Someone to Love (17 page)

“I can find you some dormitory accommodation where meals will be guaranteed. I know people…” I murmured, without taking my eyes off the frightened creature.

“All this for a stupid dog?” he asked, annoyed by the proposal.

The dog sat panting loudly, thin ribs rose and fell quickly.

“Please…” I hissed. “Leave it with me, I'm a vet. We'll both gain from it,” I concluded.

For a moment, he seemed to consider my request. He scratched his head, frowning and began to drink from a wine bottle.

I took advantage of that moment of distraction to attempt to untie the knot that kept the dog tied up, but I froze when the man threw the bottle at me and it shattered a few centimetres from my feet. I let out a cry of surprise. Shards of glass had flown all around us.

“Leave me alone!” he growled furiously.

Fear began to make its way inside me. Although he was drunk and could barely stand, the guy was still twice my size.

“I'll leave you in peace only if you let me take the dog away!” I cried in turn.

The man grabbed the dog and pushed him away from me. The poor animal staggered on unsteady legs and fell to the ground.

“If you insist with this attitude, I'll have to call the police. Or we can resolve the situation between us…”

“Really… you'll call the police?” he scoffed with contempt. “I also want some money,” he added with a nasty grin.

Suddenly, reality hit me: I was wrong to think we could settle. I clenched my fists to give myself strength. “No money. Either you leave me the dog and I find you accommodation, or I call the police right away.”

The homeless man tried to pull himself up, but staggered and fell back against the wall with a thud. “Go away!” he shouted.

I shook my head. “Now calm down! Think of my offer for help. I don't believe you'd rather live like this for much longer,” I said, stepping back a pace.

The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a faded photograph. “That's all that's left of my family. All it needed was for me to lose my job and then there was no home, or wife and daughter waiting for me. Damn money! Without it I have nothing…” His voice was full of suffering and expressed long held pain.

“I'm sorry for what happened, but I can help you. At least, let me try…” I whispered, holding out my hand. He watched my fingers and met my eyes, scratching his head. He snorted. “Take it. It's your lucky day.” I didn't hesitate and ran to untie the dog, who approached me without fear and licked my hand. I clutched him to my chest, happy and satisfied.

“All this for a dog. Crazy stuff,” murmured the long bearded man to himself. Perhaps he had a lucid moment. I pulled a business card from my pocket and placed it in the bowl. “If you change your mind, call me,” I said, and slipped away quickly. I turned to look at him one last time. He held the card in his hand, staring at it.

*

“What? What are you talking about?” growled Alberto. The car cell phone amplified his already agitated tone, and Bubu began to howl, annoyed.

“Shh, Bubu, sit back!”

He obeyed immediately and crouched in the back.

I sighed impatiently and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I couldn't wait for you—” I whispered, paying attention to the road.

“You are reckless!” he barked. His tone was almost hysterical.

I shrugged. I wasn't used to hearing him so alarmed and worried about me, and it surprised me. He said words that hurt me, although unintentionally.

“Please. Don't be like that.”

“You're a woman, for heaven's sake! What would you have done if he had used the damn bottle as a weapon?” he said angrily.

I said nothing. He was right: if the man had only had a better aim, he could have hit me in the face. I tried not to think about it. I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, just shocked at the idea.

“Mia, are you still there?” he asked, this time more calmly.

“Yes, Alberto. I can't blame you, but there was no time to lose,” I said in a choked voice. “It's my job.”

“All right, but it must never happen again.”

My lips curled into a faint smile. “I love it when you worry about me,” I said, to ease the tension.

I imagined Alberto anxious, after listening to the story of my little adventure. I never thought he would feel so protective towards me after such a short time.

He laughed. “It's the least I can do.”

“Do you worry like this about Maria?” I asked, sarcastically.

“What's that got to do with it? She's just an old friend and I don't think it's a bad idea to go out together. Maria is very nice, you'll see, you'll like her.”

