The Jealousy Game Over, Marriage Over: The Donna Who Walked Away novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Roses on the Stairs

Tommaso came to the Vomero three days after the gala, carrying roses.

I heard Pina's voice rise in the bakery, then his, and then boots on the stairs.

I opened the door before he could knock.

He stood on the landing in a dark coat with a huge bouquet of red roses held in front of him, and he looked at me with hope.

"May I come in?" he asked.

"You can say it from there."

He glanced at the stairwell, where the old neighbour from the second floor was pretending to sweep.

"Marisa," he said, and lowered his voice. "I was a fool."

"Yes."

"I've closed the casino pool. I told every one of them the game is finished and I won't take another bet in my house." The words came out fast. "Ilaria is at Madre's. She's not coming back. Come home."

"Tommaso."

"I'll do whatever you like. I'll tear the whole house apart and rebuild it. I'll put your name on the board at the port, on the gate, on the cars."

He held out the roses.

I did not take them.

"Do you want to know why I signed?" I said.

"Because you wanted to punish me."

"No."

He waited.

"The first year," I said, "I cried in front of everyone. Do you remember? In the sitting room, when Ilaria came down in my bathrobe."

He nodded slowly.

"You held me for hours. You said it was the first and last time. You said you only wanted to see if I would be jealous."

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