Upstairs, Downstairs Page 10

  And here she is, as perfect as always; while Anita often feels inadequate, messy and clumsy. Only rarely, when looking at herself in the mirror, does she acknowledge that she’s not too bad.

  “Darling, come here, give me a kiss… it seems like forever that we haven’t seen each other!”

  It’s only recently that Anita has begun to find Alessandra’s over the top mannerisms annoying. If she’s like this with an old friend, Anita doubts she can be genuine with anybody. Perhaps artificiality has become her nature.

  Anita collapses on the chair. She’s exhausted but also agitated. She’d like to tell Alessandra about her doubts and anxieties, but she doesn’t know where to start. There’s also a voice inside that warns her: can she be trusted? Can she really open herself to Allie?

  She orders the same wine Alessandra is drinking.

  “Jesus, Anita! Look at your face… has something happened?

  Anita procrastinates before she comes to the point. She complains about the heat and too much work.

  But Alessandra looks at her with probing eyes. “Hmm… I’m sure there is more to it than that…”

  “The fact is… that Mizuki…”

  “Yes? Mizuki?”

  “Mizuki left for London…”

  “Well? From what I understood he always travels, right?”

  “Yes, but this time it’s different. He’s seriously thinking of moving there.”

  “That’s great! It’ll be brilliant for his career! And you? When will you join him? You’ll have to finally tell your mother about him. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when that happens !”

  Anita feels that Alessandra makes everything seem easy, while her face always shows her troubled feelings…

  Alessandra looks at her with surprise. She can’t believe Anita hasn’t yet learned to control her emotions. “She can’t play the game.” But she admits to herself that this is also what makes her so different and charming.

  “It’s not so simple, Allie. I’m furious. Mizuki made the decision without asking me. I felt cut off from his life. Honestly, I’m beginning to realise that I don’t like everything about Japanese culture! Women always defer to men, even the new generation. The way he dealt with his move to London confirms what I’m saying. He decides, and I should follow obediently. I feel humiliated.”

  Alessandra doesn’t completely believe the story. She saw the first bloom of Anita’s and Mizuki’s love. She followed their relationship as it grew for more than two years. At times she even felt jealous. Mizuki – so handsome, fascinating and rich – and Anita – so simple, with her timeless, classic face – united by deep love. A love that Anita doesn’t talk about much, but that Alessandra can see. Sometime she too would like to have a man who calls her just to hear her voice, not just to give her a list of commitments to write on her calendar.

  “You don’t convince me, love! I wonder if it’s your encounter with Daniel that’s upsetting you… have you seen him again?”

  Anita raises her eyes and with a soft voice begins to tell the story about the disappearance of Commodilla, the search, and how Daniel found her. Flashbacks overwhelm her…

  “So what? A cat disappears and Daniel finds it… It doesn’t sound really exciting to me!”

  “Daniel and I were alone… and we… we kissed.” Now Anita feels like a flood is coming… “and not only once, but twice! It was like going back in time…” then, looking at Alessandra’s surprised eyes, she adds, “Yes… twice! Maybe I was just happy he had found the cat… maybe. I don’t know. I’m confused.”

  Alessandra almost wants to say that she already noticed something between them at Gazometre, but she doesn’t say it. She feels that little saint Anita wants it both ways. “You’re on your own, baby!” she thinks and says, “Anita, I see you’re going through a difficult period, and I’m sorry. But only you can know what you want. I can’t help you.”

  *

  “Look at these!” Matteo Spina is showing off the tiny new tomato plants.

  “Great work! Really… but I didn’t know they had yellow flowers.” says Paolo, who always has a distracted air, but is actually very attentive to details.

  “It depends on the tomato species. The flowers can be white or yellow.” Matteo explains.

  “And these are purple!” Excitedly, Giovanna is pulling weeds around the aubergines.

  “Just a few weeks more and we’ll be enjoying the products of our work.” Matteo is very proud.

  “I can’t wait to cook these!” Pina smiles, holding Francesca in her arms.

