Someone to Love (29 page)

When the doors opened, Lucy stood in front of me with a strange expression on her face.

“Something's happened, right?”

“Hello, dear sister! Yes, but I need to talk to your husband first—”

“No!” she whispered sharply and grabbed my hand to pull me into a corner of the room. “I think I deserve the truth. If Federico has done something wrong and has made a mistake, I would like to be the first to know.”

I frowned and, although the situation was not ideal, I couldn't help but laugh. “You mean, you thought that—” I tried to compose myself and went on. “Federico has no lover that I know of! Although I think it would cost him less than keeping you,” I added sharply.

She breathed a sigh of relief and put her hand to her heart. “I lost ten years of my life. So if Federico has no lover, what do you want from him?”

“I need a consultation and I want him to defend me as a lawyer.”

There, I'd said it now.

“Mia, you're always good at getting into trouble,” she murmured, extending her arm and inviting me to enter. “You'll find Federico in his office down the hall on the left.”

Federico was sitting at his desk, his fingers rapidly hitting the keyboard of a computer with a bored expression on his face.

I tried to put on an assured and friendly tone. “Federico, am I bothering you?”

“Mia?” he replied, surprised. Then he stood up and walked over to shake my hand, and plant two kisses on my cheeks. “Please, be my guest,” he said, moving a chair and inviting me to take a seat.

“Sorry if I showed up unannounced, but I need your help.” I took out a green envelope from my bag and placed it on a stack of papers. “What chance do I have of proving otherwise?”

“If you rushed up here it must be something important,” he cleared his throat.

His eyes ran quickly through the text. His smile disappeared and the wrinkle on his forehead made him look older than he was.

“Wow! To be honest, I wasn't expecting something like this,” he sighed. “You must tell me everything, right from the beginning. And I ask you to tell me the truth, I need every detail to be able to help, ok?”

I nodded. “You remember Alberto? The man who my mother invited to one of our Friday dinners?” I began. “We dated for a short time, until the day I found out that he actually had another woman, and I decided to end the relationship. What I didn't know is that Patricia, who has always called herself Patty, is his mother.”

“Worse than
The Bold and the Beautiful
…” remarked Federico.

“I know, I'm putting you in an awkward position, but I don't want any lawyer. I want you!” I said, with too much emphasis. “I prefer to be defended by someone I know, and you're the best in your field. I'm in good hands with you.”

“Do you want a glass of water? You're too anxious.”

I shook my head. “No, I'm fine. I was saying…” I caught my breath. “I met Patty and Alberto at the supermarket, and he tried to convince me to get back together with him. To cut it short, to give our relationship a second chance.” I looked at Federico, waiting for some questions that never came. “My ‘no' was categorical and he, faced with my refusal, informed me that Patty was ill and wanted a grandson before her illness killed her. Do you understand? After this revelation, I went to collect Bubu from the information desk and he jumped on Patty to grab a chocolate from her hand,” I snapped, almost out of control. “Now she's using that episode to accuse me of personal injury! She came to visit me at the clinic to warn me about this lawsuit and to tell me that all I had to do was to go back with her son and she would let it drop.” I got up from the chair and walked to the window. I laid my hands on the sill and lowered my head.

Federico looked at me for a long time, as if to consider whether or not I was telling the truth. “Does Alberto know about this blackmail?” he asked.

“I have no idea, but I sincerely believe that he's a man willing to do anything to please his mother.”

“Even in agreeing to this accusation? Mia, it's not bullshit and above all, it can cause you problems with the pet therapy work if we don't win. I don't know if the children's parents will be willing to leave you alone with them after this.”

“I know,” I said bitterly. “That's why I'm here. I need you to defend me and I have to find witnesses and evidence to prove my innocence.”

Federico was good at his job and would have done his best not to disappoint Lucy and my parents.

“So, the picture of the situation is this: we have a court summons for the crime of ‘minor' bodily injuries with a prognosis of less than twenty days. Based on what you've told me, I want to be confident and I'm sure we'll be able to negotiate between the parties, without having to go to trial.”

