EVENING
Around seven they were back in the apartment near Campo dei Fiori, in time to collect the food Henrik had ordered.
They met Carlo at the main door, shaking hands with a woman, wishing her and family a happy new year; Carlo asked if everything was ok and if they were going out to celebrate or eat at home.
Saga lifted up her bag and briefly said Henrik would prepare dinner.
Carlo called his wife at the intercom and Sandra asked Saga to climb upstairs for a few minutes.
The Manzoni had a well furnished apartment with a small terrace, a huge Christmas tree stood in the living room. A red cat was sleeping under it and Saga went to caress him.
"I've adopted a cat from Largo Argentina."
"Indeed? It's great!"
"I hope the travel won't upset him. I paid cabin ticket."
"I'm sure he'll be well with you."
Sandra lead Saga to a small room, set up as an office, a selection of scarves and foulards on show.
"I want you to choose something for you and your girl."
"You don't need to, we're here for four nights only."
"I trade these items. I'm not going to tell you a lie pretending I paid them full price."
"You don't lie?"
"No, I find it difficult, especially in my job, salesman are big liars, but I think a real professional is values for actions, not for words."
"A friend told me once sometimes people had to lie."
"That is sure, you should see our politicians, how do they lie, every day, every word they say is the truth and its opposite."
"I'm not able to lie. I've hurt some people, I know."
"So with your honesty, you're blessed and cursed at the same time."
Saga looked at Sandra in a new way, her weakness could be her strength.
Sandra spread the items more.
"It's all silk, not poly, some scarves are part wool. Choose what you want."
Saga eyed a blue scarf, one of Astrid's favourite colours.
"This for Astrid."
"She isn't yours, is she?"
"No, her mother is dead. She's got Henrik only, and me."
Henrik busied himself in the small kitchen, glad he opted for a mostly cold dinner; two fires were a little unpractical, compared to his large kitchen, but it was enough for his pasta with seafood.
He closed his eyes, back home for a moment, when cooking for two became for three; after the days spent together in summer Saga decided what to do of her life and she confirmed only him from her past.
Astrid was watching an English documentary about African animals on tv, her new silk scarf from Sandra draped around her neck, so Henrik asked Saga to follow him in the bedroom.
She looked puzzled, he was cooking, they had no time for whatever intimacy to share, the fires were both on, the bol quite ready, she didn't want him to ruin the dinner.
He took a small packet from his coat and offered her. She recognized the brand written on the red paper, from a chain selling night wear and underwear; according to the size, it wasn't a winter night gown.
"I hope you'll wear it tonight."
Henrik was a little tense about her reaction when she tore the paper and saw the red underwear, a bra and matching panties, a simple model, with a line of lace on the hems.
"I don't use red."
"I know, tradition asks to wear red underwear tonight to bring luck. I thought it would be a pleasure to see it on you. It's a practical outfit, not frilly, you can wear it every day."
"You…" She stopped, ready to announce luck wasn't connected with whatever colour one was wearing; it would be rude toward Henrik, who was happy to present. "You're very kind. Thanks."
She examined carefully the gift, controlled the size – it must be normal for a man to know the cup of his woman's bra – and went to the bathroom to change; when she returned to the living area Henrik felt a strange pleasure in knowing what was hidden under her clothes.
The stirring in his groin was unwelcomed at the moment and he chastised himself; he had patience now, having all the confirmations in the world she did care for him: sometimes she did let him spoon her at night, before sleep conquered both. Later. Sweet and passionate at the same time, to begin a new year with Saga sharing his bed.
Astrid prepared the table, Saga moved the plates from the tiny kitchen where Henrik was working to the dining area. Henrik had bought a selection of fish from the fish shop Sandra suggested him.
With seafood he created his own version of spaghetti. They were all hungry after a day of walking and no leftovers remained, including the "capitone", the local name for the eel; when he collected his shopping bag at the shop all the customers there – understanding he was a foreigner – wanted to teach him about the typical Italian food and suggested he had to try it. It was strong but tasty at the same time and Saga asked if they could bring home some cans.
Saga looked at Astrid texting with friends and at Henrik doing the cleaning. A new year was starting in less than two hours, time to make a balance.
She found the closure she needed and the overture she wanted.
Making peace with her past gave her way to have the future she longed and feared since she met Henrik.
It wasn't so difficult to share his life and let him be close, now that he was with a daughter.
She had not lost Henrik with Astrid back. She had gained a young woman to help in their common long path to return to life.
Was it the real meaning of parenthood? Show the children joys and difficulties of life, support them in their choices, give advices? Henrik was able to do so and Saga was learning.
"Do you want to go out to the big event? We could get a night bus for the Circo Massimo."
"Is it far?"
"I don't think so, Saga pass me the map, please."
Astrid was pondering dad's proposal when the door bell rang and Carlo was on the treshold.
"I see you're here. If you want come upstairs with me and family for midnight, we'll be happy."
"We don't want to disturb."
"Not at all, we are five, me, wife, her friend and two kids."
Henrik turned to Astrid and Saga, telling them he'd accept whatever decision.
Astrid was tired and Saga was worried for the crowd, so around 11 they rang the bell of the Manzoni family.
