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“God, he’s sointense,” Marialena says, rolling her eyes. Rosa keeps her own counsel and doesn’t say anything. “Rosa, seriously, did you see the way he looked at her? What wasthatall about?”
Rosa opens the door of the room where I met Sergio as she asks me, “How did you two meet?”
“I came here because I needed a place to stay, and he was nice enough to let me.” Sounds plausible enough.
The girls share a silent look.
“Interesting,” Rosa says, beginning to take things out of a bag. “I manage a shop not far from here but thought you might need something a bit more casual.” She pulls out a pair of denim jeans and a button-down white blouse, a few dresses, and a few light sweaters. “I asked him what your hair and eye colors were because I’m sort of really into making sure colors complement people and he said ‘Imagine Goldilocks.’ So I went with it. We call this the Serenity line – delicate pastels and creams.”
I touch the clothes with the tips of my fingers. “Thank you.”
“Of course. You’ll look lovely. And the Serenity line…well, it suits you. So you’ll be working for Sergio?”
“I think so.”I hope so.
“And where are you from?” Rosa asks, as she holds up a skirt and top for me to try on.
I don’t respond right away. “I’m not really comfortable saying.”
Rosa glances at me then at the bruises on my arms but doesn’t ask anything else. She only purses her lips and nods, turning away.
Marialena, however, is a different story.
“Girl.Girl.Did somebody hit you?” Her eyes flash and her cheeks heat with fire. “My husband can be a bossy asshole, and I love him to death, but if he ever raised a hand to me—”
She spits fire. I reach for the outfit Rosa holds out, my cheeks hot.
“Marialena,” Rosa hisses. “Stop.Now I don’t know about you, but I have to get back to work. I have spring inventory to do, and I want to be home early. Santo’s flying in from Tuscany tonight and we’re getting dinner.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes,” she says with shining eyes. “I haven’t seen my husband in a month,” she tells me.
And just like that, she shuts down any conversation about who I am and where I’m from.
I could kiss her.
I’ve never met people like them before. I’m not really sure what it is about them that sets them apart from everyone else, but there’s a distinct difference. It isn’t until I’m dressed, standing in front of the mirror, that I realize.
They’re notafraid.They talk about their husbands with affection and love. They talk to Sergio—big, scary, bossy, intimidating Sergio—as if he’s a friend and not someone who will hurt them.
I come from a world where fear orchestrates my every move. It’s startling when I realize I’m not really sure who I am outside that world.How can it be that I’ve lost all sense of my own identity?
I change into the clothes but need to step out of the room to see the full-length mirror. Marialena stands waiting, a palette of eye shadow and a big brush that looks like a painter’s brush in hand, as if she’s grabbed her tools and ready to get to work.
“Stay right there,” she says, standing in front of me. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it so super simple, you won’t even know you’re wearing anything.”
“Then what’s the point?” I ask, as I follow her cues to purse my lips and hold my chin up.
“Enhancement,”she says, spinning me around.
“Confidence,” Rosa says with a smile.
I stare into the mirror in front of me and blink, twisting to see the back. Marialena bursts into musical laughter that makes me smile even though I don’t know what’s so funny.
“Are you trying to see if that’s you in the mirror, honey?” she asks kindly. “That stunningly gorgeous woman with thathairyou can’t get from a bottle and those eyes as big as half-moons? My God, your wholesomeness makes my teeth hurt, but in a good way.”
Rosa smiles at me and holds my gaze in the mirror. “She’s right. You’re beautiful. And I’m sorry you were hurt.” She pauses and lets out a breath before she finishes. “I once walked in those shoes.”