  Giovanna is bringing the hose to water the furrows, but Paolo stops her. “Don’t worry Giovanna! It’s only four o’ clock. Leave it, I’ll do it myself later.”

  At some point Pina suddenly changes the subject: from horticulture to gossip. “Hey everyone, do you have any news about our musician friend? I haven’t seen him since his girlfriend left in such a hurry!”

  “I saw him earlier this morning leaving with his double bass,” says Paolo. “It really must be a big blow for him, poor boy…”

  “Really? I wouldn’t say poor boy.” Matteo Spina replies, and this triggers a series of comments about Daniel among all tenants.

  Out of the blue Giovanna says, “I could see him with my Anita…”

  Silence falls, then a succession of what? and who? follows, until Pina asks, “Doesn’t Anita have her boyfriend?”

  There’s a hugely embarrassing moment. Matteo Spina launches himself over to the tomatoes and Paolo pretends to focus on a flying bee.

  Giovanna is irritated. It’s a possibility she hasn’t considered. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “No, what are you talking about?” Matteo Spina tries to amend Pina’s faux pas.

  “This bee is really a pain in the ass,” Paolo adds. “It doesn’t want to leave.”

  “Is there something you don’t want to tell me?” Giovanna is getting irate.

  Matteo Spina thinks it’s a good moment for a big speech about bees… “This is an important period of the year for the bees’ swarm. It’s the birth of a new queen bee. The old queen leaves with a big group of followers and the hive parts…”

  “Listen, Matteo! I really don’t care about a bee’s life right now!” Giovanna turns and heads home with apparently glacial calm.

  “What’s the matter with her?” Pina looks around for approval. “I’ve never seen her like this.”

  Daniel has just joined the group in the orchard. Everybody’s looking at him with more curiosity than usual…

  “Good afternoon to our musician!” Matteo Spina is the first to speak.

  “Good afternoon, neighbours!” Daniel seems relaxed and cheerful.

  Pina is overflowing with her quick-fire questions. Everybody knows she’s a busybody, yet somehow she gives voice to everyone’s curiosity. “Daniel! Did you have a good music session? You were great in finding our Commodilla! We thought we’d lost her! When will your Russian friend be back? We would’ve loved to get to know her better. Now the fun season starts for terrace and garden parties – this complex’s forte…”

  Matteo Spina has an idea. “Daniel, since you have the double bass with you, why don’t you play something for us? In the meantime, we’ll prepare an aperitif for everybody.”

  Daniel would usually have refused without hesitation, but he’s in a good mood and likes these people. “Let me be clear, this is an exception! I just need a few minutes; I need to go upstairs to feed the tiger and I’ll be right back.”

  *

  Paolo is spreading cream cheese on crackers and places them on a tray together with olives, tomatoes and prosciutto wrapped round bread sticks. Wine and beer are brought outside.

  The first notes of Moon River resound in the yard. It’s powerful, and the music reaches up to the entry arch where Anita, who’s just arrived, is locking up her scooter. She looks up at Daniel’s window, wondering if the music is coming from there, but then she sees Daniel from behind, embracing his double bass. Sh
e hardly swallows. No one can deny his charm and the fact that he’s damn good!

  Nobody notices her until Daniel moves to get a beer.

  “Anita!” Matteo Spina is the first to see her. “We didn’t see you arrive… Daniel’s giving us a private concert. Do you want something to drink?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’m very thirsty.”

  Daniel swallows his beer in one gulp, trying to take his eyes off Anita. Then he starts playing again with The Pink Panther Theme, which sounds like a tribute to Commodilla.

  Pina starts performing some small dance steps that soon become more animated. She pays no attention to the bee buzzing around her. “AAAHHHH! It stung me!

  Her scream momentarily drowns out the music, but Daniel continues with a whirlwind interpretation of Flight of the Bumblebee. Pina leaves the baby with Paolo and runs home.