“No, I don't think so. The first impression wasn't the best …”

I knew men, and they couldn't ignore a woman like Maria. She was the equivalent of Kim Basinger in
Nine and a half weeks
.

“Are you sure you're not a little jealous?”

“No, why should I be jealous of an old friend of yours? I don't think I need to worry about the past… or do I?”. I bit my lip, but it was too late to take the words back.

There was a long pause. “If I had wanted her, I would never have gone out with you, right? I made my choice.”

My eyes began to mist over in happiness. I didn't want to be without him, and I wanted to hear him repeat those words endlessly. “It would be nice if it was like this forever.”

“Why shouldn't it be?” he asked in amazement.

I was about to answer, when a thought caught me by surprise. One day, as a young girl, I came home from school with tears in my eyes and a sorrowful heart, and I slumped on the couch, sniffling. My grandmother sat down beside me. “What happened?” she asked worriedly.

I shook my head and wiped away the tears.

“Look, you can tell your grandmother. You know I hate to see you sad…”

“Don't worry. It's just life that sucks!” I exclaimed in one breath.

She peered at me and smiled. “Life does not suck. But the more you continue to think and believe it does, the more it will.” she explained.

“Then why, every time something good happens, bad news comes straight after?” I asked, swallowing with difficulty.

“Because it works that way, my darling. Even the bad experiences teach us something, always. It's those that help us grow and rejoice about the good things,” she replied, pulling me towards her.

I breathed in her scent of lavender, resting my head on her chest. The silence lasted a long time, punctuated only by our breathing. “It's not fair. I always want to be happy,” I said weakly.

My grandmother stroked my hair gently. “You will have a life filled with good things, some so large that you'll think you don't deserve them. Try to be happy every day of your life, and don't ever believe that bad news can take away that happiness. Accept what is and smile because you're alive. Because you're young and beautiful, intelligent and with a great heart.” She murmured the last words with her voice cracking with emotion.

She had held me in her warm embrace and I realized that she was crying too.

I closed my eyes and that old advice from memories of a distant time, sounded sharp and vibrant to my ears , as if my grandmother was sitting by my side. I turned to look at the passenger seat and I was amazed to find it empty.

“Because we'll surely have moments that will put us to the test,” I said to Alberto, “and I want to be certain that we will be strong enough to face them together,” I concluded firmly.

“You are certainly the most negative woman I know. Are you always like this? If they come, you can count on me.”

My mouth fell open. I was dazed, but at the same time exhilarated by those words. It was a long time since I felt so close to a man.

“Look, they may be really big things,” I teased.

Alberto seemed to not understand. “What are you trying to tell me?” he asked curiously.

“That maybe we both have some secrets…” I said, with a hint of malice.

Alberto sighed. A different reaction to that I had imagined. “We'll see.”

A loud voice, calling for Alberto's attention interrupted the conversation. “Sorry, I have to hang up. There's been an accident, will you offer me a coffee when I finish?” he concluded quickly.

“Of course, you know where to find me.”

He had hung up before I could finish.

His words had deprived me of every thought and I had driven for over a kilometre like a robot, without even realizing I had reached my destination.

Home.

A blade of light cut through the twilight and I saw Alberto still asleep beside me. He was sleeping serenely, with an innocent smile on his face. I watched him in silence. Then took a corner of the sheet and covered myself better. I rested my head on his bare chest, which rose and fell slowly to the rhythm of each breath. I ran my finger along the muscles on his chest and breathed in the scent of his skin, it reminded me of a French cologne.

“Good morning… what time is it?” he asked without opening his eyes, while embracing my waist.

I let him pull me towards him and abandoned myself in the peace of that embrace. It made me feel protected, I felt at home. “The alarm hasn't rung yet,” I whispered sleepily.

“Great, that means we still have some precious minutes at our disposal,” he murmured, biting my shoulder gently. I let out a little cry of pleasure.

