The Jealousy Game Over, Marriage Over: The Donna Who Walked Away novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Corrado's Envelope

The storm broke over the Vomero a little after eight, and the lights went out at nine.

Pina left a tin of biscuits and four candles outside my door.

On the tin she had written: Behave.

Gaetano read the Fenice letter by candlelight at my kitchen table, his wet coat drying on a chair.

"The chairman has given you thirty days," he said. "If the Sarnelli accounts aren't handled by you, he moves his ships to Genoa."

"Thirty days."

"It's a polite way of saying he's already booked the berths."

I stood at the stove with a pot of water that would not boil without power. I put it down.

"Why is he telling me, not Tommaso?"

"Because you're the one who answers his calls." He folded the letter. "The family has lived off you for six years, Marisa. They only noticed when you left."

I laughed, once, short.

It was a cold thing to hear in my own kitchen.

Behind me the candle guttered. When I turned, Gaetano was standing very close.

I had not heard him get up.

"You're shaking," he said.

"It's cold."

"It's not that cold."

He took the dish towel from my hand and, slowly, with the back of his knuckles, pushed a wet strand of hair off my cheek.

His fingers stayed where they were, just under my ear.

I could feel his breath on my face, uneven.

He was looking at my mouth.

Neither of us moved. I knew exactly how far away he was, and that it was not far.

"Gaetano," I said.

"Yes?"

"You're dripping on Pina's tiles."

A short silence.

His mouth moved, almost a smile. He let his hand fall.

"I'll bring a mop," he said, "next time."

He put on his coat, still damp, and went out into the dark stairwell.

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