of mine said that the food here is divine and so I wanted to try it out. I like experimenting.” He glanced over at Sara, who immediately went purple and raised the tablet to prevent Elena from seeing her blushing face. She could testify first hand that Daniel was an expert at experimentation.
Fortunately, at that moment, the waiter arrived to take their orders and they fell silent. As soon as he was gone, Sara turned to Elena. “Are you sure you want to leave tomorrow? You could come to Dario Gualtieri’s party with us.”
“Sara’s right, Mum.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I wouldn’t know where to put myself at a party! I’d much rather go back to my house and watch the fireworks my neighbour lets off from the window in my living room.”
I know exactly what you mean… thought Sara, daydreaming. A farmhouse in the country, fireworks and Daniel’s arms holding her tight while he whispered words of love in her ear. What could be a better way of spending New Year’s Eve?
New Year’s Eve? It was at that moment that Virginia came to mind. She couldn’t disappoint her. She had to go through with Mission: Lois Lane.
“By the way, Daniel, is Alessandro going to be there tomorrow night?”
Daniel narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. “I’ve been trying to convince him to come,” he muttered. “He wants to spend the evening eating hot dogs in the company of a load of old black and white films. That boy isn’t right in the head.”
“Bravo, persuade him to come. I absolutely agree with you.”
After a short pause, Daniel tapped his fleshy lips with his index finger. “Okay, I know what
’s going on.”
“Know what?”
“You want to have another try.”
“Another try at what?”
“At bringing Virginia and Alessandro together.”
“And what if I do?” she said, without shame and even with a touch of pride. “What would be wrong with that?”
“Nothing – in fact I agree with you.”
“So you’ll find a way for my sister to be able to come to the party?”
“I’ll call Dario now and ask him if we can bring Virginia with us. I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and an enchanted Daniel couldn’t help gazing at her adoringly.
“Right, well if you two will excuse me a moment, I’m just going to make a couple of phone calls to try and organise this blind date,” said Daniel as he stood up.
Sara watched him as he walked away and sighed without being able to take her eyes off him.
“You two love each other very much.”
Sara turned towards Elena, surprised by what she’d said. “Yes, we do.”
“My marriage was a miserable failure so I can’t say I’m an expert on the subject, nor the best person to give advice, but I believe that what you have is a rare and precious gift, something that should be protected and nurtured, even at the cost of some small sacrifice.”
Sara nodded her head in agreement. “I believe that too… I love your son so much and I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“Then you should talk to each other, you should tell each other everything that’s on your mind, whether it’s good or bad. Don’t let silences hurt your feelings.”
Sara didn’t know how to interpret those words. Was Elena perhaps worried about her son? “I won’t let you down. I’ll be a good wife to Daniel.”
Elena leaned forward a little and whispered softly, with a sympathetic expression on her face, “And make sure Daniel’s a good husband as well.”
Sara gave her a warm smile and took her hand in hers. “I will, I promise.”
11
A Special New Year’s Eve