  Anita looks straight at Daniel. A few seconds later Daniel misses a note. Anita wears an enigmatic smile. Daniel immediately bounces back, speeding up the rhythm of the piece in a lively crescendo. As if he wanted everyone to forget his mistake, he ends with an incredible virtuoso finale. All jaws drop and then they burst into spontaneous applause.

  Daniel seems almost surprised by this warm response. “Thank you! Thank you everyone…”

  *

  Anita moves towards the aperitif tray. Daniel joins her, lightly stroking her back. She winces.

  Paolo says ‘goodbye’ to everybody. “I’ll take Francesca to her wounded mum. Hope she survived the attack!”

  Matteo Spina leaves too and they are now alone. Anita feels slightly embarrassed and breaks the silence. “I’ve never heard anything like that. Who taught you to play so well?”

  “Rosis has been a great teacher, and I have several friends who are very good musicians. Actually, next Saturday we’ll be playing in Umbria…”

  “Interesting…”

  “Yes… listen… I was thinking maybe you could come with me… if you like.” Daniel is surprised at himself. “We could leave after lunch and return the next day. We can stay at my family’s country house. It isn’t far from where we’ll be playing.”

  “Ah… thanks… I don’t know. Let me think about… not sure I’m free. Maybe. I will let you know…”

  *

  “What am I doing?” Insomnia haunts Anita and she tosses and turns in her bed. “I can’t believe I’ve got myself into this mess!”

  She had quickly washed off her make-up, not even looking in the mirror. She was afraid of not recognising herself.

  “Mizuki, what has happened to us?”

  16

  Mizuki Murakami. How Do You Do?

  The window of the conference room is large, offering a full view of London, and the acoustics are perfect. Mizuki looks at the view for a moment while he’s talking.

  “This is our vision: clean, sustainable hydrogen fuel cell transport for the capital…”

  The presentation’s slides and charts are slick and professional, but it’s Mizuki’s charisma that makes his lecture a success. He doesn’t speak to the audience in general; he speaks to each and every one of them, looking straight into their eyes. Whoever they are, English, Japanese or New Zealanders, they are looking and listening with rapt attention. Women, especially, are entranced by him. Men try to learn the art of seduction from him, very useful for business as well as private life. Mizuki’s self-confidence and calm inspires trust. His bosses are impressed.

  *

  “Mr Murakami, I would like to introduce you to my wife, Ashlynn.”

  A simple, but very sophisticated party, has been organised at the Trafalgar Hotel restaurant after the conference.

  Mizuki reaches his hand out for a western introduction but the lady makes a slight bow.

  “It’s a pleasure, Mrs Parker.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, Mr Murakami. It’s an honour to finally meet the man who will transform the transport system in our country.”

  “You are very kind, but this project is the work of a very gifted team.”

  “Don’t be modest, Mizuki,” Mr Parker interrupts him. “Yes, there’s a great team, but you’re leading it in a superb way.”

  Mizuki moves to the buffet for a cup of coffee. When the aroma of the dark liquid permeates him, sudden memories surface. “This is definitely not Anita’s wonderful espresso. Why am I not here with her? I should’ve talked to her about my plans much earlier…”

  He can’t help but notice the glances he’s attracting from a small group of young women at the bar.

  “Ashlynn, don’t you want to introduce us to your friend?” One of the women approaches. Black suit and high heels. She seems determined to conquer him. Just a minute ago she whispered to her colleagues, “I bet you I can get him into bed tonight…”

  Mizuki winces. He wishes he could hide behind the cup of coffee but he resumes his professional manner, “Mizuki Murakami. How do you do?”

  *

  Mizuki is exhausted. It’s been an intense day and he feels drained of energy. His first thought is to head back up to his room, but he needs some fresh air. He says ‘goodbye’ to everyone and leaves the hotel.

  From the pavement he stares at Nelson’s statue on the tall column. He’s reminded of Anita and their explorations through ancient Rome together. He’s been very busy since he left Rome but now he’s overwhelmed by nostalgia.

