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  They spent three days basking in the sun and swimming in the warm Mediterranean water. They ate seafood and drank the local white wine and wandered the narrow streets, retiring early, exhausted from the sun, food and wine.

  From there it was back to Naples by car. They spent the night at yet another magnificent (and no doubt pricey) hotel. The Inn on 5th. The next morning it was back to the airport where Nathan returned the car. They flew to Florence where, much to Nathan’s surprise, Sylvia informed him that they would not be staying. They picked up another car, a Mercedes this time, and headed to Lucca in the heart of Tuscany, another place Nathan had not heard of.

  It was certainly worth the drive. Lucca was a small city famous for, amongst other things, the intact Renaissance era city wall that surrounded it. The architecture was typically Tuscan with the orange coloured tiled roofs. The beautiful cathedral, The Duomo of San Martin, dominated the centre of the city. Here Sylvia had booked the Hotel Noblesse. It wasn’t much to look at from the outside but the interior was plush and old fashioned, more like a guesthouse than a five-star hotel.

  Lucca was their base and from there they took day trips to Pisa, Sienna and San Gimignano. Whoever had recommended the place to Sylvia certainly knew Italy well.

  Finally they arrived in Milan. They checked into the Hotel Principi Di Savoia, where they had stayed before. Sylvia would have liked to surprise Nathan again but the hotel was too beautiful and too well located not to stay there.

  Sylvia had made it clear that she would spend the next five days shopping, an activity from which Nathan was excused. He had the five days to himself. They would meet for dinner but only on the evenings that Sylvia was not too exhausted from spending money.

  Nathan loved Milan. He loved the architecture, the art, the cafes. He never missed seeing Da Vinci’s The Last Supper in the Church of Santa Maria Della Grazie. Every time he saw the painting he would find something in it that he had not seen before and on this occasion he spent the whole morning admiring it.

  Nathan had made it clear that he would not accompany Sylvia shopping but that did not prevent him from shopping on his own. On a previous visit he had stumbled on a small menswear store tucked away in a side street. The store stocked exclusively made clothes and no visit to Milan was complete without a purchase from there.

  But the highlight of the Milan visit for Nathan was to take place on their second last night. From Melbourne, and at great expense, he had booked a seat at La Scala for himself. Verdi’s opera La Traviata was being performed and he did not even bother asking Sylvia if she was interested. He knew what the answer would be. He had told her that he had booked a ticket for himself. Sylvia said she didn’t mind. He had lashed out and booked a box on the first level on the side. That set him back fourteen hundred euros, a price he did not mind paying. It was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

  He had packed a dinner shirt and a black bow tie. He had planned to rent a tux and the hotel concierge was helpful with that. Nathan was a stock size and the tux had been delivered to his hotel room by 2 pm. He left the hotel early by cab. Sylvia was not yet back from shopping. It was the second last day and no doubt she did not have a minute to waste. Nathan had already purchased a new suitcase to accommodate the new garments and he hoped desperately that one suitcase would be enough.

  He was shown to his seat in the box on the first level, to the right of the stage. The seat was worth every euro. He looked down at the stalls just below him. People were being shown to their seats. He was early and the theatre was only two-thirds full. Nathan had bought a program which he was leafing through while occasionally glancing down at the people below, the men in tuxedos and the women in long gowns, some even wearing tiaras. He felt excited and kept looking at his watch to see how much longer before the performance would start.

  There seemed to be a commotion in the stalls directly below him. He could see the people sitting on the aisle turning their heads back. There must be a celebrity of some sort arriving he thought and he looked towards where the people had fixed their gaze. It was a woman and a man walking down the aisle arm in arm. From where he was sitting he could only see the top of the woman’s head and her upper body. She was wearing some sort of black cape over her shoulders. The man next to her was wearing a tux of course. Perhaps she was an Italian movie star or someone from TV or the theatre. The couple stopped, presumably having reached their row. Just then the woman looked up. Nathan gasped. He felt his heart jump in his chest. It was Cassie. No, it couldn’t be. But it was. He could see her face clearly from where he was sitting. What was she doing there? At LaScala. At the same performance that he was attending. What were the odds of that? He felt like calling out her name, but of course didn’t. All he could do was stare down as Cassie and her companion took their seats. He kept staring in the hope that she might look up again and see him. He was only a few feet directly above her. But she didn’t and the lights dimmed and the curtain went up to loud applause.