“And if not? How many chances do I have to prove my innocence without there being any consequences for my work?” I asked breathlessly.

“Mia, I know that we've never been best friends and, very often, we've had some disagreements, but I can recognize a liar and you… you're just not capable,” he smiled, winking.

I didn't know what to expect exactly, but I felt I had done the right thing.

*

We made love until morning, as if it was the first time. Eventually, exhausted, I cuddled up beside him and slipped my cold feet between his legs, now a natural gesture.

I moaned with pleasure and arched my back, as his hand slid over my skin drawing straight and circular lines. Diego looked me straight in the eye. “I think I'm in love with a woman,” he whispered as his fingers moved, tickling me.

I stopped him, returning his gaze intensely. “Really? And does she know? I might be jealous…” I whispered excitedly.

“Yes, but I don't know her answer yet,” he murmured, biting my lip.

“Too bad, because she told me,” I said.

His chest vibrated with laughter, then he squeezed me tight, pulling me towards him. “And you can't tell me?” he asked, with a strange gleam in his eye.

I smiled and tried to break free from his grip, but his fingers tickled me mercilessly, preventing me from moving. “Ok, I give up.” I had stomach cramps. “She says she's sorry but she has another man on her mind.”

“What bad news you've just given me. Oh well! What should I do in this case?” he challenged. “One adopts a naughty kitten to have some company and not feel alone.”

I brought my head back and laughed, amused, while his lips kissed my neck greedily.

“Then you'll have to spoil her,” I exulted before the sheets enveloped us once again.

I got up and opened the window to breathe in the scent of summer. A waft of fresh air ruffled my hair. The sky was already beginning to lighten and the town was about to open its eyes to a new day. I put a T-shirt on and went downstairs.

Diego was busy in the kitchen, intent on filling the jug with boiling water to make tea.

“Programs for today?” he asked, with his usual smile.

Bubu was sitting at his feet, watching him with bright curious eyes, hoping that something delicious might fall to the ground. He noticed some crumbs under the table and sucked them up like a vacuum cleaner.

“Too many,” I limited myself to answer, while Bubu ran to meet him and rolled on his back, eager to be fussed.

“It will be a very long day for me as well, I have some important things to do,” he concluded, sitting down at the table. I began to fiddle with my nails to avoid his gaze. “Are you sure you're well?” he asked doubtfully. “Are you still worried about Martina?”

I shook my head. He could read my mind, as if I were transparent. “The operation went well, but there's still the risk of rejection. I want to be confident, she really deserves it.”

“Is there anything else?” he asked, standing up.

I couldn't keep him in the dark about what had happened. He had to know. “Open the top drawer of the dresser. There's a letter. Take it,” I sighed, feeling uncomfortable.

He said no more, and, biting his lip, took out the envelope. “What is it?” he asked, opening it. I remained silent, unable to say anything. Diego frowned and began to read it. “It's crazy!” he exclaimed angrily, and shortly afterwards. “Who did this to you?” he added, with his mouth wide open.

I shrugged and scratched Bubu's back. “Alberto's mother. She's a very influential woman, you have no idea how many people she's helped over the years. It's easy for her, she just has to snap her fingers and that's it,” I finished with a sigh.

“Remember that some people don't act by chance, everything is always calculated.”

Diego couldn't help himself and punched the wall. I started and Bubu darted away, frightened. “There is no reason to react that way, it only scares me,” I said bitterly. “I will address this matter and prove my innocence. I didn't do anything, but if I give in to her provocation I will be playing her game.”

He thought for a moment, before exploding. “But… this! Shit, Mia!” he cried, almost shouting. “This is madness. You should report her.”

His words were confused in my ears, as if they were spoken by a voice light years away. That moment, my eyes began to fill with tears and strong arms embraced me.

“Sorry, my love. I didn't mean to make you feel worse,” he whispered, stroking my hair tenderly.

“It's not your fault. I just wonder, why me?” I whined.