  It’s a sunny but cool day. He turns the corner and continues on to Spring Gardens. Distracted, he walks slowly in his elegant grey charcoal suit. At some point he loosens his tie and removes it, putting it in his pocket. He’s thinking that everyone addresses him as the project leader, although he hasn’t officially accepted the position yet. They’re right; only a fool would refuse it.

  On the wide pavement he meets a group of tourists with a guide who speaks an unknown language. He wonders where Anita is working right now but the thousands of corners of Rome they visited together blur in his mind. But still, her face, copper hair and sweet freckles are painfully vivid.

  He enters St James’s Park. There are people reading, people eating sandwiches and someone is sleeping on the grass. The sound of laughter and a mass of red hair makes his heart leap. For a second he thinks Anita has joined him. A guy runs towards the girl, takes her by the waist and lifts her in the air. She throws her head back happily.

  Immersed in his thoughts he comes to the lake full of ducks. Mizuki takes off his jacket and sits on the grass. Now he feels confident that everything will work out with Anita. He doesn’t know how and when, but he knows he can’t give her up. Yet his inner voice still asks, “But…what if she’s given up on you?”

  A disturbance on the lake catches his attention. Ducks appear to be moving out of the way for two beautiful and elegant swans that glide through the water, side by side. One is black, which Mizuki has never seen before. Fascinated, he watches them. At some point they begin to move together slowly in what looks like a love dance.

  Mizuki gets up, collects his jacket, and heads swiftly towards the hotel.

  *

  The last rays of sun illuminate his hotel suite: immaculate, pristine, and immersed in an almost unreal silence. He feels a pulse in his temples, a sure sign of an imminent headache. He misses having a friend right now – someone he could be totally open with. He suddenly realises he doesn’t have any close friends, just colleagues and acquaintances. He feels lonely. He touches the smart phone in his pocket and decides to call Anita. He clearly knows that he can’t live without her – he has no doubt about it – and he must tell her now.

  “Hello…? Hello?” A voice answers.

  Mizuki immediately hangs up. He checks to ensure he didn’t dial the wrong number, it’s Anita’s but the voice that answered was unmistakably male.

  “Anita-san…” he whispers. He opens the mini bar and takes out a beer. Then he sits on the edge of the bed and recites a Basho haiku he learnt many years ago at school.

  Branches dance in breeze

  The willow tree has n
o tears

  Weeps not for sadness

  17

  What am I Doing Here?

  Lightening electrifies the dark sky; rain splashes on the windshield and suddenly they’re caught in the middle of a storm on Highway E45, just outside Orte.

  “It always rains here…” Daniel says. “They call it the valley of woe. In about ten miles we’ll leave the highway. I’ve told the caretaker we’re coming.”

  Daniel has calculated one hundred and fifteen kilometres – two and a half hours without traffic – to get to his family’s country house from Rome.

  The downpour seems to ease, then starts again more powerfully than before.

  “It’s as if we’re looking through a waterfall…” Daniel looks at Anita, who hasn’t said much since they left. She’s silent and doesn’t smile.

  They stop at a railroad crossing to wait for the oncoming train, which speeds by in front of them. Daniel watches the lit carriages go by and remembers his last year of high school. He travelled through Europe on InterRail with a group of friends. One night he even wrote a song in an empty train carriage.

  “Trains remind me of school.”

  “Trains? Why trains?” Anita asks.

  Daniel smiles, and before answering his gaze lingers on her tight trousers and her soft, silk blouse. “Yes, two things remind me of those years, trains and… of course you!”

  Anita is caught by surprise and doesn’t say anything.

  “You know, you’ve changed a lot over the years. You were so shy when we were young… it took every bit of my courage to ask you out.” Daniel can’t help but stare at her bra where it peeks through the sheer fabric of her blouse.

  Anita did wonder if her new blouse might be a bit too transparent, but now she’s certain. Sudden lightening, followed by a huge clap of thunder gives her an excuse to say nothing.

  “You sure don’t have that problem any more… quite the opposite…” Daniel is thinking about the asymmetry of Anita’s breasts when she was a teenager.