Marcello catches up with us, and we all go towards the car. He gets in the front seat, while me and Claudia get in the back.
There are a couple more cars that are driving ahead and behind us, and I'm guessing they are our protection. Marcello's house is not far, and so we find ourselves there before I've even had time to process everything. One look at Claudia, and I can tell she's just excited to see the new place.
And I'm... I don't know what I am.
We get out of the car and go inside the house. There is staff everywhere.
"Amelia, show Catalina and her daughter where their rooms are." Marcello addresses an older lady before turning left and leaving us there.
I frown.
That's it?
I'm still looking at the spot he's just vacated when Amelia motions for us to follow her.
"Mamma..." Claudia whispers and tugs at my dress. I quickly shake myself.
"Let's go."
Amelia takes us to the second floor.
"Signor Marcello told me to prepare two rooms." She opens one door first, and my mouth drops slightly as I take in the decor. It's... luxurious.
"This is my room?" I ask her, trying to make sure there hasn't been a mistake.
The room is enormous... bigger than anything I've ever seen, in fact. My parents probably had a room like this, but I'd never seen it, so I have nothing to compare it to. There is a king-sized bed in the middle, but given the size of the room, it doesn't seem to take that much space. I tentatively step inside, letting go of Claudia's hand.
"Wow, mamma," she also exclaims, and unlike me, she runs towards the bed and throws herself on it.
I look around, noting the massive closets — surely he didn't expect me to have that many clothes – and there's also a bathroom. I open the door, and I have to pinch my arm to convince myself this isn't a dream. The bathroom is decorated with a combination of white and gold. There is a bathtub in the middle, while in the far east corner, there's also a shower. Both in the same bathroom? That seems awfully extravagant. Amelia must have noticed the awe in my expression as she continues.
"Signor Marcello wanted to make sure you have all the comforts."
"This... this is all wonderful. Thank you." I say, and she nods.
"Now for the second room..." Amelia turns to exit, but I interject.
"We don't need a second room. I mean... this is too big. Claudia and I can both stay here."
"Mamma..." Claudia pouts, and I frown.
"You want to see the other room?" She immediately nods.
"But..."
"If they're offering us another room, then I'd like to have my own space." Claudia says and immediately looks down, almost ashamed.
"Baby, don't be embarrassed..." I start, but then I try to put myself in her shoes. She's never had her own room. We've always shared a space at Sacre Coeur.
I sigh.
Although I'll miss sleeping with my little troublemaker, I have to agree that maybe she needs her privacy. She's growing up too fast.
"Fine." I say. "Let's see the other room."
Amelia leads us across the hall. Somehow I'd thought our rooms would be next to each other.
She opens the door and we step inside.
"Wow..." Claudia says and takes a step forward. "This is incredible."
The room is smaller than mine, but it's decorated specifically for a pre-teen. The wallpaper is pink, with different illustrations in glittery gold.
The bed is also pink. Actually... the whole room is so pink, it's almost blinding.
"Signor Marcello made sure the room would be ready for Signorina Claudia. He wanted everything to be perfect." Amelia mentions with a half-smile.
Truth to be told, the effort is visible. I wouldn't have thought he would bother with something like this... in three days, no less.
"I love it, mamma!" Claudia declares from the middle of the room.
"I'm glad you like it." I smile at her affectionately.
"Your luggage will be brought in shortly."
"What about Marcello's sister? He mentioned a sister." I turn to Amelia.
"She... she's on this floor too. A few doors down. I must apologize that she wasn't there to greet you. She's been rather indisposed lately..." She explains.
"I'd like to meet her."
"I'll tell her."
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I expected from this marriage, or from moving to this house, but it certainly wasn't being this ignored.
I'd met Venezia right before dinner, and she'd been... unpleasant would be an understatement. She'd been downright rude to me. After a tense first meeting, we'd gone on to the dining room, where she'd continued to drop hints about her displeasure, until she outrightly insulted me.
"Couldn't you have found another wife... you know, one without a child?" She impudently asked Marcello. I'd immediately turned to Claudia, trying to gauge her reaction. I didn't want her to be ashamed of our situation...
Damnation!
She looked just as stunned as I felt, as she turned her hopeful gaze towards Marcello. Their eyes met, and I could see a twitch in his upper lip.
"Venezia, Catalina is my wife, and you'd do well to respect her." He'd said in a stern tone.
Venezia had huffed and immediately left the table, but not before violently throwing her cutlery at her plate.
After the incident, Marcello had offered a short excuse for his sister's behavior, and we'd continued to eat in silence. I'd tried to initiate conversation a few times, only to be shut down. I wasn't sure that he wanted to interact with anyone, so I'd just taken to talking to Claudia. After dinner, Claudia had gone to her room, and I'd stayed a little behind, trying to engage Marcello in conversation, but it had backfired again.
He'd nodded at me, as usual, then he'd turned and left.
And so, here I am, hours later, about to knock on the door of his room. After a couple hours of deliberation, I'd decided that I needed to see where we stand.
I know he's put in place some boundaries, but surely he doesn't plan on ignoring me for the rest of our lives. We still have so many things to talk about... like schooling for Claudia, booking her therapy. Also about me... What am I supposed to do with myself? I'm not used to lying around doing nothing, and it's pretty clear my basic cooking or cleaning skills aren't required here as Marcello has an army of staff. That simply leaves me with nothing to do.
I take a deep breath and closing my eyes, I knock. There's some noise on the other side of the door before a voice says.
"I told you, Amelia..." The door opens suddenly, and my eyes go wide as I take in Marcello's casual appearance.
It's the first time I've seen him like this. He has a white t-shirt on and a pair of black sweatpants. His hair is disheveled. It's totally unlike the Marcello I'd met before.
"Catalina." He seems taken aback to see me, and I have to steel myself. Yes, I need to go through this.
"Can we talk, please?" I ask, and he narrows his eyes at me.
"Is it urgent?" He asks, keeping the door only slightly ajar so I can't see anything inside.
"Yes, I think so." It's not, but if this is the only way I can get him to talk to me, then maybe it is.