Emanuele Stefanori & Michela Guida, translated into English by Ruth Stephens
Chapter 7 – Giorgio and Valentina
It’s almost eight in the evening when Giorgio arrives at the villa he and his fiancee’ Valentina have rented for a romantic holiday on the Amalfi coast.
Not having been able to leave together, she has already been there for a day. Giorgio is a doctor and at the last moment had had to stay all night at his hospital for an urgent operation.
So Valentina had arrived alone the previous evening to collect the keys from the owner of the house.
The owner was a nice lady, who explained that she had inherited the villa jointly with her brother. She added that they did not get along at all well, so practically never saw each other.
As he approaches the house, Giorgio sees an agitated-looking man running away from it. The man is younger than Giorgio, around thirty in age, and is in an untidy state, as if he hasn’t dressed properly.
He’s dragging a large, barely-closed suitcase behind him and runs past Giorgio as if he doesn’t see him. Giorgio has to step aside to avoid being hit by the suitcase.
“Careful! Watch where you’re going,” shouts the doctor, but the young man runs on without replying.
Giorgio watches him get to a car, throw his suitcase onto the back seat, and drive away at speed.
“People are funny…” Giorgio shrugs and walks on towards the gate.
At the entrance to the large villa that is his destination, Giorgio looks around. He notices that the house looks almost abandoned. It’s surrounded by an unkempt garden with two large palms on one side, and seems too old and isolated to be a holiday house.
Giorgio wonders if he’s in the right place and double-checks the address written on the piece of paper in his pocket.
The address matches the number on the gatepost, so Giorgio opens it and goes through into the garden. He walks up to the front door, rings the bell and waits.
After nearly a minute, Valentina opens the door. She’s wrapped in a blue bathrobe, her hair still wet.
“Hello darling!” she smiles sweetly at him, standing on tiptoe and taking hold of his shirt collar to bring his face close to hers.
Giorgio is a very tall man, fortyish and elegant in appearance. His partner is nearly ten years younger and very beautiful, with long, dark hair and sensual lips.
The two hold each other in a long, passionate kiss, then she takes him by the hand and leads him into the house. They climb the stairs and pass through the bedroom to come out onto the terrace.
The sun is going down and is casting a pink glow over the sky and the sea. On the horizon the sails of small boats can still be seen, while along the coast the first street and house lights are coming on.
A light breeze brings the smell of the sea and moves the tops of the trees.
Valentina brushes her hair from her face and rests her head on Giorgio’s shoulder.
“It was late when I arrived yesterday evening and I came straight up to this floor. Seeing this room and this marvellous view took my breath away. It’s perfect for us, don’t you think, my love?”
“Yes, it really is fantastic!”