Always

6. Chapter

 -June-

I guess it goes without saying that the last few days have been horrific.

I feel torn in the momentary situation and I have thought more than once about leaving Nathalie's house for a few days. It doesn't seem right living there while Anthony is gone.

Nathalie walks like a ghost throw the house and I heard her a thousand times crying and sobbing behind the barred atelier door. I am afraid the heartsickness is going to eat her from the inside. I feel guilty because mainly I put Nathalie in that situation. I had forced her to hell him the truth and I feel guilty because I told her that Anthony hadn't contacted me in a week, which is far from true. Anthony calls me every day, talking about all and nothing, but never asking for Nathalie, as he waits for her to come and beg for mercy, while he stays in that tiny pension in the village nearby.

Things really couldn't get far worse than that, right?

I examine Mariella's house and wonder if I should accompany Nathalie home. She barely accepted to get showered and dressed that afternoon and I did my best to hide the dark shadows under her eyes with lots of make up, but anyone would notice the sad look of her eyes.

I am sure Mariella would get mad at us.

Her son and his fiancé had been back for a couple of days now and we hadn't found the occasion to come and meet them with Nathalie wandering around like a zombie. I throw a last glance at my telephone to check if Giovanni had changed his mind but he was busy at the winery.

"I promise we won't stay long." I squeeze Nathalie's hand and get out of the car into the hot air.

I had put on a simple dark blue dress, that showed my tanned legs and was gathered right underneath my breasts.

We walk around the house, a habit that never fades and meet Mariella standing on the terrace near the wooden table.

"There you are!" She looks around and leans towards us. "I can't stand that never ending petting of them anymore." She finally whispers and even Nathalie smiles a little.

"Charlene, my guests are here." She yells towards the open door.

"I am sorry that Anthony and Giovanni didn't came, Mariella."

"Don't worry, honey." Mariella gives me a heartbreaking smile and hugs Nathalie. I am sure she's going to burst in tears any moment. "Everything will work out."

A moment later a young, blonde women comes out on the terrace. She is at least a foot taller than me and has the withest smile I've seen in ages. She wears a very short, rose-colored dress and high sandals. She looks amazing, is all I can think of and all of a sudden I am happy, that neither Anthony nor Giovanni were here to stare at her boobs.

"It's so nice to meet you." She says kindly and offers us her hand. "Mariella has told me so much about you." She makes a gesture with her tiny hands. "I am sorry, just give me a minute, I promised I'd help in the kitchen."

"Don't worry." I encourage her and see her walking back through the door. I am stunned.

"Wow." Nathalie aspirates. "It should be forbidden to look that good."

Mariella nods. "I've told you she had something special."

"I think." I look around my shoulder to make sure she wasn't coming back. "That doesn't even nearly describe what you were trying to say. If you would have been a little more precise I would have gone shopping!"

"You look wonderful, sweetie. And you do too."

Nathalie sighes again dramatically. "I hope you've got a lot of prosecco in the house."