  He had been looking forward to the opera at La Scala. From his seat in the box he had a perfect view of the stage. It felt as if he was sitting almost on the stage. Nathan was certain that the performance was splendid but none of it filtered into his consciousness. All he could think of was Cassie and he kept looking down at her although he knew there would be no reason for her to look up and even if she did, it was too dark for her to see him.

  His heart, which he had convinced himself was healing, ached once more. He knew he had been deluding himself. It just took one look, a glance really, to re-ignite the feelings that he had managed to push into the background. And just then, like a lightning bolt, a thought hit him. This was a sign. He didn’t know from whom or from where but this was no mere coincidence. And he was very sure that this was definitely not another present from Sylvia. Then and there Nathan made up his mind. He had lost Cassie once, lost her due to his cowardice. He was not going to lose her again.

  What was he thinking? She was with someone, a man. For all he knew it was a husband, a boyfriend. Maybe he was a client. That wouldn’t count. Nathan knew that before the evening was over he would speak to Cassie, confront her, whatever it took even if he had to make a fool of himself trying.

  The lights came on, there was applause and Nathan realised it was the interval. He looked down and saw Cassie and her companion leaving their seats and heading up the aisle to the foyer. Nathan raced out of the box, hurried down the stairs. By the time he arrived, the foyer was full of people, chatting, laughing, some drinking, others lined up at the bar to order drinks. Cassie was nowhere to be seen. He stood up on his toes to scan the crowd but could not see her. He made an attempt to push his way through the throng of people, heading in different directions but she wasn’t there. Then the bell rang and people began to file back into the theatre. Nathan hung back hoping he would see her enter but didn’t. By the time he got back to his seat, the lights were again dimming. He looked down and could see her back in her seat. He must have missed her in the crowd he thought.

  He was able to take in more of the rest of the opera and with five minutes to go, left his seat, hurried down the stairs and stood by the door through which he knew Cassie would have to exit at the end of the performance.

  He could hear the applause and then shouts of ‘Bravo’. The performance was over. The usher opened the door and the patrons began to file out slowly. Nathan had to keep shifting his position to let people pass but he kept his ground and was not taking his eyes off the door.

  And then there she was. In fact she almost walked into him. When he finally saw her he froze and made no attempt to get out of the way. Under the black cape Cassie was wearing a bright blue dress, long, tight-fitting, accentuating her figure and low-cut revealing that beautiful cleavage that Nathan knew so well. Around her neck was a diamond necklace which sparkled in the overhead lighting.

  Cassie stopped dead. She went pale and Nathan could see her begin to sway. He was worried that she was about to faint. He was about to g
rab on to her when she composed herself, turned back and said something to her companion who kept walking. Cassie remained standing facing Nathan, their faces not two feet apart. They stared at each other, neither saying anything. Finally Cassie broke the silence.

  ‘Hello Nathan, are you following me?’

  How did she always manage to do it, thought Nathan. She had the uncanny knack of coming out with a one-liner that caught him off guard and left him without a coherent response. When he was finally able to formulate a reply, Nathan said,

  ‘What a coincidence seeing you here Cassie. We, I mean I, have been on holiday in Italy. Milan is the last stop.’

  ‘That’s nice Nathan. You have to excuse me, I’ve got someone waiting for me. Nice to see you again.’

  And with that Cassie headed off towards her companion, who, Nathan could see was waiting near the exit. Nathan was left standing, his mouth open. He was about to reply to Cassie when she left abruptly. Oh no you don’t, he said to himself. It doesn’t end like this. He quickly walked over to where Cassie and her companion were just about to leave the theatre.

