AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Yes.’
‘And you know my ex is…’
‘An asshole,’ Marco says.
‘Pretty much. Well, he won’t accept that it’s over.’
‘What?’ Marco turns to me, indignant. ‘But you left him. You moved to Italy.’
‘I know that and you know that, but he doesn’t seem to get it.’
‘Is he harassing you? Stalking you? Because the police—’
‘No, he isn’t doing anything like that. In fact, he isn’t contacting me at all. But he and my sister, well…’ As briefly and as matter-of-factly as I can, I tell Marco about my conversations with Charlie and the email where she told me she’d given Duncan my address. By the time I finish, I’m shaking and the tears are spilling over again.
‘Christ, Tori.’ Marco gathers me into his arms. ‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me any of this. Why on earth didn’t you?’
‘I didn’t want to burden you,’ I hiccup into his shoulder. ‘It’s been such a short time… this is all so new…’
‘For fuck’s sake,’ Marco says. ‘Did that matter to your grandmother? Did it matter to Achille?’
‘Well, no, but…’
‘It didn’t matter to them. And it doesn’t matter to me.’
‘But it’s all so complicated,’ I say. ‘I’ve got to decide whether I file for divorce now, which might make him angrier, or I can wait two years. But if I wait, then… I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I’ve been trying to figure it out and I just… I don’t know,’ I say again, helpless.
‘We can talk it through, you and me,’ Marco says. ‘If you want.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘As a heart attack. I know you’ve got this fixation on being a burden – which is ridiculous, incidentally – but look at it this way. What’s a divorce but a whole lot of stressful paperwork? That’s kind of my thing,’ he says, and gives me a squeeze. ‘You’re going to keep working with Ambra, right?’
‘Of course.’ I wipe my eyes. ‘I’ve been looking at therapists, too.’
‘Then there’s no problem, is there? You’ll have a lawyer to deal with the actual divorce, and a therapist for the crazy family stuff, and for everything else there’s me. I don’t see any burden there, do you?’
‘I suppose not,’ I say, but I’m not convinced. ‘Thanks so much, though. This is really kind of you.’
Marco snorts. ‘You’re kidding me. Come on, let’s get something to eat. I’m still mourning that steak.’ He stands and holds out his hand to me, and I get up a little shakily.
‘Oh, God. I’m going to have to apologise to Michele, aren’t I? That’s the second time I’ve abandoned a plate of food in his restaurant.’
‘He’s got no problem with you.’ Marco slips an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. ‘Me, on the other hand, he hates. I told him you weren’t feeling well, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t believe me. He clearly thought I was this complete dick who’d invited you out so I could dump you in public.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I say.
‘It’s fine. But maybe you can clarify that with him before we go back again. In the meantime, I know a place.’
*
As we finish our arancini and orangeade in the corner of a little Sicilian place in Santa Croce, Marco gives me a serious look. ‘I was thinking about asking you something this evening. I thought it might be too early – I didn’t want to put you under pressure – but I don’t know now.’
‘What is it?’
‘I have to go to Rome for a few days next week. It’s not going to be very exciting. I’ll be spending most of the time chasing up citizenship applications. But it’s a beautiful city and I’d have the evenings free, so I was wondering whether you might take a few days off from Achille and come with me.’
I don’t know whether the idea makes me happy or scared. My heart’s thumping either way. ‘I’d like to, but I don’t think I can. I definitely can’t lose time with Achille and, besides, isn’t Rome a complete tourist inferno at this time of year?’