Time to make acquaintance, talk sat in the comfy couch and armchairs, meet the kids, Alberto Manzoni and his friend Giovanni, discover Sandra 's friend Franca, Giovanni's mother, was married to a doctor on duty in hospital that night.
"I bet he'll finish late, the major has forbidden botti and petardi, but I'm sure no one will respect it."
"What do you mean?" Saga stated the law had to be respected.
"You'll hear at midnight the noise, it's tradition here,." Franca seemed resigned to the idea.
A bad tradition, Sandra added.
"Sandra, it's for fun."
"No fun at all, Franca, when people get injured or die and pets are scared. Every years someone loose a hand or an eye. Do you remember last year how your parents' Labrador got crazy and he was inside the house with us?"
Saga was listening to the conversation; so in Italy the law could be forgotten and nobody would feel guilty, something impossible to imagine for her.
She asked Sandra what the sanction would be in case of breaking the order.
"The police are not caring, I'm sure. It's a shame. I can only respect the order for myself and not allow my family or guests to use them here."
The television started the countdown.
Carlo popped a bottle of spumante and offered a glass to everybody, Saga asked just a finger for herself and Henrik, the young received soft drinks. Henrik looked at the glass in his hands and then at Saga, who nodded to support him and told him just to wet his lips.
Ten.
Anticipation in the eyes of everybody.
Nine.
Sandra cutting two more slices of a cake shaped as a dome, the traditional cake of their hometown, she said, bought in the same bakery her father used to.
Eight.
The kids opening the window, looking at the neighbours preparing the fireworks.
Seven.
Astrid texting on her phone to her Danish schoolmates.
Six
Saga moving closer to Henrik.
Five.
Carlo offering the cake to everybody.
Four.
Astrid hugging Henrik.
Three.
Two.
One
Fireworks from the television screen invaded the house, on the street and in the houses nearby people started shouting and singing.
The noise from the botti was incredible, Saga tried to cover her ears and Sandra passed her two earplugs with a sad look. They were shoulder to shoulder and had to shout to be heard.
"I told you it would be terrible. I don't want to argue with Franca, she and Matteo are friends. But I'm so angry.""
"You are right. I hope cats of Largo Argentina are safe."
"Be sure, the volunteers control the area. I hate this with all my heart."
"But you're used to."
"Not at all, when I was younger we never had them at home. I was born in Milan, we are here because my husband works for the Bank of Italy, but I hope to return home when he stops working. The apartment you use is ours, while this belongs to the bank. We bought the one downstairs because it will be fun to have a future pied a terre in Rome, but not living here."
Carlo was calling for a toast, hugs followed, Saga was so captured by the atmosphere she didn't realize Franca gave her a brief hug and kiss on the cheek, followed by Carlo himself.
She turned to Henrik who was hugging Astrid for dear life, they were lost in their world, his shoulders were sobbing and Saga was sure he was crying.
After a moment, Saga went closer, putting a hand on his arm; Henrik turned his head, saw Saga and moved to add her to the embrace.
Sandra lifted her glass to Saga, smiling.
They returned downstairs around one in the morning.
The sounds of fireworks and cheers subsided, some people were talking aloud under their windows, but soon moved away.
Astride went straight to the bathroom to change for the night and Henrik opened the couch to prepare her bed in the living area.
Saga switched place with Astrid and Henrik wished again his baby a happy new year, adding a loving hug.
"Tomorrow we can do whatever you want."
"A walk along the river? Alberto asked his parents to go all together."
"So be it. We'll talk with them tomorrow morning. Sleep well, I'll prepare breakfast when you got up."
"I'll do it for you. I' m grown up, I can do it."
Henrik entered the bedroom and Saga was applying a cream on her face.
She started using hydrating cream since Astrid noticed her skin was spent and her hands often dry, the veins on the back bigger than before, or her hands thinner than at twenty. Years of neglecting her body started taking a toll, she had confirmation looking at her reflection in the mirror. Forties were into her. Saga asked cream samples in a pharmacy and she soon discovered the difference of having a soft and velvet skin; indulging in little pleasures was good, she was happy when Henrik noticed the change and complimented her. He adored those little signs that showed she care about him so much to make small adjustments to her lifestyle. He believed they were more meaningful than a radical change.
Saga was sat on the bed in a bathrobe, her hair weren't wet; she stood to meet him and offered him the knob of the robe.
He slowly opened it and saw the red underwear. The size was perfect, he had controlled her bra without her noticing for the surprise.
The breasts were a little compressed by the new garment and her body was always a pleasure to see and feel. Henrik placed his hands on her hips, pulling Saga closer, then caressing gently her back, a body part she let him touch easier than her front.
The pattern he traced showed his hunger, Saga pushed him on the bed, let the robe fall from she shoulders, leaned over him, for a moment aligning herself with him, two halves fitting like it had to be.
He was ready, she touched him then stood up, removed his boxers, her thin panties and also the bra.
They made love slowly at first, then gained pace, speed, each wanting the other more, deeper, closer, bonding together until their own firework exploded.
Saga felt her body was relaxed, the food, the evening, the lovemaking, but her mind was in full motion.
The new year would start well, things to do, new friends to talk with, a pet to collect and take care, a family to live with. For once, Saga Noren thought life was good.