He hugged me even tighter, as if wanting to protect me from the world. “I'll go and talk to her, you'll see, we'll settle everything,” he suggested, kissing my forehead. “They say that, as a policeman, I'm good at persuading people.”

I shrugged and sighed. “No, Diego. This is between her and me. I needed a lawyer and I asked Federico to defend me, I trust him and I know that he'll demonstrate the absurdity of this lawsuit. We talked for a long time, I told him all he needed to know, now I just have to wait for the hearing. Federico is good at his job and knows his way around, I don't have to worry,” I explained. “As far as all this may seem unfair, I don't feel resentful towards Patty.”

Diego pursed his lips and looked up at the sky. “What do I have to do with you? What?”

“Make me happy.”

“Even if it means accepting choices that I don't approve of?” he asked, using a nonchalant tone.

“Touché,” I said, teasing him. I tried with all my strength to regain a bit of serenity.

He smothered a slight laugh. “If you're happy, so am I. Do whatever you have to, I will always be by your side.”

“Diego…” I said softly.

“Tell me, kitten,” he replied, kissing my hair.

“Are you proud of me? I mean, proud of the woman I am?”

I let myself go, enveloped by the warmth of his embrace. “I've always been proud of you,” he re-assured me. “You must never doubt it, ever.”

I looked at him, without saying another word, and he stooped, placing his warm lips on mine.

I felt a feeling growing inside me that I had never felt before, not for Davide nor for any other man with whom I had been. When he looked at me, his eyes were able to confuse me. I didn't know what spell he had used, but it had worked.

I sat on the couch for endless minutes. Bubu was asleep with his nose resting on my legs. Stroking his shaggy fur relaxed me, he conveyed serenity.

Life was challenging me once again, but I wouldn't fail. Running away wouldn't change anything and this was a challenge I couldn't run away from.

I knew all too well what to do. I figured it the moment the vaporizer diffused that sweet smell of lavender around the room. The perfume that only she wore.

In the end, I decided myself. I got into the car, driving towards my destination without any second thoughts.

Around me were rows of tombstones, decades old graves and majestic family chapels oozing aristocracy. As I walked through the gate, I felt a pang in my stomach. A pain similar to the feeling of remorse, as if to remind me of how long it had been since I was last there.

I crossed the eastern part and passed a number of graves decorated with engravings, creepers twining around them, almost enveloping them completely. Many closed doors, forerun by stone steps, led into the dark rooms of family tombs similar to miniature churches. I walked in silence, going up the large hill, passing a row of mature trees. I accelerated my pace until a majestic marble statue with outstretched wings, apparently in the act of taking flight, appeared on the horizon. That was the angel, the symbol of my family.

When I arrived in front of it, I stopped.

My palms began to sweat and I said nothing for a long time. I stood looking at those engravings, those two names so dear to me. It was terrible to think how overnight one can lose loved ones, simply torn away. As if everything had already been written by an unknown destiny. I gently stroked the letters, as if they were ancient antiquities, and I half closed my eyes, to avoid having to hold their gaze, at least for a few seconds longer.

Their photos were so beautiful. When my grandmother passed away, I had chosen a photograph from the albums that depicted her during a walk in the park, because my grandfather was too distraught to choose one. Shortly after my grandmother's death, he passed away as well, extinguished like the flame of a worn out candle.

My fingers still pressed on the marble gravestone, as if held by a mysterious force. As if touching those pictures could make me feel the warmth of their skin again.

“Hello, grandparents,” I whispered with a sigh. “I'm unforgiveable, I know. I forget how many months have passed since the last time I set foot here, but I had a good reason. My life has changed so much that I still have to adjust.”

An elderly lady passed by and paused to contemplate the stone angel, astonished. That statue enchanted every passer-by.

“You know, Grandma, you would have liked Diego very much, he's just the kind of man you'd want to see by my side. He's beautiful, strong and sensitive. I have never met such a nice, genuine person.” A light breeze brushed my neck and I shrugged.