  ‘Cassie, hold on a sec. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. Any chance we could catch up for a drink tomorrow?’

  Cassie stopped, turned around and instead of answering Nathan’s question, said:

  ‘This is Marcello. Marcello Conti. Marcello, this is an old friend from Australia, Nathan Goodman.’

  Marcello extended his hand and in heavily accented English said ‘Very pleased to meet you Nathan. You are very far from home, no?’

  Nathan shook Marcello’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you too Marcello.’

  Before he could say anything else, Cassie interjected.

  ‘Marcello is my neighbour. We are both opera lovers and Marcello was kind enough to accompany me tonight.’

  A neighbour, not a boyfriend or a client. That’s good, Nathan thought. A neighbour? Marcello looked and sounded Italian and not Australian. A neighbour where he wondered.

  ‘You look puzzled,’ Cassie said and when Nathan did not reply she continued.

  ‘I live here now Nathan. Not here in Milan, but in Italy.’

  Nathan looked even more puzzled.

  ‘What about tomorrow Cassie? It would be nice to catch up, for old time’s sake.’

  ‘Are you sure that reliving old times is such a good idea Nathan?’

  ‘I’m game if you are.’

  Cassie sighed, ‘Okay, yes. Why not. For old times’ sake. I’m here for another two days and I’m free tomorrow. How about 4 pm. I know a nice place.’

  ‘I could pick you up. Where are you staying?’ Nathan thought he may have pushed his luck with that question but what the hell. He had nothing to lose.

  To his surprise, Cassie said ‘I’m at the Hotel Principa De…,’ but Nathan cut her off.

  ‘I don’t believe it, not again.’

  ‘Don’t tell me. You’re not staying there too.’

  ‘I am. Now come on Cassie, if that’s not an omen, then nothing is.’

  ‘I don’t believe in omens Nathan. But yes, it is some coincidence. A real one this time.’

  ‘Is the place you want to go to nearby? Can we walk?’

  ‘Yes, it’s five minutes. I’ll meet you in the lobby at 3.45.’

  And then, ‘Are you sure Sylvia will be okay with that. I assume she is with you.’

  ‘I don’t exactly plan on telling her. Anyway, she’ll be out shopping all day. It’s all she does in Milan.’

  Marcello cleared his throat and both Cassie and Nathan looked at him.

  ‘I don’t want to interrupt this reunion Cassie, but it’s getting late. I need to get home.’ And to Nathan, ‘I’m not staying at the Principa. Too expensive for me. I have a car. I was dropping Cassie off at the hotel. You are welcome to come too.’

  ‘Thanks Marcello, I’d love to. Very kind of you.’

  They walked a few minutes to the car park where Marcello handed in his parking ticket and five minutes later his car was at the front. It was an old Fiat, four-door. Cassie got into the front with Marcello and Nathan got into the back.

  ‘Did you enjoy the opera Nathan?’ Cassie asked.

  Nathan hesitated. He considered telling her the truth but decided against it.

  ‘Very much Cassie. My first time at La Scala, what a magnificent theatre.’

  ‘Where were you sitting?’

  ‘In a box, on the first level. Just above you in fact,’ he added. ‘I saw you coming in but didn’t think that calling out to you would be a good idea.’

  Cassie laughed. ‘I’m very glad you didn’t.’

  The remainder of the twenty minute drive to the hotel was conducted in silence. Marcello stopped at the front of the hotel. Cassie leaned over to him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

  ‘Grazie, Marcello. Drive safe. I’ll see you soon.’

  ‘Thanks again Marcello,’ Nathan said.

  Nathan and Cassie walked into the lobby and headed towards the elevator.

  ‘I think I’ll have breakfast in my room tomorrow,’ Cassie said. ‘I don’t want to risk running into Sylvia, she might scratch my eyes out or even worse, yours.’

  Nathan did not reply. He was tempted to kiss Cassie goodnight but thought better of it.

  Instead he said, ‘Tomorrow, 3.45. In the lobby, looking forward to it.’

