In the morning, we go to the beach. It is like every other day but I alone can sense Lila's excitement. She laughs, without the usual meanness. She moves through the kitchen like a tightly wound spring. She eats breakfast without sniping at her mother, she is kind to Petruccia, and asks how she is feeling. Towards me, she smiles if we were children again and she has invented a fabulous tale, another Blue Fairy. Tonight her creation comes to life.
On the path to the beach to meet Nino, she grabs my hand. I avoid her eyes. I know she looks more beautiful than ever today, for him. Her thin lips bear a trace of lipstick. A dress that Stefano bought falls effortlessly from her shoulders. It is yellow, tight around her slender ribcage, with two small bows at her tan shoulders. I envy her collarbone and her slender neck and fury fills me as I imagine Nino's mouth trailing kisses.
"Thank you, Lenu," she says in a hushed voice as if the neighbourhood was watching us. If we both stay at the house, pretending we are visiting my sick teacher's, her mother won't raise any alarms. My goodness is Lenu's alibi.
"His kisses make me forget how miserable I am, Lenu. And when he speaks, his ideas, it is as if I never met Stefano. Like the Solaras never existed. It all fades away."
I can hear her breath quicken. She sighs.
"I wish you could experience him." Her hand squeezes against mine, her eyes narrow over my body. I see her stare at my full breasts, too exposed in my swimsuit.
"We could share him."
"I won't stay," I tell her. But she has done what Lila does best: planted the seed.
I run to the ocean, shedding clothes as I go. I dive in.
***
A/N - how I picture Lenu, as Maria Schneider, above.