After taking early retirement from his job on the council, at fifty, Gregorio was beginning to feel that nothing very much was going on in his life. One evening, on a whim, and while his wife was away on business, he arranged to meet his ex. They had not seen each other for more than a decade, and, while they both still had children who were still hovering around the nest, it was an unexpected pleasure when Silvana opened her front door in a flowing white kaftan.
“Che gentiluomo!” declared Silvana.
Gregorio stepped over the threshold and handed her a bouquet of red carnations and freesias.
“You have not aged one bit, mia cara.”
“And you, Gregorio, are just the same.”
Silvana had bought a bottle of Verdecca di Gravina and some bits and pieces from the deli. “Where is the pasta?” said Gregorio. “We can’t make this dish without linguini.”
His ex laughed.
While they sat back with their wine, and tucked into the olives and the melanzane sotto olio, Gregorio experienced an unfamiliar feeling, as if romance was back in his life.
“You remember that time down on the beach?”
“Of course,” said Silvana. “I never thought you were going to find me in that little cave.”
Gregorio’s mobile rang. It was his mother. “Excuse me,” he said. “If I do not answer, she will call keep calling. Mi senterò in colpa. I will feel guilty.”
His ex, who was lying on the sofa with her legs tucked under her kaftan, smiled. “The same old Gregorio.”
Gregorio got up and went into the other room to phone his mother. When he came back, his ex was fast asleep.
Not wishing to disturb her, he went into the kitchen and washed the glasses.
Gregorio let himself out by the front door and left Silvana to her dreams.
*
“Is Gregorio one of Germano’s friends?”
“I am not sure a count has much in common with a council worker.”
“How old is Germano?”
“Ageless.”
“Don’t you ever wonder about what might have been in life?”
“All the time, but it is no use regretting anything. – And you?”
“Well, the only thing I can think of is that you and I should have been married.”
“Mabel, don’t be silly. That would have ruined everything. We are and always shall be the best of friends.”