  ‘Good night,’ was all that Cassie said.

  Nathan opened the door to his room as quietly as he could. The last thing he needed was to wake Sylvia. He was on a high and did not want her blow by blow description of the day’s shopping to spoil his mood. Sylvia stirred and mumbled something incoherent but thankfully did not wake. Nathan went into the bathroom where he had left his pyjamas, got changed and was about to go into the bedroom when he realised that there was no way he was going to fall asleep naturally. He reached into his toiletry bag, took out two Temazepam and swallowed them with some water from the tap and crept into bed as quietly as he could.

  He began to replay the events of the evening in his mind and then changed course and began to plan a strategy for his meeting with Cassie tomorrow. He did not get very far. The two Temazepam kicked in and within ten minutes he was fast asleep.

  At 3.30 pm Nathan was already seated in one of the leather chairs in the lobby. He had turned the chair around a little to face the elevator.

  He had been asleep when Sylvia left that morning. It was her last shopping day and presumably she needed to get an early start. She had left a note written on hotel stationary.

  It read: ‘Hope you enjoyed the opera. We need another suitcase. Late dinner tonight?’

  Nathan had already purchased the suitcase which was in the room waiting to be filled.

  He kept glancing at his watch and at 3.50 Cassie appeared. She was wearing tight linen jeans, a white shirt tucked in and a pale blue scarf was tied around her neck. It didn’t really matter what she wore he thought, she always looked perfect.

  ‘Hi,’ she greeted him with a smile.

  He replied with his own ‘Hi’ and they headed off to the bar. Just as Cassie had said, it was a five minute walk. At that time of day the place was almost empty and they located a booth at the back and sat down facing each other.

  A waiter approached immediately.

  ‘What can I get you to drink?’ he enquired. The accent did not sound Italian. English or Canadian Nathan thought but did not ask.

  He looked at Cassie.

  ‘The usual for me please.’

  ‘Which brands of single malt whisky do you stock?’ he asked the waiter.

  ‘Which brand are you after? I’m sure we will have it.’

  ‘The sixteen year old Lagavullin,’ Nathan replied without hesitation.

  The waiter did hesitate and as a smile began to form on Nathan’s face, he replied ‘We don’t have the 16 year old.’ And before Nathan had a chance to make a wisecrack, he continued, ‘But we do stock the Distiller’s Edition 1994. Far superior to the sixteen year old, or so I’m tol
d.’

  ‘That’s fine. The Distiller’s will do,’ Nathan said. He’d never heard of it but was going to give the snooty waiter the satisfaction.

  A few minutes later he and Cassie had a glass of scotch in front of them on the table. Nathan had asked for a double but the bartender had been over-generous. He took a sip of the Lagavullin. The waiter was right. It was far superior to the sixteen year old. Cassie took a sip too and nodded her approval.

  ‘Did you have a nice day today?’ Nathan began.

  ‘No small talk please Nathan, not from you. I’m only here because you asked and because we did once have something. You’ll notice I’m using the past tense Nathan. We did, we don’t anymore. It took me three months and a lot of expensive therapy to get there but I finally did it. I’m over you. Completely and forever.’

  ‘Bullshit,’ was Nathan’s reply.

  ‘I beg your pardon. What did you just say?’

  ‘You heard me, bullshit. You might think you believe what you’re saying but I don’t.’

  ‘What gives you the right to tell me what I’m thinking Nathan? What gives you the right to have anything to do with me at all? You think I believed any of the lines you spun me that day. Your thirty-five years of marriage. Poor Sylvia who was so fragile. She had some hold over you, didn’t she Nathan. She blackmailed you, I have no idea with what. I knew that straightaway. You had no choice, or at least that is what you told yourself. I don’t blame Sylvia, I would have done the same thing in her position. It’s you I blame Nathan. You are a coward. You took the easy way out. And too bad about me.’

  Cassie looked drained. She must have been holding that in all those months and she had finally let it out, all of it. And the worst of it was that she was right. He had been a coward. He took the easy way and as a result had lost her.