Bubu heard the sound of our voices and began to wail from behind the door.

“Ow. Caught!” I said, laughing.

“Shhh, whisper. I don't want you to get up yet…”

“You don't know him yet, but when Bubu wakes up, he keeps insisting until he gets what he wants.”

Alberto groaned and protested. “Just give me five minutes.”

He murmured and took my face in his hands.

“Ok, only five,” and I let myself be overwhelmed by his kiss.

*

From the kitchen window I watched Bubu barking and chasing Alberto in the garden. He didn't give him a moment's peace. Alberto was disorientated and was looking around, turning in all directions. Bubu was happy and lively every time he met new people.

The coffee was almost ready and the aroma was spreading through the room. I turned the radio on and began to set the table for breakfast. I moved in the kitchen as if floating between the furniture. I took some jams from the cupboard and placed them on the table, along with some slices of toast, fruit juice and two cups of steaming coffee.

Alberto rubbed his shoes carefully before coming in, followed by his new four-legged friend.

“That smells good,” he began. He took me by surprise, hugging me from behind and brushing my neck with his lips.

“Are you ready for breakfast?”

“Absolutely. You have no idea how much energy I need to replace,” he said with a beaming smile and a hint of malice. That was his weapon and I was enchanted.

I reached out to give him a kiss, and I invited him to sit down. “I should be the hungry one. You didn't let me have a moment's sleep!”

He winked. “You didn't seem to mind a few hours ago.”

I burst out laughing. “I was referring to your snoring…” I teased.

“Snoring? Don't be silly, I don't snore,” he muttered, biting into a slice of toast.

“Don't tell me you didn't know. I don't believe it!”

“No one ever told me. I haven't slept with a woman for a long time…”

“You're unbearable. I had to nudge you with my elbow to make you stop. But it made no difference, you stopped for a second and then started again louder than before. At about three o'clock you finally stopped and I managed to sleep,” I concluded, swallowing a generous swig of orange juice.

“You're so tragic!” he exclaimed, clutching my free hand. That touch was something still unusual and magical. “You'll get used to it, you have no choice.”

Bubu began to roll on the kitchen rug to attract our attention.

“I think he wants to go out,” murmured Alberto, watching him.

“Yes, Bubu works like a Swiss clock. Take your time, I won't be long.”

“Are you sure? I don't want to bother you.” he said, starting to clear the table.

“I really mean it. Wait for me before you go, because I only have one set of keys.”

“I'm not running away.” He came nearer and stole a kiss.

I let myself be lulled by the beauty of the moment. His lips were warm and smelled of coffee. I slipped a hand through his hair first and then touched his cheek. “I'll be back soon,” I said, and walked away holding Bubu's lead.

I passed by Diego's house, but he wasn't there. Once I had removed his collar, Bubu shot off like an arrow, zig zagging crazily. He was so excited, he seemed drunk. He ran to the right and then to the left, narrowly avoiding every obstacle that rose up before him. A road sign, a mailbox, a lonely old tree. Each time he stopped abruptly, lifted one of his front legs and pointed to some mysterious object only he seemed to have seen. He continued to sniff the air and the ground and only stopped when I called him back to go home. Then he walked by my side, with his tail beating time against my leg.

I knelt and gently stroked his head, before opening the door. Then I held him tightly and my heart overflowed with gratitude for that faithful and sincere companion.

I walked through the door and had the feeling that something was wrong, but, maybe it was just a simple premonition. The entrance was quiet. I walked confidently towards the living room when Alberto's voice forced me to stop.

I leaned back against the wall, trying not to make noise. I walked up to the door, careful not to get noticed, and I saw him walking back and forth, running his hands through his hair distractedly. At one point he sank into the chair. He began to speak: “Sorry again, sweetheart, but I was held up at work with an emergency and my phone ran out of battery. I called you as soon as possible.” There was a short silence. “I've missed you too and I promise you that tonight I will make it up to you.”